House Churches - a PrimerSample

Pros and Cons of house churches

Before going too far into the idea of establishing a house church, we need to consider all of the Pros and Cons. Things will happen that cannot be foreseen in advance. You need to be prepared.

Here is a list of some pros and cons to consider.

Pros

• The ministry will be what you decide it should be rather than an often remote church hierarchy. You will need to learn to follow and listen to Christ, carrying out the Great Commission as you decide to do it.
• The operation of the church will be under the control of the church.
• Everyone knows everyone else and can encourage one another.
• No one is lost or hidden by a large congregation. Just as Jesus divided the five thousand into companies of fifty so that no one missed out, so too everyone in the house church will be accounted for
• It is a more relaxed and personal way to worship
• No debts or pressure for money from members to build or maintain expensive buildings and ministries
• Set-up and running costs are very low.
• Abundant opportunities to ask questions to learn, which often cannot be done in large assemblies
• The ministry does not have to fall to one person and should be shared.
• Fellowship after meetings is more relaxed and offers opportunities to continue to praise, worship, and learn.
• Making disciples is done on a one-to-one basis.

Cons

Although there are many more positives than negatives in establishing a house church, some things must still be considered.

• You have to be dedicated and be there every week
• People will be “invading” your home
• You may need people with skills (e.g., musicians)
• The need to prepare a message each week
• The Elders need to be strong to root out any false doctrines that may come into the church

Those who are setting up a house church must remember these things and understand Jesus's point about counting the cost.

It won’t always be smooth sailing. Things will come up that may affect the running of the house church. But if the ministry is sound and the church is well structured, these issues will not be insurmountable…especially when you put all things in the hands of the Lord through prayer.

Call to Action:

If you are considering setting up a house church, have you considered the cost? Remember, too, that the pros or benefits truly far outweigh the cons.