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Post by Tammy on May 26, 2008 0:30:34 GMT -5
I've been thinking about the concept of "home church", and I have some real questions. Not trying to be divisive or anything... I can see some real advantages to "home churching", not the least of which is a lesser likelihood of a church split!  Those of you who do "home church", please tell me: - How do you tithe? To what do your offerings go? - What are you doing to fulfill the Great Commission given to the church? Do you support world missions? - Do you partake of the Lord's Supper? - If you have a new convert, do you baptize him? Just wondering... Thanks for indulging me!  |
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kscarle
Member
Philippians 4:4, Romans 12:1, John 14:15
Posts: 97
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Post by kscarle on May 26, 2008 14:13:17 GMT -5
I'd like to add to the questions,please - What about fellowshipping with other believers?
- Do you have regular weekly tomes for services?
- When out on soul-winning/visitation, do you invite them to your house or recommend a local assembly?
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Post by Tammy on Jun 13, 2008 23:58:14 GMT -5
Just "bumping" this up again. |
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Post by Brother Ben on Jun 16, 2008 12:40:17 GMT -5
Sorry I missed this one sisters, this last couple of weeks has been a blur. Without any further delay...here's my two cents worth.
Tammy's Questions:
Tithing is not clearly commanded in the New Testament but grace giving is. So therefore, offerings of gifts should only be taken in conjunction with needs such as collection for the saints, and meeting the needs of the elders.
1Cr 16:1 ¶ Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given order to the churches of Galatia, even so do ye.
1Cr 16:2 Upon the first [day] of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as [God] hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come.
2Cr 9:6 ¶ But this , He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.
2Cr 9:7 Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, [so let him give]; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.
2Cr 9:8 And God [is] able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all [things], may abound to every good work:
1Ti 5:17 ¶ Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine.
1Ti 5:18 For the scripture saith, Thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn. And, The labourer [is] worthy of his reward.
The Great Commission is given to "disciples" not just the church, notice:
Mat 28:16 ¶ Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, into a mountain where Jesus had appointed them.
Mat 28:17 And when they saw him, they worshipped him: but some doubted.
Mat 28:18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.
Mat 28:19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
Mat 28:20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, [even] unto the end of the world. Amen.
We (disciples) should all be fullfilling the Great Commission every time we go to town, answer the phone, pay our electric bill, etc. Those called to missions should go. A local assembly should afford them 100% if they can, if not, perhaps other assemblies can help, or the missionary can work in the country of his calling. I know men who do this. As far as missions, as the Lord lays worthy ministries on one's heart, they should send funds to help that work.
Yes.
Yes.
Kristi's questions:
That's what home/house churching is all about. We should be meeting with other believers. At first, it may be just your family, but as you seek the Lord and be a public Christian, the Lord will bring others your way.
You can, but being a home/house church there is liberty for flexibility. One must remember we do not have to duplicate the methods of the institutional church.
You only invite believers to church. You teach the unconverted in their homes. As far as recommending a local assembly, what is a home/house church? It is a church, a valid assembly. Many are moving to home/house church because of problems in the institutional church, why would one send them there?
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Post by Tammy on Jun 26, 2008 21:49:12 GMT -5
I guess I'm not willing to give up tithing. I believe the Lord has blessed us because we tithe, as well as give offerings and to other mission projects. We believe tithing was instituted before the law (Gen. 14:20), under the law (Lev. 27:30), was encouraged by the Lord Jesus under the law, and was not done away with under grace, as far as we can see. "Grace giving" is certainly important. ALL that we call "ours" is really God's anyway, and He has the prerogative to do with it as He pleases. When we yield to His will in this area, we are most blessed indeed! Very true. We are individually responsible for spreading the Gospel. But I think when Jesus gave the command, "Go ye" the ye is plural, as if they were expected to make a cooperative effort. At least, in Spanish it is translated using the verb for plural (y'all, as it were ) GO. He spoke to His church AND His disciples, which were one and the same. I am glad you believe in supporting foreign missions! I don't know how else the church is going to reach the WHOLE world! I appreciate you for answering my questions, Bro. Ben. I hope you lead many to Christ and bring glory to our Lord. Sis Tammy |
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Post by SisterNancy on Jul 9, 2008 7:34:48 GMT -5
Brother Ben, I have a question about your home church...How do people find out about it? Is it just people you invite?
A church in a church bld. is visible for all to see, they have advertisements in the local news paper, they have a lisiting in the phone book.
I was just curious. If I wanted to find a home church that believed how would I find it?
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Post by Sister Penny on Jul 9, 2008 7:48:15 GMT -5
Dear Brethren,
My husband and I attend a "home church" it is an actual building, moved from one location to another and it's on the Pastor's property and we church there, with 80 people their home got a bit cramped :-) They have been called the "lawn chair" church, as in nice weather they sit outdoors on lawn chairs for the service, however, we have not experienced that as of yet as we are fairly new members but I am most happy there and so is my hubby.
The Word is Scriptural and they are just a nice group of God fearing born again Christian believers, all ages and mostly the same backgrounds from what I gather...
It takes us about 1/2 hour to drive to the church but its worth the trip, as we spend most of the day there as we share a common meal after services, its a big potluck.
God bless,
Sister Penny
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Post by SisterNancy on Jul 9, 2008 7:52:28 GMT -5
again...how did you find it?
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Post by Brother Ben on Jul 9, 2008 13:58:45 GMT -5
That's it exactly. It is Matthew 28:19,20, Acts 1:8, and every other commission verse in action. Psa 107:2 Let the redeemed of the LORD say [so], whom he hath redeemed from the hand of the enemy;As we go about our business on the phone, at the store, paying a bill, etc., we should be sharing Christ. As we find those without him, we witness and make appointments to go into their home and share the Gospel. If and when they make a commitment to Christ, then you bring them into the fellowship. When you meet hungery believers, and they are out there, you invite them to the meeting if they are interested. Some do not want house/home church. I have a friend in Arkansas who has a little home fellowship with another family. There were more families, but they wanted youth group, Sunday School, nursery, etc. The founding families had "been there, done that" and were now pursuing a humble home assembly. When the others saw it was not going to evolve into an institutional church...they left. Now it is just two families again. I shared with him the thing that was so liberating for us: Mat 18:19 Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven.
Mat 18:20 For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.It is so nice when other families come along, but until they do, the founding family or families need to encourage themselves with the fact that if there are just TWO believers, Christ is there in the midst. One must break free of the concept that you have to have X amount of families, X amounts of tithes (to pay your pay check,) and an address and phone number in the church section of the phone book. These things are not so. If you wanted to hunt for a house church in your area you might try House Church Central. www.hccentral.com/directory/index.htmlThere are other house church sites out there. www.hccentral.com/directory/index.htmlwww.house2house.tv/www.housechurchresource.org/what_is_organic_church.htmlThough I do not endorse all you will read on these pages, the gist of the house church movement can be seen there. Some will be delightful, some will be different, and some will be strange! But, then so is every other kind of church experience. Ben |
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Post by SisterNancy on Jul 9, 2008 18:55:32 GMT -5
Thank you for sharing with us Brother Ben. I am by nature a people person so, I would love to meet with others not to model the institutional church but to have fellowship and prayer with others. To not feel lonely which is different then being alone.
thank you for the links you posted. I love the last link you gave us.
I was hoping to find a fellowship in our area.
We knew and participated in some house churches in NJ but alas there are none around here. So, I guess we are it. I was saved in a house church in Philadelphia when I was a teenager. So, I do have some knowledge and experience with it.
thanks again!
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Post by Tammy on Jul 10, 2008 0:04:43 GMT -5
I was reading along, nodding in agreement with what you said, and then... What did you mean by that?  |
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Post by BrotherJim on Jul 10, 2008 8:40:42 GMT -5
About paychecks:
I have served churches without pay or compensation so it's not about the paycheck for me it's about worshiping and preaching the Word.
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Post by Brother Ben on Jul 10, 2008 13:36:19 GMT -5
No fret, Sister Tammy, I'm just saying that there doesn't need to be some type of structured giving in a simple home church environment. The brothers who are mature enough to do so are handling the necessity of teaching and admonishing the assembly. Offerings can be used for whatever benevolent need is obvious to the group. Also, the concept of tithing is preferencial, not mandatory.
Men and families who have put themselves in a position like you and Daniel are different. When one has stepped away from all to leave home and comfort for the purpose of spreading the gospel can often times do so better when fully sponsored by a sending church or churches. If the only way they can achieve that is through collecting tithes and faith promise, then so be it.
I think it would be excellent if each church would sponsor their own missionary (more than one if possible,) and send them to the field whether it be here or abroad.
I do not want to indicate that all churches should be home/house churches. Whatever best serves the body at large it best.
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Post by 7schmicks on Jul 10, 2008 17:38:52 GMT -5
I'm sorry I'm so slow in responding, here.
My husband started having church in our house with our own family around 8-9 years ago. We had been members and regular attenders at several fairly conservative churches, but as we became more and more conservative -- convicted about the prayer veil, not wearing jewelry, modesty of clothing, etc -- the churches began to appear more and more liberal. We finally came to the conclusion that we needed to remove our children from the teachings and examples of those places where the pastors were remarrying divorced members in the church and pastor's wives were wearing toe rings and anklets. We were also told at the last church (the church were I grew up and was saved/baptized) that we were welcome to attend, but that if we were going to try to teach our beliefs (headcoverings/modesty, etc.) we could not be part of any ministry there. That was part of the deciding factor to get out. So, my husband began preaching in the home!
We had services fairly regularly each Lord's Day morning, although we on occasion would start late or visit somewhere else, especially if no one else was coming. It was very simple and traditional. We sang a few hymns -- usually whatever was requested by one of us or the children, and also usually sang the doxology. My husband would usually have something interesting for the children -- perhaps a few minutes of a Bible pictionary game, Bible knowledge quiz, story from one of the Miller Family books (Mennonite character building stories.) Then we would often say the Apostle's creed and have a sermon prepared by my husband. We also usually had a few minutes of prayer when we would kneel together in silent prayer. A couple of times, we broke into separate groups (men/boys and women/girls) and had prayer together in separate rooms.
After a time, we met a man who lived around here who was a Mennonite. He became one after he was saved after reading one of their tracts, but he wasn't going to church anywhere because of the distance to his church, his health and church problems there, so he began coming. Also, one of our neighbors, who began homeschooling, was convicted about headcovering and left their church following some problems there. They came for church with us for a couple of years while they were trying to figure out what to do. Then they found another home fellowship and left us, but I think they might be the only ones in their current home fellowship who cover.
As to offerings -- we agree with Brother Ben about the tithe, but I like consistency and ease, so I just designated a jar for offerings for "Offerings to the Lord" where I put a tenth of my household allowance and the children's offerings. We use it here and there as needs arise, whether in the family or whatever other things seem to be needed as a ministry to the Lord. For example, I sent some to my sister when she and her husband were really struggling with finances. I gave some to my husband's cousin Janet and Joe (some of you have seen the prayer request in another area) to help with gas and expenses during Joe's cancer treatments and for the children's Christian school education fund after Joe died. Last winter, I prepared some Operation Christmas Child boxes and used our offering money to pay the postage to have them sent. I can't even recall where is has gone over the years, but I usually make sure there is a need.
As far as the great commission, by husband has had many opportunities over the years to speak of the Lord while at work. Even today, his newest boss claims to be a Christian, but lives like the world and goes to a "whatever -- as long as you don't turn anyone off church." He has had several opportunities to discuss Scripture with her and hopefully the Lord will use it to convict her.
We did have communion together a number of times, and my husband and the Mennonite man even had several foot-washings, although my husband isn't sure if it is a necessary part of the Christian fellowship or not, yet.
My husband was going to baptize our Mennonite friend. A couple of years ago, he had approached my husband about being immersed, even though he had been sprinkled in the Mennonite Church where he went before. He had come to the conclusion that immersion was the Scriptural way, but he and my husband never got the baptism organized and scheduled. We had also hoped he could baptize our children, but none of them have grown spiritually enough to desire it.
We even advertised in a local Christian newspaper that my husband's friend put out, but we didn't any calls about it.
We only have home fellowship, now, when we are unable to go to a church nearby. Since we have moved in with my mother-in-law, we haven't been sure whether we should continue having church here in her home. I think she is probably a Christian and went regularly to church, but she doesn't have the same convictions and standards as we do, so it might be awkward.
Well, that was quite long, but I hope it answered some questions!
Sister Brenda
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Post by mitchell on Jul 10, 2008 18:04:39 GMT -5
When we attended a freewill Baptist church, we participated in foot washings and they were lovely and humbling; seemed to me one felt the Lord's presence in a special way.
Bro. Jenkins, a non-denominational preacher who was there for a year donating his service to that church (it is a poor country church), once said after reading from scripture that Jesus said that if we wanted to be happy, we would do these things, including footwashing. Bro. Jenkins said, "I don't know about you, but I want to be happy!" He was an uneducated man who had taught himself to read by reading the Bible and could preach as good a sermon (or better) than most of the Ph.D's in theology I've heard. In fact, I think he preached the best sermon I've ever heard when he preached his last sermon there before leaving at the end of his time of service. He genuinely LOVED people, and you could feel it. You could feel the love of Christ in him and in yourself responding to his kindness and care of people. He was an East TN mountain boy who was in his 70's.
Sister Wanda
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