House churches vs Traditional
 

Which is better and why?

Is either more scriptural or spiritual?

Can they co-exist or are they by nature exclusionary?

Re: House churches vs Traditional
 

I think a system of "house" churches that regularly meet together as a whole would be awesome

Re: House churches vs Traditional
 

Can you define system?

And at what point would such a system begin to resemble a traditional church that also has small group ministry?

Re: House churches vs Traditional
 

I like the idea of a mix between the two. If, for example, all the apostolics in any given city were to meet in homes for their "regular" services, then meet once a month for a city wide gathering to enjoy some corporate worship then I think we'd have much more unity.

Re: House churches vs Traditional
 

I do not think one is better than the other in every area of the country. Some very large churches are against cell groups, but some very large churches have gotten large numbers because of them. I think that they can co-exist. I feel that in the pastor of the church should know the area enough to know if it will work. The UPC church I go to had them for a while and they fizzled out. The pastor said that the church 'WILL' do them in order to grow. But it might not work everywhere. In the Bible belt you might not have to do them cause some people are not against visiting a church where on the West Coast they might be (examples only). I have heard the the Manguns will not do them. Not too sure but going on second hand info. It all boils to is it profitable for your church. Sometime putting the wrong people in charge of a home group is bad cause they might try to lead the people away from that local church. I believe they can work, but I have not ever seen it personally work.

Re: House churches vs Traditional
 

Bingo, but you know that would not fly in every area.

Re: House churches vs Traditional
 

I prefer mega churches. I like all the options, functions, and programs without the intimacy of having to be too close with people.

Re: House churches vs Traditional
 

Could you imagine pulling something like that off in a really big city, like Los Angeles? Holy macanoli!!! Everyone would know about the apostolic church then! They'd be renting out football stadiums for church services on a regular basis!! It's blowin my mind just thinking about it. It's a shame something like what I've described has about the same chance that a snowball has in............well, ya know.

Re: House churches vs Traditional
 

I already defined it...a serious of house churches that regularly meet together as a whole...Not sure what you were asking for...

Basically it would be similar to a small group ministry

Re: House churches vs Traditional
 

I would respectfully disagree that it's not viable.

It would take a special pastor. In my opinion many traditional Oneness churches do not grow because the pastor feels he needs to be in control of everything and is afraid to delegate.

From a purely evangelistic POV it makes sense. Smaller groups would make more individuals involved, and develop their own personal gifts.

Occasional large gatherings in my opinion are also necessary, there is an special atmosphere when hundreds or thousands gather. Large gatherings could also make sure the "network" for lack of a better word stayed on the same page as far as vision and doctrine.

The problem is, and always will be balance. How much control to be centralized and how much in the hands of the house leaders.

Re: House churches vs Traditional
 

I think small groups don't work with a church that is still too dependent on the "big show"

Re: House churches vs Traditional
 

Wouldn't ever happen because they all believe a little something different. That's why there are so many small churches of the same kind everywhere.

Re: House churches vs Traditional
 

interesting. I don't understand how a church can BE a church without the intimacy of being "too close" with people. The programs and stuff seem nice to me but I think they ultimately take the place of real ministry unless of course those programs are centered around ministry.

Re: House churches vs Traditional
 

Small groups are great for creating relationships in the church. Meet on Sundays corporately, then have small groups on Wednesday nights.

Re: House churches vs Traditional
 

True I was recently affiliated with a church which "pushed" small groups, but the leadership mantra was "It's all about Sunday morning"

Small groups where not a ministry in and of themselves their job was to funnel into the main sanctuary Sunday morning.

Re: House churches vs Traditional
 

I'm sure Rhoni was TIC, she just left it off.

Re: House churches vs Traditional
 

I have often thought of starting a home group, but I have to be honest with myself. I don't have what it takes to get something like that off the ground.

Re: House churches vs Traditional
 

No house?

Re: House churches vs Traditional
 

You said it. It is a pipe dream of sorts. The thought is great. It might happen in our lifetime. I just think that there is and will be too much of the judging each other going on there. Look at Youth Congress and even GC. People can not go without trying to point out others problems. It is sad but true.

A side note about the house churches....
They are a good idea to cultivate immature christian believers. They are a fairly good way of talking about doctrine too. Not as a debate set up. I have thought in the past it would be good to have a group of the newbies met so you can do kinda like a new converts class. In this one you could start real basic and even use that one as an outreach method. You could also have others for the more mature believers. Those are some ideas. There are people that would go to home groups and not to a church building per se.

Re: House churches vs Traditional
 

This is true. I can not remember if it was Rick Warrens church or someone elses, but there is a big church, like top five in size in the nation big, that was built doing cell, life, home groups-whatever you call them. I think that many of the large churches have a big church talk with a small church mentality. The thought is good cause it can work very well.

Re: House churches vs Traditional
 

Hehehe. Yes, I have a house. It's the getting it organized and such that I wouldn't be any good at. Whoever starts something like that would almost inevitably be its leader and be relied upon for some things I wouldn't be any good at.

Re: House churches vs Traditional
 

Rhoni, I'm just curious.......why wouldn't you want to develop a close relationship with people in your church?

Re: House churches vs Traditional
 

Defense mechanism?

Isn't the fellowship about getting close?

Re: House churches vs Traditional
 

Don't you know - this way she can slip in late, leave early and not be missed if she wants to skip church!!!!

Re: House churches vs Traditional
 

You are right. It is very difficult to build relationships with a large group.

Re: House churches vs Traditional
 

I don't see cell groups as Biblical... House churches that start organically are Biblical, but they take more time and commitment than having a pastor say, "Ok, group B meets on Tuesday at 7 at the Jones, and group C meets Thursday at 7 at the Smith's." Relationships have to build and the LORD will work to build bonds of fellowship between the saints in an assembly. This has to be a GOD-thing, it has to be organic.

Also, as for megachurches or renting out stadiums... What is the need for the church to be showy? I understand inter-assembly fellowship and things, but GC or Youth Congress or big stadiums, they just don't seem like something the apostles would have done... The pride that spews forth from those on the stage who "preform" is obvious, and it's what turns off so many unbelievers.

Lastly, as for pastor's who need to have too much control, and they hinder inter-assembly fellowship and house church meetings, I highly recommend a book my pastor gave me to read, "The Upside Down Church". It completely changed the way I looked at church leadership, and it put in me the desire to, one day, be the type of pastor who understands myself at the bottom of the pyramid supporting, uplifting and seeing the perfecting of the saints, rather than being at the top of the pyramid being supported by everyone and barking out orders. Delegating authority--- I see what happens when it takes place, and it is great, it gives every saint a piece of ownership and responsibility of the assembly, it trains leaders and it takes the burden off the pastor(s)/elder(s).

GOD BLESS!
Bro. Alex

Re: House churches vs Traditional
 

I have done this for the past year.

It takes a LOT of dedication for all involved. Towards the end of the year folks want to start having "family time". Nothing wrong with that per se but once you make a committment you need to be faithful to the committment. That is not to say you can't adjust the schedule so family time and special occasions can be handled.

We didn't see a lot of growth until towards the end of the year. About the time you are ready to say this isn't worth my time anymore. But we shouldn't discount the one family that you may be working with for a period of time.

God is in control and He knows best!:happydance

Re: House churches vs Traditional
 

You're good at spitting out what's wrong. Let's hear what you have to say about some solutions. Exactly how would Alex go about it?

Re: House churches vs Traditional
 

Don't you love it when that's the case? Did you all meet on Sunday after service? That's how the house church group I meet with does things, and it works really well. There's about 15 of us and it works well.

GOD BLESS!
Bro. Alex

Re: House churches vs Traditional
 

You have a home church? Cool! I am sure you mentioned before, but I have a hard time keeping up with who is doing what. How did you get it established? Was it just you and your family at first? How did you get more people involved? How big is the group? Questions and more questions. :)

Re: House churches vs Traditional
 

If you're an active part of an assembly, why not start by inviting some people over, and keep inviting them over and be consistent. Have good food, but make the gathering more than just that. Sing before the meal, pray, have communion, while you all eat, get a Bible discussion going, pose a question, answer others questions, discuss what you've read lately in the Bible. Invest yourself in the people that are apart of your house church. Maybe have another family, who has been in the church for a while help you, maybe have another family or a small group of new believers come, they'll appreciate the fellowship you give them, and they'll get to see apostolic Christianity in practice. Grow together as a group, and see what the LORD will do!

GOD BLESS!
Bro. Alex

Re: House churches vs Traditional
 

You can do all that without leaving the church building. That's what the fellowship hall is for.

Re: House churches vs Traditional
 

If an assembly does this sort of thing on a weekly basis- great! And I'm not a house OR traditional church person, I'm a house AND traditional church person. But there is something to be said for meeting in small groups, mentoring people, and having that intimacy that you can't get in an assembly of 30, 70, 100 or 1000. I personally like groups of 10-15, this makes everyone an active participant. If you can do this sort of thing in a larger group, then great, but as someone who's part of a house church that sometimes even gets to be at 20 or so, if other people tag along, the intimacy is lost in that setting. My pastor has considered expanding his kitchen for a greater dinner table for house church, but everyone agrees that the answer is not to add more people, but to pray that other house churches get started so that the house church experience is not lost.

GOD BLESS!
Bro. Alex

Re: House churches vs Traditional
 

I am very much in favor of cell groups, house churches, weekly meetings in the fellowship hall; anything that works towards edifying and empowering God's people.

Re: House churches vs Traditional
 

Some ideas I have been tossing around this afternoon:

Sing a few songs

Pray for each other

Find some good Bible studies at the Christian bookstore for discussion

Watch some good preaching from online sources

Pick a local charity to support, maybe a food bank or something


What do you guys think? I have a family in mind who might be interested in doing this house church thing. What other ideas do y'all think might help to make it interesting?

Re: House churches vs Traditional
 

GREAT! We don't watch online sermons, but if it would work for you all, then that could be a good idea. And if I could put in another idea... communion- try it! If you do it reverently, I think it's a great thing to do in a house group setting. We discussed the fact that the apostles has the LORD's Supper during their fellowship dinners, and we see it like a part of saying grace over a meal. Just some suggestions- I'm excited for you and your trying out house church. I would also, HIGHLY recommend gloriouschurch.com, they have a lot of good info there.

GOD BLESS!
Bro. Alex

Re: House churches vs Traditional
 

We had Home Friendship Groups for several years at our church. In fact, my husband and I were Zone Leaders. But, they just didn't really "catch on" so to speak. We live on the Buckle of the Bible Belt and most people prefer to have church...well...at church!

I DO think that they can be and are more effective in urban areas where people must travel long distances to get to church.

Beth

Re: House churches vs Traditional
 

I think house churches and meeting in church building are both acceptable.

Re: House churches vs Traditional
 

I think house churches and meeting in church buildings are both acceptable.

Re: House churches vs Traditional
 

Don't sell yourself short. I thought that once, until I had a small convention dumped on my lap to take over. (this was never before done in my area so I ended up building the whole works myself) Small as in about 20 attending, but lasting all weekend. I didn't think that I could do it (and I was right, but I had the Lord's help) but it came off great. I'd like to start a home group now, but my problem is my job keeps me away from home to do it.