Time For You to Start a House Church?
I have started a mittful of Bible studies in the US and China and a handful of house churches and Bible studies in China. With the shrinking church in the US, it is time for a new model. Is it time to start a house church?
In the book of Acts, there were no seminary led churches in each city. House churches were a standard model.
The Apostle John refers to us as a kingdom of priests, and the Apostle Peter refers to us as a royal priesthood.
None of us should feel any misgiving about leading communion or baptizing with water. A quick Bible search on the four references to Communion and less than that for baptism with water, and you are on your way. God baptizes with the Holy Spirit is the emphasis of the New Testament. We are allowed to use water.
Collecting money, if you choose to, needs oversight and transparency.
Starting a house church is no big thing. I recommend you give it a name, so people do not refer to it as your house church.
No required structure for a church meeting is given in the New Testament. You can have music any way you want or none at all. You can have someone give a sermon or not have at all. Just make it mutual like Hebrews requires. Actually, Hebrews gives a ton of thought:
24 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, 25 not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
Do that, and you are on your way. I recommend you regularly have communion. Paul does not limit who you give communion to.
Start a House Church and Save the World
I see that this new/old model could support people who are bored or sick of church. It can help people who seek God but not religion which is common actually. This model can respond to needs of specific communities.
The church does not have to stay in decline in the West. We can grow again without any capital improvement projects. My church has no paid staff but that could happen if helpful. We are not registered anywhere, but you could.
We need a million house churches to fill the land. They start one at a time. It only takes a step. My wife and I have twice started a church with one person agreeing to join and moved from there. Fail? Start again with more wisdom.
