. Many house churches have f… Ronald Sider, Rich Christians in an Age of Hunger (Downers Grove, IL: IVP, 1977), 190-191. Catholic Prayers, Practices and Devotions. How fast it grows? The Jerusalem Church had thousands of members meeting house to house. A loving, family-like atmosphere is more easily developed. Throughout the Roman Empire, wherever the name of Christ was proclaimed and believers united with him through baptism, the Eucharist was also celebrated as an encounter with his passion and resurrection. The Church should be associated with mutual encouragement, accountability, relationships, community and maintaining church discipline. “The antidote to the evangelical obsession with the ‘bigger is better’ model of church organisation. Christians Were a Fearless and Animated People, Not a Passive Church. One-Another Ministry: The Scriptures are full of “one another” commands. Members of St. John’s Episcopal Church in Minneapolis, Minnesota, gather in the front yard of a couple from the congregation for Sunday worship. Why might the apostles have laid down a purposeful pattern of small churches? The Holy Meal: The Lord’s Supper was originally celebrated weekly as a full, fellowship meal. 12:26). Since New Testament churches met almost exclusively in private homes, the typical congregation was relatively small. Jerome Murphy-O’Connor, Saint Paul’s Corinth: Texts and Archaeology (Collegeville, MN: Liturgical Press, 2002), 180. What psychological impact might the size of a church meeting have on the actual meeting and people themselves? They met mostly in homes. Hence, a successful small church leader is one who is faithful to “preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching.” It does not matter if your church never gets larger as long as one is faithful in God’s household. 4. New leaders should be continually trained from within to go out and start new works. A helpful resource is Becoming a Level Five Multiplying Church Field Guide by Wilson & Ferguson (Exponential Resources, 2015). When one pastor of a church composed of home-school families was asked if his church had a youth pastor, he replied it had not one but twenty youth pastors—each family’s father. Participatory worship fits smaller settings better and the things shared are much more meaningful. Those who have pulled their children out of both government and Christian schools are often not interested in their children being involved with Sunday school or youth groups. Synder, 70. This focused look at women in the household context discusses the importance of issues of space and visibility in shaping the lives of early Christian women. . How did New Testament churches grow numerically yet still meet in private homes? As public speaking is a great fear, participatory meetings are best suited to smaller gatherings composed of people who all know each other and are true friends. If you lead your small church to adopt early church practice, it will be a blessing to people. It was sporadic and did not necessarily affect all the churches at the same time. The early church, of course, did not always fully live out the New Testament vision of the body of Christ. Believers are children of God (1Jn 3:1) who have been born into his family (Jn 1:12-13). What advantages for growth and reproduction might house churches have over fellowships that have to build church houses? How can this be overcome? Perhaps some congregations were large and therefore met in big buildings, but this is an argument from silence. Train up new leaders from within. Size plays an important role in this. They were so effective that Christianity eventually became the dominant religion. The legacy of a faithful small church will outlast a larger, entertainment-oriented congregation. When one rejoiced, they all rejoiced (1 Cor. Achieving consensus is possible in a church where everyone knows each other, loves each other, bears with one another, is patient with one another and is committed to each other. A home-school family’s thinking is often based on such truths as, “Folly is bound up in the heart of a child” and “the companion of fools will suffer harm.” Because children are foolish, putting them all together in a school classroom may be a recipe for spiritual and social disaster. Since New Testament churches met almost exclusively in private homes, the typical congregation was relatively small. First, thank God for the years you had to make disciples of these Millennials before they moved on. How fast it grows? Professors What does that mean for us? So, in 1 Corinthians 16:19, “The churches of Asia send you greetings. There are no evidences of larger places of meeting before 300.” Again quoting Snyder, “there is no literary evidence nor archaeological indication that any such home was converted into an extant church building. “Lullingstone Roman Villa”, English-Heritage.org.uk. The home should have a large assembly room and ample off-street parking. There is extensive archaeological evidence from many cites showing that some homes were structurally modified to hold such churches.” One such modified home known to host a church was found in Dura-Europos, Syria. How do you feel about this? Proportions There were no more people in any one congregation than would fit into a wealthy person’s home (in the atrium, courtyard, or large living area). For example, a Barna Group’s study on why small churches don’t grow revealed that people with children are often looking for a church that offers an impressive children’s ministry, which in turn requires the funding for first-class facilities and to hire competent personnel, something smaller churches have financial difficulty doing. What should be done in a situation where a home is simply too small to host a church meeting? 8. The sisters and brothers were available to each other, liable for each other and accountable to each other. Under the radar of the Roman Empire, God used the early house churches to evangelize, make disciples, and transform the world. 10. Multiplication: Small churches have great potential for growth through multiplication. Learn Practical Tips on Ministering in Smaller Churches The apostles’ belief concerning the function of the church was naturally expressed in the form the church took on in the first century, and this would certainly include size considerations. After suffering several national defeats by the Assyrians in 722 BCE and the Babylonians in 587 BCE, their prophets claimed that Go… Graydon F. Synder, Church Life Before Constantine (Macon, GA: Mercer University Press, 1991), 166. 9. The early church continued this practice of home meetings for hundreds of years after the New Testament was completed. . Train up new leaders from within. Today, as always, we can see God’s footsteps, if we are looking for them. A hallway between them led into the home’s atrium. Though house churches were at the opposite end of the spectrum from modern mega-churches, it is important to avoid the mistake of thinking too small. “How Much Does It Cost To Start A Church?”, MissionalChallenge.com, accessed September 1, 2016. New churches grow faster than larger ones. It could, according to the Yale archaeologists who excavated it, seat 65 to 70 people. Kingdom minded older congregations may be willing to let you use their building after their services are over. When one member suffered, they all suffered. Walls between adjoining rooms off the atrium could be removed to create a big open area. Several aspects of women's everyday existence are investigated, including the lives of wives, widows, women with children, female slaves, women as patrons, household leaders, and teachers. “Unearthing the Christian Building”, Dura-Europos: Excavating Antiquity (Yale University Art Gallery), 2. New Bible Dictionary (Wheaton, IL: Tyndale, 1982), 498. 4. Paul then describes for them the tradition he received concerning the Last Supper as the foundation for the celebration of Eucharist (1 Corinthians 11:23-27). The inter-personal relationships described in the New Testament work best in situations where everyone knows each other. Rather than growing your one congregation bigger and bigger, make it your goal to start new small churches that start other small churches. 6. Size plays an important role in this. Acts records 120 believers assembled in the upper room of a house. Why? Someone needs to minister to singles and empty nesters; small churches are in an excellent position to do so. Look into renting an apartment clubhouse, dance academy, storefront, school cafeteria or community center. Written before any of the Gospels, it is the earliest known written tradition concerning the Last Supper. How do you feel about this? Some argue that Roman villa sized churches were characteristic of the church in its infancy, but not in its maturity. Look into renting an apartment clubhouse, dance academy, storefront, school cafeteria or community center. This custom of … Noah faithfully preached to his generation, yet only a handful were saved. It was not unusual for strangers to be in and out of a home. There are over fifty of them, such as love one another, give preference to one another, encourage one another, agree with one another, accept one another, submit to one another, etc. Forty may be a safer guess. House churches have not altogether disappeared, either, even within Catholicism. A hallway between them led into the home’s atrium. When Claudius expelled all Jews from the city of Rome, however, only the Gentile Christians remained. 3. There are no professionals in charge; they often have no leaders. Griffith Thomas, co-founder of Dallas Theological Seminary, “For two or three centuries Christians met in private houses . The problem with this is the corrupting influence children have on each other: “Do not be deceived: ‘Bad company ruins good morals.’” It is also felt that putting children in Sunday School or a youth group takes the pressure off the parents to fulfill their God-given roles of training their own children. . They also probably had more of an Asian mindset to crowding than we do in the West; there may have been 150 people in an early house church. Of course not. A home-school family’s thinking is often based on such truths as, “Folly is bound up in the heart of a child” and “the companion of fools will suffer harm.” Because children are foolish, putting them all together in a school classroom may be a recipe for spiritual and social disaster. The practical reality of the priesthood of the believer was lost until the Reformation. One-Another Ministry: The Scriptures are full of “one another” commands. Jim Henry, pastor of First Baptist Church of Orlando estimated, “Our two church plants are going to cost us about $2,450,000 over a three-year period.”, In light of these staggering figures, as your small church starts new small churches, be creative in finding places to meet that are cost efficient. 6. Resource Allocation: Charles Price, late Director of Missions for the San Antonio Baptist Association, lamented that the typical cost to start a new church in North America is an astounding two million dollars. Achieving congregational consensus is easier when everyone knows everyone else and open lines of communication genuinely exist with one another. Special thanks to Stephen David of Hyderabad, India for significant contributions to this section. . Instead, they multiplied, constantly training leaders and sending out groups to start new fellowships. 2. Large crowds are great for special praise concerts, seminars or evangelism, but the weekly church gathering is to be about something more—mutual edification, accountability, encouraging one another, the fellowship of the Holy Meal, strengthening relationships, building consensus, etc. Don’t rule out the possibility of meeting in someone’s home—under the right circumstances it can still be a viable option (see our book for more about modern house churches). Each local church is to be like a family; one of the most common things families do is eat together. This was probably because of the large size of the home and the financial ability of the host to provide much of the food for the love feast. However, what happens when they marry and have children? Synder, 70. Believers are children of God (1Jn 3:1) who have been born into his family (Jn 1:12-13). However, the larger the fellowship, the more difficult it becomes to maintain relationships and lines of communication. We need to think small in a really big way! Jerome Murphy-O’Connor measured six homes in Pompeii and Ephesus and found the average atrium size to be 797 square feet. This article was originally published in Arkansas Catholic Dec. 13, 2014. These small numbers are based on the size of houses in Corinth, and the house that Murphy-O’Connor used as his primary example was the spacious abode of someone with considerable wealth. 5. Acts 2:42 - And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of … Proof According to Fuller seminary professor Robert Banks, “Even the meetings of the ‘whole church’ were small enough for a relatively intimate relationship to develop between the members.”. Read More Having too many people in attendance can serve to defeat the purposes for holding a church meeting in the first place. The real issue is not where a church meets but how it can best do what God requires of it. And when a brother or sister fell into sin, the others gently restored the straying person (Mt. Gehring's research is invaluable in explaining the context of the house church to the worship and spread of the Christian faith in it's first years. It will likely create a contagious excitement that will cause numerical growth as well. What should be done in a situation where a home is simply too small to host a church meeting? . He was successful because he was faithful to what God wanted him to do. What are some simple steps modern families could take to make their family homes something of a house church? In the West, the perceived disadvantages of small churches are mostly cultural. W.H. . For example, a Barna Group’s study on why small churches don’t grow revealed that people with children are often looking for a church that offers an impressive children’s ministry, which in turn requires the funding for first-class facilities and to hire competent personnel, something smaller churches have financial difficulty doing. Early church meetings centered on the Lord’s Table were tremendous times of fellowship, community, and encouragement. It is not surprising then to see women taking leadership roles in house churches. Jews claimed an ancient tradition with law codes for daily life (the Laws of Moses) and revelations from their god through Prophets. When a person or church experienced economic trouble, the others shared without reservation. Some worry that house churches don’t have all the marks of a biblical church. This would seat around 100 people. There are over fifty of them, such as love one another, give preference to one another, encourage one another, agree with one another, accept one another, submit to one another, etc. Some of the distinct practices of those early small churches are worth considering: 1. There were tragic lapses. “How Much Does It Cost To Start A Church?”, MissionalChallenge.com, accessed September 1, 2016. When one pastor of a church composed of home-school families was asked if his church had a youth pastor, he replied it had not one but twenty youth pastors—each family’s father. Worship was generally conducted in the atrium, or central courtyard of the house.”, The early church continued this practice of home meetings for hundreds of years after the New Testament was completed. What practical advantages and disadvantages would meeting in a home have? Scripture indicates that the early church met in the private homes of its more affluent members. What constitutes a successful ministry anyway? How big the budget is? The early house churches met in the mostly-covered atrium area of the house. Some couples who leave a small church upon having children will return after their children are grown. Significantly these two centuries mark the most powerful and vigorous advance of the church, which perhaps has never seen been equaled.” Achieving congregational consensus is easier when everyone knows everyone else and open lines of communication genuinely exist with one another. Lane Dennis, ed. It will likely create a contagious excitement that will cause numerical growth as well. 12:26). 2500 N. Tyler St., Little Rock, AR 72207 Achieving consensus is possible in a church where everyone knows each other, loves each other, bears with one another, is patient with one another and is committed to each other. No one can better describe the early Christians than Mathetes who was a 2nd century Christian. Worst yet, many parents drop their children off at a church youth program as sort of a reform school, hoping for a miracle. Church hostess Lydia was a prosperous businesswoman who sold expensive purple fabric and could afford servants (Ac 16:14). Was Jesus’ ministry a failure? How many people attend a church? There were no more people in any one congregation than would fit into a wealthy person’s home (in the atrium, courtyard, or large living area). The early church, of course, did not always fully live out the New Testament vision of the body of Christ. It is a design axiom that form follows function. Biblical gardens reveal God's plans for us, Both war, peace found in biblical valleys, Rivers, streams of Bible flow with new life, Jesus brought good news to ancient villages, God's plan is the original 'urban renewal', © Copyright 2021 Diocese of Little Rock If it is set up at the beginning to continue for a … He was successful because he was faithful to what God wanted him to do. 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