• Home
• About RMA
• Apostles Today
• Apostolic Council
• Walking in Our Inheritance - Book
• Our Beliefs
• The Journey So Far
• Shiloh Centre
• Book Shop
• Future Events
• By-Laws of RMA
• Monthly Teaching Day
• Training School
• Discipleship Courses
• House Church
• Teachings
• The Nations
• Newsletters
• Study Manuals
• RMA Staff
• Email Us
• Hindi Newsletters
• Hindi Books & Articles

House-Church

Introduction to House Churches

Since the inception of Revival Ministries Australia in 1998, we have been committed to ‘being the church’! The verses of Scripture in Acts 2:42-47 became key Scriptures on which we modelled what we practised as a ministry. The Lord restored to us the Breaking of Bread and we began to break Bread in every house meeting, in every prayer meeting and whenever we travelled out we practised the breaking of Bread with those who received us. We understood from these Scriptures that the Early Church met daily in houses and so we have sought to plant the church in every friendly house.

This web page is Chapter 7 of the RMA manual titled "Leadership in the Last Days Church" by Paul Galligan. The chapter is presented here to help those who are thinking about or those who wish to establish house "churches". The following scriptures indicate the importance of such "churches".
Acts 2:46-47 And day by day, continuing stedfastly with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread at home, they took their food with gladness and singleness of heart, praising God, and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to them day by day those that were saved.
Acts 5:42 And every day, in the temple and at home, they ceased not to teach and to preach Jesus as the Christ.
Acts 20:20 ... how I shrank not from declaring unto you anything that was profitable, and teaching you publicly, and from house to house, ...

BIBLICAL HOUSECHURCH

WHY HOUSE CHURCHES?

As the apostolic church is restored we need to teach from the Scriptures concerning the house church or the church that meets in the house. The model and practice of 'local church' in recent times is not biblically valid, except if we were to see the local church meeting as simply the house church meeting in a hired hall; but this is not the case. The idea of dedicated buildings that are not used as part of every day Christian life is not scripturally sound. We do not need to build a sanctuary for God on the earth, there is only one sanctuary and that is the one mentioned in Heb.9:11-12 & 24.

In Matt.18:20 Jesus says "For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them." This is a sanctuary, two or three gathered with Jesus present in the midst.

The church of a city

In the Scripture the apostles wrote to the church of a city. In Jerusalem that church was led by apostles and elders [which included prophets, Acts 15:22 & 32]. In Antioch the church was led by prophets and teachers (Acts 13:1), and from Acts 14:23, the practice was for apostles to ordain elders in every place. So there was the church of the city with either apostolic leadership or apostolicly ordained elders in leadership.

Meeting in homes

In the Scripture the church of the city met in various houses. The apostles attended the house meetings and taught the apostles doctrine, Acts 2:42 & Acts 20:20. The development of local churches numbering hundreds and thousands of saints is not a biblical development. A church that meets in the home is by definition limited in number. This means that every person who is saved is very naturally included in the life of the church. The church of the city will in time number hundreds and even thousands of saints but they meet in house churches with a common eldership oversighting the church of the city.

WHERE DID THE CHURCH MEET?

The Church Met in Houses

There is no evidence of large single congregations in the New Testament except in the precincts of the temple of Jerusalem in the very early days of the church's life. The indisputable evidence of the New Testament is that the church met in houses. Acts 2:46-47 tells us they met daily, from house to house; everyone's needs were met in the fellowship; they broke bread together, sang praises to God and people were getting saved every day.

Establishing the Church in Friendly Houses

As the church spread to other towns and cities the disciples followed the instructions Jesus had given them in Matt.10:6-15 and Luke 10:1-12, establishing the church in friendly houses. Throughout the book of Acts and Paul's epistles there are many instances of the church meeting in the house.

Paul greets the various fellowships in Rome

For example in Rom.16:5 there was a church in Pricilla and Aquila's house; in verse 10 Paul greets the household of Aristobulus; in verse 11 he greets the household of Narcissus; in verse 14 he greets a number of brethren who are together; in verse 15 he greets the saints who are with the five brethren mentioned. There are five churches mentioned, and these fellowships are part of the church of Rome to whom Paul is writing.

The Myanmar experience

In the Union of Myanmar [formerly known as Burma] the indigenous church is generally not allowed by the authorities to construct dedicated church buildings. This is a blessing in disguise - there has been some resentment among believers over this law. So the church meets from house to house. Some of the house meetings that gather to receive the visiting apostle number over one hundred, but it is normally 20-40 people who gather. In such gatherings there can be as many as half of them coming for salvation. Here we see the biblical example working, the lost are being added. It has been an absolute delight to minister in the outlying areas of Myanmar going from town to town into house churches. It is a very biblical experience. On one occasion in a very isolated place the Holy Spirit came as on the day of Pentecost to a crowded house meeting of approximately 60 people, the majority of them being school students. Students and adults were speaking in new tongues [including English which they did not naturally know], prophesying, singing new songs in the Spirit and weeping in deep intercession. Some were drawn from the street to come up to see what was happening.

THE FIRST HOUSE CHURCH

It could be said that the first house church in the Bible met in the Garden of Eden, in the cool of the evening at Adam and Eve's place. This is where they met with the LORD. Jesus said in Matt.18:20, when two or three come together in his Name, He will be there in the midst. In Jesus our fellowship with God is restored, and that fellowship is with the Lord whenever we gather in His name. We are blessed to enjoy our Lord's fellowship "in the cool of the evening."

What happened in Adam and Eve's house church?

We assume that the LORD God taught the word, making it clear to Adam and Eve what the Divine purpose was and warning them to beware of the wiles of the devil, that is, to not eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Jesus said that if you receive the apostle you receive me, (Matt.10:40). Jesus still comes into the midst where there are people gathered together in His name.

One can imagine that life in Adam's household after they had been expelled from the garden, included Adam training up his sons to walk with God. In the account of Gen.4 we find that both Cain and Abel had a personal relationship with God and had obviously been taught the doctrine of redemption through the offering of a lamb.

The godly line from Seth through to Noah, suggests the ongoing training from generation to generation in their fathers' households. Each first born son was prophetically named and trained up in the knowledge of God's redemptive purposes. Finally in Noah's family, his wife and his three sons and their wives, were all involved in building the ark of salvation in that generation. The house church, consisting of the four families, worked together under the apostolic leadership of Noah. This was a mighty work they were called to, but the work we are called to is of equal significance as we prepare an ark of salvation in our generation through the biblical ministry of planting the church in every place, in friendly houses.

ABRAHAM A VERY SUCCESSFUL HOUSECHURCH LEADER

Gen.18:19 "For I have known him, in order that he may command his children and his household after him, that they keep the way of the LORD, to do righteousness and justice, that the LORD may bring to Abraham what He has spoken to him." God says He chose Abraham because He foresaw that he would manage his own household well and thus be qualified to become the father of many nations, releasing the blessing of faith to every family, Gen.12:3. This blessing is through Christ and is for every family.

The church is primarily to be planted in the home: it is a family church.

Long before Abraham had his own son Isaac, he had many spiritual sons. Gen.14:14 tells us that he had 318 trained men [servants] in his own house, who were able to go to war with him. If most of these men were married imagine how many souls were under Abraham's care. This house church was really a traveling village: hundreds of families living in tents, caring for their flocks and herds. And this was in the early years of Abraham's ministry. In Gen.18:1-15 the LORD Himself actually visited Abraham and Sarah in their own tent. This was when the LORD prophesied the conception and birth of Isaac. The word of the LORD is to be released in the house church. Whenever two or three gather together in His name, I AM is present. HALLELUJAH! As we share in the faith of Abraham we receive the blessing.

God will visit us in our fellowships and His word will be precious and powerful.

A LAMB FOR A HOUSEHOLD

Reading from Exodus 12 reveals to us that the Israelites living in Egypt, lived in households that included more than the immediate family. God instructed Moses that each household was to prepare a lamb, Ex.12:3. If the household was too small to consume in total the lamb, they were to join with another smaller household, v4. There was an optimum number of people to make up a household and in the context it appears the average household was of that optimum size. This is exciting teaching: God has provided a lamb for every household. For every fellowship of God's people who come together there is a lamb.

In the new covenant house church, God has provided a lamb, His own Son.

Each household [house church] has been provided for and is authorised to break bread in the home [breaking bread daily from house to house Acts 2:46].

Jesus Christ is the Lamb for every household.

There is a wonderful example of this in Acts 10 when Peter was invited to go the house of Cornelius to share the good news of Jesus Christ with Cornelius together with his relatives and close friends. The household that gathered received Jesus the Lamb of God, through the preaching of the apostle. Even as God provided deliverance for His people from Egypt through Moses, household by household, so now He has provided salvation for all people through Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ has appointed apostles and other ministers to establish the church in every house that will receive them.

MOSES' INSTRUCTION FOR HOUSE CHURCH

Moses taught how the house church is to function daily, Deut.6:4-9. The people of God in loving God with their whole heart and soul and strength must function in their houses as believers from day to day.

Deut.6:7-9 "You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the door- posts of your house and on your gates."

ESTABLISHING THE HOUSE CHURCH

Luke 10:1-24 The church is established in 'friendly houses' by preachers [apostles and evangelists] being sent out in the will of the Lord. In this chapter of Luke, Jesus gives us clear instructions to establish house churches in every place.

Going to every place before the Lord comes

v. 1 The Lord appointed seventy others; sent them out two by two, before His face, to every place where He would go. We are to prepare every place for the coming of the Lord.

Labourers for the Harvest

v. 2 Why do we need to establish a church in every place? Because Jesus said, "The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few; therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest."

Plenty of Opposition

v. 3 Jesus said He was sending them out as lambs among wolves. There will be wolves, beware! You will not be popular going out to plant a church in every place. You may meet with opposition from other established churches, it they are already there, and from the evil spirits in areas controlled by sorcery and false religions.

Walking in the Obedience of Faith

v. 4 We are not to take anything with us but trust that God will supply; we are not to get off focus [no missionary tourism]. Jesus said "greet no one along the road." Don't allow other distractions to take you off focus.

Led by Peace

v. 5 Enter the house where a man of peace resides; in other words, where you are received.

Find a Friendly House

v. 6 Have discernment: is this a 'friendly' house? If it is not a friendly house don't remain in it.

Minister from that House

v.7 Remain in the friendly house; receive their hospitality; minister from that house. We are not meant to go knocking on every door, remain in the place where you are received.

A city is judged by their hospitality

v. 8 A city will be judged by the way they receive the preachers that the Lord sends.

Heal the Sick and Preach the Word

v. 9 In the friendly house offer to pray for the sick. Jesus instructs us to heal the sick and to preach the kingdom of God. Others may be brought to the house to receive prayer for healing as the news spreads. The power of God is present to heal in that house! This opens up the opportunity to testify about Jesus.

Judgement comes to people and cities who do not receive preachers

v. 11-12 Wipe the dust of that city off your feet [a prophetic act of judgment because they did not receive the Word], but in so doing warn the city of the judgement to come.

Receiving the Lord

v. 16 "He who hears you hears me, he who rejects you rejects Me, and he who rejects Me rejects Him who sent Me." It is as people receive Jesus, believing on His name that they are born again, Jn.1:12. If people reject the preaching they are rejecting the Lord. We receive Jesus by believing on this Name. People will only know His name if we preach about Him.

Authority over the devil

v. 17-19 The devil and demons are subject to us. Satan has been defeated, Jesus said "I saw satan fall like lightning from heaven. Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means harm you." Our lives are hidden with Christ in God, Col.3:3.

Salvation

v. 20 Jesus emphasises that the greatest miracle is the new birth, bringing people into salvation. The goal is to see people saved.

Salvation comes by revelation from God

v. 21-22 The Lord sends us so He can save people through our preaching. Jesus reveals the Father to those that He wills, (Matt.16:17). People are saved through revelation.

The Mystery Revealed

v. 23-24 This gospel we have received is the revelation of the mystery which was hidden from the Old Testament saints.

FUNCTIONING IN THE HOUSE CHURCH

In the Book of Acts we see the church planted and functioning from house to house. In this study we are looking at aspects of the church functioning in the house.

Foundations Being Laid

Acts 2:1-13 The coming of the Holy Spirit; giving power for ministry and witness as Jesus had promised in Acts 1:8,

v. 14-40 Peter preaches Jesus, the Lord and Christ,
v. 37 The listeners were cut to the heart by the preaching of Jesus crucified, dead and risen.
v. 38-41 Peter tells them how to be saved; repent and believe the word, and "they received the word gladly"; be baptised; receive the Holy Spirit

The foundations of the new church are being laid by the apostles.

Five fundamental functions of church life

Acts 2:42 This verse reveals the five vital components of church life
1. They continued steadfastly - this means what it says: the early believers continued devotedly or steadfastly in the other four components. Without a regular, full-on commitment to the things of faith, the church will not fulfill its purpose.
2. Apostles doctrine
3. Fellowship
4. Breaking of Bread
5. Prayer

The results of continuing steadfastly in these vital components of church life

v. 43 Great fear came upon all the believers. This 'fear' is the fear of the Lord, which in the Old Testament is the equivalent of faith. Mighty signs and wonders were done by the apostles.

The fear [faith] released the miraculous.

v. 44 The believers were all together and shared all things in common. A true community emerged.
v. 45 Possessions and goods were sold, and the proceeds used to meet needs in the community.
v. 46 Daily - continuing daily

in one accord - in agreement, no private agendas [dealt with severely in Chap. 5:1-11]

in the temple - they presented as a coherent, compact, committed body of believers

in the church world of their day [the temple]

in the houses.

They broke bread from house to house, "a lamb for a house". The communion is fundamentally essential in the house church. They shared meals together with gladness and simplicity (check Amplified Bible). Many churches authorise home meetings, but never authorise the breaking of bread. Until all control (doctrine of the Nicolaitans) is taken off the believers, and Christians meet daily in homes, fulfilling the five fundamental functions of church, we will not experience "our first love" for Jesus and fulfill His good acceptable and perfect will.

v. 47 "Praising God and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved." The Lord added to the church, daily, those who needed salvation.

The house church was the house of the saints, where they were praying late in the night.

Acts 4:23 "And being let go, they went to their own companions and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said to them." Peter and John went to their companions and reported to them. They found their companions meeting together in a house.

In one accord

Acts 4:24 "So when they heard that, they raised their voice to God with one accord and said …" They prayed together.

Renewed boldness

Acts 4:31 " And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness."

The place (house) where they were meeting together was shaken and they were filled with the Holy Spirit. They went out from that place preaching boldly.

All things in common

Acts 4:32 "Now the multitude of those who believed were of one heart and one soul; neither did anyone say that any of the things he possessed was his own, but they had all things in common." The result was revival broke out!

True community releases revival; many others want to belong.

Acts 4:33 "And with great power the apostles gave witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And great grace was upon them all."

'Great power' and 'great grace' was upon the apostles. The apostles were preaching Christ. Jesus is the DOOR to the community.

At the apostles feet

Acts4:34 - 37 reveal the level of giving and sacrificial generosity of these disciples. The people were prepared to lay their money "at the apostles feet" and allow them to distribute it. This is a principle of God's word.

DAILY - THEY DID NOT CEASE!

Acts 5:42 "And daily in the temple, and in every house, they did not cease teaching the preaching Jesus as the Christ." AMEN!

Until we return to the biblical model and practice of preaching and teaching Jesus as the Christ in every house that will receive us and in public places such as the temple represents, we will not see the life and witness of the glory of Christ Jesus that we long for. We still only give partial approval to church in the home. Most churches forbid the breaking of bread in the home and yet this is the right place for the breaking of bread. It is neither biblical nor practical to break bread in large congregations.

The work of the Gospel is continuous, publicly and from house to house, daily.

The elders of the church in the city work in unity to plant the church in every friendly house. There needs to a real soul-winning, apostolic housechurch in the midst of every locality, in every city, town and rural area, so that every soul is contacted and impacted by the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

A testimony

Recently I was in city overseas and on the Sunday I preached in four Sunday meetings. The first was in a suburban area, which was quite poor. It was a humble housechurch meeting which included the breaking of bread. Three souls were saved in that meeting. I led them to the Lord before I ministered communion. Then they were able to receive the communion.

The next meeting was held in the upstairs of a large house which has been set apart for meetings of the church. There was a regular Sunday meeting here, with communion. No one came for salvation. The third meeting was held in a small church building. It was packed. There was no communion and no one for salvation. The fourth was an evening meeting in a pentecostal church building, with 3-400 present. Again, no communion and no one for salvation.

The first meeting was held in a humble house in a humble street and unsaved folks were drawn into the meeting. The breaking of bread in such a meeting is easy, natural, intimate and powerful to save as we experienced. This is the biblical breaking of bread in the house, with the apostle present to teach the word in the house.

Multiplication

Those pastors with congregations meeting on Sundays in dedicated buildings have the potential to plant multiple housechurches. Such a work is truly apostolic and must be done for the effective witness of the Gospel to every creature. This is the Biblical way to go: the planting of churches in every friendly house.

The next article on this site "The Purpose and Conduct of Ministry in the House" is Chapter 4 of a new manual "FAITH IN PRACTICE" released in November 2003 by Paul Galligan. This article gives some history of the restoration of ministry in the house over the last 30 years, shows the very biblical nature of church in the house.
"The purpose of ministry in the house is: 1. To plant the biblical church, 2. to release it to function."

THE PURPOSE AND CONDUCT

OF MINISTRY IN THE HOUSE

INTRODUCTION

The church of the New Testament is the church that meets in houses. The apostles taught the doctrines of Christ in the house meetings as believers gathered daily. There were public ministries but they were mainly for evangelism and there is the use of a public hall as in the case of Paul in Ephesus where he gathered the disciples for training, but there is no ‘dedicated church building’. In recent decades there has a restoration of ministry in the house, from the cell groups of the 1970’s to the cell churches of the 1990’s. And along the way there have been many experiments and experiences of genuine New Testament church in the house.

CELL GROUPS

When I became a Christian in 1974, I soon heard about cell groups based on the experience and teaching of Juan Carlos Ortiz from Argentina. Within a couple of years I was leading a cell group as part of Christian Life Centre in Toowoomba. Ortiz had been to the C.L.C. mother church in Brisbane and cell groups were now in vogue.

CHARISMATIC PRAYER MEETING

Let me back-track a little, to tell that I was actually born again in a house meeting. It was a typical inter-denominational house meeting of the mid 1970’s called prayer meetings, where people who were experiencing the ‘Spirit-filled’ life, gathered together to share their experience of praise, spiritual gifts, to share their experience of Jesus and the Holy Spirit. These ‘charismatic’ prayer meetings were happening regularly in a non-organised [there was an anointing flowing], non-systemic [not related to or governed by any particular church] way, and were a rich expression of the church that Paul speaks of in 1 Cor.14:26 "How is it then, brethren? Whenever you come together, each of you has a psalm, has a teaching, has a tongue, has a revelation, has an interpretation. Let all things be done for edification."

Anyone was welcome at the charismatic prayer meeting; there was salvation, baptism in the Holy Spirit, and active participation of everyone present.

The cell groups were more organised, with set weekly meeting times, specific ones invited, set teaching given to the leaders by the pastors of the local church. Much was lost in moving away from charismatic prayer meetings because that meant moving away from 1 Cor.14:26, where each one was able to share freely and the Holy Spirit was expected to come. Cell groups were closed by their very nature. There was not the expectation of new ones coming and being saved.

HOUSE HOLDS

In late 1977, the church fellowship I was part of left the C.L.C fellowship of churches and the leadership Pastor Trevor Chandler, Brisbane, and joined the ‘Discipleship’ movement which was led overseas by Charles Simpson, Don Basham, Bob Mumford, Ern Baxter and in those early years, by Derek Prince. The movement was led by Howard Carter in Australia. The change that came that is relevant to this discussion was the change from cell groups to households. Each household consisted of 9-15 adults on average plus children. The pastoral care of the people was exercised through the households and each household leader was called a shepherd. Only committed members of the church community were allowed into membership of a household. Even wives with unsaved husbands were initially excluded. The shepherds were accountable to the leader of the community. The rules governing, and the authority over, these groups intensified. The meetings were closed. There were set teachings to be shared, including listening to many tapes of the Australian leader. There was much reporting by the shepherd of the household to the community leader. There was very little reliance upon the Holy Spirit and a lot of the joy of Christian life was lost.

HOUSE CHURCHES SO CALLED

Later we formed house-churches for our Sunday meetings, where three or four households met together in a larger house or a hired hall. These groups numbered between 50-100 in each so-called house-church. The purpose of these groupings was to raise up more leaders, capable of ‘public’ ministry in areas of preaching, worship leading etc. There was talk and initial planning for these ‘house-churches’ to grow into autonomous local churches but unfortunately the overall leaders became nervous about losing control and the house-churches were closed down. While they functioned they met on Sundays and once a month the Sunday meeting was a combined gathering of the house-churches for a community meeting. Note: these meetings of the church were wrongly named as they did not normally meet in houses.

The discipleship movement finally disintegrated, mainly due to the wrong exercise of authority by the leaders, wherein authoritarianism actually hid serious flaws and error in the conduct and doctrine of senior leadership. After ten years in that movement the Lord led us [my family and I] to withdraw. There were some positives in the Lord through all those years and it was something He required us to go through. However, overall it was a situation of serious religious bondage, which operated through fear, intimidation, manipulation and domination. My family was very damaged by that church experience as were hundreds of others here in Australia. In North America thousands of disciples were damaged.

PLANTING THE CHURCH IN THE HOUSE

After leaving the ministry as pastor of the community church in Toowoomba in late 1987, God made it clear to me that I was to remain in the same city where I had been and continue in ministry. In the leading of the Lord, I began a healing seminar in our home on Friday evenings. We were renting a large house and the lounge room could comfortably seat up to eighty people. The landlord had given permission for ‘church’ to be held in the house. Up to thirty people attended the healing seminar. At this time I had visited some other fellowships in our city and had been invited to join, but knew in the Lord not to become involved. After two weeks I decided to meet for the Lord’s supper on Sunday in our home. The second week I did this, four young people who lived with us but had been going out for Sunday church, joined us. The following week another family joined us. The church in the house, which already had up to thirty coming on Friday nights for the healing seminar, now had over thirty coming on Sundays for fellowship around the Lord’s supper.

The Lord’s supper, a key component of house church

There are many aspects to "church in the house", but a key component is the Lord’s Table. Historically, denominational ‘communions’ have been established that are exclusive and enshrouded in man-made mystery, and authorised according to strict denominational control. It is a major breakthrough for believers to take communion in a simple house fellowship that mirrors New Testament practice. In a very real way, the breaking of bread signifies the establishment of the church. Worldwide, home churches of whatever persuasion, if they are part of a denomination or movement are not allowed to break bread in the homes. The breaking of Bread is restricted to public meetings of the church. Thus there is not a true recognition of the church in the house as basic biblical practice is not allowed.

HIRE A HALL, ADVERTISE, GO PUBLIC!

Just as the church in our house was beginning to flourish, I joined a charismatic denomination and submitted to their way of opening new churches. This meant hiring a public hall, advertising, waving the church name on a banner etc and it meant forsaking the very real fellowship that was growing in the home-based church.

HOME GROUPS

I later became involved in a traditional denominational church which had been flowing in aspects of spiritual renewal for some years. The senior minister of the church was very committed to raising others into ministry and as a result there were many saints operating in areas of gifting and ministry. This local church actually had a prayer counselling and seminar ministry into the whole nation. The church also encouraged "home groups" and in the four years I was on staff, there were often meetings and discussions among leadership about the purpose and function of the home groups. Were they an extension of the church into the house that encouraged fellowship and spiritual growth in the smaller groups?

Were these a more Scriptural expression of church fellowship than the larger congregational denominational church meetings?

These questions were never adequately answered because there was no apostolic leader who was able to teach accurately from Scripture the true nature and expression of the church, day by day and from house to house. We sought counsel from various ones but there were many opinions and no clear biblically sound way to go.

CELL CHURCHES

In more recent years, we have heard of cell churches and various groupings have sprung up following very set formulas for the conduct of meetings. Again there is no clear apostolic vision for how each cell church is to grow into the mature church of Jesus Christ. There are many rules and prescribed ways of doing things. So one asks, ‘Is this just another system of church?’ and I fear that it is.

RESTORATION OF MINISTRY IN THE HOUSE

By and large, most small group expressions whether they be cell groups, home groups, households or cell churches are effective in providing close pastoral care and fellowship for the saints, but generally fail to bring the saints into the full expression of their giftings and ministries to fully function in the Body of Christ. This is because there is still an important foundational understanding of church in the house that is missing!

According to the New Testament Scriptures the church in the house

is the church in its primary and ongoing expression.

The model of local congregations propped up and strengthened by small groups operating in the houses is not New Testament. The actual house to house meetings of the saints (believers) is the only expression of church found in the New Testament except for public preaching and testimony in places like Solomon’s porch (Acts5:12), and apostolic teaching schools such as the school of Tyrannus in Ephesus (Acts 19:10-11).

THE PURPOSE OF MINISTRY IN THE HOUSE

Stated clearly and simply: the purpose of ministry in the house is

1. to plant the Biblical church

2. to release it to function.

This is the way of ministry that Jesus instructed the seventy witnesses in Luke 10: they were to stay in the house of the man of peace [a friendly house, a house where they were received], heal the sick and preach the kingdom of God. They were not to go from house to house but rather Jesus’ expectation was that the sick and the lost would be drawn to the house where the ministers of the gospel were (Lu.10:1-9).

THE CHURCH IN THE HOUSE IN THE BOOK OF ACTS

There are clear references in the book of Acts to the church in the house:

Acts 1:12-26 the hundred and twenty were waiting in the upper room, continuing in prayer until the Holy Spirit came – they were in a house. It was in this extended time of prayer and supplication, that the twelfth apostle, to replace Judas the betrayer, was chosen. Clearly the Scriptures were open in this house meeting and the Holy Spirit spoke to Peter through the Scripture.

Acts 2:42-47 after the public preaching in the street on the day of Pentecost, three thousand souls were baptised and added to the one hundred and twenty believers. V.42 "And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers." Where did the 3120 continue? Where did they meet? This is a crucial question which most do not ask or else ignore the answer. V.46 "they continued daily with one accord, …, breaking bread from house to house." They met in multiple houses. One can imagine that the upper room of Acts 1 probably held few more that 120. Many other believers opened their houses, inviting numbers of the new converts who were already baptised and had received the Holy Spirit on the day they believed, to come to the house meetings where the apostles were teaching daily. As well, there were daily prayer meetings in the temple precincts, specifically Solomon’s porch (Acts 5:12).

Acts 4:23,31 after Peter and John were released by the Sanhedrin "they went to their own companions", [we can assume they went to a house] and prayed to the Lord about their situation and asking the Lord for boldness and for signs and wonders. "And when they had prayed the place where they were assembled together was shaken and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and spoke the word of God with boldness."

Acts 5:42 "And daily in the temple, and in every house, they did not cease teaching and preaching Jesus the Christ."

Acts 9:11-19 Saul was "in the house of Judas in a street called Straight". Paul was healed, filled with the Holy Spirit and baptised by Ananias in a house.

v.33-34 Peter raised the paralysed man from his bed – we assume he was in a house.

Acts 10:24-48 Cornelius gathered all his relatives and friends together in his house to hear Peter share the message of Jesus Christ. V.44 "While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all who heard the word". Peter then commanded them to be baptised [they must have had some water in the house – maybe a Roman bath!] and he stayed with them in the house for a few days to minister.

Acts 12:12 when the angel delivered Peter from the prison he went to the house of John Mark "where many were gathered together praying".

Acts 16:15-40 Lydia came to salvation through the preaching of Paul and as soon as she was baptised she persuaded Paul and his team to "come to my house and stay". The church in Philippi was planted in Lydia’s house. That is where the church met. When Paul and Silas were released from the prison they went back to Lydia’s house where they saw the brethren (v.40). In v.33-34, the Philippian jailer and his family were all saved and immediately baptised; he then brought the apostles into his house and set food before them. Again the function or conduct of church life was in the house.

Acts 18:7 in Corinth, Paul initially testified in the Jewish synagogue but when opposition arose, "he departed from there and entered the house of a certain man named Justus, who worshiped God, whose house was next door to the synagogue."

v.8 "Then Crispus, the ruler of the synagogue, believed on the Lord with all his household." Often in the New Testament evangelism reached whole households; this was because the ministry of the gospel came into the house!

Acts 20:20 Paul testifies that in Ephesus he "taught publicly and from house to house". He was speaking to the elders from the church in Ephesus. When Paul was in Ephesus he taught publicly, daily, in the school of Tyrannus. But the church met in houses and so in the evenings Paul ministered from house to house. The school of Tyrannus in the model for apostolic training schools.

Acts 21:8 When Paul and his company came to Caesarea, he "entered the house of Philip the evangelist, who was one of the seven, and stayed with him". House meetings happened automatically and after many days Agabus the prophet arrived from Judea and ministered in the house (v.10-14).

Acts 28:30-31 "Then Paul dwelt two whole years in his own rented house, and received all who came to him, preaching the kingdom of God and teaching the things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ with all confidence, no one forbidding him." Paul had spent two years teaching in the apostolic school in Ephesus, but he is just as committed to teaching the apostles doctrine in his own rented house for two years. This is the last picture we have of the great apostle Paul in the Scripture and he is practicing church in the house.

We have looked at all the direct references to the church meeting and functioning in the house in the book of Acts. There are many other indirect references because

MINISTRY IN THE HOUSES IN THE EPISTLES

Rom.16:5 "Likewise the church in their house [Priscilla and Aquila’s house]"

v.10 "Greet those of the household of Aristobulus".

v.11 "Greet those are of the household of Narcissus who are in the Lord."

v.14 "Greet Asyncritus … and the brethren who are with them."

v.15 another group of saints are together with some brethren Paul knows by name.

Paul had not been to Rome at the time he wrote the letter but he knows ‘brethren in a number of households’, ‘church in the house’, ‘brethren together’. There are five of these groups and it is reasonable to believe that they were five house-based fellowships that were part of the church in Rome.

1 Cor.16:15 refers to the household of Stephanus who "devoted themselves to the ministry of the saints". Stephanus is referred to as a minister and a coworker with Paul. He ministered through the church that was based in his house as well as travelling in ministry.

v.19 Priscilla and Aquila had a church in their house in Ephesus, as well as in Rome later and in Corinth earlier.

Col. 4:15 here the church is in the house of Nymphas [or Nympha].

Philemon 1-2 Philemon hosted and led the church in his house.

v. 4-6 He was known for his love and faith and his refreshing ministry to the saints and to Paul the apostle, 20-22.

As in the book of Acts there are only some specific references to the churches being in the houses. However there are no references in either the book of Acts or the Epistles to the church meeting customarily anywhere else. It is time to return to New Testament Christianity, to follow the apostolic pattern clearly set in the Scriptures.

AS IT IS WRITTEN

The apostles in the Bible minister publicly and from house to house. The public ministry was generally evangelism, but included speaking in the synagogues regularly in the early years of the church and also in the Temple precincts. Prayer meetings were held in the Temple. However the normal life of the church was lived out [conducted] in the homes, from house to house. The new converts that came from public evangelism were received into the church; that church met in many homes. The three thousand saved on the day of Pentecost were added to the hundred and twenty, and met in many homes daily, and were growing daily "the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved" Acts 2:47.

The only mention of the venue of church meetings as such in the Scriptures is in houses. Yes! Public witness happened in a variety of places, but never does the Bible suggest that the church met in these places for the conduct of normal church life. Normal church life, which is the ‘conduct’ or function of the church was undisputedly in the houses. So why is there such confusion today? Often when I tell another minister about the development of ministry in the house and the formation of house churches, the comment is, ‘Oh, when the group grows they will be able to get a building.’ No! that is not our goal.

WHERE DID THE THOUSANDS OF NEW CONVERTS MEET?

Have you ever asked: ‘What happened to the 3000 converts of Acts 2:41?’ ‘What happened to the 5000 in Acts 4:4?’ ‘What happened to the ones being added daily to the house churches? Acts 2:47’. The ones from Acts 2:47 joined the house churches; but what about the 3000 and the 5000? Where did they experience church? The only answer is: in the houses of believers or maybe even in their own houses. Certainly we can assume that the church continued to meet in Cornelius’ house in Acts 10. We can easily imagine a church meeting regularly in the house of the Philippian jailer after he and his household had been dramatically saved. It is clear that Lydia invited Paul and the brothers to her house to meet as the new church in Philippi.

STOP GOING TO CHURCH!

It is not a step forward for a group of believers meeting in homes to grow in number and then to go and rent a hall or construct a dedicated church building for their assembly. In fact as soon as that happens the church has actually taken a backward step and will stop growing in the way God has ordained. The experience of church in an assembly that meets on Sundays predominantly is not a true example of Biblical church, nor is it a true experience of Biblical discipleship.

START BEING THE CHURCH!

It is a life-changing experience for Christians to realise that we are ‘to stop going to church’ and to start ‘being the church’.

THE CONDUCT OF MINISTRY IN THE HOUSE

1. Through prayer, enabling the lost to find Jesus
2. Praise and worship
3. Fellowship and sharing
4. Apostolic doctrine – leading to sound doctrine practiced, revelation understood and grace received.
5. Many opportunities for ministry – signs and wonders, preaching and teaching.

The conduct of house ministry in the early church:

Acts2:42 "And they continued steadfastly in the apostles doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers." Five-fold ministry happened in the house. The apostles came to the meetings and taught the doctrine; the saints shared fellowship, broke bread and prayed together. These four aspects are the key works of the church functioning in the house. Even quite mature believers are continually made dependant on the staff of the local church – never delegated to function in ministry at home, daily, breaking of bread, prayer, study the Word.

v.43 "Then fear came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles." There was evidence of the kingdom of God in the midst. The sick were healed; miracles were happening in the houses.

v.44-45 "Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common, and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need." The fellowship that develops out of house based ministry leads to a deep level of sharing. Every member in the group is known and valued; individual needs are shared openly and prayed about; help, support and provision flows as the Lord leads.

v.46 "So continuing daily with one accord … breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart." There was the opportunity for believers to meet daily in open friendly ways, to share meals together and to share opportunities of experiencing the Lord through the breaking of bread. The breaking of bread in the Scripture from its inception at the Last Supper was always in the context of the meal. Today as the church returns to the house meeting the breaking of bread can once again be part of the fellowship meal and take on greater meaning.

v.47 "Praising God and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved." The place of praise and worship is in the house meeting. The house-based church is in ‘natural’ contact with neighbours and all who live in the vicinity of the house church. The early Christians had ‘favour with all the people’ – this means they were popular and well thought of. Neighbours are easily included into house church. In one of the areas, Wondai, a small country town, where we minister in a house church, we are seeing this literally coming to pass. Initially the house church meeting was a gathering of saints from various local fellowships to hear the apostles’ doctrine. In more recent times it has become a truly effective Biblical house church – neighbours and their children are happily coming to the house church meetings, sharing the meal, receiving Jesus, breaking bread, being taught the Word of God. It is to these groups of people, meeting together with the evidence of God’s presence manifest in the midst that the Lord will bring the lost.

THE TESTIMONY OF SCRIPTURE IS CLEAR

The New Testament church met in houses. The church was planted in every friendly house. Acts 5:42 "And daily in the temple and in every house, they did not cease teaching and preaching Jesus the Christ." In Luke 10, Jesus sent the witnesses out two by two into every city and place where He was about to go. He instructed them to find a friendly house and minister there, healing the sick and preaching the kingdom of God.

THE GOAL IS MULTIPLE CHURCH PLANTS

Go to top of this page