Making the old NEW again!

    When one looks at the Christian church and its growth over the last 2000 years, nothing really compares to the growth of the church in the 1st century. During this time it went from under a 1000 to almost 100,000.   When discussed as to why this happened, the answer most pastors will give you is “the persecution of the early Christian’s”.  I never truly accepted that answer.  Mainly because people don't generally join movements where people are being killed (especially by crucifixion).  However, persecution did do one thing that helped the church grow.  Persecution forced the church to keep itself hidden and distributed in small home-based churches and not gather in large public settings.  Since most Roman citizens lived in tightly woven apartments rather than in separate homes (only the rich could afford this luxury) these churches were embedded in very dense populated areas.  On top of this, these apartments were not like today's apartments with sound-proof walls and ceilings, but were separated by only a couple layers of brick and mortar .  This meant that what you did in your apartment was well known by those adjacent to you.  If you laughed, they all knew you laughed.  If you snored, they all knew you snored and of course, if you prayed and sang in worship they all knew you prayed and sang in worship.  

    This made the church to be everywhere all at the same time.  There was no way to avoid it.  Its lack of centralization was its strength and not its weakness.  Being distributed allowed more of its members to be involved and play a bigger role in its function.  How better to develop new pastors and missionaries than to raise them up leading small home churches and then sending them out into the larger world.  Timothy was one such home-church-pastor that had grown up under Paul.  It also provided a very close and non-threatening environment for people curious about the faith to find out about it.  There was no large mass group of people to try to fit into.  These were your neighbors, your co-workers, your friends and relatives. 

   But today, our churches are not in our neighborhoods anymore.  They are in large buildings, with large signs letting everyone know who passes by what they are about. You can avoid them as easily as you can find them.  In the last several decades our churches transformed from quaint churches of a few hundred members to becoming "worship centers" that resemble concert arenas that can hold thousands.  This is the direction many churches are going thinking THIS is the church of the future.  The two biggest problems with the mega-church are

1) Lack of deep connection between members (getting lost in the crowd)

2) Lack of ability to correct wayward members because of problem #1

Before we go on discussing #1, I do want to first address problem #2.  This issue is often overlooked (maybe on purpose) by those on the mega-church path.  Correcting wayward members is not just an important activity for the church, it is also MANDATED by Christ himself.  In Matt 18:15-17 Jesus goes into very clear detail as to how he wants the church to handle a follower who holds on to their sins and do not repent.  Jesus does not say it’s "do it if you feel like doing it" issue either.  Jesus gives his disciples a 1,2,3 step approach that expects us to put into action.  Yet this is impossible for large mega churches to do since they lack any intimate connection with their members and many don’t even have actual membership roles.  When churches fail to even attempt to address errant members can you really even call them a CHURCH?   It would be like going into a hospital to talk to a surgeon about needing a procedure done and they said "Oh we don't do surgeries here!"   Can you still call that place a hospital when it doesn’t perform one of the most important services a hospital does?  The same goes for God's church!  You can’t call yourself a church if you can’t (or won’t) follow through on Christs command. 

  Now I would like to address the issue of problem #1 above.

  Mega-churches try to deal with the intimacy issue by creating small "|life groups" which allows members to meet in small home environments.   These life-groups are highly promoted by the church but are not a requirement of being a member.  It's hard to tell exactly what percentage of mega-church members actually join these life-groups. But even so, is this really what Christ had in mind for his church?  Is the church just a music concert with a biblical message?  I don't think so.

   Is there another way?  A way that brings the church closer to what Christ had in mind and gives members a true spiritual connection with others?  A way that can help wayward members seek a desire for change and repentance.  

   I think there is!  What if the Life-Group WAS the church and not just an appendage that is optional.  Where offerings that are gathered go more to mission than to mortgages.  Where members truly feel heard and cared for.  Where worship is more than just watching a concert being put on.  Where ACTUAL prayers for people's needs are addressed and lifted up to God rather than someone reading off a list of first-names only and then saying "God take care of these people!"  Where fellowship isn't just grabbing a donut and coffee and then running out the door. Where members take care of the church activities rather than an ever growing large paid staff 

    Here is how I see it working

   On Wednesday night, the home-church leaders meet with the pastor at their main office (which could be just a small store front in a strip-mall) to hear his sermon and record it.  They would be able to ask questions about the sermon and even cultivate a bible-study discussion from it as well.  The pastor can also supply recorded music, contemporary music for those who want modern music and hymns for thos desire a more traditional style.  If there is communion that Sunday, the pastor can bless the sacrament and distribute what is needed to the home-chuch leaders to give out at their worship

   Then from Thursday to the following Tuesday each home-church would meet at a time that works best for their group.  They could conduct the service as they so choose as well, but would be required to have certain parts such as 

•    The Invocation
•    The Creed
•    The Lord's Prayer
•    The Sermon
•    "Prayers" 
•    The Benediction

All other parts would be left up to them.  If they want to sing, they can or if they just want to listen that can do that as well. Everyone is allowed to worship in a way that makes them happiest.

The home-church will also save countless money with removing the need for organs, hymnals, praise-bands, and expensive lighting and sound amplification systems.  

Q: How would you integrate new members? 

First, the pastor can still conduct a small church gathering at the church office building on Sunday morning where new prospects can come to check it out.  The church could also employ the use of AI in helping them find which home-church a new member prospect would best fit in.  With a simple, non-intrusive, survey we can find a list of "best-fit" churches within driving range for them to "try out".  At some point they would declare which home-church they want to join so they can be kept in the fold and not slip out the back door (a problem which many mega-churches suffer from).

Q: How would offerings be collected?

While cash would not be used, offerings could be collected via on-line internet services like VENMO, ZELLE or others.  Many churches are already using these modern approaches to gathering offerings already.   The church can supply back to its members a full disclosure of where their money is being used as well.  

Q: What about big services like Christmas or Easter?

The church could rent out space for 3-4 services per year that would allow the entire church to attend in person.  Leaders could spend time preparing for these services and also involving the members themselves.  This would be the most efficient use of offerings as these places would not require sizeable mortgages and maintenance.  These large group gatherings are needed to help members see how much God is really at work in their community.   

Q:  What if some home-churches are maxed out?

As groups grow, members would be asked to step up into leadership roles and split their home-churches so as to allow room for new members to join.  (Just as Peter selected 7 men to help with the Greek speaking widows).  It gives more members the opportunity to grow their leadership skills and also give others a chance to share their homes in God's kingdom.  Too often in today's church it is difficult to get people to become leaders because the step they are being asked to take seems bigger than they feel they are capable to handling.  The home-church doesn't get more intimate/safe for incubating new future leaders and even pastors. 

Q: What about Sunday School?  

Essentially you don’t need it anymore.  Sunday School didn’t come in to fashion until the 1950s.  The home -church environment provides a great place for children to be raised up in the nurture of the Lord.  In some cases they could even assist in the service itself (beyond just lighting candles).  Children would not only see their parents worshiping for also growing in their faith and becoming leaders. To me this is much better than sending them out of the worship room for juice , donuts and cartoon videos.  

Q: What if someone is sick or gone on vacation and can't lead?

Every home-church will have designated alternates in their group for such cases and phone apps like "WhatsApp" can be used to communicate changes to the groups as well.

Q: Are there any drawbacks to the Home-Church method?

The only drawback will be for pastors who are used to seeing throngs of worshippers physically in front of them hanging on their every word and telling them at the end of the service what a great job they did. Pastors will need to schedule home-church visits to meet and greet the members.  While this may take more time on his part, he will be enriched was well, as he will have a greater opportunity to meet more of his members (especially those who may be too shy to talk to him at a large church thinking he is too busy for them).  He can do this in a couple of ways as well.  He could choose to come and do the sermon in person for them and answer questions as they arise.   Another possibility is he comes into their group after the service is over to simply fellowship with them.

This type of church 

• Ensures offerings are used to expand the church rather than expanding banks and lending institutions
• Grows new leaders in the church in small group outlets.
• Home-groups are not a "optional" entity in the church... but BECOME the Church.
• People will be MORE engaged in the Church and cared for
• New members will be instantly connected with others and feel seen!
• Peoples needs will be personally addressed in prayers without fear of violating a “HIPPA” law. 
• Children will be raised in an environment where they don't see faith as just something you do in a large building on Sunday but in a home with other believers.