Thinking and praying about starting a home church. HELP!

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Carl Willis on December 5, 2008 at 4:57pm

Ryan,

I'll message you with my contact information. I would love to visit with you further.

Carl

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Cindy Skillman on December 5, 2008 at 11:36pm

Hi, Ryan

We're in much the same situation and have discovered that a family makes a fine church. When God is ready, He'll add others to us, but in the mean time, we bear one another's burdens within our small family. We've gotten much closer--I believe this is the best "church" I've ever attended.

God bless,

Cindy

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Katie Mather on December 6, 2008 at 3:22am

Do you know anybody, a Christian or not? Do you ever ask anybody over to your house for dinner or to play some games? Have you had conversations that lead to spiritual matters? Have you prayed with your visitors and asked for God to meet their needs and bless their lives? There, you've had SC.

Who says that you have to call it "church." The simplest form of SC, relationships with others and just sharing the journey is often overlooked. When you call it church or home church, your friends in the instution get skiddish and unbelievers will pass on coming. But if you are just having friends over and having great conversation, that is SC incognito.

You see, SC happens all the time. Did you ever run into someone in Walmart and have them share a concern? Did you share a word of encouragement or even a quick prayer? That is SC. Next time it may be you sharing a concern.

Right now is the perfect time of year to do something. Have a "Christmas Party." People don't have to know that you are doing "church." It is so IC to think that you have to intentionally schedule a "service" or a "meeting." Schedule a party and koinonia will break out. Be the church underground. It is fun to see it happen. Then giggle to yourself under your breath, cause you will be having SC and others won't even know it.

You said that you've had some great experiences with small groups. Lots of church people have been having SC right along with attending the institution. They just don't know that the casual gathering is a viable and simplest form of the church. They have been duped into thinking that a formal meeting or service must be added or worship hasn't taken place.

Remember, though, where two or three are gathered in His Name, He is there.

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Ryan Huling on December 6, 2008 at 11:09am

Thank you Cindy for your reply. This family approach is what we are going with this week. Before I read your post my wife and I had discussed this a little.We're gettin kinda hammered with snow right now anyways so driving to church in the morning after a foot of snow probably not a good option as the church we attend is out in the middle of nowhere. Where 2 or 3 are gathered there He is in their midst. This is true. To start with my family and pray about who to invite and how ot go about it seems like a good place to start. I am so glad to have found this site. I am thankful for the input and offers of help I am receiving. This has really lifted my spirits. I have really been down in the dumps lately.The thought of starting a home fellowship has been on my heart for some time and really came to a head when the small church we were attending closed. We have since been going to a larger " more happening church" so to speak. But we miss the close fellowship and contact we had with our previous church.

Cindy Skillman said:

Hi, Ryan

We're in much the same situation and have discovered that a family makes a fine church. When God is ready, He'll add others to us, but in the mean time, we bear one another's burdens within our small family. We've gotten much closer--I believe this is the best "church" I've ever attended.

God bless,

Cindy

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Cindy Skillman on December 6, 2008 at 9:31pm

Hey, Ryan

I hear you about the snow. In our situation, it's us that's out in the middle of nowhere. We were stuck for three days a couple of weeks ago and eventually had do dig out about a half mile with snow shovels! Not a real good place to be if you want to attract people to come out to your place for a picnic or whatever. It's hard even in the summer to get friends to even come out and visit (especially with the $4 gasoline we were dealing with). So, whatever gets done here, God will do. It's not gonna be us--we can't do it. You too. God will set you up with exactly what He wants to do in you.

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Noelle Ligtenberg on December 9, 2008 at 6:09pm

Hey Cindy,
I noticed that you are from Rapid City also. We have been meeting as a house church for nearly four years and have fellowshipped with several different families throughout that time. We are currently meeting with two other families. We have been to three of the House2House conferences in the last four years and have loved what we have learned there. I would love to visit with you sometime. I have just started reading on this site and have not commented yet much. This is all pretty new to me.
Noelle Ligtenberg

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Cindy Skillman on December 14, 2008 at 11:59pm

Oh! There's your note! Hi, Noelle!

I forget to click on the "follow" button when I reply to a post, so I just don't know when a new comment is made. Anyway, you got my friend request. And yes, I'm all excited to learn that there's someone in RC doing house church. Thanks for commenting and I'm so glad you noticed where I'm from.

Looking forward to hearing from you, and God bless,

Cindy

Noelle Ligtenberg said:

Hey Cindy,
I noticed that you are from Rapid City also. We have been meeting as a house church for nearly four years and have fellowshipped with several different families throughout that time. We are currently meeting with two other families. We have been to three of the House2House conferences in the last four years and have loved what we have learned there. I would love to visit with you sometime. I have just started reading on this site and have not commented yet much. This is all pretty new to me.
Noelle Ligtenberg

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Carolyn on December 17, 2008 at 6:02am

Friends, at the beginning of this short message is both a testimony that will excite you, and the call for us to walk in such a way that those who meet us meet Jesus... We will be strong and do exploits... taking God seriously. This isn't hard. God is really good. Its ministry without being intentional or organized... Love it! This is the way simple church should start... with the life of God just being about us... and start at home... and with those closest to you.. watch this message about blessing or offense...

http://www.ibethel.tv/watch/179:3:4

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Lowell T. Warren on December 20, 2008 at 9:26pm

Hello Ryan;
God bless your efforts and your intentions to praise and edify with the body of Christ. I have been a member of God's family for over forty five years. I have held positions in four major denominations from pastor, teacher, and State superintendent. I resigned after thirty years because of politics,unethical practices and questionable doctrine. I mention this only to say It is vital to your success not to bring or speak of any negative experience you have had into your meetings. Start with a spirit of purity and freshness of purpose. Next seek the Lord's preference if you are to specialize to a particular need in you area . You may have talents or gifts required to do a special ministry. Purity and purpose is the starting attitude .The Lord will fill in the blanks as you follow his will through prayer bible study and meditation. My prayers will be with you in this endeavor. Nothing is impossible with God.
Pastor Warren

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Carolyn on December 20, 2008 at 10:06pm

Pastor Warren, what great advice. We all needed a saviour, and still he told us to think only on the things that are of lovely and of good report.

It is so easy to think that its something wrong when we are feeling that He leads us in another direction, when it might simply be that the next direction is what we need to do. You know, those wrong things were there all along.. but when we needed to leave, we saw them...

A fresh view is so important. If we keep the focus on what God is doing and what he has done... and not think on what He has not done. That will enable us to hear what he wants done and be in line with the direction he is going. You are a blessing. Carolyn

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Lowell T. Warren on December 21, 2008 at 6:13pm

Hello Carolyn;
Thank you for your kind response. I believe our country is on the threshold of returning to our roots of Christianity.God,s Church was started in weakness and ignorance. Christ turned it in to power and wisdom "Not by our might but by his Spirit.The apostles were instructed to wait to be empowered by The Holy Spirit. Those of us who long for a true demonstration of his love and power, to preach the Gospel to the poor, heal the sick ,and set the captives free, will have to receive it the same way. Meet in homes, practice his love on each other. When we get it right The Holy Spirit will move on,in, and through his people. May you experience this beyond,your expectations.
Pastor Warren

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Daniel & Heather on December 22, 2008 at 4:53pm

Hey Ryan, not sure if I have much to add, because everything I would say has already been spoken, and with great eloquence. All I'll say is that our story is similar to what others shared, where we've come to realize that we don't have to be a part of a regular weekly "simple-church-meeting" to experience what we've been longing for. It's just been about slowly building relationships with people that are based on our dependence on Christ. Some people we see more regularly than others, but it is all in God's timing! We just keep praying that God will keep connecting us with more people of the same heart, and slowly but surely, He is doing just that. It's a realization that contrary to what we've been led to believe after attending various IC's over the years, you can't just walk through a set of doors and have instant fellowship with tons of other people. We've tried to streamline the process here in America, and as a result we've been left with lots and lots of people out there who feel disconnected and hungry for more, just like you. But it takes time, and there's no way around that if you want genuine relationships with people, you have to learn their story, you have to see their lives....

Daniel

▶ Reply to This

▶ Reply to This

• ‹ Previous
• 1
• 2
• Next ›
• Page