Outreach-via home church meetings

[shag]

I would like to hear from some of you that do your church meetings in your homes, of what “tools, or intentional planning” you put into practice with respect to reaching the lost.

I feel like there has to be some type of intentional planning involved, or atleast a little bit of relationship built , before you just invite a complete stranger into your home, whereas you would probably moreso invite a complete stranger into a common church building, for “service”.

How can Home groups or house churches be more effective on reaching the lost, instead of just the same click or same people attending, month in month out, without ever reaching the sinner?


I would love to see some testimonies of how the gospel is being spread, The sinner being reached, by way of meetings in the home, or “based” out of the home.

[Esaias]

Sinners aren't reached primarily through "meetings in the home", but rather through each member of the assembly witnessing to the people they come in cintact with on a daily basis. We tried going door to door but everybody is apparently saved already (even had a guy tell me he was born saved cuz he was raised Baptist). Most around here do NOT appreciate ANYBODY coming to their door except friends and relations and the FedEx or UPS guy. This area it seems EVERYBODY is related somehow and if you weren't born and raised here going back several generations you are perpetually kept on the outside. It's a tough area. So we've been re evaluating our approach in these parts. We've had some success reaching some people. One lady has since moved to the Houston area, but another person, a young man, has been coming to our meetings and is getting interested in "this Holy Ghost thing".

Everybody in this area is either Baptist, Church of Christ, Mennonite, or on drugs. Sometimes a combination of those things. The Mennonites pretty much have ZERO contact with non Mennonites unless you're buying something from one of their businesses. The Church of Christ folks are almost all seniors who only seem interested in inviting you to their church. The Baptists are... well, Baptists. There's some Church of God (Cleveland) types, some AoG and charismatics, some JWs, and a handful of Oneness Pentecostals. Seems everyone is what they are because that's what Ma and Pa were, and Meemaw and Pawpaw were, and their cousins are, etc. And it seems only the JWs even want to talk about God (but they're on a mission of their own anyway).

So like I said, we're re evaluating how to approach this area. It's VERY different than when we were in the Houston area. NO church seems to have experienced any kind of growth that I can see since we've been here. Religion seems to be very much simply a family tradition in this area.

But what we have seen is that individuals just being a witness at all times at least gets a conversation going with some folks. And with a few of those, progress becomes visible. But it is slow and kind of tedious. People are so unbelievably and easily distracted.

[james34]

Sinners aren't reached primarily through "meetings in the home", but rather through each member of the assembly witnessing to the people they come in cintact with on a daily basis. We tried going door to door but everybody is apparently saved already (even had a guy tell me he was born saved cuz he was raised Baptist). Most around here do NOT appreciate ANYBODY coming to their door except friends and relations and the FedEx or UPS guy. This area it seems EVERYBODY is related somehow and if you weren't born and raised here going back several generations you are perpetually kept on the outside. It's a tough area. So we've been re evaluating our approach in these parts. We've had some success reaching some people. One lady has since moved to the Houston area, but another person, a young man, has been coming to our meetings and is getting interested in "this Holy Ghost thing".

Everybody in this area is either Baptist, Church of Christ, Mennonite, or on drugs. Sometimes a combination of those things. The Mennonites pretty much have ZERO contact with non Mennonites unless you're buying something from one of their businesses. The Church of Christ folks are almost all seniors who only seem interested in inviting you to their church. The Baptists are... well, Baptists. There's some Church of God (Cleveland) types, some AoG and charismatics, some JWs, and a handful of Oneness Pentecostals. Seems everyone is what they are because that's what Ma and Pa were, and Meemaw and Pawpaw were, and their cousins are, etc. And it seems only the JWs even want to talk about God (but they're on a mission of their own anyway).

So like I said, we're re evaluating how to approach this area. It's VERY different than when we were in the Houston area. NO church seems to have experienced any kind of growth that I can see since we've been here. Religion seems to be very much simply a family tradition in this area.

But what we have seen is that individuals just being a witness at all times at least gets a conversation going with some folks. And with a few of those, progress becomes visible. But it is slow and kind of tedious. People are so unbelievably and easily distracted.

I repair appliances and therefore have opportunity to be in many homes each week, I find people to be very interested in listening and some are hungry, fewer still are hungry to a point that I believe they would have come to our church,sadly I could not with clear conscience invite them , lest they should get blind sided from main stream religion and political correctness that is running rampant through many churches.
If I could just get about 2 or 3 that wouldn't mind having a little church with me, then we could get together and we could have church.
But I feel we are being moved in the direction of home church in NE Arkansas
But I believe the Lord will open doors and we will find people that are hungry.
I will preach when I can in churches where their is a hunger for truth, the lord showed me some months back that he is interested in going where often we as Christiains(at least myself) dont want to go because sin abounds in those places. It seems hard to get past the walls that people seem to have up. But the lord showed me that he believes if he were to go into those places that he could make a difference and that he would , not maybe, would win a soul.
He showed me that he is raring to go (sorta like a horse chomping at the bits) very desirous to go and work among the lost......In this vision Though I didnt see his face I was aware of his prescence and I was aware of just how great his desire was to go to the lost. His desire was so great that I knew he would leave any minute, so I was surprised when he continued to linger there with me, knowing his great desire to go among the sinners and make a difference as he knew he could. I was confused and didnt understand why he tarried , knowing his great desire to go amongst the lost. Then he showed me what it was that kept him back. I wept when I realized what it was that kept our Lord back. He was waiting for me and for you to take him. I felt that he would sacrifice and suffer again the things he had already suffered if it would help win a soul. We have a great responsibility to take Christ to the lost , I preach in homes and pour my heart out whether or not they will ever be in a meeting that I am holding is of little concern, I sew the seed and I have confidence in God that his word wont come back void. I have witnessed with drug addicts, wifes who were heart broken for their family and afraid because the husband on crystal methamphetamine had forsaken them and threatened them(they just want their family back) its heart breaking to see lives destroyed by Satan, and it's an honor to be on the Lords side offering the cure for every problem facing mankind......free water for the soul, he that drinks shall never thirst again.

[Michael The Disciple]

James

I was confused and didnt understand why he tarried , knowing his great desire to go amongst the lost. Then he showed me what it was that kept him back. I wept when I realized what it was that kept our Lord back. He was waiting for me and for you to take him.

[Esaias]

I repair appliances and therefore have opportunity to be in many homes each week, I find people to be very interested in listening and some are hungry, fewer still are hungry to a point that I believe they would have come to our church,sadly I could not with clear conscience invite them , lest they should get blind sided from main stream religion and political correctness that is running rampant through many churches.
If I could just get about 2 or 3 that wouldn't mind having a little church with me, then we could get together and we could have church.
But I feel we are being moved in the direction of home church in NE Arkansas
But I believe the Lord will open doors and we will find people that are hungry.
I will preach when I can in churches where their is a hunger for truth, the lord showed me some months back that he is interested in going where often we as Christiains(at least myself) dont want to go because sin abounds in those places. It seems hard to get past the walls that people seem to have up. But the lord showed me that he believes if he were to go into those places that he could make a difference and that he would , not maybe, would win a soul.
He showed me that he is raring to go (sorta like a horse chomping at the bits) very desirous to go and work among the lost......In this vision Though I didnt see his face I was aware of his prescence and I was aware of just how great his desire was to go to the lost. His desire was so great that I knew he would leave any minute, so I was surprised when he continued to linger there with me, knowing his great desire to go among the sinners and make a difference as he knew he could. I was confused and didnt understand why he tarried , knowing his great desire to go amongst the lost. Then he showed me what it was that kept him back. I wept when I realized what it was that kept our Lord back. He was waiting for me and for you to take him. I felt that he would sacrifice and suffer again the things he had already suffered if it would help win a soul. We have a great responsibility to take Christ to the lost , I preach in homes and pour my heart out whether or not they will ever be in a meeting that I am holding is of little concern, I sew the seed and I have confidence in God that his word wont come back void. I have witnessed with drug addicts, wifes who were heart broken for their family and afraid because the husband on crystal methamphetamine had forsaken them and threatened them(they just want their family back) its heart breaking to see lives destroyed by Satan, and it's an honor to be on the Lords side offering the cure for every problem facing mankind......free water for the soul, he that drinks shall never thirst again.

Very powerful. Thank you! :yourock

[votivesoul]

I would like to hear from some of you that do your church meetings in your homes, of what “tools, or intentional planning” you put into practice with respect to reaching the lost.

I feel like there has to be some type of intentional planning involved, or atleast a little bit of relationship built , before you just invite a complete stranger into your home, whereas you would probably moreso invite a complete stranger into a common church building, for “service”.

How can Home groups or house churches be more effective on reaching the lost, instead of just the same click or same people attending, month in month out, without ever reaching the sinner?


I would love to see some testimonies of how the gospel is being spread, The sinner being reached, by way of meetings in the home, or “based” out of the home.

Piggy-backing on what Esaias said, we generally do not do much inviting to the home meetings. Evangelism occurs in everyday life, wherever we are at. For me, that's almost entirely at work. Granted, it has been that way since God saved me in 2003, even before we were a part of a home-based assembly. But, I rarely invite unbelievers to a home meeting. I prefer to make the relationship and minister right where they are at, in the breakroom, for example.

While invitations have been made and I've gone that route in both cases in the past, it tends to be that the work of an evangelist is done primarily outside of the church, as it were.

Generally speaking, I am of the opinion that the church meeting is really geared for the saints, to exhort, comfort, and edify the brethren, to provoke one another to love and good works, first and foremost, but to also be available if an unbeliever or guest attends, but that as a secondary purpose. While Paul does mention in 1 Corinthians 14 if an unbeliever should be present, you really don't see any examples in the Holy Scriptures were the saints get together and unbelievers are invited or expected to be there unless the church is out in public.

[james34]

how does a home church make new converts?
Wouldnt their be a need for water baptism which would require a gathering together?

Does anyone know of any house churches in N. Central/east Arkansas?

[diakonos]

Start one.

[Nicodemus1968]

how does a home church make new converts?
Wouldnt their be a need for water baptism which would require a gathering together?

Does anyone know of any house churches in N. Central/east Arkansas?

We have home services every Sunday Morning, and its great! We pray, we sing, preach, and fellowship afterwards. There are times after the service the people stay afterwards and we talk for a couple hours, they're asking questions about the word and were able to minister right there in our living room after service.

Baptism shouldn't be any different from that in a church building and that in home missions. We had a baptism, and we had it outside and I baptized a young man in the cattle tank.

I personally do not know of any home churches in Arkansas, I know in some churches they call them "home groups", not home church.

[Amanah]

Every assembly I've been a part of was founded and maintained on home bible studies. Evangelism done by church members on their jobs and in the market place. Weekly prayer meetings along with preservice prayer. Teaching church members how to teach a simple home bible study. Doesn't matter if it's a home fellowship or a small rented storefront. No reason to push for the burden of owing a building although most seem to think that is important.

[Nicodemus1968]

Every assembly I've been a part of was founded and maintained on home bible studies. Evangelism done by church members on their jobs and in the market place. Weekly prayer meetings along with preservice prayer. Teaching church members how to teach a simple home bible study. Doesn't matter if it's a home fellowship or a small rented storefront. No reason to push for the burden of owing a building although most seem to think that is important.

Until the Government decides to tax their property. I guess there is a push on social media to tax religious non profits. It’s states that if they did, the tax rate would drop to only 3%. Home church is sounding more like the norm, we’ll at least to some.

[Amanah]

Until the Government decides to tax their property. I guess there is a push on social media to tax religious non profits. It’s states that if they did, the tax rate would drop to only 3%. Home church is sounding more like the norm, we’ll at least to some.

The early church met from house to house and also met at the temple pre 70AD. Some built fellowship halls as additions to their homes. Church buildings were not the norm until after 325 AD when Constantine began building Romanesque basilicas for church meetings.

To return to home fellowship meetings being predominant would require committed participatory vs spectator Christianity. Families would need to be able to leave the main group and start a new fellowship when the main group outgrew their current meeting place.

[james34]

Start one.

please elaborate

[james34]

We have home services every Sunday Morning, and its great! We pray, we sing, preach, and fellowship afterwards. There are times after the service the people stay afterwards and we talk for a couple hours, they're asking questions about the word and were able to minister right there in our living room after service.

Baptism shouldn't be any different from that in a church building and that in home missions. We had a baptism, and we had it outside and I baptized a young man in the cattle tank.

I personally do not know of any home churches in Arkansas, I know in some churches they call them "home groups", not home church.

im considering going this route,
i almost did last year ,but joined a local assembly.....it doesnt seem to be working out

most mainstream churches are filled with problems that "they are not willing to address"

[diakonos]

Does anyone know of any house churches in N. Central/east Arkansas?

Start one.

please elaborate

Start one.

[Amanah]

Apostolic Order of Service
By Esaias

https://www.apostolicfriendsforum.com/showthread.php?t=51685&highlight=House+Church

[Nicodemus1968]

Apostolic Order of Service
By Esaias

https://www.apostolicfriendsforum.com/showthread.php?t=51685&highlight=House+Church

I don't believe there is a certain template that a church needs to follow. I know we usually follow a traditional service at times, i.e prayer, worship, testimonies, preaching, alter call, and then fellowship. Yet there have been plenty of times we just ministered to a need. No worship, no preaching just ministering to the present need.The church needs to be instant in season and out of season, we need to follow what the spirit wants. I have been in services and I'm sure others will agree, that we just prayed the entire service.

In my opinion, I feel the spirit is able to minister a lot easier in a home rather than a church building, especially with new converts. Thats why home bibles are so important, church buildings and the church service (in the building) can be intimidating.

[Amanah]

I don't believe there is a certain template that a church needs to follow. I know we usually follow a traditional service at times, i.e prayer, worship, testimonies, preaching, alter call, and then fellowship. Yet there have been plenty of times we just ministered to a need. No worship, no preaching just ministering to the present need.The church needs to be instant in season and out of season, we need to follow what the spirit wants. I have been in services and I'm sure others will agree, that we just prayed the entire service.

In my opinion, I feel the spirit is able to minister a lot easier in a home rather than a church building, especially with new converts. Thats why home bibles are so important, church buildings and the church service (in the building) can be intimidating.

:thumbsup

[coksiw]

First century house gatherings were usually in the house of the one that could hold as many people as possible. The number was between 50-60 people, putting in perspective, 50% of churches in the USA has 75 or less members. I don’t think it is what most people nowadays expects as “house church”. The archeology is my source. Apparently, they also had city-wide meetings in Corinth.

Regarding meeting content, it is very likely they followed the synagogue style as many of the first Christians were devout Jews. Prayer, public reading of the Scriptures, with explanations, words of exhortation by any male in the congregation. Once in a while a topical teaching somebody will bring already prepared, and a meal also. I am not sold out on any specific order. Whatever is practical.

I don’t think the small gathering was normative or even the goal. Quite the opposite. Jesus himself beside the 12, had large gatherings, and more followers than the 12, from both genders. The meeting in houses in Act was not always to gather as a church but to evangelize or teach to households. So no all verses used to back house churches is appropriately used.

[Nicodemus1968]

im considering going this route,
i almost did last year ,but joined a local assembly.....it doesnt seem to be working out

most mainstream churches are filled with problems that "they are not willing to address"

I don’t believe it’s because they’re not wanting to address the problems. My understanding is they don’t know how.

[Jito463]

I don't believe there is a certain template that a church needs to follow. I know we usually follow a traditional service at times, i.e prayer, worship, testimonies, preaching, alter call, and then fellowship. Yet there have been plenty of times we just ministered to a need. No worship, no preaching just ministering to the present need.The church needs to be instant in season and out of season, we need to follow what the spirit wants. I have been in services and I'm sure others will agree, that we just prayed the entire service.We've had many services like that, where the Spirit of the Lord just moved on us, and we never got around to the "service". It was just about letting God do as He wills.

In my opinion, I feel the spirit is able to minister a lot easier in a home rather than a church building, especially with new converts. Thats why home bibles are so important, church buildings and the church service (in the building) can be intimidating.The building isn't what matters, it's the people of God actually being sensitive to the moving of the Spirit. I don't think God cares if we meet in our homes or a building, so long as we listen to His Spirit and follow where He leads us.

[Nicodemus1968]

We've had many services like that, where the Spirit of the Lord just moved on us, and we never got around to the "service". It was just about letting God do as He wills.

The building isn't what matters, it's the people of God actually being sensitive to the moving of the Spirit. I don't think God cares if we meet in our homes or a building, so long as we listen to His Spirit and follow where He leads us.

:thumbsup

[votivesoul]

please elaborate

There is any number of directions you can take to begin the process of building a home-based church community.

You can create flyers, get business cards, door knocking, and all of the traditional approaches to outreach, if you are so inclined.

But I don't recommend that. Up to you, of course.

How about your neighbors? Got any family in the area? Co-workers? Parents of your children's friends (if you have children)?

To me, that's the place to start.

Don't worry about who already is or is not Apostolic. Just get the ball rolling with regular invites over to the homestead for dinner. If you are wise as a serpent--meaning you're paying close attention, and if you're harmless as a dove--meaning you keep things simple, sincere, unsophisticated, people will tell you exactly when the right time is, for you to begin ministering to them.

So, you have a coworker over for dinner. He brings his wife and kids. You have a good meal. The kids play together, or whatever. You sit around the table, play a game of Yahtzee, or whatever, and you laugh and have a good time.

Then, inevitably, the common phrase "we should do this again sometime" will be spoken. Agreements will go around. Make certain you do do it again, sooner rather than later. Maybe give it a month, tops.

This time, perhaps they have you over to their house. Wash, rinse, repeat. Within a few times, you'll be talking about meaningful things like, how you met your spouse, the joys and struggles of parenting, the state of the world, etc.

And if you're paying attention and have the "tongue of a ready writer", as it were, you'll be able to speak the Word at the right moment. It may be only a comment here, or a few bits of bread there, but it will work out and make a difference.

And you just keep it up. Don't pressure anyone. Don't "try" to start a church. Just be what you already are. Let the Spirit lead and be in control. You won't have to do much but make sure the pot is on the stove and the table is ready.

[votivesoul]

There is any number of directions you can take to begin the process of building a home-based church community.

You can create flyers, get business cards, door knocking, and all of the traditional approaches to outreach, if you are so inclined.

But I don't recommend that. Up to you, of course.

How about your neighbors? Got any family in the area? Co-workers? Parents of your children's friends (if you have children)?

To me, that's the place to start.

Don't worry about who already is or is not Apostolic. Just get the ball rolling with regular invites over to the homestead for dinner. If you are wise as a serpent--meaning you're paying close attention, and if you're harmless as a dove--meaning you keep things simple, sincere, unsophisticated, people will tell you exactly when the right time is, for you to begin ministering to them.

So, you have a coworker over for dinner. He brings his wife and kids. You have a good meal. The kids play together, or whatever. You sit around the table, play a game of Yahtzee, or whatever, and you laugh and have a good time.

Then, inevitably, the common phrase "we should do this again sometime" will be spoken. Agreements will go around. Make certain you do do it again, sooner rather than later. Maybe give it a month, tops.

This time, perhaps they have you over to their house. Wash, rinse, repeat. Within a few times, you'll be talking about meaningful things like, how you met your spouse, the joys and struggles of parenting, the state of the world, etc.

And if you're paying attention and have the "tongue of a ready writer", as it were, you'll be able to speak the Word at the right moment. It may be only a comment here, or a few bits of bread there, but it will work out and make a difference.

And you just keep it up. Don't pressure anyone. Don't "try" to start a church. Just be what you already are. Let the Spirit lead and be in control. You won't have to do much but make sure the pot is on the stove and the table is ready.

Here are the Biblical proofs:

Romans 12:13 (ESV),

13. Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.

Hebrews 13:2 (ESV),

2. Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.

In the above two verses, the Greek term translated "to show hospitality" is φιλοξενίας or philoxenias.

1 Timothy 3:2 (ESV),

2 Therefore an overseer[a] must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach...

Titus 1:8 (ESV),

8. but hospitable, a lover of good, self-controlled, upright, holy, and disciplined.

The above two verses, which in part, outline the qualifications of a bishop, that is, an elder shepherd, both use the Greek word φιλόξενον or philoxenon.

1 Peter 4:9 (ESV),

9. Show hospitality to one another without grumbling.

Here, the Greek word translated hospitality is the same as in 1 Timothy 3:2 and Titus 1:8.

So now, the question is, what does it mean to "show hospitality" and to be "hospitable"? Clearly, the two Greek words are from the same root, with one being a verb, the other being an adjective. So, essentially, they mean the same thing (The noun is the concept, the adjective describes the noun when the noun is embodied in the believer).

Definitionally, the idea behind the Greek term is as follows:

From "philos" a friend, and "xenon" a stranger, or more properly, being a friend to strangers (or even foreigners). That is to say, to people who are not of your tribe, clan, or community, which in a Christian context means, your local church body, or perhaps even the Body of Christ, per se.

But there's more.

The Greek terms also denote the following:

A readiness to show hospitality to these strangers, that is, to share, to be generous with, in particularly, and all in CAPS to show emphasis: BY ENTERTAINING IN ONE'S HOME!

Bishop's, that is, elder shepherds, and the church at large, are to invite over and entertain people outside of their community, in their homes.

Hospitality:

Middle English hospitalite "reception of guests, provision of lodging," borrowed from Anglo-French hospitalité, borrowed from Latin hospitālitāt-, hospitālitās "entertainment of guests," from Latin hospitālis "of a guest, of hospitality, hospitable" (from hospit-, hospes "guest, host" + -ālis

Any church, therefore, that is not home-focused is not Biblical. The pastorate of that church, likewise.

Now, it does not mean that every home of every saint in a local assembly has to be open and that every member has to host and share and provide, and etc. But the over-arching emphasis should be about having one's home open and available for regular fellowships, even for those who otherwise might be considered a foreigner to your clan and tribe.

The conclusion: These are Scriptures that cannot be implemented in a building-focused church, by definition. And it is most certain that none of the authors who utilized these words in their Scriptures thought of suggesting their audiences take strangers to a church building, for there were no church buildings to take strangers to.

No, they were expecting their audiences to invite people over to their homes. Therefore, if you want to follow the Apostolic pattern and precedence and praxis of the early church, you need meet "from house to house" (Acts 2:42).

[Amanah]

Beautifully written and simple to implement.
Thank you Brother Votive.

[james34]

Here are the Biblical proofs:

Romans 12:13 (ESV),

13. Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.

Hebrews 13:2 (ESV),

2. Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.

In the above two verses, the Greek term translated "to show hospitality" is φιλοξενίας or philoxenias.

1 Timothy 3:2 (ESV),

2 Therefore an overseer[a] must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach...

Titus 1:8 (ESV),

8. but hospitable, a lover of good, self-controlled, upright, holy, and disciplined.

The above two verses, which in part, outline the qualifications of a bishop, that is, an elder shepherd, both use the Greek word φιλόξενον or philoxenon.

1 Peter 4:9 (ESV),

9. Show hospitality to one another without grumbling.

Here, the Greek word translated hospitality is the same as in 1 Timothy 3:2 and Titus 1:8.

So now, the question is, what does it mean to "show hospitality" and to be "hospitable"? Clearly, the two Greek words are from the same root, with one being a verb, the other being an adjective. So, essentially, they mean the same thing (The noun is the concept, the adjective describes the noun when the noun is embodied in the believer).

Definitionally, the idea behind the Greek term is as follows:

From "philos" a friend, and "xenon" a stranger, or more properly, being a friend to strangers (or even foreigners). That is to say, to people who are not of your tribe, clan, or community, which in a Christian context means, your local church body, or perhaps even the Body of Christ, per se.

But there's more.

The Greek terms also denote the following:

A readiness to show hospitality to these strangers, that is, to share, to be generous with, in particularly, and all in CAPS to show emphasis: BY ENTERTAINING IN ONE'S HOME!

Bishop's, that is, elder shepherds, and the church at large, are to invite over and entertain people outside of their community, in their homes.

Hospitality:

Middle English hospitalite "reception of guests, provision of lodging," borrowed from Anglo-French hospitalité, borrowed from Latin hospitālitāt-, hospitālitās "entertainment of guests," from Latin hospitālis "of a guest, of hospitality, hospitable" (from hospit-, hospes "guest, host" + -ālis

Any church, therefore, that is not home-focused is not Biblical. The pastorate of that church, likewise.

Now, it does not mean that every home of every saint in a local assembly has to be open and that every member has to host and share and provide, and etc. But the over-arching emphasis should be about having one's home open and available for regular fellowships, even for those who otherwise might be considered a foreigner to your clan and tribe.

The conclusion: These are Scriptures that cannot be implemented in a building-focused church, by definition. And it is most certain that none of the authors who utilized these words in their Scriptures thought of suggesting their audiences take strangers to a church building, for there were no church buildings to take strangers to.

No, they were expecting their audiences to invite people over to their homes. Therefore, if you want to follow the Apostolic pattern and precedence and praxis of the early church, you need meet "from house to house" (Acts 2:42).

Great insight n, thanks for sharing

[votivesoul]

Beautifully written and simple to implement.
Thank you Brother Votive.

You're welcome. And thanks.

[votivesoul]

Great insight n, thanks for sharing

Thanks, and you're welcome.

Let us know how it goes, if you put something together.