House Churches

I. Introduction:

II. Text:

III. House church movement

A. A movement in the denominational world for a few decades

B. Small groups split off from a larger church to form house churches Movements in every major Christian denomination including the Catholic church

C. Movement is starting to work its way into the Lord’s church

IV. Is it the only scriptural model?

A. Some feel it is the only scriptural organization that the early church knew

B. Colossians 4:15 Philemon 2 Romans 16:5 Of course, it was convenient for the church to do so in most cases.

C. Misapplication of some passages

D. Acts 2:42-46 – Breaking bread from house to house

E. Interpreted to mean “house churches” When used of the Lord’s Supper, described as “the” breaking of bread This passage also mentions the Christians meeting in the temple which would mean that a house was not the only location the first century Christians used. Acts 19:9 – Paul taught in the school of Tyrannus

F. To say that the early church met only in house is to reason incorrectly and overstate one’s case.

G. There is nothing wrong with a church meeting in a house if the situation necessitates it; but the scriptures do not demand it.

V. Why are they becoming popular?

A. Not from necessity; these are churches started in areas with strong churches already in existence

B. Problems with the coldness and ritual of larger churches

C. Dissatisfaction with God’s prescribed means of worship has led to many errors

D. Instrumental music and bands Dramatic performances Hollywood-style focus

E. The house church

F. Prides itself on not following rituals Prides itself on creating an informal worship atmosphere As with many changes and innovations, the novelty soon wears off, the enthusiasm fades, and the “new” worship becomes routine In the final analysis, the problem is not the ritual or the service itself; the problem is with the worshipper. Immature or shallow Christians are constantly trying to change the worship to make it more exciting to them instead of changing themselves to develop a strong love for God’s of worship and glorifying Him.

G. Desire to promote a “hobby” issue

H. Often groups will form in a desire to promote some “new” idea that the “unenlightened” majority of the local church ignores or minimizes.

I. Many home churches, from Catholic and other mainstream denominations formed to promote charismatic teaching (tongue speaking, miracles, etc.)

J. Some in the denominational world, and even among our brethren, have broken off in support of the King James only doctrine.

K. These believe that the King James Version is the most perfect translation of the scriptures and the only one that should be used by Christians. QUOTES FROM SUPPORTERS

L. Come want to spend more time on the Lord’s Supper.

M. There is nothing wrong with a desire to put more emphasis on the Lord’s Supper. However, some have exalted the Lord’s Supper to the trivialization of other parts of worship that are also commanded, necessary, and important. It is not right to divide the Lord’s people in order to change the worship.

N. Division and destructive heresies often start and grow in small groups

O. Church divisions

P. In many local churches, a vocal group causing problems often have been meeting for weeks or months discussing problems and planning strategies The rest of the church is blind sighted and unaware of the festering issues

Q. Heresies

R. Subversive heresies

S. While in Florida, I knew a group of Christians that promoted some strange doctrines among themselves. They did not like the scrutiny of the majority of the brethren who demanded scriptural authority for their arguments and used scriptural arguments against the false teaching This group would often draw in Christians who were new converts, weak, or newcomers to the area to develop their support since the more mature Christians could see the error of the group This group, in their sneakiness and secrecy were harming the Lord’s church because they promoted division under the surface; forming alliances and creating fractures.

T. Charismatic groups in the church

U. Some brethren have developed unscriptural views of the Holy Spirit’s activities in their lives but these are promoted in small group meetings Some friends in Tampa believed that the Holy Spirit spoke to them directly and guided their everyday activities

VI. Order of worship

A. This is a sample order of worship gleaned from some home church web sites

B. Spend about 20-30 minutes talking and catching up on news

C. Sing some songs and pray

D. Bible Discussion

E. Most groups do not like preaching

F. Preaching in not interactive; it is one way communication

G. These home church members want their opinions heard

H. By the guidelines on the sites, it becomes clear that the foolish and the wise are on equal ground Equal weight is given to well informed ideas and off-the-cuff comments If the audience is not mature enough or trained to scrutinize arguments from a scriptural perspective, false teaching can grow

I. Problems in a home church worship service

J. With the preaching removed, women often play a leading role in teaching the congregation

K. God does not permit women to take a teaching role in the worship

L. 1 Corinthians 14:33-35 – Women keep silent1 Timothy 2:11-12 – No authority over men in worship Some try to circumvent this by saying that the woman is not usurping, or taking, authority from men but the men are giving it to her. Those who reason such fail to see that they are not authorized to give the woman the authority to teach, only God can do this.

M. The Bible stresses preaching as a primary means of teaching

N. 2 Timothy 4:2-5 – some will tire of it Romans 10:13-15 – Sent to preach the gospel Ephesians 4:11-15 – Preachers edify and mature the church

O. Ill-conceived, immature, and opinion comments with no scriptural basis may not be challenged—some may not allow a challenge.

P. 1 Timothy 1:3-7 – Dangers in the N.T. church2 Timothy 2:14-18 – Profitless words divide and weaken

Q. There is nothing wrong with brethren getting together in to study the Bible in someone’s home—in fact, it would be good to have many such meetings—but to criticize God’s order and abandon the preaching of the gospel is unscriptural.

R. Agape meal

S. In many of the house meetings, a so-called forgotten part of the worship is the AGAPE feast. AGAPE is the Greek word for love, so it is sometimes call the love feast.

T. Supposed scriptural support

U. Jude 12 – False teachers are spots in your love feasts2 Peter 2:13 – Feast is assumed to be a love feast, similar wording to Jude 12

V. What is the love feast?

W. Commentators do not agree on the meaning of the love feast which precludes on from assuming that it was part of the worship. Some have suggested that it was a feast prepared for the poor and needy brethren among them. Some suggest it was a simple meal prepared for the brethren. Some believe it is a term for the Lord’s Supper; the feast of Jesus’ love. There is nothing in the texts that would suggest or demand a feast during worship.1 Corinthians 11:21-22, 33-34 – Worship is not the place for a meal, it is the home (note the house church)

X. Lord’s Supper

Y. One problem among house churches, especially among the denominations, is taking the Lord’s Supper on days other than the first day of the week. Some meet on Friday nights for convenience and partake of the Lord’s Supper then.

VII. Problems within house churches

A. Problems with kids

B. In many discussion groups, I noticed that they struggled with how to handle the children. Some let the children entertain themselves in another part of the house while the adults worship. Some have one of the members play with the children while others worship. Some groups are frustrated because they have more kids than adults. It is clear that many of these groups do not focus on teaching the kids about worship until a later age.

C. Problems with authority

D. Some denominational house churches are established so that the male head of the house is also in charge of the house church; an unscriptural concept. Many may have elders but only one, at most, will be part of the group.

E. Many are fed up with the leadership in the local church and try to organize without authority.

F. One problem with this is that God has clearly designated authority for local churches, a plurality of elders, which cannot we cannot ignore.

G. Another problem is the human tendency for leadership to emerge on its own

H. In the lack of authority, someone will assume a position of leadership in order to move things forward and keep things organized. Some become recognized experts and become de facto leaders Some who are strong on the “hobby” issues often take the lead in order to maintain the new orthodoxy, especially if they were not taken seriously by a larger church for their strange teaching. So unscriptural leadership emerges and God’s organization is discarded

I. Problems with growth

J. Growth in any church changes the dynamic of that church Some churches are closed in their membership because they like the way that things are going and do not want to change in order to adapt to others. Some do not want the burden that a family with problems or a different background may present to their group One could not imagine Jesus turning away people who want to do what is right because He wanted to keep His tight little group and did not want to change. God is impartial, we must be impartial as well.