Lets talk about House Churches

[Apocrypha]

Originally Posted by Digging4Truth

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.

It depends. There are advantages for both large gatherings and small gatherings. It seems like many successful churches on the Outreach Magazine 100 list use similar models of small group ministry. Here are two books that I read recently from 2 of the top growing churches in the nation that really made me think about how to do small and large together

Deliberate Simplicity: How the Church Does More by Doing Less
http://www.amazon.com/Deliberate-Sim...3&sr=8-1-spell

Sticky Church
http://www.amazon.com/Sticky-Church-...7169939&sr=1-1

Both authors have super huge churches with a very strong small group culture. Larry Osborne in Sticky Church says their actual cell attendance is like 80% of membership. I've been to his church in North San Diego... they run about 7000 in multiple services.

[Michael The Disciple]

Friends,

Home Churches are not new. As a new convert to Christ in 1974 I was introduced to the concept. Matter of fact I have been in Home Churches far more than "meet in building" type Church. In those days it was considered Biblical Restoration among the Jesus People and Charismatic movement where I got started.

I dont think House Church is the answer to all problems. It is an excellent way to have closer fellowship. You do get some of the same kinds of problems you do in building type Churches.

Home meetings have taken on dramatic new possibilities in this internet generation.

We presently are using the Paltalk.com program for home Church.

While we are at home we connect with people around the nation and even the world! We can have audio communication with each other and even see each other for the cost of a web cam.

[*AQuietPlace*]

Just something I was pondering.... I know that 'internet church' will probably become much more popular in the years to come.... and will be the object of much ridicule.

I wonder what Jesus thinks of it? Does it fulfill the command to 'assemble'?

I think there is a lot of good potential there.... great for people who are in really remote locations. Sis. Alvear has shown us that even the remote areas of Brazil have internet stations. So a LOT of people could be reached at extremely little expense.

It could also really help people who have a hard time finding a local church who interpret the scriptures the same way they do.

What are the negatives? You would, of course, still need to reach out to your local community. Personal contact is the backbone of Christianity. But if your 'church' was conducted via internet, would you be violating some portion of scripture?

[Aquila]

Originally Posted by *AQuietPlace*

Just something I was pondering.... I know that 'internet church' will probably become much more popular in the years to come.... and will be the object of much ridicule.

I wonder what Jesus thinks of it? Does it fulfill the command to 'assemble'?

I think there is a lot of good potential there.... great for people who are in really remote locations. Sis. Alvear has shown us that even the remote areas of Brazil have internet stations. So a LOT of people could be reached at extremely little expense.

It could also really help people who have a hard time finding a local church who interpret the scriptures the same way they do.

What are the negatives? You would, of course, still need to reach out to your local community. Personal contact is the backbone of Christianity. But if your 'church' was conducted via internet, would you be violating some portion of scripture?

I don't think one would be violating any portion of scripture... but I do think it wouldn't fulfill the purpose of church... which is meant to be intimate fellowship.

[Digging4Truth]

Originally Posted by *AQuietPlace*

Just something I was pondering.... I know that 'internet church' will probably become much more popular in the years to come.... and will be the object of much ridicule.

I wonder what Jesus thinks of it? Does it fulfill the command to 'assemble'?

I think there is a lot of good potential there.... great for people who are in really remote locations. Sis. Alvear has shown us that even the remote areas of Brazil have internet stations. So a LOT of people could be reached at extremely little expense.

It could also really help people who have a hard time finding a local church who interpret the scriptures the same way they do.

What are the negatives? You would, of course, still need to reach out to your local community. Personal contact is the backbone of Christianity. But if your 'church' was conducted via internet, would you be violating some portion of scripture?

I think that internet church falls short of the blessing of face to face fellowship. There will certainly be instances where internet church will simply offer opportunities not available otherwise and for those situations we should rejoice.

But, for myself, if I have an opportunity to see, greet and fellowship with my brethren face to face then it is certainly my preference.

[Digging4Truth]

Originally Posted by Aquila

I don't think one would be violating any portion of scripture... but I do think it wouldn't fulfill the purpose of church... which is meant to be intimate fellowship.

Agreed.

[*AQuietPlace*]

Originally Posted by Digging4Truth

I think that internet church falls short of the blessing of face to face fellowship. There will certainly be instances where internet church will simply offer opportunities not available otherwise and for those situations we should rejoice.

But, for myself, if I have an opportunity to see, greet and fellowship with my brethren face to face then it is certainly my preference.

Well, everyone could turn on their webcams.

I agree, it's far from ideal. But I do think it will afford opportunities to evangelize remote areas.

And once those people are saved, and they begin to evangelize their communities, then it begins to really fulfill the great commission.

[rgcraig]

There are some people that JUST will not go to church - if they can view a service online and feel God I see nothing wrong with that. It could be a tool to "get the to church"!

[Michael The Disciple]

Originally Posted by *AQuietPlace*

Just something I was pondering.... I know that 'internet church' will probably become much more popular in the years to come.... and will be the object of much ridicule.

I wonder what Jesus thinks of it? Does it fulfill the command to 'assemble'?

I think there is a lot of good potential there.... great for people who are in really remote locations. Sis. Alvear has shown us that even the remote areas of Brazil have internet stations. So a LOT of people could be reached at extremely little expense.

It could also really help people who have a hard time finding a local church who interpret the scriptures the same way they do.

What are the negatives? You would, of course, still need to reach out to your local community. Personal contact is the backbone of Christianity. But if your 'church' was conducted via internet, would you be violating some portion of scripture?

Much depends on how we define "Church". How about this definition?

15: But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth. 1 Tim. 3:15-16

If Church is the "pillar and ground of the truth" that brings us to the conclusion that a great number of groups that meet in buildings may NOT qualify as a Church.

As to personal contact I can assure you I have closer more intimate fellowship with those I gather online at Paltalk.com with than if I were attending a local group whom I felt were upholding doctrinal error.

I learned long ago that membership in a group you have strong issues with is a dead end street. If you dare to speak any of your disagreements with them you are an "Absalom".

When you challenge things such as why they teach against beards or why its a sin for a female to trim their hair you are being "rebellious".

One would hardly DARE to question big important doctrines like the pre trib rapture or the resurrection of the dead or Biblical perfection. You are seen as nothing but a trouble maker.

So here is a Biblical alternative! Meet in your home with whoever will meet with you. Then you can put THAT MEETING online in a situation where you can audibly speak to each other and even SEE each other.

It works much better for me than to go to a local Church and check my mind and my beliefs at the door as I enter.

[*AQuietPlace*]

Originally Posted by Michael The Disciple

Much depends on how we define "Church". How about this definition?

15: But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth. 1 Tim. 3:15-16

If Church is the "pillar and ground of the truth" that brings us to the conclusion that a great number of groups that meet in buildings may NOT qualify as a Church.

As to personal contact I can assure you I have closer more intimate fellowship with those I gather online at Paltalk.com with than if I were attending a local group whom I felt were upholding doctrinal error.

I learned long ago that membership in a group you have strong issues with is a dead end street. If you dare to speak any of your disagreements with them you are an "Absalom".

When you challenge things such as why they teach against beards or why its a sin for a female to trim their hair you are being "rebellious".

One would hardly DARE to question big important doctrines like the pre trib rapture or the resurrection of the dead or Biblical perfection. You are seen as nothing but a trouble maker.

So here is a Biblical alternative! Meet in your home with whoever will meet with you. Then you can put THAT MEETING online in a situation where you can audibly speak to each other and even SEE each other.

It works much better for me than to go to a local Church and check my mind and my beliefs at the door as I enter.

Interesting thoughts, Michael.

I do know that doctrinal discussions can get much deeper online than they generally do 'in person'. My beliefs have been challenged more, and I've had to dig deeper into the Word to see if it supports my belief, since I've been on AFF than at any point previous in my lifetime of church attendance.