The Well left the building in 2005. Over the last five years we have learned a lot. The next five blogs will be five things we have learned. These are five things I wish we had known right out of the gate. But, of course, God had to teach us the hard way.
1. Open Sharing is the Key
After years of starting and being part of house churches, I have found that I have a preference.
Here is the way that I don’t prefer: everyone meets in a house. Somebody picks up a guitar and does a worship set. Someone else preaches a sermon.
This is basically, (as John White would say), “Honey, I shrunk the church.” It’s doing big church in a house. Yes, you may eat together before the “service” or you may have a little interaction, but it is still about one person doing most of the talking and everyone else being passive.
Here is the way I do prefer: Everyone shares. People come to bless others and talk about what God is doing rather than to get their “needs met.” Not much of the meeting is planned ahead of time. Yes, you may eat before the meeting. Someone might pick up a guitar to lead worship, but it is all very spontaneous.
What I have learned over the years is that if the Holy Spirit leads the meeting, it is better. If we give up “control” and we are not afraid of the outcome, even if we have no idea what it might look like, it is usually better than anything we could have imagined.
The Holy Spirit reveals himself through us, believers. He gives us gifts and interacts with us throughout our week. When we come together we get to bless each other by sharing our needs and gifts (1 Corinthians 14:26).
It’s ok if something is prepared in advance it’s even ok if someone teaches something prepared in advance. But, the key is to have a time of open participatory sharing. It may be uncomfortable at first, but with a little practice it will bring life to your church.
The key is letting go of the control and letting God be in control. Trust the Lord and lean not unto your own understanding.
In other words, Stop trying to figure things out for yourself. And let God lead how its going to be done. I have always done open sharing. And God always have blessed people. Its like the AA meeting. We share our mistakes and our vulnerabilities. But its in the weakness when we became strong. And then we share what God did. How He intervene in our weakness. How strong He is. Transparency is the key. The problem with churches that we left is that everybody start to have a religious mask. And in a house church. That should be set aside.
By: sandra on August 31, 2010
at 7:39 AM
Yes, Sandra. It is very much like an AA meeting. Thank you for your comment!
By: Ken Eastburn on September 1, 2010
at 1:12 PM
Ken, I totally agree with this point 100 %. “In the bldg church” is almost totally predictible, and God forbid you do something different or out of the norm!! The reason, as I see it, to even go to church is to learn who God is, what He wants us to do, and teaches us how to do it through His word. It also is a place to fellowship with other people who have the same goal in mind. We all have our different gifts, and faults, and through these friendships, we can learn of them and how to use our gifts, and get help each other with our faults.
The Holy Spirit HAS to be present in your meetings, and we must be sensitive to His leading. Sharing a meal and visiting in the beginning helps to strength our relationships. If we decide to sing worship to open our hearts for whatever God has for us, that is great too. Then everyone sharing what God is doing in their lives, or presenting a life challenge that they need help with can start a very moving meeting. Studying the Word, with everyone expressing their thoughts or questions is also good for discussions.
All of this “open sharing” is so much more rewarding for me. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve learned a lot in “big church”, and I’m in no way putting it down. It has it’s place and time, but for me at this place and time in my life, I am enjoying the smaller and more personal touch of a “home church”. I need the interaction between everyone there instead of the “I sit in the pew, you preach/teach to me, then I go home” kind of church. Not always as satisfying, and the questions that come to your mind during the sermon may not get answered because you can’t stop the service right then and there to ask something, so you just usually forget about it. In the “big church”, that is the proper thing to do because to disrupt the service by jumping up and asking your question would be wrong. In “home church” this “disruption” can be the beginning of a very informative and teaching discussion that blesses everyone there. See the difference? In one setting, it’s wrong. In the other, it can be a blessing. That’s a plus in my book, and something to consider. That’s my opinion and I’m sticking to it!
By: Kathie Fierro on August 31, 2010
at 12:41 PM
Preach it Kathie!! Awesome comment!
It’s good to know that you are on our team.
By: Ken Eastburn on September 1, 2010
at 1:13 PM
Thanks Ken, I appreciate your comment, but truly I take no credit for it other than that is how I feel, and that is what the Holy Spirit helped me to put into words. I just pray that if there is anyone considering home church, that these comments may have made them curious enough to at least give it a try! We don’t bite, and we won’t hold it against you if you feel it’s just not for you!
By: Kathie Fierro on September 1, 2010
at 10:49 PM