The House Church Movement

The House Church Movement

2005024

Topic # 0015 (house church movement)

Introduction:

A. Several years – religious movement taking place called the HC movement.

1. Not merely local churches that begin by meeting in someone’s place of residence.

2. This is scriptural. Philemon 2.

3. But talking about a movement that has a specific agenda & theology.

B. Those in the HC movement seek:

1. freedom from religious traditions

2. freedom from expensive buildings; church hierarchy & professional clergy

3. They feel as if the modern day church is impotent and ineffective.

C. In writing for the HC movement, R. Cody Smith calls it “the new reformation.” HC proponents claim to experience:

1. intimacy with God; personal discipleship

2. Mutual support from the family of God.

3. Abundant life through being set free from sin & having broken hearts healed.

D. The movement has spread across the denominational world. Very diverse.

1. Some want to recapture the spirit and dynamics of the early church life in ways that are appropriate to our own culture.

E. The HC movement is taking place in churches of Christ.

1. 2 prominent authors in COC: F. LaGard Smith’s Radical Restoration and John Mark Hick’s Come to the Table have had a major impact in institutional churches of Christ.

2. Movement also gaining ground in NI COC. Jim Deason: HC movement is in at least 7 states & growing.

3. LaGard Smith views his ideas as an “attempt to turn back the clock & restore a style of worship more in line with NT practice.”

F. So…what’s wrong with that?

1. Isn’t that our claim as members of the Lord’s body? To go back to the bible? To return to FC Christianity?

2. On surface this movement may appear to be a good thing.

3. But there are some things you need to be aware of.

I. Definitions.

A. Nate Krupp:

1. Any group of believers who gather on a regular basis in 1 or more homes & see these home meetings as their primary place of fellowship in the body of Christ.

2. Krupp continues: the HC movement is a “quiet, hidden move of God.”

II. HC Proponents claim meeting in houses is an exclusive apostolic pattern.

A. True that no mention of church buildings in the NT.

B. True that NT churches often met in houses.

1. Rom. 16:5; 1 Cor. 16:19 – Prisca & Aquila’s house.

2. Col. 4:15 – Nympha

3. Philemon 2 – Philemon

C. But to call this the exclusive pattern is to take the matter too far. The FC Church also met in:

1. Acts 2:46 – the temple.

2. Acts 16:13 – the riverside

3. Acts 19:9 – school of Tyrannus – met here for 2 years.

D. This shows there is no exclusive pattern regarding the place where the FC Christians met.

1. Expedience determined where they met.

E. Why the emphasis on meeting in homes?

1. To get away from the large #’s of Christians meeting together.

2. They believe churches must be small – to encourage an informal atmosphere & spontaneous worship.

F. There were NT churches large in #.

1. Jerusalem – Acts 2:42-46; 5:14

2. Church at Rome & Corinth appeared to be large in #.

III. HC Proponents are attracted to informal worship practices.

A. Excerpt from Modern HC Movement:

B. Advocates emphasize that:

1. Church meetings need to be held in spontaneous, interactive manner. (Informally)

2. More participation is needed in the worship assembly; by men & women.

3. Claim is that our worship has become lifeless; dull; and little more than a spectator sport.

C. Spontaneous, informal worship is what Paul wrote the church at Corinth to correct.

1. 1 Cor. 14:26-35; 40 – their worship had become chaotic.

2. 14:27-28 – not all tongue speakers allowed to speak.

3. 14:34 – women not to speak out in the assembly in a teaching manner.

D. 14:33, 40 – there was to be some structure & formality in worship.

E. Our worship today is interactive – not some rigid, lifeless formality.

1. Eph. 5:19 – all encouraged to sing.

2. participate in prayer

3. contribute to giving

4. we all partake in the LS

5. Lk. 8:18 – all are encouraged to take care to how you listen… to the sermon.

F. Worship is not a spectator sport! Anything but passive!

IV. House Church Proponents seek to change the Lord’s Supper.

A. Excerpt from Modern House Church Movement

B. HC movement says that:

1. LS observed w/a fellowship meal. (A normal; ordinary meal w/the usual variety of food.)

2. LS part of a real meal.

3. Claim that since the LS instituted during the Passover meal, we should observe it as a normal, ordinary meal.

C. While the LS was instituted during the Passover meal…

1. Jesus did not observe it. How?

2. Neither he, nor His disciples could memorialize an event that had yet to take place.

3. In Mt. 26 – Jesus gave instructions to his disciples on how to observe it.

4. Deason: It might also be true that Jesus gave instruction on other subjects while eating with His disciples. Must we assume that because the instructions were given at mealtime that they must be carried out at a meal?

D. The Passover was anything but ordinary or casual.

1. Observed once/yr; designed as a memorial.

2. Ex. 12:8-11 – what was to be eaten was strictly regulated.

a) Roasted lamb; unleavened bread; bitter herbs; fruit of the vine.

E. 1 Cor. 11:20-22, 34 – Paul condemned any attempt to combine the LS w/a common meal.

1. LaGard Smith responds to this teaching by saying:

a) If the reason you’re participating in the fellowship meal is to feed your stomach, then you’d better stay home & pig out. (p. 131)

2. If this is true…then why didn’t Paul then:

a) Correct their abuses & keep it within the context of a social meal?

b) It is clear that if there was a social meal going on here – Paul separated the LS from it!

c) The LS has nothing to do with satisfying physical hunger!

F. 11:22 – Corinthians were not meeting in a home.

1. If the church always meets in homes – then this admonition would make no sense. Supposedly they were already doing this.

V. HC Proponents seek the change the role of women in the church.

A. Move into the 21^st century – this to be a large issue that we need to be prepared to deal with.

1. HC movement is advancing error in this area.

B. John Mark Hicks:

1. Could not Hick’s logic be used to introduce other roles for women that are not authorized?

C. Jim Deason: In some HC established by NI brethren:

1. Women are addressing the assembly.

2. openly conversing during the partaking of the LS

3. Participating in leading chain prayers in the presence of men during worship.

D. Scriptures on this are plain:

1. 1 Tim. 2:11-12

2. 1 Cor. 14:34-35

3. No arguing with this.

Conclusion:

A. There is more that can be said on this movement, but this will do for now.

B. We need to move away from the idea that if something is old, traditional, that it needs to be discarded.

1. Some things are old because they have been put in place by God.

2. Some things are old because they have been tried; tested; and proven reliable.

3. Let us hold to the ways of God and not seek change for the sake of change.

C. I N V I T A T I O N



The House Church Movement 2005024 Topic # 0015 (house church movement) Introduction: A. Several years – religious movement taking place called the HC movement. 1. Not merely local churches that begin by meeting in someone’s place of residence. 2. This is scriptural. Philemon 2. 3. But talking about a movement that has a specific agenda & theology. B. Those in the HC movement seek: 1. freedom from religious traditions 2. freedom from expensive buildings; church hierarchy & professional clergy 3. They feel as if the modern day church is impotent and ineffective. C. In writing for the HC movement, R. Cody Smith calls it “the new reformation.” HC proponents claim to experience: 1. intimacy with God; personal discipleship 2. Mutual support from the family of God. 3. Abundant life through being set free from sin & having broken hearts healed. D. The movement has spread across the denominational world. Very diverse. 1. Some want to recapture the spirit and dynamics of the early church life in ways that are appropriate to our own culture. E. The HC movement is taking place in churches of Christ. 1. 2 prominent authors in COC: F. LaGard Smith’s Radical Restoration and John Mark Hick’s Come to the Table have had a major impact in institutional churches of Christ. 2. Movement also gaining ground in NI COC. Jim Deason: HC movement is in at least 7 states & growing. 3. LaGard Smith views his ideas as an “attempt to turn back the clock & restore a style of worship more in line with NT practice.” F. So…what’s wrong with that? 1. Isn’t that our claim as members of the Lord’s body? To go back to the bible? To return to FC Christianity? 2. On surface this movement may appear to be a good thing. 3. But there are some things you need to be aware of. I. Definitions. A. Nate Krupp: 1. Any group of believers who gather on a regular basis in 1 or more homes & see these home meetings as their primary place of fellowship in the body of Christ. 2. Krupp continues: the HC movement is a “quiet, hidden move of God.” II. HC Proponents claim meeting in houses is an exclusive apostolic pattern. A. True that no mention of church buildings in the NT. B. True that NT churches often met in houses. 1. Rom. 16:5; 1 Cor. 16:19 – Prisca & Aquila’s house. 2. Col. 4:15 – Nympha 3. Philemon 2 – Philemon C. But to call this the exclusive pattern is to take the matter too far. The FC Church also met in: 1. Acts 2:46 – the temple. 2. Acts 16:13 – the riverside 3. Acts 19:9 – school of Tyrannus – met here for 2 years. D. This shows there is no exclusive pattern regarding the place where the FC Christians met. 1. Expedience determined where they met. E. Why the emphasis on meeting in homes? 1. To get away from the large #’s of Christians meeting together. 2. They believe churches must be small – to encourage an informal atmosphere & spontaneous worship. F. There were NT churches large in #. 1. Jerusalem – Acts 2:42-46; 5:14 2. Church at Rome & Corinth appeared to be large in #. III. HC Proponents are attracted to informal worship practices. A. Excerpt from Modern HC Movement: B. Advocates emphasize that: 1. Church meetings need to be held in spontaneous, interactive manner. (Informally) 2. More participation is needed in the worship assembly; by men & women. 3. Claim is that our worship has become lifeless; dull; and little more than a spectator sport. C. Spontaneous, informal worship is what Paul wrote the church at Corinth to correct. 1. 1 Cor. 14:26-35; 40 – their worship had become chaotic. 2. 14:27-28 – not all tongue speakers allowed to speak. 3. 14:34 – women not to speak out in the assembly in a teaching manner. D. 14:33, 40 – there was to be some structure & formality in worship. E. Our worship today is interactive – not some rigid, lifeless formality. 1. Eph. 5:19 – all encouraged to sing. 2. participate in prayer 3. contribute to giving 4. we all partake in the LS 5. Lk. 8:18 – all are encouraged to take care to how you listen… to the sermon. F. Worship is not a spectator sport! Anything but passive! IV. House Church Proponents seek to change the Lord’s Supper. A. Excerpt from Modern House Church Movement B. HC movement says that: 1. LS observed w/a fellowship meal. (A normal; ordinary meal w/the usual variety of food.) 2. LS part of a real meal. 3. Claim that since the LS instituted during the Passover meal, we should observe it as a normal, ordinary meal. C. While the LS was instituted during the Passover meal… 1. Jesus did not observe it. How? 2. Neither he, nor His disciples could memorialize an event that had yet to take place. 3. In Mt. 26 – Jesus gave instructions to his disciples on how to observe it. 4. Deason: It might also be true that Jesus gave instruction on other subjects while eating with His disciples. Must we assume that because the instructions were given at mealtime that they must be carried out at a meal? D. The Passover was anything but ordinary or casual. 1. Observed once/yr; designed as a memorial. 2. Ex. 12:8-11 – what was to be eaten was strictly regulated. a) Roasted lamb; unleavened bread; bitter herbs; fruit of the vine. E. 1 Cor. 11:20-22, 34 – Paul condemned any attempt to combine the LS w/a common meal. 1. LaGard Smith responds to this teaching by saying: a) If the reason you’re participating in the fellowship meal is to feed your stomach, then you’d better stay home & pig out. (p. 131) 2. If this is true…then why didn’t Paul then: a) Correct their abuses & keep it within the context of a social meal? b) It is clear that if there was a social meal going on here – Paul separated the LS from it! c) The LS has nothing to do with satisfying physical hunger! F. 11:22 – Corinthians were not meeting in a home. 1. If the church always meets in homes – then this admonition would make no sense. Supposedly they were already doing this. V. HC Proponents seek the change the role of women in the church. A. Move into the 21^st century – this to be a large issue that we need to be prepared to deal with. 1. HC movement is advancing error in this area. B. John Mark Hicks: 1. Could not Hick’s logic be used to introduce other roles for women that are not authorized? C. Jim Deason: In some HC established by NI brethren: 1. Women are addressing the assembly. 2. openly conversing during the partaking of the LS 3. Participating in leading chain prayers in the presence of men during worship. D. Scriptures on this are plain: 1. 1 Tim. 2:11-12 2. 1 Cor. 14:34-35 3. No arguing with this. Conclusion: A. There is more that can be said on this movement, but this will do for now. B. We need to move away from the idea that if something is old, traditional, that it needs to be discarded. 1. Some things are old because they have been put in place by God. 2. Some things are old because they have been tried; tested; and proven reliable. 3. Let us hold to the ways of God and not seek change for the sake of change. C. I N V I T A T I O N