Concerning Home Churches: Part I

This is a beginning to a small series on home churching. It is also widely known as organic church. This will be the first part to a three part study. Our goal today is to show that churches are no longer a building of bricks and stone, but the body of Christ. Many have heard this before, but not many have learned this to an extent. We will show you that Jesus destroyed physical churches so He could establish His Spiritual church on Earth. We will show that home churches aren't a radical or new thing, but that it has been around since Paul's time.

So many of us associate the word "church" with a building, and we hope to show you that the true definition of a church is not of a building. Jesus Christ has established liberty for us in the ways we assemble together and worship. Please keep in mind that none of this is a condemnation for traditional churches that many of you may still attend. We only hope this enriches you and even broaden your horizons. For some of you, this may be exactly what you need to find.

We want this to be a reference guide to your own study on this subject. We will list verses to find and some key points. We strongly encourage all of you to find it in your own Bible and double check everything!


The Corner Stone and Living Stone

Jesus announced that he was going to destroy the temple and raise it up in three days (found in John 2:19-21). We see that after Jesus was crucified, He was in the grave for three days.When He rose, He established a new temple. It was not made of bricks and stone, but of his body as seen in verse 21.

We are the House of Christ (Hebrews 3:6)

We are a Royal Priesthood (1 Peter 2:9)

We are the living stones in Christ's new Church (read 1 Peter 2:4-7)

Key Points:

-Living stones in the spiritual house
-Chosen of God, disallowed of men.
-A holy priesthood.
-Jesus is the Cornerstone, (also in Matthew 22:42, Psalm 118:22, Acts 4:11)

There are to be NO Lords over God's flock, only examples (1 Peter 5:3)

(Note: Jesus is our authority and the head of the church. We are all an equal body of believers with different roles. There is not to be an authority or Lord over God's own flock, but Godly examples. Beware of those who seek to be an authority or a 'high priest' above God's people. Beware of a false leader who makes you believe that He is in higher standing with God, or that you need to go through him to connect with God.)

In Our Assembly:

"For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them." Matthew 18:20

"Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is, but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching." Hebrews 10:25

*Question to Ponder: Are these verses saying we have to assemble together in a physical building, or is it calling us to simply gather together?

Home Churches in the Bible:

The Bible lists there were churches taken place in people's homes multiple times in the New Testament. Paul and the disciples visited people often in diverse places and taught them this new way of churching. Paul was an Apostle and his role was to build churches. Did he work away with a hammer or a nail? No, but instead, Paul found likeminded believers and gathered them together in each town. Here are home churches in the Bible listed below:

-1 Corinthians 16:19 (House of Aquila and Priscilla)

-1 Corinthians 1:11 (House of Chloe)

-1 Corinthians 1:16 (Household of Stephanas)

-Romans 16:5 (House of Epaeneties)

-Romans 16:10 (Aristobielus' Household)

-Romans 16:11 (Narcissus Household)

-Phillippians 4:22 (Caesar's Household)

-Phillippians 4:15 (Nympha's House)

-2 Timothy 4:19 (Household of Onesiphorus)

-Philemon 1:2 (Apphia and Archippus Church at thy house)

This concludes the first part of studying the roots of home church, and the new spiritual temple. There will be a second part coming soon. If you have any questions, please feel free to comment!