We are Christians that purpose to follow the word of God in both it’s directions and example. This is how it’s done:
In the New Testament, we read of all regulatory church meetings in homes. (Acts 20:20, Rom. 16:3, 1Cor. 16:19 there are more)This continued for three hundred years, not for the lack of ability to get an official building, but for the lack of such a need. Buildings create an unnecessary expense and serve to hinder the body in open participation. Whereas a home is a familiar family setting where all brethren are on equal ground regardless of status. It also limits the size so that no one can be lost in the crowd. The goal is that each member learns and grows into a fully discipled qualified elder. (1Tim. 3:1-13)We meet today for the same reason that the early church met, for the breaking of bread in the lord’s supper(taken as a full meal) which develops into the open participatory meeting of 1Cor. 14:26-40
Typically, as people arrive they help prepare for the meal, snack on a few appetizers, and strike up conversations of things profitable. Once all have arrived we take our seats, one brother (usually the host) will stand, bless the food and break the one loaf to be partaken of by all, thus the meal begins. Discussions and encouragement continues through the meal as well as news of Christ’s working through his people. Once all have finished eating the discussions are postponed and the one cup is passed coupled with song and usually prayer. The singing continues as the table is cleared and all share in the cleanup. This moves us into the 1Cor 14 meeting. Where each brother is expected to bring fourth what the lord has been teaching him and his family that week.
Each one respectful to the other waits for a break to interject or conclusion to move on. After a couple hours or so if the weather is fair we would all go for a walk through the woods or down to the creek. If we met nearer the city we would walk to the park. Either way our conversations would continue and the children would play and run as we went, as their parents kept a careful eye. Once our destination had been reached our conversations and their play continued. We would mosey back to the house just in time to prepare supper. The food is blessed and we continue in conversation, song, and prayer as the spirit leads just as had been before. Until one by one families leave realizing that bed time has long since passed. We would typically arrive at 10:30 AM and not leave till midnight.
There is of course a good deal of freedom in this type of meeting, most meet eat talk and leave all in the space of three hours or so. This is simply to give you a picture of what the home church is like. You’ll not find a doctrinal statement nor a denominational label. Such things are divisive.A plurality of qualified elders and the open format guard against false doctrine and wolves among the flock.Children are well trained to quietly play and listen near or in sight of their parents. They glean from the same spiritual food as the adults. Their main guidance is the responsibility of their parents. This continues until 16 or 17 as they take the reigns of adulthood; though they are encouraged to participate more around age 13 as maturity permits.
We of the house church have come to the conviction that we are to follow scripture in both direction and example. If you have not been so convicted, so be it, the Lord has no doubt worked through the institutional church through the centuries and He still works today. But just as we see when Moses struck the rock the second time, God may bless though we choose to do things our own way ignoring His directions. As for me and my house, Our desire is His design.
My Family
(Husband speaking)
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