© Paul L. Hudson, Jr. 2003
-A summary of his book on House
Church Planting
Summary
·
House churches,
based on the model of the early church, can be planted in neighborhoods.
·
Funds for
buildings are generally not needed, since private homes can serve as meeting
places.
·
Regular
believers are to be equipped to minister and serve in their house churches.
·
House churches
can provide a nurturing, family atmosphere for discipleship.
·
House churches
are free to multiply and grow as new leadership is raised up from within the
house churches.
Why House Churches?
·
The early church
met in house churches.
·
In
·
Using existing
homes makes church growth much cheaper than building new buildings. `
·
New churches can
be started quickly in the homes of believers.
·
Money can be
freed up to support evangelists and to help the poor.
·
House meetings
discourage the unscriptural idea that a church building is 'the house of
God.' ( Acts 7:47-49, I Cor. 3:16, Eph.
2:22, I Peter 2:5.)
·
House meetings
promote a family atmosphere.
·
House churches
are suitable for a primitive-style celebration of the Lord's Supper.
·
House churches may
be persecution-resistant, though not persecution-proof (Acts 8:3.)
The Ministry of the Word
in Meetings
·
The Bible does
not teach that church meetings center on a one-man sermon.
·
The three-point
sermon not in scripture, but rather from Aristotle and Greek culture.
·
Paul taught by
means of discussion. Once he held a
discussion all night long. (Acts 20:7.)
·
Early church
meetings involved various members of the church singing, sharing teachings and
revelations, etc. (I Cor. 14:26.)
·
Hebrews
10:24-25, the verse that instructs us to not forsake assembling, tells us to
rather exhort one another (not just passively be exhorted.)
·
The author of
Hebrews expected, if his readers were mature and had the proper foundation of
knowledge, they should become teachers.
Regular believers can teach in church.
(Heb. 5:12-14.)
·
I Peter 4:10-11
encourages Christians to minister their gifts one to another, including
speaking gifts.
·
The synagogue in
the first century allowed for regular men from the community to read and
comment on the Torah, and also allowed a forum for discussion. (Acts 17:2,17, 16:4 18:19, 19:8.)
·
Elders are to be
apt to teach, but scripture does not teach that only elders can teach in
church. (I Timothy 3:2.)
* Teaching ministry should produce more
teachers. (II Tim. 2:2.)
The Lord's Supper:
·
The early saints
broke bread in homes. (Acts 2:46.)
·
Early Christian
meetings often involved eating a meal in someone's house. This was the practice of the early church,
and even the pagans wrote about their love feasts.
·
The model for
the Lord's Supper was a meal Christ ate with His disciples.
·
The early
Christians celebrated the Lord's Supper as an actual meal. (I Cor. 11:20-21, II Pet. 2:15, Jude 12.)
·
'Supper' in the
Lord's Supper in Greek, refers to a full meal eaten toward the end of the
day.
·
We should eat
the Lord's Supper recognizing the Lord's body, and our unity with one another,
remembering the Lord in a holy manner.
(I Cor. 11:25-27, 33. Galatians
2:11-12.)
·
We should refuse
to eat the Lord's supper with unrepentant men called brothers who resist church
discipline. (Matt. 18:15-18, I Cor. 5,
II Pet. 2:15, Jude 12.) A house church
community, where believers know one another well, is a place where this type of
church discipline can be carried out so that the lump be not leavened. (I Cor. 5:6-7.)
Leadership
·
Paul, and other
apostles, had a measure of rule that extended to the areas where they had
brought the Gospel. (II Cor. 10:13-16.)
·
Paul was a
spiritual father to the Corinthians, whom he had begotten through the
Gospel. (I Cor. 4:14-15.)
·
Paul served as a
counselor to churches he had planted, and tried to use persuasion to motivate
them to do what was right.
·
Apostles
appointed elders to tend the flock of God in churches they had planted. (Acts 14:23. I Thes. 1:1,2:6, I Tim, 3:1,
Tit. 1:5.)
·
The apostles
appointed a plurality of elders.
Scripture does not give us an example of a church with only one
elder. (Acts 14:23, Tit. 1:5.)
·
The Bible does
not teach that one pastor is above the other elders, except for the Chief
Pastor, the Lord Jesus. Elders were told
to pastor the church. (Acts 20:28, I
Peter 5:2.)
·
Scripture also
calls these elders bishops. (Acts 20:28,
Tit. 1:5,7.)Scripture refers to bishops plural within a single church. (Philippians 1:1.)
·
Apostles and
elders could be supported by the church.
Apostles who evangelized had a right to receive payment for their
work. (I Cor. 9:5-6,14.) Elders are to receive payment in relation to
their work. (I Tim.5:17.)
·
Paul often
waived his right to receive payment for his work so that no one could speak
evil of his work. (Acts 18:3, I Cor.
9:12.) He worked with his own hands to
support himself and others. He
encouraged church elders to follow his example.
(Acts 20:23-25.)
·
Elders are not to
do their work because they receive payment (I Peter. 5:2.)
·
Some elders may
keep their jobs. Others may be supported
by the church. Others may live by a
combination of their own work and church work.
We should allow each to follow the Lord's leading.
·
Working a 'secular' job to support himself does not
make a minister of the Gospel inferior to one who receives his support
completely from the church. The Bible
does not forbid ministers of the Gospel from working outside the church. (I Cor. 9:4-6.) , II Cor. 11:5.)
·
Paul and
Barnabas preached and established churches, returning later to appoint
elders. The churches were left without
elders during the initial stage.
·
Many of the
epistles Paul wrote to churches do not yet identify any of the brethren in
those churches as elders. Acts 13, which
tells of Paul and Barnabas being sent out, does not mention elders in
·
New churches can
be planted, established, and function before members of the congregation
matures enough to be qualified to function as bishops/overseers.
·
The elders Paul
and Barnabas appointed on their missionary journey together were not Bible
college graduates from the outside, but rather mature members from within the
very church they were raised up to pastor. (Acts 14:23.)
·
Elders, teachers,
and other leaders can be taught, trained, and raised up from within the
church. (Acts 14:23, Eph. 4:11-12, II
Tim. 2:2.) Experienced traveling
ministers of the Gospel may wish to bring young men to travel with them. (Mark 3:14, Acts 16:1-3, 13:5. Galatians 2:1.)
Making Decisions
·
Paul and
Barnabas initially left churches without appointing elders. Churches were able to survive for that period
without ordained elders. (Acts 14:3.)
·
Brethren in
Christ are to be of one mind (
·
Believers must
practice mutual subjection. (I Peter
5:5.)
·
Elders are to
oversee and the flock of God among them and lead them. They are to lead through example, not lording
over the sheep. (I Peter 5:1-4.)
·
Believers should
yield to the persuasion of them who guide them.
(Heb. 13:17.)
·
The apostles
included the congregation in the deciding who would handle the distribution of food. (Acts 6:2-6.)
·
It pleased not
only the apostles and elders, but also the whole church, to send Judas
and Silas to
·
The Council of
Jerusalem made a decision based on what they perceived seemed good to the Holy
Spirit. They made their decision based
on what seemed good to the Spirit, not just their own opinion. (Acts 15:23,28.)
·
Not only the
apostles and elders, but also the brethren perceived that this seemed
good to the Spirit. (Acts 15:23,28.)
Rethinking Evangelism
·
Just repeating a
prayer doesn't make one a Christian.
Often, only a small percentage of those who respond to altar calls
during crusades are involved in church a year later.
·
We should
present Christ as the solution for the condition of sinful man who has violated
God's law, rather than someone who can merely enhance the life of the sinner,
or offer him a 'fire insurance policy.'
·
We should
rethink 'assembly line' or 'mass production' types of evangelism. We must make sure those that hear must really
understand. Many local people take a
while to consider the word before it takes root in their hearts.
·
We should
reconsider that Christ taught to 'count the cost' (Luke 14:28, 33.) Believers should also be willing to confess
Christ before men. (Matthew 10:32-33.)
·
We should
reconsider the role baptism plays in receiving the Gospel. (Mark 16:16, Acts 2:38, Acts 8:12, 8:35-38,
10:44-48, 16:14-15, 16:30-33, 18:8, 1`9:4-5, Acts 22:16, Rom. 6:3-4, I Cor.
10:2, Gal. 3:26-27, Col. 2:11-13, Pet. 3:21.)
Evangelism Strategy
·
Gifted church
planters may move to a neighborhood and open their own home for church
meetings.
·
Church planters
may win others to Christ by inviting unbelieving families, one family at a
time, over for dinner, forming relationships, and sharing the gospel.
·
Other Christians
who want to open their homes to start a house church may regularly invite the
church planter and an unbelieving family over for dinner on the same night.
·
New believers
typically have close relationships with unbelievers for a period of time after
conversion. New believers may have
enthusiasm to share the Gospel, but little experience and knowledge concerning
how to evangelize.
·
Church planters
can share the Gospel across these 'bridges of God'-relationships with
unbelievers- by forming relationships with the families of new believers,
perhaps inviting them over for dinner.
New converts from this work can be added to existing house churches, or
may open their homes for house church meetings in other neighborhoods.
·
Fellow church
members can help one another pray for unsaved loved ones.
·
Church planters
should hope to win entire households to Christ, and not just individuals.
·
New believers
are offered a new family life in their new house church.
·
The church
planter teaches house churches about mutual edification so that they can have
meetings while he is away helping other house churches.
·
Regular
believers can plant new house churches as the number of believers grow. (Acts 11:19-22,16.)
Circulation of Gifted
Members
·
The apostles
sent Barnabas to the new church at
·
Prophets from
·
Apollos, a man
knowledgeable in the scriptures traveled to Achaia and strengthened the saints
there. (Acts 18:24,18,29.)
·
Though Paul
would leave behind churches he started, returning at a later date, he would
also send his co-workers to help young churches.
·
Gifted saints
can visit various house churches, teaching, or ministering in other gifts.
·
As the new house
church Christians grow and develop in their gifts, they can help other house
churches, both old churches, and new ones.
House churches or groups of house churches may wish to write letters
commending traveling saints. (Acts
18:27.) The open nature of the house church
meeting allows for visiting saints to share their gifts. (I Cor. 14:26,)
·
Those with gifts
talents not considered conventional ministry gifts may also circulate through
other house churches, offering ministry.
E.g. those gifted in prayer,
sharing about handling finances, literacy education, etc.
Christian Education and
Training
·
Every believer
in a meeting must grow in knowledge and develop in his or her spiritual gifts.
·
Those with
various ministry gifts should be trained up within the local church.
·
Hebrews 5:12
begins: "For when for the time ye ought to be teachers…" Hebrews appears to have been written to the
regular believers, and not to the leaders in particular. Believers should be nurtured until they
mature to spiritual adulthood, and grow into ministry. (Heb. 13:17.)
·
We should work
toward the goal of the average Christian in a house church having the nearly
same level of knowledge as the average Bible school graduate.
·
Christians
should learn about the entire Bible in their church community. We can look to the Jewish community in
Christ's day and the early church as models for educating our children and
adult brethren in the things of God.
·
Christians
should have some level of education in the history of the church.
·
Elders and
teachers should have a well-rounded education.
They should have a good understanding of the scriptures. Elders should have some practical
understanding of hermeneutics, the process of canonization of the scriptures,
the history of the church, and knowledge related to issues they might face in
their cultural context. E.g. contextual
evangelism, creation v. evolution, etc.
·
Believers should
have some knowledge of how to use the scriptures in evangelism, and how to
relate them to the cultural context around them.
·
Curriculums can
be developed to help house churches study various topics, in addition to
reading through the scriptures. House
churches may wish to have meetings during the week to learn about topics such
as how scripture was canonized, church history, evangelism techniques, or even
Greek or Hebrew, etc.
·
Believers can
grow and grow in their own ministry callings through mentoring relationships
with others who are more mature in those gifts.
We should allow room for mentoring, Paul-Timothy type relationships.
·
The older women
have a lot to teach the younger women.
(Titus 2:3-5.)
·
We must exhort
one another so that we can learn to love, and so that we do not fall into
sin. (Heb. 3:13, 10:24-26.)
Unity
·
House churches
can have relationships with other house churches through relationships with the
same ministers of the Gospel.
·
House churches
may wish to gather together with other churches for large celebration
gatherings or conferences.
·
Large meetings
may allow for house church Christians to network with other believers, and may
allow a network of believers for young Christians to use in looking for
spouses.
·
Elders from
house churches can pray together with other elders from the church in the city.
·
House church
Christians should be taught scriptural 'levels' of church: the house church, the city church, and the
heavenly church. The scripture does not
support denominationalism.
·
Though a
denomination may need to be used in some areas for legal purposes, believers in
house churches are taught not to have a denominational or exclusive mindset.
·
Church planters
and laborers in house churches must respect the work of other laborers and not
get into carnal competition. We must
keep the Lord's kingdom in mind, and not build our own kingdoms.
·
It may be
beneficial for church planters who want to do this type of church planting to
have the experience of living in a church community, which practices mutual
edification.
Finances
·
House churches
can be cheap to plant, but cost a lot in labor.
·
Church planters
and other ministers from within house churches can save money if house church
Christians are taught the Biblical principles of hospitality. (Rom. 12:13.) I
Tim. 3:2,Tit. 1:8, I Pet. 4:9, Matt. 10:10-13, Luke 10:4-8.) A network of hospitable Christians can make
traveling through a region much cheaper.
·
Churches should
learn to share on the local level, (Acts4:32-25, Mark 10:30, I Tim
6:17-19.) Churches should also share
with other churches in other areas that are in need. (II Cor. 8:13-14.)
·
Churches should be
taught to provide for those who labor among them. (I Cor. 9:4-15, Gal. 6:6, I Tim 5::17-19,
Matt. 10:10-13, Luke 10:4-8.)
·
Church elders
should do their work, not for money, but out of a desire to serve. ((I Peter 5:2.) This type of work ethic needs to be imparted
to house church elders.
·
House church
ministry might not provide a comfortable, guaranteed salary. Elders may work to supplement their income,
or live on faith on what the Lord generously provides for them.
·
Elders who work
a secular job can show forth the Gospel in their workplaces. They are also able to relate to the financial
needs and struggles of other church members.
·
Some
denominations may wish to take a two-track approach to ministry. One track would be the traditional clergy-led
church. The other would be the house
church track.
·
The scripture
does not even provide an example of an elder baptizing. In addition to the apostles, we see Philip,
who was an evangelist and possibly a deacon, baptizing (Acts 6:2-5, 21:8,
8:12,38.) as well. But Ananias who
baptized Saul of Tarsus, is described as 'a certain disciple' (Acts 9:10.)
·
Disciples can
baptize other disciples. Baptism should
not be the sole right of clergy, especially in churches that have been left
behind by church planters, before eldership has been raised up.
·
A denomination
may wish to offer a baptism certificate based on the word of two or three
reliable witnesses to the baptism.
·
The title clergy
can actually encourage a top-down system of church government and an artificial
clergy-laity distinction.
·
Non-Christians
in a community may not welcome someone who uses the title clergy. The title can put up a wall between a worker
and those among whom he wishes to labor.
·
A denomination
may wish to have 'elders' in their house churches, rather than clergy.
·
The title
'majelis' may tempt a new believer with pride.
(I Tim. 3:6.)
·
House church
administration can be carried out by church planters and evangelists who visit
the house churches, and by deacons, and elders that the Lord raises up in the
house churches over time.