The House Church
Movement
What is the House Church?
• It is NOT the fact that we
meet in a house!
•Romans 16:5
1 Cor. 16:19
Philemon 2
Colossians 4:15
What is the House Church?
• A movement seeking to
reform the “traditional
structure” of the church!
• It all but condemns authority
for owning a building
• Found in many
denominations
What is the House Church?
• Influenced by “brethren”
• “This book challenges
traditional thinking, calling
brethren to throw off the
denominational thinking which
obscures our historic
commitment to biblical
restoration,…
What is the House Church?
• Influenced by “brethren”
• “…and to consider how
wonderfully revitalizing true
restoration might be, as he
proposes: vibrant small group
fellowships, weekly love feasts,
informal and spontaneous
mutual ministry in the word…”
What is the House Church?
• Influenced by “brethren”
• “…and radically-motivated,
counter-culture disciples of
Christ.”
Radical Restoration,
F. LaGard Smith, “Scholar in
residence for Christian Studies” at
David Lipscomb University
What Happens in a House
True Gospel Preaching…
Church?
• They meet in homes in informal
and casual setting.
• HOWEVER, not uncommon for
“churches” in a city to
occasionally come together.
(Houses that Change the World,
pg. 27-28)
What Happens in a House
True Gospel Preaching…
Church?
• Worship is spontaneous
ANYONE can speak up anytime
- Was priesthood
(men and women)
spontaneous?
- songs (camp style) with
Upbeat 1 Cor. 14:27, 33-34
hand clapping, etc.
Usually associated with a social
gathering (a “potluck”).
What Happens in a House
True Gospel Preaching…
Church?
• The Lord’s Supper centered
around a “fellowship meal”
1 Cor. 11:20-22, 34
– a regular shared meal
“Do you not have
– with a loaf of bread and jug of
houses to eat and drink
juice in middlein?”table.
of
What Happens in a House
True Gospel Preaching…
Church?
• Argued that Lord’s Supper was
What about the specific
the Passover meal
part of The Lord’s Supper is and
foods for Passover
(bitter herbs, lamb, with
therefore to be taken be a
a memorial to etc.)
observed with
common meal of remembrance
Luke 22:20,
1reverence
Cor. 11:25
1 Cor. 11:27-29
“After Supper”
What Happens in a House
True Gospel Preaching…
Church?
• NOT real and substantive
Located Preachers –
As to preaching – see
preaching – POSITIVE
1 Tim. 1:3, Ac. 8:40,
Positive Preaching
21:8, shallow and informal
preaching, Movement! etc.
19:10, 18:11,
as shepherds
Eldersspeak up)
(anyone canTim. 4:2-4
2
(leaders)
• Elimination of “traditional”
Ac. 20:28, 1 Pet. 5:2-3
leadership roles (elders, located
preacher, etc.)
“Justification” for House
True Gospel Preaching…
Churches
• Churches met in houses in first
century.
• Yes they did, but also in the temple
(Acts 2:46, 5:12), in a school (Ac.
19:9), etc. Where is NOT the
emphasis of scripture
• 1 Cor. 11:22, Do you not have
houses…?
• Heb. 10:25, 1 Cor. 11:17, 20
– authority for bldg.
“Justification” for House
True Gospel Preaching…
Churches
• “Traditional church model” has
become ineffective
• Emphasize problems – boring,
not emotionally stimulating, not
relevant, “I’m not getting anything
out of it.”, bickering among
brethren, legalistic, too formal,…
“Justification” for House
True Gospel Preaching…
Churches
• “Traditional church model” has
become ineffective
• Are local churches perfect? NO!
• But that does NOT justify throwing
out the pattern!
• DEAL with the problem!
REPENT! (Rev. 2:5, 3:3, 3:19),
“Justification” for House
True Gospel Preaching…
Churches
• “Everything we do is worship!”
“Worship is uninterrupted.”
• Romans 12:1, Text used to justify
this “I beseech you therefore
brethren by the mercies of God
that you present your bodies a
living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to
God, which is your reasonable
service.”
“Justification” for House
True Gospel Preaching…
Churches
• Various translations lend to this idea.
Romans 12:1
• “… which is your reasonable
service” (KJV, NKJV)
• “(which is) your spiritual service”
(ASV)
• “…which is your spiritual service of
worship” (NASU)
• “this is your spiritual act of
worship” (NIV)
“Justification” for House
True Gospel Preaching…
Churches
• The word “service” while at times is
INVOLVED in worship does NOT
Worship is we
always mean worship!
- In ALL we do,
something we
SERVE God, but NOT
4:10
• Matthew INTEND to do!
everything IS worship!
• Romans 1:25
John 4:23-24, Acts
RESPECT HIS
• Hebrews20:7, 1 Cor. 14:26
13:10
PATTERN!
Why House Church
True Gospel Preaching…
Movement is Wrong
• It is divisive! 1 Cor. 1:10
“These six church” begin?
• How does a “housethings the
Lord hates, Yes, move
• 2 or 3 “spiritual” families seven in
are an abomination to
• They question preacher & elders
Him… One who sows
• Attack worship service
discord among
• They attack the elder and preacher
brethren.”
• Disseminate literature
Prov. 6:16-19
• Draw members away!
Why House Church
True Gospel Preaching…
Movement is Wrong
• It is unscriptural
• Rejects God’s pattern for the
church AND her organization
(weakens eldership – if any; women
take leadership roles, no preacher
allowed, …)
Why House Church
True Gospel Preaching…
Movement is Wrong
• Perversion of N.T. Worship
• Spontaneous and NOT according
to God’s pattern (Lord’s Supper a
common meal, “camp” songs, hand
clapping, “What is your
experience?”, etc.)
• 1 Cor. 14:40
Why House Church
True Gospel Preaching…
Movement is Wrong
• It is Man-CENTERED!
• More about what man wants than
what God expects and commands.
NOT directed toward God as HE
commands it!
• Sure one goes away feeling
good, but why? Emotion driven!
The House Church
Movement is another
product of weak
preaching and
man-pleasers
May we NEVER
neglect our assemblies
to WORSHIP Him as
He asks us to!