Lets talk about House Churches
 

This video moved me deeply.

http://vimeo.com/4678782

Who here participated in a house church?

Re: Lets talk about House Churches
 

We have home groups which basically operate like a house church in this video. It is a GREAT way to develop community among church members. I like Ralph Neighbor's way of looking at it when he says we can't get what we get in a large setting in a small setting and vise versa. He states that it is like two wings of a bird and with only one wing, you go in circles. I know there are others who have a different view of home/house meetings but I've found that they both work very well together.

It strikes me that at least some in the video came from mainline churches and I can see where they would think "pentecostal/spirit filled" like home group would be light years from where they were in their buildings.

It is just normal for us to do what they apparently think is so radical. I guess it is a matter of perspective. :D

Re: Lets talk about House Churches
 

There's a group that meets at my place. They bring food over at unannounced intervals and generally act like they care very deeply about whatever it is that they're saying. It's hard to tell exactly. They mumble terribly and speak in low tones punctuated with the occasional "Halleluiah," "Amen!" or "Praise the Lord!"

That, and my mind does wander afar when I can't make out what's being said. I could be an explorer in the Himalayas or Captain of a small sailing rig in the South Polar Sea, and someone else is going on about granny's bloomers being a "bifurcated garment."

Re: Lets talk about House Churches
 

That is a pretty good video. I enjoyed it.

One of the key elements that is often missed was mentioned in the first few minutes... house church is moving from the ordained to the ordinary.

People often view house church and cell groups as similar but they are vastly different in so many ways.

House church also isn't what you do until you can get enough people to rent a storefront either. House church is a group that sees where they are right now as all they ever plan on being as far as meeting circumstances go. There is not interest nor desire for a large congregation. The groups will multiply time and time again but this is what they want... this is where they want to be.

I look forward to the conversation.

Re: Lets talk about House Churches
 

Is house church done instead of or along with "church" church?

Re: Lets talk about House Churches
 

Instead of.

Cell church is done along with.

Of course due to the non competitive nature of house church, meaning that people feel free to move among groups, people might also feel free to visit "church" churches as well. That would be up to them.

Re: Lets talk about House Churches
 

Aren't cell churches used to grow some mega churches and substitute for sunday Night worship?

Re: Lets talk about House Churches
 

I believe that House Churching is the ideal model for the future. There is no way we can build enough buildings or programs for the billions of lost souls in our world. House Churcing allows us to take the church into the trenches. It allows a church to form, grow, and multiply where ever one has a roof and a Bible. House churches spread like wild fire in poor and persecuted countries. If we had a passion we could bring a mighty revival to the United States and I believe this church model would be a wonderful tool in that revival.

Not to mention... it's biblical.

Re: Lets talk about House Churches
 

As far as the substitution for Sunday Night Worship... that would differ from church to church.

But, IMO, the majority of the time cell churches are an effort on the part of "church" churches to react to and incorporate the house church movement while still maintaining the "church" church model.

Re: Lets talk about House Churches
 

Indeed. Father knows best. :)

I believe that America and the industrialized world at large has peaked as far as the effectiveness of the popular church model. People don't trust the model anymore. The time for the return of house church is, indeed, upon us.