@@PurposeOfTheAgesI agree it's costly in our time, giving, loving others, when we're in small house churches, we can really know one another which us beautiful, but it's challenging because me personally, see my own faults irritations, others I need truly to love how Jesus would. 😊Money is less, tea coffee buscuits, no building fund. In these last days, the building will cease, you can hide more in a building. Blessings Jess
@ each saved person can break bread themselves. What you speak of is a catholic thing. No Biblical support whatsoever. Read your Bible my friend. It will set you free John 8:31-32
My church is closing due to some of the issues facing the UMC. The band members are very close friends, and we have been for a long time. We are considering a house church, and are in the stage of praying about the decision. This video has been so inspiring and I truly feel the Holy Spirit lead me to this video.
I was born in Russian and we grew up with this kind of church. We couldn’t have these big churches back there like we do here. But the church and all it’s people were so much spiritually stronger there and everyone was being discipled and was growing in Christ. When a lot of us came to America and they adapted the American way of church it destroyed so much that the Bible calls us too. You can’t live out the Bible in a large church you have to have real relationships with other believes to live out the Bible. The large church is basically a theater created for unconverted people who don’t want to go to hell.
Thanks for sharing your experience in Russia vs the US. That’s how I feel as well, as someone born and raised in the US church. The issues are becoming too big to ignore. . I loved your comment about a theater; so true! The Lord bless you!
A traditional church has one glaring problem...It is a slave to the financial machine...salaries, building upkeep, landscaping, etc. Many times I feel like our church leadership teams are so preoccupied with this stuff, that the weightier issues of ministry are neglected. If I charted the time spent on inanimate objects vs people, it would be embarrassing.
@@PurposeOfTheAges directly, bypassing the hierarchy’s machine. This is where the bride gets some exercise and learns about people. There’s skin on skin contact like the book of Acts, not the institutional non relational business of today.
When I read Corinthians, I see that what we call communion was in fact a meal that they called a love feast. I also see that everyone in the assembly contributed and it wasn't led from the front. Leadership was also male only, plural and coequal. There was no tithing, only free will offerings and they predominantly gathered in private homes. Very simple really and very hospitable. A completely different focus to how things are done compared to today. A homely environment provides much more intimacy and security and will I believe lead to much deeper relationships!
After 30 years, I got out of the unbiblical traditional ' church ' system. The house church gatherings are the King James Bible way. Free from financial, doctrinal bondage and infiltration by satanic ideologies. Thanks a lot. Your guidance is vital for ' church ' going folk. Kind regards, Colin UK.
@AllforOne_OneforAll1689 KJV is false ? I suggest you buy a King James Bible Cambridge or Oxford press with the cross references in. Then you may get saved . Proverbs 13 : 13 et al KJV.
How to find others with the same vision? We have found that most Christians like the Sunday “show,” the programs, and the non-accountability of just relating to each other in passing. Seems many are threatened by this depth of interacting and community.
This is making more and more sense to me. The activities of 2020 in regards to govemernt-dictated church closings. have really opened my eyes to the fact that Church and State walk hand in hand.
I came to the Lord in a house church based fellowship. I’ve been trying to find the “right” traditional church for two decades. I found this video because I thought, “well, maybe I just need to start a house church” …for all the reasons you laid out here. Thank you for this, I’ll be checking out your videos and other resources. God bless you.
The house church is the answer to discipleship, relationships and the functioning of the priesthood of believers in the family, which was previously taken up by the pastor and local church leaders
I was pastoring a Reformed Baptist church in Calif but stepped down 2 years ago to escape Calif for Tennessee. To my surprise we have not found one truly reformed church in Bible Belt Tennessee withing a two-mile drive. I’ve always desired a house church, but never new enough to congregate in one. I can’t even consider that here in our home, because I know not enough solidly reformed folks to do this. If we were to be part of a house church plant. I will not compromise in being ‘truly’ reformed, Elder led, 1689, expositional preaching and teaching, family integrated, and a regulative principle of worship. And orthopraxy of such orthodoxy.
It's an honor to support and encourage pastors who are coming to some of these same realizations and want to transition out of the institution of the church to pioneer movements of disciples and simple churches. More pastors are realizing they can live out their calling outside of the prevailing model and in the living room.
I met Jesus via a house church when I was a Teenager. Learned it was modeled after the book of Acts as the blueprint for the movement of God’s Word from “house to house”. We would occasionally meet with several other house churches from time to time so it was wonderful to gather. We would have meals together, no one got lost in the crowd. Discipleship was readily practical because although there was a leader, not all things relied on that person or couple.
Great stuff, I have had this on my heart for years. Finding like-minded people can be very challenging. I will say, I disagree with the pay for pastors based on scripture and Paul's writings. I also believe it forms an incorrect hierarchy within the church. There is a hierarchy, but the elders are the teachers.
Could you expound on this please? I was in a house church where the lead pastor was paid by the rest of us and didn't have a real job. It always rubbed me the wrong way and left a real sour taste in my mouth, especially when he would then preach about money related issues.
There are pros and cons to any situation ... it is the intimacy that can make you or break you ... Church family like our personal family can get messy at times
@Godovereverything8 a follower of Christ who was perfectly following the Spirit wouldn't hurt me but virtually none of us are that person. The truth is that the Church has always been full of real Christians who are still hurting each other and who still need to obey Jesus more. That's why virtually every single epistle is corrective in nature (along with being exhortative). Every single epistle is one of the apostles calling out some church they planted or some individuals in those churches for needing to get their stuff together. Corinth was so lost that Paul railed on them... and yet in all of that he never said they weren't real Christians. Then when they took it too far, he wrote to them again and told them to reel it back in a little and to administer a bit more grace. So, I appreciate the sentiment, but any "real church" out there is still going to have people who are going to hurt each other because even "real Christians" still sin and hurt each other. Not an excuse for sin, just stating a truth.
I haven't been a part of a house church, but have been a part of a very small church (maybe 20ish members). I absolutely see the biblical consistency, and subsequent benefits, of the latter!
I’ve been in small churches and I’ve been in big churches. I’ve also been to house churches. I prefer a big church. In a small church, you don’t get to pick who you fellowship with most closely. In a big church, you have a large group of people that you can choose from to fellowship with. I’m at Grace Community Church in Sun Valley. It is so inspiring for me to go there and see the church flourishing in so many ways, to see missionaries coming from all over the world, to see multitudes of church ministries serving the needs of the people, to see pastors trained, to see people have numerous opportunities to use their gifts, to be able to glean from the vast variety of gifts in the church…These are all things that I was not able to experience at a small church or a house church. I’m not against small house churches, but I think a large church is just as Biblical as a small church if you are being faithful to the commands in Scripture such as the requirements for elders, the one another’s, seeking to have close fellowship, etc.
@Michael Shelton That’s great to hear that my comment was an encouragement to you! As a word of caution, make sure that you do find a church that is doctrinally sound. There are many churches out there that are big churches for the wrong reasons: they draw big crowds because of their music, because they promise you miracles and prosperity, because they don’t preach the hard truths of scripture, or because they are man centered. I would encourage you to stay away from a church like that. Not at all sure where you’re located, Michael, but if by God’s providence you happen to be near Sun Valley, CA, I would like to invite you to Grace Community Church where I go.
@Michael Shelton Yes, I’m at the church John MacArthur pastors. I asked someone from Little Rock who is now a missionary from my church what a good church for you would be. He recommended Bible Church of Little Rock. He said Bible Church of Cabot is also good if you live more north of the city.
I have been a member of a house church for over 18 years. We are reformed in doctrine and the teaching is mind stimulating and thought provoking. My great concern has always been how healthy is our church for those who attend. A house church without a God gifted leader is not going to be healthy. It will end up being a Bible study. I live in the mid-west. Last year my wife and I traveled to California and one of the highlights was visiting Grace Community. I really enjoyed it. I felt that GC existed for the glory of Christ. But I came away thinking they were not really doing biblical church. Too large, too programmed (it has to programmed with that many people). I do thank God for GC and John MacArthur. @michaelshelton2783
There are challenges in the large AND smaller gatherings. So I have church at home with Jesus (honestly I'm not just saying that) and visit with others on occasion, keeping JESUS the center of my expectation for connection.
Long ago, the 1970's to 2000's, much emphasis was placed on "small groups." In the churches we attended. These usually met during the Sunday School period, but were not the usual SS classes. Groups formed around various criteria -- the choir, ages, sexes, desire to train in witnessing, desire to spend the hour as a prayer group..... Some people attended the Sunday School small groups AND attended a home small group, of different composition, during the week. This had the benefits of both -- the building, the staff and the overseeing by pastors/shepherds and also the closeness of the small groups. When we eventually had to move for work reasons, our new home acted like they had never heard of small groups -- none of the four churches were attended during the next 30 years has made any effort to create the small group culture, which we saw work very well.
Another glitch in the institutional church system is the leadership issue. Where in the Scriptures does it say that the pastor is the “head honcho?” Pastor is only 1 of the 5 “gifts” that Jesus gave to HIS Church. The “overseer” is supposed to be the main leader. And the overseer is likely the Apostle that planted the that church. And he will likely be the one who appoints an elder(s) to run things when he moves on to fulfill his apostolic obligations. That simple leadership will (should be able to) recognize and encourage the other gifting within that small body. Apostles, Prophets, Evangelists, Pastors and Teachers. Check it out in Ephesians 4, 1 Tim 3 and Titus 1:5. The current structure of church today is “top down” instead of “bottom up” And then there’s the $ thing 😢
Here’s a few of my ideas. Anyone who comes from a church with a worship ‘band’ develop a mindset that singing songs is what constitutes worship and unless someone can play a guitar you can’t have worship. One book I find amazing is called 1700 years by James Rutz. That should be required reading.
you have to be invited,,,one bad apple can destroy a functioning home church...I just got my last family in I spent 2 months getting to know this family first WHY we had to couples that were causing havic...God removed them weve been flourishing ever since.
@@chuckborden8532how do you get invited when you don’t have friends or family? I have yet to make friends since I left my old life of drugs and alcohol and any church going person I attempt to get to know quits talking to me when I ask serious biblical questions or point out something that isn’t biblical going on within the body of Christ within the church building 😩 this is so complicated and tragic! Did they have to wait to be invited back in the days of the apostles? Or did people show up to learn?
John 13:34-35 [34] A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. [35] By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 [4] Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant [5] or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; [6] it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. [7] Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things… Traditional churches, even biblical churches, struggle to provide an environment conducive to the Christly loving of one another, they may even produce (unintentionally) a more superficial love, unity etc. This is why I’m interested in house church.
The house church can only grow so big from what I have seen. (which inhibits evangelism) Lets say you have 12 families with tight relationships. Who will sacrifice that to go venture out and start a new fellowship once you are so tight knit? Most of the time house churches do not leave the comfort they find and start becoming proud.
Didn't the first church mentioned in the Bible have thousands of members? Thats why you need enough elders and deacons to build up personal relationships with individuals. You make a great argument regarding why to have a multitude of elders leading a church. Dinner with the Pastor once every 1.5 years in a large church? If you have enough elders in a bigger church there is just as much time as in a hlme church to connect.
The Acts of the Apostles and the Epistles tell us how early believers fellowshipped. The church is a community of believers. It is not an institution, building or location. If you can't receive this message, it is likely that it isn't meant for you.
I live in the high desert California I wish we had house churches out here or rather I pray that we would have them the church system so messed up , do u guys know of anywhere local in the San Bernardino county area
Thank you for the video, you are poking a big bear (the traditional Model) takes courage. think how many billions of dollars could have been given to missions. The little small church I pastor has a utility bill of like 1k a month thats a lot added up over years. again thanks for the video
We have been meeting in our house for over 18 years. A concern has always been, is this meeting healthy for those who attend? A lot of house churches are weird and unhealthy and don't last long. There needs to be at least one God gifted leader/teacher. There needs to be mind stimulating thought provoking messages. There must be an overseer who is responsible for those in the Church. Otherwise you end up with a Bible study at best.
House churches start with the best of intentions, until they don't. The biggest problem, however, is vetting people that you're letting into your homes. Do they have to already know someone in the group? Or are you okay letting complete strangers come in and roam about "looking for the bathroom"? The last home church I was in--if the wife had to be away (10 kids and their transport needs usually) and I was the only one to show up, it cancelled rather than her hubby and me alone in their house (which I was fine with, but that's a downside of small and "intimate") Eventually, and you see this in volunteer groups all the time: Power. The hosts will assume they have more sway. And when a sociopath (ask ANY pastor and there's one or two in every church) shows up or even just someone with a different vision who can gather a camp around them--then you've got an explosion coming. Count on it. The bible (you remember that, right?) NEVER called for group attendance. That was a concept developed by the Pharisees in the exile. They had no temple and were fearful that Judaism would be lost so they instituted the weekly readings. That idea came back to the land with them. That's one reason the Sadducees were upset. They understood the function of the temple. Even the sabbath was not a time to gather EXCEPT as a family where the head of the household was responsible for transmitting the faith and practice. Sophistry (standing before a crowd to elucidate) is a GREEK concept that the church adopted as it Hellenized. That's how you know the whole Jesus thing is Hellenized; an observant Jew would send folks to the synagogue AS DID JAMES in Acts 15:21. There's nothing wrong with having a picnic or whatever, but calling it "worship" or "service" is revealed in that whole "I'm not being fed" trope.
So….are you saying house churches are not biblical? I didn’t get your comment. I’m part of a church home or house church. The Bible teaches the qualifications of a pastor. Big or small churches make this mistake: they don’t know their shepherds. How do you know your pastor is qualified if you don’t know him? By that I don’t mean that he has given you his “Sunday smile” and shaken your hand, but he’s had you over to his house for a meal, he knows your family, you see how he treats his wife and kids because you’ve been to his home, you know the “real” him, not his Sunday masquerade. These psychopaths like the big church because they get lost in it, the church doesn’t know them only a few deacons or pastors, and even they don’t get to know him deeply. They don’t like you to find out about their personal life, they like to keep their congregation busy with events that are many times spiritually meaningless ….. man don’t even get me started! 😢
Power and hierarchy issues abounded at the house church I was attending. It was incredibly oppressive and if you did anything to question or subvert the power and control the pastor(s) and their wives held in the "body" then you were quickly called out to "have a conversation". Totally soured me on this kind of thing. Hard to trust people now.
I have been going to a megachurch for over 8 years. In that time, I have yet to meet, shake hands with, or speak to the pastor. It is this plus the secularism that has become the norm in our church, that now I am looking for find or even start a house church. I do not like what I see happening in the modren church movements
How can I find a house church that follows Biblical model for leaders, fellowship, communion, and discipleship. I live near Wildomar, Murrieta and Lake Elsinore California. Do you have any leaders trained at your school who started a home church near here? I knew this movement was coming many years ago and expressed that to other believers, for church is the people, not the building.
Church is a concept of the Roman Catholic church, early believers lived as a Christian Ekklesia. Ekklesia-what is it and why is it important for Christians to understand the difference between an ekklesia and a church Matt 16v18 And I tell you that you are Peter,[a] and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades[b] will not overcome it. During the New Testament days, there were 3 main institutions in Israel: 1. The Temple was where Gods people met with representatives of God, the priests. 2. The Synagogue was where God’s people met with each other. (Note: Both Temple and Synagogue were Jewish religious institutions) 3. The Ekklesia was an assembly of people deputized by the Roman emperor to introduce and implement the culture and laws of the empire So what is a Church and why is it not an ecclesia?- Oxford Dictionary defines a church as a building used for public worship The Greek work for church comes from the greek word kyriakon meaning “ruling, governing, Lord, master, owner” one interpretation is the “Secular Lord of the house” which actually describes most churches operational structure. Most operate with a person at the top and a governing board of elders under that with the congregation right smack at the bottom, some operate with a committee at the top and the congregation is still at the bottom. In an ecclesia all members are equal and all members are expected to participate and in a Christian Ecclesia the congregation are top and the leaders are servants, Eph 4 clearly states that all believers have been given gifts and it’s the function of the apostles; prophets; pastors; teachers and evangelists to prepare Gods people for works of service. Most church leaders realise that the work church is not what Jesus talks about and so have changed the meaning to mean assembly which fits better with the meaning of ekklesia ( a gathering of the chosen) This interpretation of the meaning is correct but assembly and congregation does not express how an Ekklesia operates anymore than the meaning of the word parliament tells us how parliament functions. If a Roman Ekklesia was an assembly of people deputized by the Roman emperor to introduce and implement the culture and laws of the empire then a Christian Ekklesia must be a meeting of the people of God who are deputized by God to introduce and implement the culture and laws of the kingdom of God to the world. The early believers were structured and functioned as an Ekklesia so we already have a model. A model so powerful that it spread the gospel across the entire known world and changed the culture and economy of Rome itself. Not long after the early apostles died out the ekklesia began to fall away and the whole world plunged into the dark ages ruled by the Papal system and the Roman Catholic Church who had a policy of killing millions of believers who tried to live outside their religious system. This continued up until 1517 when God used a monk called Martin Luther to spark what is now know as the protestant reformation, a restoration move of God that restored the truth that we are justified by faith and not by works. Since then we have seem many truths restored to the body of believers such as water baptism by immersion, speaking in tongues, personal prophecy, the expression of the gifts of the spirit and many others. Several truths we have not yet seen restored are the complete unity of the body of Christ the expression of the love of the father within the body and expressed to the world to see and the correct function of the body in ephesians 4v1-20, all were expressed in the early Ekklesia. The engine room of Chistian Ekklesia is the passionate ideal that there is only one ekklesia and also the sacrificial love of the father expressed, both of which make up the apostles doctrine in acts2 and is taught throughout the entire NT. To get and express the love of the father poured out into our hearts by the Holy Spirit one must repent (change ones mind) and forsake the love for the world and everything it stands for 1 John 2v15. There are many people who call themselves Christians but do not have the love of the father in their hearts. We must choose who we must serve and to love Jesus and the things of the world makes you a spiritual prostitute commiting adultary and disqualifies you from being part of the bride of Christ. James 4v4 and 5 however you do qualify to be part of the prostitute church in Revelations. The world culture of selfishness, Greed, control and fear vs Gods kingdom plan of serving one another, giving generously and having all things in common.- meditate on acts 2v43-47 and allow the Holy Spirit to show you just how beautiful this culture looks and then turn on the news. Here is some of the apostolic culture expressed by Ekklesia A Christian Ekklesia is only interested in the business of building Gods kingdom on Earth, It dosent entangle itself with wordly politics and dosent tell the world how to live-Col3v1-2; Rom13 There is only one Christian Ekklesia, one body, one nation, one spirit, one loaf of bread and one crucificion 1 COr1v10-13; Eph 4v4-6 A christian Ekklesia has no name and is described in the NT like this “at the Ekklesia that met at their house” Rom16v5; Col14v15; 1 Cor16v19; Phil 1v2 but local ekklesia also meet together as a town or city A christian Ekklesia promote the unity of the body of christ-col3v13-15; Eph4v4-6 A christian Ekklesia is run by Jesus and has only one mission statement Matt 28v19. A christian Ekklesia gives via a generous heart (100% of everything) and understands that teaching that christians should tithe (10%) to an institution is a heresy A christian Ekklesia meets the needs of those rich in faith but financially poor and treats everyone the same-James 2; Acts 2v45 Almost all money given to a christian Ekklesia is to meet the needs of the believers-Acts2v44,45; Acts 4v32-37 A christian Ekklesia is about finding out what each individuals ascension gifts are and ensuring they develop and express them to the ekklessia and to the world-no sitting in pews A christian Ekklesia have no clergy or elite, all members are able to move in the gifts and pray for anyone and are encouraged to do so. (yes it does have leaders) All leaders including apostles; prophets; pastors; evangelists are servant ministries and as such carry no title but do carry the respect of those they minister to and raise up. Look at how the apostles describe themselves at the beginning of each epistle. The power of a christian ekklesia is not the apostles, prophets, pastors, teachers and evangelists but Gods people that they prepare for works of service, we have all been given ascension gift ministries. Eph 4v1-12 All individuals in an ekklesia have a ministry that started the day the Holy Spirit began to live in their lives. (all members are expected to participate) A christian Ekklesia congregations produce change in society one soul at a time (this is how the early ekklesia changed the culture and politics of Rome) A christian Ekklesia can only operate out of the love of the Father poured out in out hearts so ekklesia do not love the things of the world but only Jesus 1 Jn 2v15; James4v4 A christian Ekklesia encourages that all believers can move in the gifts of the Spirit and personal prophecy is encouraged 1 Cor14 A christian Ekklesia is the new wineskin and is a reformation movement (early church was an ekklesia) A christian ekklesia is geography structured- Local Ekklesia, Town or City Ekklesia and of course the world Ekklesia. The restoration of the Christian ekklesia is perfect and represents the bride of Christ on earth (expresses agape love and righteous acts of faith) Rev19v8 A christian Ekklesia has shared agape meals along with the bread and wine to celebrate the death and resserection and the unity of the body regularly-Jude1v12; Acts2v42,46; 1 Cor11v17-34 Individuals in a christian Ekklesia are working with the Holy Spirit to live what they learn-James 1v22-25 A member of a christian Ekklesia understands that we live under the new covenant and that the Holy Spirit puts his law in our minds and writes it on our hearts and that each invividual is at a different stage of their walk with Jesus.-Rom14
What does the phrase "the known world" mean? "Known" by whom? The Roman Catholic/Orthodox church spread Christianity even further than the apostles and their next in line.
I need some guidance. Me, my wife and three kids attend a small-ish church of 300-400 people (that’s considered small here in suburban Texas). I have been feeling the need to downsize or plant a house church for these reasons. I grew up in a house church, my wife did not. My wife has struggled having a relationship with the Lord outside of our devotionals and prayer together. She is a Godly woman in certain ways; she is above reproach, very loyal, and honorable; but she lacks community with God. However, she is very emotionally invested in the church we are at today, and it does have its pros and cons. I’m just not sure if I should bring her to something she won’t grow in. I know I am the leader of the home, but this situation has me a bit stumped. Any wisdom would be appreciated.
What's her heart toward it? Is she comfortable? Maybe a small group would help to see - it'd certainly be easier to start a couple's small group where yall are right?
Unfortunately these guys are not answering the question to the whole problem, they just sound less compromised than a "traditional" Church, but they are compromised all the same - these folks admit that they Love the institutional Church - make no mistake, these boys are just more of the same, they want to do "Church Business" in a house - these guys are NOT instructing the people of the Lord to come out of her - they are just attempting to redefine and coopt her. Again I say to you all - "Come out of Her!" You don't need reformation, you need to deliver your soul from Babylon - there are few that even understand this reality - these boys don't have a clue.
Thank you for your work, I live in Massachusetts, and we been meeting in houses for around a year every Thursday. We pray, sing hymns, preach 15-20 minutes and have a light dinner at the end. We were looking to start meeting in a building and after signing a leased, God has brought into my heart the the house church phenomenon, Maybe get out of that leased will be costly but Now I can see that a large hall is not necessary to glorify God.
I’m interested in adopting this model, but the rationales here are build on a lot of examples, not scripture. Polar bears, seeing a convert or professional speaker, Dropping off kids, class sizes, business, economics. Epidemic of loneliness. Sounds more like the church is more about fulfilling emotional needs, not the kingdom. I understand the pragmatic preferences, but not the scriptural foundation. Is there another video about that?
AS LONG AS WE CONTINUE GOING TO CHURCH WE WILL CONTINUE TO FEEL THAT WE ARE GOING TO THE MOVIES MORE THAN GOING TO THE GYM AND THAT IS FOR ONE REASON, AND ONE REASON ONLY, BECAUSE WE ARE NOT GOING TO CHURCH BUT, INSTED, WE BRING THE CHURCH WITH US. BUT UNFORTUNATELY AS LONG AS WE MAINTAIN A CHURCH BUILDING SYSTEM WE ARE GOING TO CONTINUE SWIMMING AGAINST THE CURRENT🫵🫵🫵
What do you guys feel about house church pastors being paid and have no other job? That's the kind of house church I've been around and the situation was hard for me.
@PurposeOfTheAges well, I'll start by clarifying that we weren't just a "meet in the living room on Sundays" type house church. It was what people call "intentional Christian community". So we actually all lived together in a handful of houses that were next to each other or less than a block away from each other. Nobody had their own house, it was all shared housing. It became hard for me for many, many reasons. First of all, it was basically my first and only church as a 27 year old adult convert from atheism, so I had no experience elsewhere - so I had no framework for that was good, right and true in terms of a church. Super long story short in regards to just the part about it being difficult to be with a pastor who didn't have a real job... It's because we lived together, had shared expenses, and I eventually hated having my spending and free time choices judged and commented and occasionally preached about on Sundays from a man who I felt wasn't pulling his own weight at all. I work a full time job, I paid over 1/5th of the property's mortgage while 9 other adults lived on the same property. I worked full time, paid a very disproportionate amount of the mortgage while taking up an oppositely disproportionate amount of actual space/rooms on the property. Meanwhile the "pastor" didn't work at all, paid a pittance of the mortgage on a house that was completely in his name, took up multiple rooms with him and his wife, and constantly judged how I spent my time. And I'm not talking sinful or questionable things like going to the bar or something, he would criticize how much time I spent at the gym, training BJJ, and visiting my parents and other family. He would put up chores and oddjobs that he felt (or more annoying to me, his wife felt) needed to be done around the large property on sticky notes and cover an entire refrigerator in the kitchen with these sticky notes. Then he'd give me crap for not pulling my weight in doing the jobs he and his wife deemed important. So if I spent to much time lifting weights, training BJJ or boxing, or just hanging out with my wife or playing a video game with one of the other guys in the church, he'd criticize me or sometimes he'd do some super nasty stuff like make passive aggressive, thinly veiled comments during some sermons on Sunday gatherings. One day he really came after me about his chore chart and I told him I didn't want to do a lot of that stuff because I didn't see the point and that a lot of it was superfluous. He told me I was being selfish and not acting like a real member of the family and the household. So I asked him if I could buy into the house and have my name on the deed and pay off more than 50% of the remaining debt on the mortgage, leaving us with less than 150k on a huge house and property with some sub-units on it. I told him I wanted to feel like a real member of the household but I really just felt like a renter and a second class citizen, that I felt there was a divide between the few "homeowners" who had their names on deeds and the rest of us "renters". He hated that I used that "renter" language. He got pretty butthurt that I even suggested the idea and that I framed things in that language. He refused to acknowledge my very serious offer to help pay off a substantial part of the house debt and become a part owner in this supposed community-owned house church project. Also, when he would judge me for my time and spending, I would end up just getting defensive and judging him super hard back. Then I'd get super bitter that part of my monthly (required) "tithe" went to paying his salary and that would make me very frustrated and angry. I'd then judge how he spent his time and money because I looked at it as how he was spending "MY" money that I was required to give to the church to give to him while criticizing how I spent my own money that I work hard for. I could go on and on, but that was my problem in a nutshell for the specific issue of being in a house church with a "pastor" who doesn't work.
@Silence-and-Violence check out our series on this home church topic. We plan to explore bi vocational ministry with a collection from the church specifically to be stored for fellowship needs. This resolves the sigma of not pulling your own weight as a pastor while still collecting for the benefit of the community.
Pastor Partridge, you speak of house churches. However, you pastor a church in a nice modern building. I view this as inconsistent with what your videos are teaching. Can you explain?
You don’t need people to plant house church. Get some mature Christian’s together! And new Christian’s . Let them mature with the mature Christian’s being overseers
PS : My own situation is this. Weather permitting, I'm out on the streets on my scooter. I wear my JESUS SAYS................... jumpers and have my KJV tracts. Every day is new ! The Holy Ghost steers my life and conversations. I live in a small flat and would join a Bible believing and living house church. Many folk are bound by tradition and the social club ' attraction ' of buildings.
It’s your problem if you feel you need to sugar coat the word because you’re afraid they’ll stop giving. You shouldn’t be preaching if that’s your mentality.
There is no Biblical command to meet in a house. But there are several examples in Scripture. There are no examples of church buildings. Some ask the question why are we departing from the example?
I got completely lost around 14:40. You’re still describing a codependent relationship with an earthly pastor. 15:07 no a church (ecclesia) is not a place/building. You’re letting the polar bears live in the Arctic Circle but still locking them in cages.
When a house church is just a traditional church held at home (i.e., preaching to a crowd), it still produces passive members. There needs to be less "preaching," more interaction, more one anothers, more sharing, while also keeping focused on the Word, discipleship and evangelism.
I don't believe you need training to be a shepherd. I don't want to be a LEADER. I want to be a facilitator. Jesus is our Shepherd. The Holy Spirit leads us into all truth. God's Word is our directions as to how to conduct House Church
Why House church? Because most all organized Christian denominations do not teach as apostle Paul commanded them to teach. 1 Timothy 4:9-11 KJVS This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation. [10] For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe. [11] These things command and teach. And if a house church is not teaching this, then they are not worth attending.
House church is great but you run into a some issues. Space, accessibility, allergies, personal comfort for those that don't know you well, possible danger (items in house used as wepons). From what I found is you'll have a space issue once you get beyond four or five families trying to go into a single dwelling. Also if the people hosting have any pets there will be allergen issues. It is also harder to get people to attend a house church that are seeking than in a building due to personal comfort. The people hosting also have to keep in mind that a stranger or strangers you let in your house could gain access to kitchen equipment or anything else if they were enraged. There are many factors to consider and nothing wrong with having a church building so to speak. I think I understand where you're coming from, but cautioned this being the model that most should take.
@@Sisterlisk Pretty hard to hide everything in a house that could be used as a weapon. This goes by where you live and what type of people your evangelizing. These are just my observations from running a house church that then exceeded the ability for a house church to meet effectively. There are just things to consider when you invite people into your house.
@@Sisterlisk Besides your comment is awful pointed, you failed to address any of the other concerns having a house Church makes. Having 20 adults and 40 children in a house becomes a major problem of space in a single dwelling.
There is an emphasis on identifying men early, and training and equipping them to plant more house churches with this model. Once you outgrow a house, send someone to start another one.
@@jesseharper7172 They met in houses under persecution. It was not unusual for them to meet in large gathering places. There is nothing on biblical about the church having a building for practicality purposes. Home Church emphasis seems to be an overreaction of the unbiblical nature of most churches nowadays. The pendulum is swinging too far in the opposite direction and for going what proper biblical exegesis is.
Reformed means this: Little Johnny, God has predestined the minority of people to be saved and go to heaven forever, and He has predestined the majority of people to be eternally damned and burn in the fires of hell. We have no idea, little Johnny, if God has predestined you to be forever damned or forever saved. We love you, little Johnny, but we accept the fact that God might not love you, and that He may have plans to send you to hell for your future sins. If you do find yourself one day burning in hell because He hasn’t elected to save you, just remember that we will always love you, even if God hates you. Take comfort knowing that we are not like God. We will be in heaven forever only because we were unconditionally chosen for salvation before we were born. That would be the only reason that we won’t be in hell with you if you find yourself there. It won’t be because of anything we did. So also take comfort in knowing that. It may not seem fair, but who are we to judge God? So again, if you find yourself in hell, remember that we will always love you as we forever worship the God who loved us but who hated you, the God who sent His Son to die for us but not for you. Please, we ask, don’t let it bother you-if you find yourself in hell-that we love the God who hated you and showed you no mercy. We must accept the fact that God is sovereign, and He does what He pleases. My dear beloved Calvinist, will you teach that to your children or grandchildren? I suspect that your answer will be “never.” But why not? Why would you ever hide the wonderful “doctrines of grace,” the “Bible truth,” from your own children or grandchildren? TRUTH IN LOVE
You are speaking for the next, non-biblical, generation. You use NO Scripture to support your claims. How will you know if each "leader" of each "house church" is teaching the right doctrine? The pastor is supposed to dedicate himself to preaching the word while the deacons should care for other details. You're worried about money, but you forget that it's actually GOD that provides. If you are worried about money, you don't trust God. You are leading people astray. I know that MOST churches have gone astray, but that doesn't mean you just throw it the whole belief. House churches can be good if their is NO alternative.
Amen we have church in our home...God is doing a wonderful thing these days...We love each other everyone is involved and it cost nothing
It does cost something.
@@PurposeOfTheAgesI agree it's costly in our time, giving, loving others, when we're in small house churches, we can really know one another which us beautiful, but it's challenging because me personally, see my own faults irritations, others I need truly to love how Jesus would. 😊Money is less, tea coffee buscuits, no building fund. In these last days, the building will cease, you can hide more in a building. Blessings Jess
Tell me where do you transform the bread and wine in the Body and Blood? At the coffee table?
@ each saved person can break bread themselves. What you speak of is a catholic thing. No Biblical support whatsoever. Read your Bible my friend. It will set you free John 8:31-32
My church is closing due to some of the issues facing the UMC. The band members are very close friends, and we have been for a long time. We are considering a house church, and are in the stage of praying about the decision. This video has been so inspiring and I truly feel the Holy Spirit lead me to this video.
Visits your local Orthodox Church on Sunday for Divine Liturgy.
I was born in Russian and we grew up with this kind of church. We couldn’t have these big churches back there like we do here. But the church and all it’s people were so much spiritually stronger there and everyone was being discipled and was growing in Christ. When a lot of us came to America and they adapted the American way of church it destroyed so much that the Bible calls us too. You can’t live out the Bible in a large church you have to have real relationships with other believes to live out the Bible. The large church is basically a theater created for unconverted people who don’t want to go to hell.
Yes so true large church is like home depot
Wow! That’s so on point. 🔥
“A theater for unconverted people who don’t want to go to hell”
Amen!
Thanks for sharing your experience in Russia vs the US. That’s how I feel as well, as someone born and raised in the US church. The issues are becoming too big to ignore. . I loved your comment about a theater; so true! The Lord bless you!
A traditional church has one glaring problem...It is a slave to the financial machine...salaries, building upkeep, landscaping, etc. Many times I feel like our church leadership teams are so preoccupied with this stuff, that the weightier issues of ministry are neglected. If I charted the time spent on inanimate objects vs people, it would be embarrassing.
There’s a lot more than this, but YES!
I agree.
Church has become a marketing program, with emphasis on numbers and tithing and programs.
Very true. But that's how our money works. How can we share without falling into that financial machine?
@@PurposeOfTheAges directly, bypassing the hierarchy’s machine. This is where the bride gets some exercise and learns about people. There’s skin on skin contact like the book of Acts, not the institutional non relational business of today.
When I read Corinthians, I see that what we call communion was in fact a meal that they called a love feast. I also see that everyone in the assembly contributed and it wasn't led from the front. Leadership was also male only, plural and coequal. There was no tithing, only free will offerings and they predominantly gathered in private homes. Very simple really and very hospitable. A completely different focus to how things are done compared to today. A homely environment provides much more intimacy and security and will I believe lead to much deeper relationships!
You are quite right and biblical.❤
After 30 years, I got out of the unbiblical traditional ' church ' system. The house church gatherings are the King James Bible way. Free from financial, doctrinal bondage and infiltration by satanic ideologies.
Thanks a lot. Your guidance is vital for ' church ' going folk.
Kind regards, Colin UK.
They are not "the King James Bible way." LOL 😄
They are the New Testament church way. (Before even the Greek New Testament was written.) 😁😁😁
KJV only is false. Sound doctrine is a command in the New Testament, it would do you well to learn sound apostolic doctrine.
@AllforOne_OneforAll1689
KJV is false ? I suggest you buy a King James Bible Cambridge or Oxford press with the cross references in. Then you may get saved . Proverbs 13 : 13 et al KJV.
@@colvinator1611
Get saved really? Also, I said "kjv only" is false! Stop slandering.
How to find others with the same vision? We have found that most Christians like the Sunday “show,” the programs, and the non-accountability of just relating to each other in passing. Seems many are threatened by this depth of interacting and community.
This is making more and more sense to me. The activities of 2020 in regards to govemernt-dictated church closings. have really opened my eyes to the fact that Church and State walk hand in hand.
I came to the Lord in a house church based fellowship. I’ve been trying to find the “right” traditional church for two decades. I found this video because I thought, “well, maybe I just need to start a house church” …for all the reasons you laid out here. Thank you for this, I’ll be checking out your videos and other resources. God bless you.
The house church is the answer to discipleship, relationships and the functioning of the priesthood of believers in the family, which was previously taken up by the pastor and local church leaders
Where do you partake in the Sacraments in your house "church"?
I was pastoring a Reformed Baptist church in Calif but stepped down 2 years ago to escape Calif for Tennessee. To my surprise we have not found one truly reformed church in Bible Belt Tennessee withing a two-mile drive. I’ve always desired a house church, but never new enough to congregate in one. I can’t even consider that here in our home, because I know not enough solidly reformed folks to do this. If we were to be part of a house church plant. I will not compromise in being ‘truly’ reformed, Elder led, 1689, expositional preaching and teaching, family integrated, and a regulative principle of worship. And orthopraxy of such orthodoxy.
It's an honor to support and encourage pastors who are coming to some of these same realizations and want to transition out of the institution of the church to pioneer movements of disciples and simple churches. More pastors are realizing they can live out their calling outside of the prevailing model and in the living room.
AGREE, I can also see how much less intemidating home church could be to the un-churched, to receive Christ and more one on one discipleship.
@VideoTest-k5z
Not only that but they would be more apt to open up about themselves and their issues knowing they would not be judged.
Christ gave us the institution of the Church!
I met Jesus via a house church when I was a Teenager. Learned it was modeled after the book of Acts as the blueprint for the movement of God’s Word from “house to house”. We would occasionally meet with several other house churches from time to time so it was wonderful to gather. We would have meals together, no one got lost in the crowd. Discipleship was readily practical because although there was a leader, not all things relied on that person or couple.
Great stuff, I have had this on my heart for years. Finding like-minded people can be very challenging. I will say, I disagree with the pay for pastors based on scripture and Paul's writings. I also believe it forms an incorrect hierarchy within the church. There is a hierarchy, but the elders are the teachers.
Could you expound on this please?
I was in a house church where the lead pastor was paid by the rest of us and didn't have a real job.
It always rubbed me the wrong way and left a real sour taste in my mouth, especially when he would then preach about money related issues.
There are pros and cons to any situation ... it is the intimacy that can make you or break you ... Church family like our personal family can get messy at times
That's the truth for sure.
That intimacy can be used against you real quick.
@@Silence-and-ViolenceNot for a Christian. Maybe a church goer, but not a Christian
@@elderkingsley What do you mean by that friend?
@Godovereverything8 a follower of Christ who was perfectly following the Spirit wouldn't hurt me but virtually none of us are that person.
The truth is that the Church has always been full of real Christians who are still hurting each other and who still need to obey Jesus more.
That's why virtually every single epistle is corrective in nature (along with being exhortative).
Every single epistle is one of the apostles calling out some church they planted or some individuals in those churches for needing to get their stuff together.
Corinth was so lost that Paul railed on them... and yet in all of that he never said they weren't real Christians.
Then when they took it too far, he wrote to them again and told them to reel it back in a little and to administer a bit more grace.
So, I appreciate the sentiment, but any "real church" out there is still going to have people who are going to hurt each other because even "real Christians" still sin and hurt each other.
Not an excuse for sin, just stating a truth.
@@Silence-and-Violenceso sad but so true.We can even see it in this comment section.Lord help us.
I love the polar bear analogy - but I think it should be Artic not Antarctic as the bears are heading north :)
I haven't been a part of a house church, but have been a part of a very small church (maybe 20ish members). I absolutely see the biblical consistency, and subsequent benefits, of the latter!
House church here! So cool to find brothers in arms on TH-cam!
Philemon 1:2 And to our beloved Apphia, and Archippus our fellowsoldier, and to the church in thy house:
I decided to go this route for the same reasons .
I’ve been in small churches and I’ve been in big churches. I’ve also been to house churches.
I prefer a big church. In a small church, you don’t get to pick who you fellowship with most closely. In a big church, you have a large group of people that you can choose from to fellowship with.
I’m at Grace Community Church in Sun Valley. It is so inspiring for me to go there and see the church flourishing in so many ways, to see missionaries coming from all over the world, to see multitudes of church ministries serving the needs of the people, to see pastors trained, to see people have numerous opportunities to use their gifts, to be able to glean from the vast variety of gifts in the church…These are all things that I was not able to experience at a small church or a house church.
I’m not against small house churches, but I think a large church is just as Biblical as a small church if you are being faithful to the commands in Scripture such as the requirements for elders, the one another’s, seeking to have close fellowship, etc.
@Michael Shelton That’s great to hear that my comment was an encouragement to you!
As a word of caution, make sure that you do find a church that is doctrinally sound. There are many churches out there that are big churches for the wrong reasons: they draw big crowds because of their music, because they promise you miracles and prosperity, because they don’t preach the hard truths of scripture, or because they are man centered. I would encourage you to stay away from a church like that.
Not at all sure where you’re located, Michael, but if by God’s providence you happen to be near Sun Valley, CA, I would like to invite you to Grace Community Church where I go.
@Michael Shelton Yes, I’m at the church John MacArthur pastors. I asked someone from Little Rock who is now a missionary from my church what a good church for you would be. He recommended Bible Church of Little Rock. He said Bible Church of Cabot is also good if you live more north of the city.
@Michael Shelton he says: “Well, sometimes you gotta drive to get something good! But I’d have to think about that.”
@Michael Shelton my pleasure. I pray that it works out!
I have been a member of a house church for over 18 years. We are reformed in doctrine and the teaching is mind stimulating and thought provoking. My great concern has always been how healthy is our church for those who attend. A house church without a God gifted leader is not going to be healthy. It will end up being a Bible study.
I live in the mid-west. Last year my wife and I traveled to California and one of the highlights was visiting Grace Community. I really enjoyed it. I felt that GC existed for the glory of Christ. But I came away thinking they were not really doing biblical church. Too large, too programmed (it has to programmed with that many people). I do thank God for GC and John MacArthur. @michaelshelton2783
And there shld t be a one man show. All members shld play a role!!
There are challenges in the large AND smaller gatherings. So I have church at home with Jesus (honestly I'm not just saying that) and visit with others on occasion, keeping JESUS the center of my expectation for connection.
Long ago, the 1970's to 2000's, much emphasis was placed on "small groups." In the churches we attended. These usually met during the Sunday School period, but were not the usual SS classes. Groups formed around various criteria -- the choir, ages, sexes, desire to train in witnessing, desire to spend the hour as a prayer group..... Some people attended the Sunday School small groups AND attended a home small group, of different composition, during the week. This had the benefits of both -- the building, the staff and the overseeing by pastors/shepherds and also the closeness of the small groups.
When we eventually had to move for work reasons, our new home acted like they had never heard of small groups -- none of the four churches were attended during the next 30 years has made any effort to create the small group culture, which we saw work very well.
I really enjoyed this
Another glitch in the institutional church system is the leadership issue. Where in the Scriptures does it say that the pastor is the “head honcho?” Pastor is only 1 of the 5 “gifts” that Jesus gave to HIS Church. The “overseer” is supposed to be the main leader. And the overseer is likely the Apostle that planted the that church. And he will likely be the one who appoints an elder(s) to run things when he moves on to fulfill his apostolic obligations. That simple leadership will (should be able to) recognize and encourage the other gifting within that small body. Apostles, Prophets, Evangelists, Pastors and Teachers. Check it out in Ephesians 4, 1 Tim 3 and Titus 1:5. The current structure of church today is “top down” instead of “bottom up”
And then there’s the $ thing 😢
I was saying this to church today. We know people but don't know about them in church
Here’s a few of my ideas. Anyone who comes from a church with a worship ‘band’ develop a mindset that singing songs is what constitutes worship and unless someone can play a guitar you can’t have worship.
One book I find amazing is called 1700 years by James Rutz. That should be required reading.
This so resonated with me. It all made sense. How do you go about finding a house church?
ReformationFellowship.org
Where are you? I’m part of a house church in California and our pastor is attending Dale Partridge’s seminary!
@@entropicmomathome I am in Washington state and unfortunately there is none in my location.
you have to be invited,,,one bad apple can destroy a functioning home church...I just got my last family in I spent 2 months getting to know this family first WHY we had to couples that were causing havic...God removed them weve been flourishing ever since.
@@chuckborden8532how do you get invited when you don’t have friends or family?
I have yet to make friends since I left my old life of drugs and alcohol and any church going person I attempt to get to know quits talking to me when I ask serious biblical questions or point out something that isn’t biblical going on within the body of Christ within the church building 😩 this is so complicated and tragic!
Did they have to wait to be invited back in the days of the apostles? Or did people show up to learn?
Quite enlightening !
John 13:34-35
[34] A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. [35] By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
1 Corinthians 13:4-7
[4] Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant [5] or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; [6] it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. [7] Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things…
Traditional churches, even biblical churches, struggle to provide an environment conducive to the Christly loving of one another, they may even produce (unintentionally) a more superficial love, unity etc. This is why I’m interested in house church.
The house church can only grow so big from what I have seen. (which inhibits evangelism) Lets say you have 12 families with tight relationships. Who will sacrifice that to go venture out and start a new fellowship once you are so tight knit? Most of the time house churches do not leave the comfort they find and start becoming proud.
@endtimesareuponus8930 You false accuse, the Bible speaks of false accusing
an anointed home (where people are drawn)
I think you'd appreciate our latest series about home churches.
Dinner with the pastor has never happened where our family goes to church in Western Washington.
Why is the 'pastor' paid and everyone else is expected to serve (volunteer)? Sounds hypocritical to me.
There are no polar bears in Antarctica.
Didn't the first church mentioned in the Bible have thousands of members? Thats why you need enough elders and deacons to build up personal relationships with individuals. You make a great argument regarding why to have a multitude of elders leading a church.
Dinner with the Pastor once every 1.5 years in a large church? If you have enough elders in a bigger church there is just as much time as in a hlme church to connect.
The Acts of the Apostles and the Epistles tell us how early believers fellowshipped. The church is a community of believers. It is not an institution, building or location. If you can't receive this message, it is likely that it isn't meant for you.
I live in the high desert California I wish we had house churches out here or rather I pray that we would have them the church system so messed up , do u guys know of anywhere local in the San Bernardino county area
I have a friend starting a house church in San Bernardino
start one 🙏🏽🫶🏽
Thank you for the video, you are poking a big bear (the traditional Model) takes courage. think how many billions of dollars could have been given to missions. The little small church I pastor has a utility bill of like 1k a month thats a lot added up over years. again thanks for the video
We have been meeting in our house for over 18 years. A concern has always been, is this meeting healthy for those who attend? A lot of house churches are weird and unhealthy and don't last long. There needs to be at least one God gifted leader/teacher. There needs to be mind stimulating thought provoking messages. There must be an overseer who is responsible for those in the Church. Otherwise you end up with a Bible study at best.
Very true.
House churches start with the best of intentions, until they don't. The biggest problem, however, is vetting people that you're letting into your homes. Do they have to already know someone in the group? Or are you okay letting complete strangers come in and roam about "looking for the bathroom"? The last home church I was in--if the wife had to be away (10 kids and their transport needs usually) and I was the only one to show up, it cancelled rather than her hubby and me alone in their house (which I was fine with, but that's a downside of small and "intimate") Eventually, and you see this in volunteer groups all the time: Power. The hosts will assume they have more sway. And when a sociopath (ask ANY pastor and there's one or two in every church) shows up or even just someone with a different vision who can gather a camp around them--then you've got an explosion coming. Count on it.
The bible (you remember that, right?) NEVER called for group attendance. That was a concept developed by the Pharisees in the exile. They had no temple and were fearful that Judaism would be lost so they instituted the weekly readings. That idea came back to the land with them. That's one reason the Sadducees were upset. They understood the function of the temple. Even the sabbath was not a time to gather EXCEPT as a family where the head of the household was responsible for transmitting the faith and practice. Sophistry (standing before a crowd to elucidate) is a GREEK concept that the church adopted as it Hellenized. That's how you know the whole Jesus thing is Hellenized; an observant Jew would send folks to the synagogue AS DID JAMES in Acts 15:21. There's nothing wrong with having a picnic or whatever, but calling it "worship" or "service" is revealed in that whole "I'm not being fed" trope.
So….are you saying house churches are not biblical? I didn’t get your comment. I’m part of a church home or house church. The Bible teaches the qualifications of a pastor. Big or small churches make this mistake: they don’t know their shepherds. How do you know your pastor is qualified if you don’t know him? By that I don’t mean that he has given you his “Sunday smile” and shaken your hand, but he’s had you over to his house for a meal, he knows your family, you see how he treats his wife and kids because you’ve been to his home, you know the “real” him, not his Sunday masquerade. These psychopaths like the big church because they get lost in it, the church doesn’t know them only a few deacons or pastors, and even they don’t get to know him deeply. They don’t like you to find out about their personal life, they like to keep their congregation busy with events that are many times spiritually meaningless ….. man don’t even get me started! 😢
Thanks April, we’ll said and really makes sense
Power and hierarchy issues abounded at the house church I was attending.
It was incredibly oppressive and if you did anything to question or subvert the power and control the pastor(s) and their wives held in the "body" then you were quickly called out to "have a conversation".
Totally soured me on this kind of thing. Hard to trust people now.
I have been going to a megachurch for over 8 years. In that time, I have yet to meet, shake hands with, or speak to the pastor. It is this plus the secularism that has become the norm in our church, that now I am looking for find or even start a house church. I do not like what I see happening in the modren church movements
Interested in this topic
Are there any house churches in Murrieta, Wildomar or Lake Elsinore, California areas? 😊
How can I find a house church that follows Biblical model for leaders, fellowship, communion, and discipleship.
I live near Wildomar, Murrieta and Lake Elsinore California.
Do you have any leaders trained at your school who started a home church near here?
I knew this movement was coming many years ago and expressed that to other believers, for church is the people, not the building.
There isn't any House churches in Oklahoma city area
Church is a concept of the Roman Catholic church, early believers lived as a Christian Ekklesia. Ekklesia-what is it and why is it important for Christians to understand the difference between an ekklesia and a church
Matt 16v18
And I tell you that you are Peter,[a] and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades[b] will not overcome it.
During the New Testament days, there were 3 main institutions in Israel:
1. The Temple was where Gods people met with representatives of God, the priests.
2. The Synagogue was where God’s people met with each other.
(Note: Both Temple and Synagogue were Jewish religious institutions)
3. The Ekklesia was an assembly of people deputized by the Roman emperor to introduce and implement the culture and laws of the empire
So what is a Church and why is it not an ecclesia?- Oxford Dictionary defines a church as a building used for public worship The Greek work for church comes from the greek word kyriakon meaning “ruling, governing, Lord, master, owner” one interpretation is the “Secular Lord of the house” which actually describes most churches operational structure. Most operate with a person at the top and a governing board of elders under that with the congregation right smack at the bottom, some operate with a committee at the top and the congregation is still at the bottom. In an ecclesia all members are equal and all members are expected to participate and in a Christian Ecclesia the congregation are top and the leaders are servants, Eph 4 clearly states that all believers have been given gifts and it’s the function of the apostles; prophets; pastors; teachers and evangelists to prepare Gods people for works of service.
Most church leaders realise that the work church is not what Jesus talks about and so have changed the meaning to mean assembly which fits better with the meaning of ekklesia ( a gathering of the chosen)
This interpretation of the meaning is correct but assembly and congregation does not express how an Ekklesia operates anymore than the meaning of the word parliament tells us how parliament functions. If a Roman Ekklesia was an assembly of people deputized by the Roman emperor to introduce and implement the culture and laws of the empire then a Christian Ekklesia must be a meeting of the people of God who are deputized by God to introduce and implement the culture and laws of the kingdom of God to the world.
The early believers were structured and functioned as an Ekklesia so we already have a model. A model so powerful that it spread the gospel across the entire known world and changed the culture and economy of Rome itself.
Not long after the early apostles died out the ekklesia began to fall away and the whole world plunged into the dark ages ruled by the Papal system and the Roman Catholic Church who had a policy of killing millions of believers who tried to live outside their religious system. This continued up until 1517 when God used a monk called Martin Luther to spark what is now know as the protestant reformation, a restoration move of God that restored the truth that we are justified by faith and not by works. Since then we have seem many truths restored to the body of believers such as water baptism by immersion, speaking in tongues, personal prophecy, the expression of the gifts of the spirit and many others.
Several truths we have not yet seen restored are the complete unity of the body of Christ the expression of the love of the father within the body and expressed to the world to see and the correct function of the body in ephesians 4v1-20, all were expressed in the early Ekklesia.
The engine room of Chistian Ekklesia is the passionate ideal that there is only one ekklesia and also the sacrificial love of the father expressed, both of which make up the apostles doctrine in acts2 and is taught throughout the entire NT.
To get and express the love of the father poured out into our hearts by the Holy Spirit one must repent (change ones mind) and forsake the love for the world and everything it stands for 1 John 2v15.
There are many people who call themselves Christians but do not have the love of the father in their hearts. We must choose who we must serve and to love Jesus and the things of the world makes you a spiritual prostitute commiting adultary and disqualifies you from being part of the bride of Christ. James 4v4 and 5 however you do qualify to be part of the prostitute church in Revelations.
The world culture of selfishness, Greed, control and fear vs Gods kingdom plan of serving one another, giving generously and having all things in common.- meditate on acts 2v43-47 and allow the Holy Spirit to show you just how beautiful this culture looks and then turn on the news.
Here is some of the apostolic culture expressed by Ekklesia
A Christian Ekklesia is only interested in the business of building Gods kingdom on Earth, It dosent entangle itself with wordly politics and dosent tell the world how to live-Col3v1-2; Rom13
There is only one Christian Ekklesia, one body, one nation, one spirit, one loaf of bread and one crucificion 1 COr1v10-13; Eph 4v4-6
A christian Ekklesia has no name and is described in the NT like this “at the Ekklesia that met at their house” Rom16v5; Col14v15; 1 Cor16v19; Phil 1v2 but local ekklesia also meet together as a town or city
A christian Ekklesia promote the unity of the body of christ-col3v13-15; Eph4v4-6
A christian Ekklesia is run by Jesus and has only one mission statement Matt 28v19.
A christian Ekklesia gives via a generous heart (100% of everything) and understands that teaching that christians should tithe (10%) to an institution is a heresy
A christian Ekklesia meets the needs of those rich in faith but financially poor and treats everyone the same-James 2; Acts 2v45
Almost all money given to a christian Ekklesia is to meet the needs of the believers-Acts2v44,45; Acts 4v32-37
A christian Ekklesia is about finding out what each individuals ascension gifts are and ensuring they develop and express them to the ekklessia and to the world-no sitting in pews
A christian Ekklesia have no clergy or elite, all members are able to move in the gifts and pray for anyone and are encouraged to do so. (yes it does have leaders)
All leaders including apostles; prophets; pastors; evangelists are servant ministries and as such carry no title but do carry the respect of those they minister to and raise up. Look at how the apostles describe themselves at the beginning of each epistle.
The power of a christian ekklesia is not the apostles, prophets, pastors, teachers and evangelists but Gods people that they prepare for works of service, we have all been given ascension gift ministries. Eph 4v1-12
All individuals in an ekklesia have a ministry that started the day the Holy Spirit began to live in their lives. (all members are expected to participate)
A christian Ekklesia congregations produce change in society one soul at a time (this is how the early ekklesia changed the culture and politics of Rome)
A christian Ekklesia can only operate out of the love of the Father poured out in out hearts so ekklesia do not love the things of the world but only Jesus 1 Jn 2v15; James4v4
A christian Ekklesia encourages that all believers can move in the gifts of the Spirit and personal prophecy is encouraged 1 Cor14
A christian Ekklesia is the new wineskin and is a reformation movement (early church was an ekklesia)
A christian ekklesia is geography structured- Local Ekklesia, Town or City Ekklesia and of course the world Ekklesia.
The restoration of the Christian ekklesia is perfect and represents the bride of Christ on earth (expresses agape love and righteous acts of faith) Rev19v8
A christian Ekklesia has shared agape meals along with the bread and wine to celebrate the death and resserection and the unity of the body regularly-Jude1v12; Acts2v42,46; 1 Cor11v17-34
Individuals in a christian Ekklesia are working with the Holy Spirit to live what they learn-James 1v22-25
A member of a christian Ekklesia understands that we live under the new covenant and that the Holy Spirit puts his law in our minds and writes it on our hearts and that each invividual is at a different stage of their walk with Jesus.-Rom14
What does the phrase "the known world" mean?
"Known" by whom?
The Roman Catholic/Orthodox church spread Christianity even further than the apostles and their next in line.
I need some guidance.
Me, my wife and three kids attend a small-ish church of 300-400 people (that’s considered small here in suburban Texas). I have been feeling the need to downsize or plant a house church for these reasons. I grew up in a house church, my wife did not. My wife has struggled having a relationship with the Lord outside of our devotionals and prayer together. She is a Godly woman in certain ways; she is above reproach, very loyal, and honorable; but she lacks community with God. However, she is very emotionally invested in the church we are at today, and it does have its pros and cons. I’m just not sure if I should bring her to something she won’t grow in. I know I am the leader of the home, but this situation has me a bit stumped. Any wisdom would be appreciated.
She will begin to grow like a watered plant in a home church,
What's her heart toward it? Is she comfortable? Maybe a small group would help to see - it'd certainly be easier to start a couple's small group where yall are right?
Find a home church or start one yourself.
Unfortunately these guys are not answering the question to the whole problem, they just sound less compromised than a "traditional" Church, but they are compromised all the same - these folks admit that they Love the institutional Church - make no mistake, these boys are just more of the same, they want to do "Church Business" in a house - these guys are NOT instructing the people of the Lord to come out of her - they are just attempting to redefine and coopt her. Again I say to you all - "Come out of Her!" You don't need reformation, you need to deliver your soul from Babylon - there are few that even understand this reality - these boys don't have a clue.
Thank you for your work, I live in Massachusetts, and we been meeting in houses for around a year every Thursday.
We pray, sing hymns, preach 15-20 minutes and have a light dinner at the end. We were looking to start meeting in a building and after signing a leased, God has brought into my heart the the house church phenomenon, Maybe get out of that leased will be costly but Now I can see that a large hall is not necessary to glorify God.
I’m interested in adopting this model, but the rationales here are build on a lot of examples, not scripture. Polar bears, seeing a convert or professional speaker, Dropping off kids, class sizes, business, economics. Epidemic of loneliness. Sounds more like the church is more about fulfilling emotional needs, not the kingdom.
I understand the pragmatic preferences, but not the scriptural foundation. Is there another video about that?
The problem is that Polar Bears don’t live in Antarctica. They are in the Arctic.
*I defy anyone to find a church where the pastor is warning the people about the bible changes made by the AC with blackmagic anywhere in the world.*
AS LONG AS WE CONTINUE GOING TO CHURCH WE WILL CONTINUE TO FEEL THAT WE ARE GOING TO THE MOVIES MORE THAN GOING TO THE GYM AND THAT IS FOR ONE REASON, AND ONE REASON ONLY, BECAUSE WE ARE NOT GOING TO CHURCH BUT, INSTED, WE BRING THE CHURCH WITH US. BUT UNFORTUNATELY AS LONG AS WE MAINTAIN A CHURCH BUILDING SYSTEM WE ARE GOING TO CONTINUE SWIMMING AGAINST THE CURRENT🫵🫵🫵
What do you guys feel about house church pastors being paid and have no other job?
That's the kind of house church I've been around and the situation was hard for me.
Why was it hard for you?
@PurposeOfTheAges well, I'll start by clarifying that we weren't just a "meet in the living room on Sundays" type house church.
It was what people call "intentional Christian community".
So we actually all lived together in a handful of houses that were next to each other or less than a block away from each other. Nobody had their own house, it was all shared housing.
It became hard for me for many, many reasons. First of all, it was basically my first and only church as a 27 year old adult convert from atheism, so I had no experience elsewhere - so I had no framework for that was good, right and true in terms of a church.
Super long story short in regards to just the part about it being difficult to be with a pastor who didn't have a real job...
It's because we lived together, had shared expenses, and I eventually hated having my spending and free time choices judged and commented and occasionally preached about on Sundays from a man who I felt wasn't pulling his own weight at all.
I work a full time job, I paid over 1/5th of the property's mortgage while 9 other adults lived on the same property.
I worked full time, paid a very disproportionate amount of the mortgage while taking up an oppositely disproportionate amount of actual space/rooms on the property.
Meanwhile the "pastor" didn't work at all, paid a pittance of the mortgage on a house that was completely in his name, took up multiple rooms with him and his wife, and constantly judged how I spent my time. And I'm not talking sinful or questionable things like going to the bar or something, he would criticize how much time I spent at the gym, training BJJ, and visiting my parents and other family.
He would put up chores and oddjobs that he felt (or more annoying to me, his wife felt) needed to be done around the large property on sticky notes and cover an entire refrigerator in the kitchen with these sticky notes. Then he'd give me crap for not pulling my weight in doing the jobs he and his wife deemed important.
So if I spent to much time lifting weights, training BJJ or boxing, or just hanging out with my wife or playing a video game with one of the other guys in the church, he'd criticize me or sometimes he'd do some super nasty stuff like make passive aggressive, thinly veiled comments during some sermons on Sunday gatherings.
One day he really came after me about his chore chart and I told him I didn't want to do a lot of that stuff because I didn't see the point and that a lot of it was superfluous. He told me I was being selfish and not acting like a real member of the family and the household. So I asked him if I could buy into the house and have my name on the deed and pay off more than 50% of the remaining debt on the mortgage, leaving us with less than 150k on a huge house and property with some sub-units on it. I told him I wanted to feel like a real member of the household but I really just felt like a renter and a second class citizen, that I felt there was a divide between the few "homeowners" who had their names on deeds and the rest of us "renters". He hated that I used that "renter" language. He got pretty butthurt that I even suggested the idea and that I framed things in that language. He refused to acknowledge my very serious offer to help pay off a substantial part of the house debt and become a part owner in this supposed community-owned house church project.
Also, when he would judge me for my time and spending, I would end up just getting defensive and judging him super hard back. Then I'd get super bitter that part of my monthly (required) "tithe" went to paying his salary and that would make me very frustrated and angry. I'd then judge how he spent his time and money because I looked at it as how he was spending "MY" money that I was required to give to the church to give to him while criticizing how I spent my own money that I work hard for.
I could go on and on, but that was my problem in a nutshell for the specific issue of being in a house church with a "pastor" who doesn't work.
@Silence-and-Violence check out our series on this home church topic. We plan to explore bi vocational ministry with a collection from the church specifically to be stored for fellowship needs.
This resolves the sigma of not pulling your own weight as a pastor while still collecting for the benefit of the community.
Pastor Partridge, you speak of house churches. However, you pastor a church in a nice modern building. I view this as inconsistent with what your videos are teaching. Can you explain?
You don’t need people to plant house church. Get some mature Christian’s together! And new Christian’s . Let them mature with the mature Christian’s being overseers
So I watch all these videos and then see where you are transitioning back to a traditional really? Do you even know what He has called you to do?
PS : My own situation is this. Weather permitting, I'm out on the streets on my scooter. I wear my JESUS SAYS...................
jumpers and have my KJV tracts.
Every day is new ! The Holy Ghost steers my life and conversations. I live in a small flat and would join a Bible believing and living house church. Many folk are bound by tradition and the social club ' attraction ' of buildings.
It’s your problem if you feel you need to sugar coat the word because you’re afraid they’ll stop giving. You shouldn’t be preaching if that’s your mentality.
Where is the Biblical Command?
There is no Biblical command to meet in a house. But there are several examples in Scripture. There are no examples of church buildings. Some ask the question why are we departing from the example?
I got completely lost around 14:40. You’re still describing a codependent relationship with an earthly pastor. 15:07 no a church (ecclesia) is not a place/building.
You’re letting the polar bears live in the Arctic Circle but still locking them in cages.
When a house church is just a traditional church held at home (i.e., preaching to a crowd), it still produces passive members. There needs to be less "preaching," more interaction, more one anothers, more sharing, while also keeping focused on the Word, discipleship and evangelism.
I don't believe you need training to be a shepherd. I don't want to be a LEADER. I want to be a facilitator. Jesus is our Shepherd. The Holy Spirit leads us into all truth. God's Word is our directions as to how to conduct House Church
Are you guys getting paid for this? If so what makes you different ?
No polar bears in Antarctica
Why House church? Because most all organized Christian denominations do not teach as apostle Paul commanded them to teach.
1 Timothy 4:9-11 KJVS
This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation. [10] For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe. [11] These things command and teach.
And if a house church is not teaching this, then they are not worth attending.
House church is great but you run into a some issues. Space, accessibility, allergies, personal comfort for those that don't know you well, possible danger (items in house used as wepons). From what I found is you'll have a space issue once you get beyond four or five families trying to go into a single dwelling. Also if the people hosting have any pets there will be allergen issues. It is also harder to get people to attend a house church that are seeking than in a building due to personal comfort. The people hosting also have to keep in mind that a stranger or strangers you let in your house could gain access to kitchen equipment or anything else if they were enraged. There are many factors to consider and nothing wrong with having a church building so to speak.
I think I understand where you're coming from, but cautioned this being the model that most should take.
If you're inviting people you don't know, you can lock up all the dangerous utensils....
@@Sisterlisk
Pretty hard to hide everything in a house that could be used as a weapon. This goes by where you live and what type of people your evangelizing. These are just my observations from running a house church that then exceeded the ability for a house church to meet effectively.
There are just things to consider when you invite people into your house.
@@Sisterlisk
Besides your comment is awful pointed, you failed to address any of the other concerns having a house Church makes. Having 20 adults and 40 children in a house becomes a major problem of space in a single dwelling.
There is an emphasis on identifying men early, and training and equipping them to plant more house churches with this model. Once you outgrow a house, send someone to start another one.
@@jesseharper7172
They met in houses under persecution. It was not unusual for them to meet in large gathering places. There is nothing on biblical about the church having a building for practicality purposes.
Home Church emphasis seems to be an overreaction of the unbiblical nature of most churches nowadays. The pendulum is swinging too far in the opposite direction and for going what proper biblical exegesis is.
to escape doctrinism.
Are you calvinists?
Acts 17:24-28.. acts 4:12.. not the church..
Reformed means this: Little Johnny, God has predestined the minority of people to be saved and go to heaven forever, and He has predestined the majority of people to be eternally damned and burn in the fires of hell. We have no idea, little Johnny, if God has predestined you to be forever damned or forever saved.
We love you, little Johnny, but we accept the fact that God might not love you, and that He may have plans to send you to hell for your future sins. If you do find yourself one day burning in hell because He hasn’t elected to save you, just remember that we will always love you, even if God hates you.
Take comfort knowing that we are not like God.
We will be in heaven forever only because we were unconditionally chosen for salvation before we were born. That would be the only reason that we won’t be in hell with you if you find yourself there. It won’t be because of anything we did.
So also take comfort in knowing that. It may not seem fair, but who are we to judge God?
So again, if you find yourself in hell, remember that we will always love you as we forever worship the God who loved us but who hated you, the God who sent His Son to die for us but not for you.
Please, we ask, don’t let it bother you-if you find yourself in hell-that we love the God who hated you and showed you no mercy. We must accept the fact that God is sovereign, and He does what He pleases.
My dear beloved Calvinist, will you teach that to your children or grandchildren?
I suspect that your answer will be “never.” But why not?
Why would you ever hide the wonderful “doctrines of grace,” the “Bible truth,” from your own children or grandchildren?
TRUTH IN LOVE
You are speaking for the next, non-biblical, generation. You use NO Scripture to support your claims. How will you know if each "leader" of each "house church" is teaching the right doctrine? The pastor is supposed to dedicate himself to preaching the word while the deacons should care for other details. You're worried about money, but you forget that it's actually GOD that provides. If you are worried about money, you don't trust God. You are leading people astray. I know that MOST churches have gone astray, but that doesn't mean you just throw it the whole belief. House churches can be good if their is NO alternative.