Limit on number of people who can attend house church gatherings?

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Permalink Reply by michael on June 11, 2009 at 5:26pm

Hi Deirdre!

What our group has done was to plan for the inevitable: growth beyond the capacity of the homes we meet in. That means that we intentionally have trained other group members to eventually launch out from us (with our blessings) and start new home fellowships. We didn't want to limit the number of people who met with us and so this has been the strategy -- a strategy of multiplication rather than merely addition or...what's worse...stagnation.

Hope this helps give you some ideas! :)

Shalom from Manila,
--Michael

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Permalink Reply by Dorothy on June 11, 2009 at 11:25pm

Hi Dierdre!!!!!
From talking to my homechurch-loving friends, I gather that most groups aren't popular right away, so she couldnt give me advise on what to do in the beginning if your group is "popular"... I hope someone here can!
see you tomorrow!!!

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Permalink Reply by David Evans on June 12, 2009 at 9:52am

Hey Deirdre

My first feeling is that it seems contrary to God's nature to turn people away.

I think this is a great opportunity for you guys to seek God and see what answer He gives. I would do nothing until an answer that seems consistent with God's character and is agreable to to the whole group presents itself.

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Permalink Reply by Dorothy on June 12, 2009 at 6:11pm

So what I'm concerned about is it becoming a popular Sunday night hang out for Christians who are happy attending their churches...Our house can only hold so many people, and we would like to have enough room to invite unsaved people and people with no church family. We dont mind splitting into 2 home groups eventually, but we were thinking it would be when there are enough commited people to make 2 groups...I dunno...???

David Evans said:

Hey Deirdre

My first feeling is that it seems contrary to God's nature to turn people away.

I think this is a great opportunity for you guys to seek God and see what answer He gives. I would do nothing until an answer that seems consistent with God's character and is agreable to to the whole group presents itself.

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Permalink Reply by michael on June 12, 2009 at 6:55pm

Hi Dorothy et al,

You wrote:

So what I'm concerned about is it becoming a popular Sunday night hang out for Christians who are happy attending their churches...Our house can only hold so many people, and we would like to have enough room to invite unsaved people and people with no church family.

Why not explain your concerns to your group so that they can figure out where they might fit into the overall framework?

Shalom from Manila,
--Michael

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Permalink Reply by Dorothy on June 12, 2009 at 8:55pm

Good idea, any suggestions on how to express it in a way that doesnt sound really exclusive??
Thanks a lot!!!!

michael said:

Hi Dorothy et al,

You wrote:

So what I'm concerned about is it becoming a popular Sunday night hang out for Christians who are happy attending their churches...Our house can only hold so many people, and we would like to have enough room to invite unsaved people and people with no church family.

Why not explain your concerns to your group so that they can figure out where they might fit into the overall framework?

Shalom from Manila,
--Michael

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Permalink Reply by michael on June 12, 2009 at 9:42pm

Hi Dorothy et al,

You wrote:

Good idea, any suggestions on how to express it in a way that doesnt sound really exclusive??

Explain with as much grace and compassion that you can express in your voice, body language, and face that you simply have a few concerns. And then clearly tell group-regulars what exactly those concerns are. Direct communication. Some may still be offended, but you are not responsible for their reactions; you are responsible for the content (especially) and delivery of your message. I am certain that the vast majority will take it well and then seek to adjust their roles accordingly. : D

Shabbat Shalom from Manila,
--Michael

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Permalink Reply by Dorothy on June 12, 2009 at 10:26pm

That is a perfect suggestion! You are a super hero. Thanks!!

michael said:

Hi Dorothy et al,

You wrote:

Good idea, any suggestions on how to express it in a way that doesnt sound really exclusive??

Explain with as much grace and compassion that you can express in your voice, body language, and face that you simply have a few concerns. And then clearly tell group-regulars what exactly those concerns are. Direct communication. Some may still be offended, but you are not responsible for their reactions; you are responsible for the content (especially) and delivery of your message. I am certain that the vast majority will take it well and then seek to adjust their roles accordingly. : D

Shabbat Shalom from Manila,
--Michael

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Katie Mather on July 12, 2009 at 10:36pm

There are all kinds of things that you can do.

If you want to invite the unsaved, then invite them another night and maybe with just another couple.

With so many coming on Sunday evening, then take it to a park. We once told people that we were going to have a brunch picnic on a Sunday morning. Before it was over, there was 75 people there.

When we started gathering in our home, we used to do music worship on Friday nights (our family is like the Partridge family, musical). Eventually we had over 60 people in our big victorian house soaking in God's presence!

Some times on Sunday evening, we tell people to bring a dish to pass, and we have a bonfire.

What you can do with so many people is not expect everyone to be together in the same room. Like at our bonfires, about 30 show up. Then eventually smaller conversational groups form to share or pray.

At our yearly conference we have about 75 come so we do some intentional division into smaller groups. We brake up into groups of about 10 to do different things, like prophesy, pray, share, etc. Then we come back to the large group and report what just happened.

Tell every one that they have to do their own small group (gathering with another person or couple)
another day of the week and come back (without them) to share how it was.

I hope these help.
Katie

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Permalink Reply by Sean Steckbeck on July 13, 2009 at 7:40am

Dorothy,

In the Luke 10 model, if a believer inside of one group leads another person to the Lord, they will go to that new believers house and start something there and try to encourage them to reach out to their group of friends.

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Permalink Reply by Deirdre Hooper on July 13, 2009 at 9:59pm

Thanks! Lots of good ideas here for the future. Right now, we're just working on becoming a church family with the adults and many little kids we have! It's exciting to read about how many different forms the church can express itself. Deirdre

Katie Mather said:

There are all kinds of things that you can do.

If you want to invite the unsaved, then invite them another night and maybe with just another couple.

With so many coming on Sunday evening, then take it to a park. We once told people that we were going to have a brunch picnic on a Sunday morning. Before it was over, there was 75 people there.

When we started gathering in our home, we used to do music worship on Friday nights (our family is like the Partridge family, musical). Eventually we had over 60 people in our big victorian house soaking in God's presence!

Some times on Sunday evening, we tell people to bring a dish to pass, and we have a bonfire.

What you can do with so many people is not expect everyone to be together in the same room. Like at our bonfires, about 30 show up. Then eventually smaller conversational groups form to share or pray.

At our yearly conference we have about 75 come so we do some intentional division into smaller groups. We brake up into groups of about 10 to do different things, like prophesy, pray, share, etc. Then we come back to the large group and report what just happened.

Tell every one that they have to do their own small group (gathering with another person or couple)
another day of the week and come back (without them) to share how it was.

I hope these help.
Katie

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Permalink Reply by Darold Scott Tumlinson on July 20, 2009 at 7:44am

Hi Deirdre,

Well, I suppose that I would ask for anyone willing to hold gatherings in their homes. That way, what may not be convenient (time, date, location) for some, might be great for others. Express it as a means of being able to better minister to the specific needs of more families. This way, they have a choice in whatever works best for them for that week and you can compare notes from the seperate gatherings.

Scott

Dorothy said:

Good idea, any suggestions on how to express it in a way that doesnt sound really exclusive??
Thanks a lot!!!!

michael said:

Hi Dorothy et al,

You wrote:

So what I'm concerned about is it becoming a popular Sunday night hang out for Christians who are happy attending their churches...Our house can only hold so many people, and we would like to have enough room to invite unsaved people and people with no church family.

Why not explain your concerns to your group so that they can figure out where they might fit into the overall framework?

Shalom from Manila,
--Michael

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