Help Restoring the Church of Jesus Christ 

The house church was not foreign to those in the first century. Individuals opened up their houses as they accepted the message of complete salvation in and through the blood of Jesus Christ, receiving forgiveness of sins, accepting their righteousness, which lifts them up to be seated with Christ in Heavenly places. Jesus commanded His disciples: “And whatever town or village you enter, find out who is worthy in it and stay there until you depart. As you enter the house, greet it.” Jesus is looking for worthy individuals who will open up their houses for Him and for the sake of His kingdom.

Joshua and Caleb, faithful servants of the God of Israel, declared: “…choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods of your fathers...” “…But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD."

Jesus’ main strategy for sending His disciples out and into every town He was about to go, was: “And whatever town or village you enter, find out who is worthy in it and stay there until you depart. As you enter the house, greet it.” He even urged them saying: “Whatever house you enter, first say, 'Peace be to this house!' And if a son of peace is there, your peace will rest upon him. But if not, it will return to you. And remain in the same house, eating and drinking what they provide, for the laborer deserves his wages. Do not go from house to house.” (Luke 10:5-7)

The first apostles often had to teach the people from house to house in the different cities, and only once in a while would they try and congregate if possible: “And every day, in the temple and from house to house, they did not cease teaching and preaching that Jesus is the Christ. (Act 5:42) The house church is the natural outflow of friendships and relationships being built, as people share and are part of one another’s lives. When the writer writes to the Hebrew churches exhorting the believers, saying: “And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.” (Heb 10:25-26) He reminds them to meet together, as was their custom – in their individual houses. The house was the general meeting place where the followers of Christ met to encourage one another daily.

The House church has great advantages compared to the traditional large congregational Sunday meetings. With its low maintenance cost. Its smaller intimate family units, it promotes great unity and involvement in one another’s lives, being set up to more effectively identify and utilize the gifts and talents of individuals in the smaller group, also making it a very effective tool to reach out to those around you in the area and in the community. Family and friends, are those people whom we love and are normally the first we share the good news with. Using our own houses allow people to be more closely involved in one another’s lives improving personal encouragement and support in times of need, also giving people a place where they can be loved, taught and trained, by the personal example of the ‘person of peace’ in whose house the meetings are generally being held.

Having being personally and practically trained and training others in a personal discipleship environment for more than 8 years, having being leading a house church and a number of small groups for more than 1 year, God called me to put all that we have learnt into practice by helping others to start house churches, raising believers up in a more intimate and biblically effective way, just as Jesus Christ, our Lord, taught His disciples to do, knowing the great impact it will have in spreading the gospel of the good news of the love and power of God, which is available to every believer.