menageriekeeper
Active Member
home church?
If you do, how does it work?
If you do, how does it work?
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- Thread starter menageriekeeper
- Start date
Our convention, WVBC, has been tossing around the idea of a house church in Keyser WV. Near Maryland...
We have had a few meetings with our association (which it would be a part of) and the state convention , along with some from Keyser... but so far, God has not moved yet to make it a reality.
I do see the trend of the church moving away from the standard 3 board system, and toward house church...
There are a few people on here (bb)that are part of a house church... but I can't remember who they are.
We have had a few meetings with our association (which it would be a part of) and the state convention , along with some from Keyser... but so far, God has not moved yet to make it a reality.
I do see the trend of the church moving away from the standard 3 board system, and toward house church...
There are a few people on here (bb)that are part of a house church... but I can't remember who they are.
menageriekeeper
Active Member
Bumping for more comments....
givengrace
New Member
menageriekeeper said:
What exactly is this your talking about? I've never heard of it.
menageriekeeper
Active Member
well if I knew the details I wouldn't be asking! 
Just messing with ya!
As I understand it, families(? that's a good question. What do single folk do) meet to worship from house to house. Different houses each Sunday, I imagine.
My questions more specifically are: How do such churches deal with singles, teens, children, ect or are they all tossed in the mix together? If so, what are the advantages to this and the disadvantages?
How are problems within the group settled/dealt with? Would one family divorcing tear the entire group apart?
How exactly would a "service" flow? I imagine it would be different from the flow of a regular church service.
What about Sunday School? Visitation? Financial things?
Those'll do for a start.
Just messing with ya!
As I understand it, families(? that's a good question. What do single folk do) meet to worship from house to house. Different houses each Sunday, I imagine.
My questions more specifically are: How do such churches deal with singles, teens, children, ect or are they all tossed in the mix together? If so, what are the advantages to this and the disadvantages?
How are problems within the group settled/dealt with? Would one family divorcing tear the entire group apart?
How exactly would a "service" flow? I imagine it would be different from the flow of a regular church service.
What about Sunday School? Visitation? Financial things?
Those'll do for a start.
DrRandyGrace
New Member
Hey, Tim, help me out. What is the standard three board system?
Some churches have begun using what they call small groups or cell groups. These meet in people's homes and are used for spiritual growth/discipleship in a setting away from an institutional/tradition church building. These groups may consist of different social mixes. But they are still connected back to the main church. Some may consider this to be a house church of type.
However, House or Home Churches in the truer sense are the church and are not connected to another assembly. They generally consist of several families meeting together with the men representing a plurality of eldership, as opposed to a single pastor. Their services are generally fluid versus rigid, that is they have no particular order of service but move as the spirit leads.
However, House or Home Churches in the truer sense are the church and are not connected to another assembly. They generally consist of several families meeting together with the men representing a plurality of eldership, as opposed to a single pastor. Their services are generally fluid versus rigid, that is they have no particular order of service but move as the spirit leads.
Amen, glad to hear it is working well.:applause:ktn4eg said:
Concerning the structure of your cell group:
Is there a designated leader, moderator, or facilitator?
Or, is the responsibility shared? If shared, do they take turns (i.e. weekly or programatically), or is it dynamic?
Is the group using a particular workbook or is it a self-designed Bible study?
Xenos Christian Fellowship, Ohio [LINK] is a home-church based fellowship based upon small home units and a large "central teaching" time.
As I understand it, "Central Teaching" occurs at various times during the week.
The home churches meet for services, fellowship, discipleship
... I've heard that the home church leaders are able to preach, marry and bury (what more do you need??? :smilewinkgrin: ).
There are lots of resources on this site; check them out.
Rob
As I understand it, "Central Teaching" occurs at various times during the week.
The home churches meet for services, fellowship, discipleship
... I've heard that the home church leaders are able to preach, marry and bury (what more do you need??? :smilewinkgrin: ).
There are lots of resources on this site; check them out.
Rob
menageriekeeper
Active Member
Ktn4eg, does your cell group replace the traditional church service or is it in addition to regular church services?
Deacon, thanks for the link, I'll check it out.
Deacon, thanks for the link, I'll check it out.
rdwhite said:
Due to my crazy work schedule, I'm not always able to attend just one particular cell group. Each one that I have attended has its own personality and demographic.
While one cell group may have just one leader, another may have more than one leader.
As to what is studied, that too can vary from cell to cell. Most cells will focus on what was covered on the previous Sunday's message and reinforce the main points of the message. A few will choose to focus on a book (and/or workbook).
You may wish to visit my church's website at
www.lighthouseministries.org
menageriekeeper said:
My church's cell groups are in addition to our regular church services.
Please see my post in response to rdwhite's questions.
Also please visit our website at www.lighthouseministries.org
The house church movement is born out of rebellion. It is similar to Numbers 16:
Num 16:3 They assembled themselves together against Moses and against Aaron and said to them, "You have gone too far! For all in the congregation are holy, every one of them, and the LORD is among them. Why then do you exalt yourselves above the assembly of the LORD?"
What kind of building we hold worship in is irrelevant. The house setting holds no more a true worship experience than a conventional church or a store front.
The house church movement is also idolatrous as it is focused on what man wants rather than unconditional worship of God. Focusing on man and his experience cannot be done in conjuction with true worship of God. You can have one or the other. Not both.
As far as having the 3 board system well that system can be mplemented in any building or setting. Moving to a house doesnt protect form that. And holding services in a home, conventional church building or store front are no more biblical than the others. In the end the whole movement is nonsensical.
Num 16:3 They assembled themselves together against Moses and against Aaron and said to them, "You have gone too far! For all in the congregation are holy, every one of them, and the LORD is among them. Why then do you exalt yourselves above the assembly of the LORD?"
What kind of building we hold worship in is irrelevant. The house setting holds no more a true worship experience than a conventional church or a store front.
The house church movement is also idolatrous as it is focused on what man wants rather than unconditional worship of God. Focusing on man and his experience cannot be done in conjuction with true worship of God. You can have one or the other. Not both.
As far as having the 3 board system well that system can be mplemented in any building or setting. Moving to a house doesnt protect form that. And holding services in a home, conventional church building or store front are no more biblical than the others. In the end the whole movement is nonsensical.
That it is an act of rebellion may not be true in all cases RM. It may be a reaction to a bad church situation (pharisaism, legalism, apostacy) and done in ignorance.Revmitchell said:
Ignorance is not an excuse-all but :
Luke 12:48 But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.
HankD
HankD
The house churches that I personally know of have:
*An over emphasis on the man being the head of the house
*Women not allowed to: cut their hair, wear pants, wear make up, even to pray out loud in the fellowship...
*Saturday Sabbath worship
*Anti Christmas, Easter, etc.. (you know, your Christmas tree and easter eggs are pagan.)
*A strong aversion to public school (I'm not a fan of the public school system either but I'm not going to preach from the pulpit that it's a sin to send your kid to the local public school)
*Tend to grow more on disgruntled traditional church members than actually reaching the lost in the community
Before you clean my clock let it be noted: Not all house chruches are like this. Even in my own church we are prayerfully considering starting cell groups on Sunday nights with an emphasis on discipleship. The traditional Sunday night thing isn't working anymore.
*An over emphasis on the man being the head of the house
*Women not allowed to: cut their hair, wear pants, wear make up, even to pray out loud in the fellowship...
*Saturday Sabbath worship
*Anti Christmas, Easter, etc.. (you know, your Christmas tree and easter eggs are pagan.)
*A strong aversion to public school (I'm not a fan of the public school system either but I'm not going to preach from the pulpit that it's a sin to send your kid to the local public school)
*Tend to grow more on disgruntled traditional church members than actually reaching the lost in the community
Before you clean my clock let it be noted: Not all house chruches are like this. Even in my own church we are prayerfully considering starting cell groups on Sunday nights with an emphasis on discipleship. The traditional Sunday night thing isn't working anymore.
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menageriekeeper
Active Member
Whoa, Rev. Mitch! Why don't you tell us how you really feel?
Okay, now back up your post with more than a scripture from the OT that pertains only to how the Jews worshipped, please, then we can have a better discussion, cause your post brings up a position I haven't heard before.
Let's hope not Sag, cause most of that wouldn't fly in my house.
I have noticed there is strong sentiment against public schools among the few homechurchers I'm acquainted with. About as much as I suffer from against homeschooling in my traditional church. I can understand how they feel!
About the tendancy for such churches to grow on "disgruntled" traditional church members....Is this really any different than the traditional church that tends to grow in membership from the salvation of church member children? Unfortunately, I don't believe there is evidence that either group is spreading the gospel to the unsaved better than the other.
Also, if you can't get along in a traditional church setting, what is the problem with finding an alternative route to "forsaking not the fellowship of them that love the Lord"?
For myself, being "disgruntled" means that I have 2 children who are unable to tolorate the noise of the youth services(normally very loud affairs with music blasting or the sound system just being set to loud) and the traditional service is often the same way. Chruch services should not cause migraines! That and a few other incidents have led me to believe I should re-evaluate how/where we worship.
Don't get me wrong, I like our church, but if it's not working for my children, then it's not working.
Okay, now back up your post with more than a scripture from the OT that pertains only to how the Jews worshipped, please, then we can have a better discussion, cause your post brings up a position I haven't heard before.
Let's hope not Sag, cause most of that wouldn't fly in my house.
I have noticed there is strong sentiment against public schools among the few homechurchers I'm acquainted with. About as much as I suffer from against homeschooling in my traditional church. I can understand how they feel!
About the tendancy for such churches to grow on "disgruntled" traditional church members....Is this really any different than the traditional church that tends to grow in membership from the salvation of church member children? Unfortunately, I don't believe there is evidence that either group is spreading the gospel to the unsaved better than the other.
Also, if you can't get along in a traditional church setting, what is the problem with finding an alternative route to "forsaking not the fellowship of them that love the Lord"?
For myself, being "disgruntled" means that I have 2 children who are unable to tolorate the noise of the youth services(normally very loud affairs with music blasting or the sound system just being set to loud) and the traditional service is often the same way. Chruch services should not cause migraines! That and a few other incidents have led me to believe I should re-evaluate how/where we worship.
Don't get me wrong, I like our church, but if it's not working for my children, then it's not working.