A Healthy House Church

Living out the "one anothers" isn't always easy - interdependent relationships definitely take work. House churches are meant to provide a context for us to live the scriptures together, but how do we know if our house church is healthy? Good question! Below are some characteristics of a healthy house church. If you believe that your house church may be lacking in one of these areas, after seeking God in prayer, speak with one of the leaders in your group to see how you can help.

Teaching of the Word of God

Assimilation
Ideally, new people will be added to our number on a regular basis. When new people visit they need to feel welcomed. They also need to get plugged into the pulse of the community—they need to know what’s going on and feel a part of it. This also includes having an understanding of the nature, purpose, vision, and values of the community.

Sacrificial Service
Jesus Christ is not only our King, He’s also our example, the model we are to follow. We see in Scripture that He humbly served His disciples…as well as those who were not yet His disciples. He taught the values of His kingdom not just in words but in action. A (house) church needs to reflect this as well. If someone in the group is in need, the rest should jump at the opportunity to meet that need (be it physical, emotional, spiritual, financial, etc.) Beyond that, those in a house church should look for opportunities to serve one another, without a “need” even being presented. Serving others is something we are commanded to do even when it is inconvenient and costly. We are to put others before ourselves. Though those in our house church take priority, humble service should extend to those outside the church as well.

Compassion
Another mark of the followers of Christ (because it was a mark of Christ Himself) is having compassion toward the lost and hurting around us. This begins inside the house church, but must be poured out to those in the surrounding area. We should hurt with those who hurt, and grieve with those who grieve. A house church should regularly seek out opportunities to show compassion, as well as be ready to show compassion whenever the need arises.

Evangelism
Jesus gave us the command to tell others about Him, and His church is the physical representation of His kingdom on earth. We have been given the mantle of spreading the good news about Jesus. Reaching out to others is part of healthy body life.

Prayer
Jesus has graciously offered us this “lifeline” to the Father. Because of the work of Christ we may boldly approach the throne of God. Through prayer we realize and demonstrate our complete reliance and dependence upon Him to meet our needs—the provisions for our life and the power to fulfill the task given to us.

Worship
The community of the redeemed (the Church) is to be a worshipping body. This should not be limited to simply musical worship. When we take part in the above mentioned functions/characteristics, we are, in fact, worshipping. Additionally, our love and praise of our God needs to be the fuel that drives us to being all that we are called to be and doing all that we are called to do.

Reproduction
We’ve been given the task of making disciples. Disciple making is a reproducing, multiplying assignment. We are to become like the Master and help others to do the same. It is interesting that one of the chief analogies used to describe the church is that of a body. The body is made up of a bunch of tiny individual cells that function interdependently with one another to form the body. Many of these cells need to reproduce regularly or the body becomes unhealthy and can even die. God wants His Kingdom to advance…not territorially/geographically, but soul to soul. That only happens when one life touches/reaches another. Each person within the (house) church should be trying to reproduce him/her self, in character and in function.

Leadership
When Christ set up His church He set up a system/structure of authority for it to function within. Leadership in God’s kingdom isn’t about honor, prestige, or power. Rather, leadership in God’s kingdom is about service and delegated authority to accomplish the mission given to us to fulfill. Leadership is established based on character and gifting—not ambition or coercion. While within a house church everyone should be serving one another, some are given the added responsibility of authority to make sure the community functions as it ought. The elders appoint certain people and charge them with the task of servant-leading a house church. The leaders of a house church should be identifiable and recognized as having delegated authority from the elders. The house church leaders take on the responsibility of assessing, equipping, and empowering the community.

Church Office - 4550 N. Illinois Street | Indianapolis, IN 46208
P 317.251.1494 | F 317.251.1498
Sunday Services -      Midtown 9 am | 11 am | 7 pm       CGCC-West | 10 am