The Church that meets in Houses

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’.  According to the New Testament Scriptures the church in the house is the church in its primary and ongoing expression.

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: to plant the Biblical church and 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. 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. Where did the 3120 meet? Verse 26 “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. Acts 9:33-34 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 is 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 all the normal meetings and conduct of church life from salvation including baptism to the deeper wisdom of the word of God being taught by the apostles happened from house to house. 

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.” In 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 mentioned 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 co-worker with Paul. He ministered through the church that was based in his house as well as travelling in ministry. In v.19 Priscilla and Aquila had a church in their house in Ephesus, as well as in Rome later and in Corinth earlier. In Col. 4:15  the church is in the house of Nymphas [or Nympha]. Philemon (1-2) hosted and led the church in his house. He was known for his love and faith and his refreshing ministry to the saints (4-6) 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 area. 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. The goal is the multiplication of disciples who meet in houses to hear the apostles doctrine, to fellowship together including the meeting of each others needs, to break bread regularly – at least weekly but preferably daily and to pray together to discover God’s purpose day by day; to nurture the new converts and to disciple the believers.

 

The Conduct of Ministry in the House

In the church that meets in the house there is prayer, enabling the lost to find Jesus, praise and worship, fellowship and sharing, apostolic doctrine – leading to sound doctrine practiced, revelation understood and grace received. There are many opportunities for ministry – signs and wonders, preaching and teaching. All of these are illustrated in Acts 2:42-47:

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 dependent on the staff of the local church – never delegated to function in ministry at home breaking bread, praying together and studying 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.

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: a church in the home of every Christian family; a church in the house of every Christian household; a church on every floor of every apartment block & every office block; a church in every street; a church in every farming district.

The Goal is: for the gospel to be fully preached; for the Great Commission to be fulfilled; for the church to be prepared for the Lord’s return.

Therefore there needs to be a Bible based, soul winning, Holy Spirit empowered church, in the midst of every group of people, so that every soul is contacted and impacted by the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

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OVERSEAS TRIPS PLANNED FOR 2007

Myanmar: January, Pastor Arend Tibben will be ministering in Myanmar enroute to Holland

                   February, Paul & team will be in Myanmar from 6^th for two weeks

India: Late February/March, Jean & Bruce Manning will be ministering in Thailand & India

Africa: March 29^th to May 7^th, Paul and team will be in East and Central Africa                   

India/Pakistan: proposed trip in May, Pastor Peter De-Bressac and team

West Africa: proposed trip late Aug./Sept. Paul and team

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Apostolic Council: Paul is now a member of an international apostolic council. For more information please consult www.kingdomquest.net

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APOSTOLIC/PROPHETIC CONFERENCE

Friday 12^th & Saturday 13^th January

At SHILOH Centre

Sessions Friday: 9am, 11am, 2pm & 7pm

               Saturday: 9am, 11am & 2pm; conference finishes at 4pm.

Various speakers all with experience in apostolic or prophetic ministry.

 

APOSTOLIC MINISTRY TRAINING SCHOOL AT SHILOH: Mon. 8^th to Sat. 20^th Jan. All welcome.

There are no fees for the School or the Conference. Please let us know if you are coming and especially if you will need a billet. Lunches will be available at SHILOH [gold coin donation]

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Special Dates at SHILOH

Feb. 4^th. Community Sunday: meeting at SHILOH, gathering of house churches, all welcome

Feb. 24^th Training Day at SHILOH 10am to 4.30pm, team home from Myanmar

Mar. 11^th Community Sunday (as 4^th Feb)

Mar. 24^th Training Day at SHILOH

Ministry teams will be travelling to house churches in New South Wales and north to Proserpine in Queensland in late Jan. and early Feb.

 

Special project in Myanmar: Pastor Jean Manning has brought to our attention a particular project in Myanmar that we are keen to support. It involves the purchase of a block of land for about $2000 AUD and the construction of a basic living unit for about $1000 AUD to house one of the orphanages. One of our families are already supporting this particular orphanage by paying a monthly rental but Jean has told us that it is possible to relocate the orphanage into a semi-rural area where they can be growing some of their own food.

  Ph. 46130633     email: rma@revivalministries.org.au