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Start A Church, Look For A Church, Or Preach The Gospel? Listen to Audio!

6/2/2013

I get emails from all over the world. One question that I see frequently is if I know of a home church in a particular area. Great question, but the short answer is no. I don't have a directory of house churches. And since most churches that meet in houses don't have websites or a listing in the phone book, it might be difficult to track one down.

This situation along with other promptings in my heart have compelled me to go back into the scriptures about starting churches or even looking for churches. Most of us have been taught to go look for a church if we move to a new area or if we feel to change where we fellowship. If we have a traditional ministry background, we may consider starting a church. But is that what the Bible tells us to do? Did Jesus Christ commission his disciples to go into all the world and start churches?

This isn't a trick question at all. As a matter of fact, it might be an "A-ha" moment. If you left a denominational church, why did you leave? Why did you leave the comfort of your own pew for something else? Let me further bait the hook with this: If you left because you didn't agree with teachings coming over the pulpit or from headquarters, is it possible there are many more things yet to be revealed to us as we dig into the scriptures for ourselves? I believe there is. Many wonderful things!

The Easiest Way to Create a Website. Weebly.com

This home church journey for me has been a bit of a wilderness experience - but a needful one. God has been faithfully showing me some basic truths in dry places. The bummer is that I'm a slow learner. The praise is the lights are finally on and someone is home! I realize it's easy to get the cart before the horse and overlook some important basics. Rather than write all this out, I've created a short audio for you. It's less than 10 minutes long and may be as eye opening to you as it was to me. You might see a whole new answer to the question of looking for a church or starting one...

If you skipped over the audio, please go back and listen. I'd like to get your thoughts on all this and to know if this makes sense to you from the scriptures. Should we look for another church? Should we seek to start a church? What does the Bible say? What do you say?

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Thanks.

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How To Start A Home Church

1/7/2012

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Are you wondering how to start a home church? Starting a home church could be the right direction for you, but the process might be very different than what you expect. And I don't necessarily mean that in a positive way. It can be one of the most exciting, aggravating and heartbreaking journeys of your life.

2011 for us here in Chandler, Arizona, was an interesting year of meeting new people, growing, adjusting, saying goodbye, and putting things in perspective. Let me share some of the things we've learned.

Fellowship, Or Lack Thereof...
One thing that most of us crave is wholesome church fellowship. But when a person or family leaves a traditional church setting, fellowship is often the first thing to stop, unless you're part of a group from the beginning. I know there are many people who've gone months, dare I say years, without finding others to fellowship with as a church. If you're going to start a home church, be prepared to go it alone for a while. It will require Stand Alone Faith.

Having Little In Common...
When you do find others who are interested in starting a home church, you might meet people with wildly different doctrinal views, unique perspectives, and different levels of spiritual maturity. It's also a possible to meet with others and discover that the only thing in common you share with them is an interest in home church – and little to nothing else.

What denominational churches have going for them is having some basic doctrines, worship styles, songs, etc., in common. But people who meet together independently, may have nothing in common. We come from all over the map (geographically and spiritually) and soon discover how different we really are. That can be intriguing, eye-opening, unsettling and even scary. But if we're willing to stick it out, stay in God's word while being open to other perspectives, and seek to understand and much as we want to be understood, we could form new and lasting bonds with others God has sent our way. Unfortunately, it's way too easy to break fellowship at the first signs of disagreement. That will hurt.

In my novel Parting Ways I write about what happens to a young, ambitious minister who can no longer follow the denominational teachings he grew up with. The only thing he could trust and stand on was the Bible. God leads him to a whole new understanding of church. Which leads me to pose this question:

Did Jesus command his disciples to start churches?

Have you found that in the scriptures? I haven't yet, but here's what I do read:

Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen. (Matthew 28:19-20)

And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. (Mark 16:15)

And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. (Luke 24:46-47)

I see a repeated pattern of preaching and teaching. Let's see what happened when the word is preached in the book of Acts...

Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls. (Acts 2:41)

And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly; and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith. (Acts 6:7)

Is it possible that our focus shouldn't be on staring a home church, but rather to seek opportunities to preach and teach the word? In other words, instead of putting a "Church Meeting Tonight - All Welcome" sign in our front yards, perhaps asking a co-worker or neighbor for a no-obligation, one-on-one Bible Study would be better. Paul often encouraged Timothy to preach the word and to take it a step further...

And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also. (2 Timothy 2:2)

Paul didn't tell Timothy to build buildings, start denominations or to plant churches. He instructed him to teach faithful men to teach. One-on-one will likely grow to one-on-two, or three. Then a whole family or two or three. Over time, a group - a church - is gathering in a house, because the word was preached.

I hope to do more preaching and teaching in this new year, and be less concerned about starting a home church. The gospel is the power of God unto salvation, not if or how we start a home church. I've come to the realization that church is a natural outgrowth of preaching and teaching. When God's word is preached, churches are the result.

Check out the Free Bible Studies Page for simple Bible Studies you can download and share with anyone!

Related Posts You Might Enjoy:
Home Church, Evangelism, and Winning Souls
Stand Alone Faith
Which Bible?

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How To Have Church At Home

11/27/2011

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Church Is Like A Potluck!

Most of us in America share a similar church experience, don't we? We understand gathering in a building on Sunday mornings, singing songs picked out by a praise leader, getting the latest announcements, passing an offering basket, listening to preaching from the same person or people, concluding in prayer and going home. Except for some denominational differences, church size and multimedia bells and whistles, this is the general church pattern.

But isn't it interesting that there is no such checklist taught in the scriptures? This plan was developed and perfected by men generations ago and, for better or worse, we've been running with it ever since.

One of the first questions about how to have church at home is how does it work? What does church in a house look like? How much should we change and what should we keep the same?

If you're reading about how to have church at home, then you're already thinking outside of the traditional box. Allow me to suggest this: Keep going! Be open to leaving traditions and habits behind in favor of the liberty found in the scriptures. Since the Bible doesn't give us a step by step church program, how about we not create one either? In fact, let's focus on “Family” not “Program.”

Jesus didn't give outlines and the apostles didn't teach on how to run a church meeting. Church is all about God's people coming together in the name of the Lord to worship Christ and to edify one another. The number of ways that can happen are countless. There are however, elements we can pull together from the Bible on how to please God and make the most of our time when we do come together as a church. Here are a few suggestions:

First, come prepared. Do you pray before the church meets together? Do you have a sense of expectation? Spending some time in prayer before church is a great way to prepare your mind and heart for what God wants to do.

Consider starting with praise. Psalm 100:4 says, Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.

King David said, “I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the LORD.” Are we glad when we gather together with the household of God? We should be. Let's offer up praise and speak out our thanksgiving when we gather in his name. Singing songs, shouting praises, and clapping hands are all biblical ways to give glory to God.

Then what? Again, there is no set plan, but here's what Paul wrote to the church at Corinth: How is it then, brethren? when ye come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying.
(1 Corinthians 14:26)

Church is the body of Christ and every one of us are members of that body. We like to have full use of our bodies; so does Christ. Everyone of us should come prepared to take part whether it's sharing a testimony to God's goodness, a short teaching or doctrine, a special song, a word in tongues followed by interpretation, etc., Share life situations, ask for prayer and wisdom and expect God to move. The end goal should be full participation so that everyone is edified, rather than one person preaching to everyone else week after week. Allow room for everyone to share something and watch how God uses everyone - including you!

To me, church is like a potluck. Everyone brings something that compliments what others have brought. Some bring main dishes, others bring sides and desserts. All the elements form a complete meal and no one person is responsible for everything. If we gather together with the understanding that it's God's church and not our program, then we'll be more focused on God having his way with his people. Sometimes that means I'll be teaching today...or that I'll be listening. Either way is fine with me because I've learned to check my ego and agenda at the door. It's not about me; it's about us together.

Finally, church is a family. It's not a weekly event. How many perfect families do you know? I'll bet not many. Every family has a their celebrities and “interesting” aunts and uncles. They all have their sweet fathers and overly organized mothers. Let's give out as much grace as we want in return and realize that church isn't "perfect" now but an ongoing work in progress.

I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. (Ephesians 4:1-3)

Learning how to have church at home involves lots of love and endurance. One gathering may be vastly different from another, but each time can be a great learning and growing experience. Be open to everything that doesn't go against the Word of God. Meet in different houses, meet at the park, go to the beach! Sing with music or a capella. Meeting around a kitchen table works for some but the living room might be more comfortable. Share a meal, consider having soft instrumental music playing in the background or enjoy the sunshine in your back yard. Don't feel like it has to be a certain way every time or that it should resemble a denominational church service. Be the church God wants you to be and grow together. Dress comfortably, relax about how long things go, and enjoy each other!

Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God; And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit. (Ephesians 2:19-22)

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Start A Church, Look For A Church, Or Preach The Gospel? Listen to Audio!

How To Start A Home Church

How To Have Church At Home

Patrick Sipperly

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