Embracing Microchurches: Experience The Early Church Model | S4E4

[@felixguerrero6062]

Early Church, met in homes and in the temple. Both relational and sacramental worship. This is like cell church not house churches. House church denies the public nature of worship ans forsakes well ordered sacraments.

[@simplerfaith]

Thanks for your comment. I really don't think the early church was focused on any model or mode of gathering, be it house church or temple worship or well-ordered sacraments. The Jewish disciples continued to meet at the temple (or in synagogues outside of Jerusalem) until they were no longer welcome. But when they were outcast they didn't go build Christian versions of a temple or synagogues, they just met in homes. At least that's what we know from scripture's frequent reference to different churches as "the church that meets in ________'s house." But I want to be clear. They weren't trying to start a "house church movement" or to be "anti-institutional church" or anything. But neither were they focused on creating public worship gatherings. That's more of a modern mode of witness rooted in free-country culture more than the early church. In fact, in scripture, especially where there was persecution, we see the believers hiding in places like upper rooms. They simply gathered wherever they could for prayer and worship, to share fellowship meals, and to learn the way of Jesus from the teachings of the apostles. As for any distinction between "house churches" and "cell churches" (or "microchurches" or "home churches"), it really depends on what the person means by it. People use the terms to mean different things so I float all around in my usage. But to your concern, I'm quick to encourage people to meet wherever the believers gather. The size or publicness of it doesn't really matter. And singing in a large group or listening to a helpful sermon is good and fine. But in many ways, what we've been doing is better and more primary than that. It doesn't make the other wrong, just supplemental. As for sacraments, that's a whole other conversation, bigger than just how big a church is or where it meets. I'm cool with that conversation if you are. I'm open to hearing your perspective on it.