THE CHURCH THAT IS IN THEIR HOUSE

Welcome to an authentic New Testament church (Rom 16:5. 1 Cor 16:19; Col 4:15; Phile 1:2)

HOW TO START A BIBLICAL HOUSE CHURCH

 

  1. The first thing you will need is the word of God, a Bible, specifically a New Testament to model Christ's church today after the 1st century church we see there. The Old Testament is useful for us to understand more fully the will of God (Rom 15:4), but we are not under Moses nor the Prophets (Mt 17:1-5) but under or better said “in” Christ (Jn 3:16 LITV; Rom 6:3; Gal 3:27; Eph 4:15) Who has been given all authority (Mt 28:18; Col 3:27), in fact if you go back to that system to be justified you have fallen from grace (God's favor; Gal 5:4). Another important principle to remember is that we are not under law but grace (Rom 6:14; Jn 1:17), God has rules for us in the New Covenant but there is a inherent leniency in this concept (grace/favor), God want His rules written on our hearts (Heb 8:10) not hanging over our heads waiting to smash us at the slightest mistake (2 Pet 3:18), God wants us saved (1 Tim 2:4) and will enable us to do His will more and more over time.

     

  2. Here are the things we (Christians/those that believe and obey the bible) do when we come together, gather, assemble in our houses (Rom 16:5; 1 Cor 16:9; Col 4:15; Phile 1:2), we sit around the kitchen table or in the living room as we normally would, or maybe even a specially set apart room, when there we . . .

     

    1. Encourage one another to live godly lives (1 Pet 1:15-16) as we see the day that we leave this world individually (Heb 9:27), or the day of the LORD (2 Pet 3:10) approaching (Heb 10:25). We usually talk about current events that affect us and those we love in this quickly morally declining world and how wonderful it will be to be free from these things and be with God forever and ever.

       

    2. Pray, we usually start with a prayer (1 Tim 2:1-4), and end with a prayer, and give thanks for the things we partake of during our gathering (1 Thess 4:17-18). It should be noted that the men are to lead in mixed company (1 Tim 2:8-15), the rejecting of God's divine order (1 Cor 11:3; Eph 6:1) has slowly but surely gotten us where we are today with the LBGTQ+ and other similar things and are not pleasing in the sight of God (Mk 7:20-23; Rom 1:26-27; 1 Cor 6:9-11; Gal 5:19-21; 1 Jn 2:15-17).

       

    3. Partake of the Lord's Supper, Paul implies that was one of the reasons that they came together (1 Cor 11:20). We use grape wine mixed with water, some use straight wine, others use grape juice. And homemade unleavened bread (flour/water/salt/oil), the eastern orthodox church uses leavened (made with yeast also) bread, and claims that they always have and will continue doing so, keep in mind the undergirding principle that we are not under law but grace (Rom 6:14). We usually give thanks for each individually and then partake of them. It should be noted that we do not mix the the Lords Supper with a common meal, we keep it separate as instructed in 1 Cor 11:27-34.

       

    4. Read/preach/teach/study God's word (2 Tim 3:16-17; 1 Tim 4:16; 2 Tim 4:2; Acts 17:11). How you go about this is determined by the skill level God has blessed you with, one can merely read a passage God has put in their heart and then you can discuss it among yourselves, or someone can actually write and deliver a 3 point sermon, or anywhere in between.

       

    5. Take up a collection for needy saints (Christians; 1 Cor 16:1-2) as God has prospered us and as we have purposed in our hearts (2 Cor 9:7). There are Christians/saints all over the world that need bibles, food, protection, and so forth, and can be easily and securely accessed via the internet, God will guide you where you need to go in this. It may be merely a Christian close by that needs some sort of help, or someone on the other side of the world. We simply have a box/device with a slot on the top for this, whatever works for you, do it, for we have been created in Christ Jesus for good works.

       

    6. Singing (1 Cor 14:15; Eph 5:18-19; Col 3:16), We have purchased a few hymnals on-line and we pick a couple songs each week to sing from there, or it may be God has put it in someones heart to sing a song that is widely known such as "Amazing Grace". I will add that we do not use instruments but simply sing as seen upon the pages of the New Testament after which we model/pattern ourselves (2 Tim 1:13; Rom 6:17), as a former musician I can tell you that there is an element of pride/the lifting of one's self up instead of God (1 Cor 10:31) in playing instruments, and what many call worship (bands, light shows, smoke machines, sound systems, etc.) is nothing more than Christian entertainment and really has no place in the biblical house church setting.

 

I hope this helps you to be more like the church seen in the new Testament and gets you closer to God and His will. Keep in mind we are not under law but grace (Rom 6:14; Jn 1:17), things like more members, deacons, elders, ministries and so forth will come in time if the LORD wills. May the Lord bless you and keep you until That Day.