House churches/Organic church, your opinion?

[Aquila]

Originally Posted by Scott Hutchinson

I could see where people could feel more connected in a house setting rather than feeling lost in the shuffle in a mega church setting.

The question is... what does the Bible say our meetings should be like? What is the purpose of our gatherings? To hear a "sermon" or to fellowship and learn God's will for our lives?

[Nitehawk013]

I continue to be intrigued by House Church. I do however think that some combination of the two, house church and traditional church, would be the best all around form of both reaching the lost as well as rooting and growing the saints.

I am looking into getting a work started in a small local town where there is no Apostolic church. My desire is to see it start as small home bible study/home church meetings and then, if the groups desire it, perhaps go the route of getting a building for larger gatherings. That would be well down the road obviously. I never want it to become just another traditional church. I think the community aspect of christianity is hindered by the traditional church. I think home church meetings create a far better atmosphere of community and family within the body.

[Digging4Truth]

Originally Posted by Nitehawk013

I continue to be intrigued by House Church. I do however think that some combination of the two, house church and traditional church, would be the best all around form of both reaching the lost as well as rooting and growing the saints.

Most house churches do run a combination of the two. Regular meetings take place in individual homes but the local house churches in the area network with one another and, on occasion, the network of house churches will get together for celebration services where they all come together in one place and worship corporately.

[Aquila]

The church I attend is a "hybrid". We have a large corporate service on Sundays at the main campus and our "midweek" services are conducted in our house churches. What sets "house church" apart from other "cell group" and "home fellowship groups" is leadership. Our house churches are led by qualified elders. Counsel, baptisms, marriages, and church measures of discipline are handled in the house church setting. If an issue of church discipline becomes too serious it's escalated to the elders of the entire fellowship and a person can be "disfellowshipped". Then all the house church elders in the network are admonished not to take the individual in unless they have shown what is believed to be a genuine attitude of repentance. Essentially... the central gathering could be cancelled indefinitely and our house churches would continue to meet and grow. The Sunday service is primarily for expository teaching and worship (celebration). All this year we've been covering the Gospel of John. We're only in chapter 8 right now. It's estimated that it will take two years to complete this Gospel. My previous house church was studying through Hebrews (verse by verse) and my current house church is focusing on the book of Acts (verse by verse). It's been very enlightening, especially with open discussion on the material.

Here's a silly video of our Sunday gathering. Pastor Rob Turner is having fun and trying to get the people to wake up. lol

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZPV8GFe--uk

[Digging4Truth]

Originally Posted by Nitehawk013

I am looking into getting a work started in a small local town where there is no Apostolic church. My desire is to see it start as small home bible study/home church meetings and then, if the groups desire it, perhaps go the route of getting a building for larger gatherings. That would be well down the road obviously. I never want it to become just another traditional church. I think the community aspect of christianity is hindered by the traditional church. I think home church meetings create a far better atmosphere of community and family within the body.

This is another thing that calls to me to begin a house church in my area. I live in a town with no apostolic church. My wife bought a Kirby vacuum cleaner from a lady the other day who goes to a local denominal church and she said she longs for a church where she can raise her hands and amen the preacher. She wants to go to a church where she can feel free.

The church we go to is 30 minutes away. So I leave a perfectly ripe field every time I go to service and drive to a place where there is a church to be a part of that.

There are no apostolic church for 30 minutes any direction I travel from the town that I live in.

[Aquila]

Originally Posted by Digging4Truth

This is another thing that calls to me to begin a house church in my area. I live in a town with no apostolic church. My wife bought a Kirby vacuum cleaner from a lady the other day who goes to a local denominal church and she said she longs for a church where she can raise her hands and amen the preacher. She wants to go to a church where she can feel free.

The church we go to is 30 minutes away. So I leave a perfectly ripe field every time I go to service and drive to a place where there is a church to be a part of that.

There are no apostolic church for 30 minutes any direction I travel from the town that I live in.

Great book on this:

http://www.amazon.com/Starting-House.../dp/0830743650

Also,

http://www.amazon.com/Making-Small-G...9564376&sr=1-9

Go in Christ!

[Amanah]

have you read this one Aquila?

http://www.amazon.com/Pagan-Christia...9564613&sr=1-1

[Nitehawk013]

Originally Posted by Digging4Truth

This is another thing that calls to me to begin a house church in my area. I live in a town with no apostolic church. My wife bought a Kirby vacuum cleaner from a lady the other day who goes to a local denominal church and she said she longs for a church where she can raise her hands and amen the preacher. She wants to go to a church where she can feel free.

The church we go to is 30 minutes away. So I leave a perfectly ripe field every time I go to service and drive to a place where there is a church to be a part of that.

There are no apostolic church for 30 minutes any direction I travel from the town that I live in.

This town is only about 15 minutes from our church via the highway. I am of the opinion we ought to "go" and take the gospel to other cities rather than expect everyone to come to us though. My Pastor would disagree. He wants me to go there and then work on bringing the people back here. If I go with the backing of our church, I would feel obligated to do just that. If i go on my own, I am not looking forward to feeling like an outsider to those i have been in church with for 17 years. I am praying about what steps to take next. God will show the right path to take.

[Aquila]

Originally Posted by Amanah

have you read this one Aquila?

http://www.amazon.com/Pagan-Christia...9564613&sr=1-1

YES! Great book.

Revolution and Revolutionary Parenting are also excellent resources by Barna.

[Aquila]

Originally Posted by Nitehawk013

This town is only about 15 minutes from our church via the highway. I am of the opinion we ought to "go" and take the gospel to other cities rather than expect everyone to come to us though. My Pastor would disagree. He wants me to go there and then work on bringing the people back here. If I go with the backing of our church, I would feel obligated to do just that. If i go on my own, I am not looking forward to feeling like an outsider to those i have been in church with for 17 years. I am praying about what steps to take next. God will show the right path to take.

You could always saturate the issue with prayer and then approach your pastor about starting a house church during the week. Part of the objective could be to encourage those you reach to attend your Pastor's service on Sunday with you. That way the vision God gave both of you can bloom as God leads.