(My pastoral instruction to the main church.  Shortly the numbers doubled)

At this point we have about ten clusters, or teams, of leaders covering the area where our church is located. Families and individuals of the Chapel congregation living within configured boundaries around each team are assigned as “flocks” to these leaders.

Much visitation has already taken place by team members among their flocks. As the contacts continue, they now can relate somewhat to the church-in-the-home emphasis getting underway.

Each flock must be subdivided into house churches. It is not our objective to build a large, comfortable home Bible study or prayer fellowship in each area. Rather, we should aim at multiplying gatherings of 12 to 25 — all under capable leadership.

Members of several families, along with singles would comprise these basic assemblies. Children will be included from the outset since it is a church, not simply an adult meeting. (Later I will detail a plan for caring for the very young children.)

Hopefully, each house church will grow and divide into other fellowships. Unless all are taught this vision from the outset, there will be considerable resistance to it. The idea is to make centers of worship available to as many people as possible – right where they live.

Obviously we can’t dictate to folks exactly where they will align themselves in worship. But, we can lay down the challenge of permeating our entire area with happy, victorious, growing families of families. All of us can grow and change in the light of such a vision.

Not only will finding housing be a problem, leadership will be the real difficulty lying in the way of such growth and multiplication. Each believer must be challenged to find out what their spiritual strengths and gifts really are.

I have concocted the alliteration of “GOTHS” to make it easier to remember what the beginning, basic ministries are for the house churches. Here they are with a few comments on each one (later on a great deal of training should be offered these leaders):

GATHERERS:   People do not naturally and easily become participants in home meetings. They rnust be lead into it by someone they respond to who has what I refer to as the “gift of gathering.” Early on we must discover these warm and gregarious people.

ORGANIZER:   Home gatherings have a way of going to seed rather quickly if someone is not caring for orderliness. This gift is important to keep the small gatherings functioning in a way that is effective and meeting the needs of everyone.

Somehow it is of the nature of home gatherings for the informality to deteriorate into a type of disorganized discussions and directionless fellowship unless dependable time frames of beginning and ending meetings are kept.

A key issue in developing gifts is that those who are leaders must realize no one person has all the gifts and each must learn to relax on the wings of other people’s strengths. Do not try to lead and run the show in an area where you are not spiritually equipped.

TEACHERS:  Not everyone with a gift of gab is a good teacher. Indeed, some teach in a very fluent manner but nothing happens in the hearers’ lives. Do they have an anointed gift of teaching or not? We have to wonder about that. Real fruit comes only when God’s calling and equipment are in the life. A spiritually gifted teacher can make truth clear and useful in the lives of other believers.

HOSTS:  We must find people who have not only space in their homes but who have hearts large enough to make others comfortable in their fellowship. Apart from this gift, many who gather will feel an oppressive restraint or timidity in interacting with one another. It is important that the children be relaxed and happy without being indulged.

Sufficient discipline and control is possible without offense in an atmosphere of relaxed, cheerful fellowship. It is of the nature of small fellowships to quickly move upward or else quickly go downhill.

SHEPHERDS: These men are given in answer to prayer. They have the pastoring gift which each flock needs. They do not necessarily present themselves as the “top dog.” They work a lot behind the scenes but continually they are evaluating and noticing how things are going. Particularly, their eye is upon the hearts and inner responses of the believers in their flock. They will make certain that the design of fellowship and relationships in their group is the way it ought to be.

Some of these shepherds will be elders already. Others will be recognized later on as having qualifications of elder or overseer. In conjunction with this evidence right from the field of service, some shepherds will be added to the congregational board of elders. The place of biblically ordered oversight of these home gatherings is what makes this entire plan distinct from many of the small group plans seen about the country today.

Looking again at the five basic ministries, let me point out that one person might serve in two or three of these capacities at the same time. That might not be the ideal but it will be necessary on most occasions. The main thing is to get all the bases covered.

Launching numbers of churches in the homes at the same time is so humanly impossible that it drives us to Matthew 19:26, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” It simply will not happen if God does not help us, therefore, we must pray persistently. God wants each of you to feel totally responsible, as if everything will stand or fall according to your faithfulness in prayer and service.

Now, what is going to take place in a home meeting?

First, there will be the period of welcome, greeting and fellowship as people gather.  This must not go on indeterminably but will have definite boundaries to it. The main meeting must begin at the appointed time even though everyone will appear to be having a good time. More careful reflection afterwards will show that deterioration sets in rather quickly and the high goals of the fellowship will be lost unless there is a proper measure of order. In addition, it should be remembered that not all people are the same. Many place a high priority on value of time and are more disciplined. These must not be needlessly offended by ragged meetings.

Bible study will be a part of these sessions, beginning with the Book of Mark. All should be reading this gospel in preparation.

First, the teacher must choose the portion of Scripture he plans to cover. This might be an event or two and/or a parable or teaching by Jesus. Have this read and briefly summarize it so that all are equally aware of the text. Next the teacher will have in mind two or three, or more, main teaching points out of the section of Scripture. A teaching point is simply a truth you are going to develop from the text by using questions, discussion and teaching. Application to life will be next. The aim of Bible study is not simply to clog heads with more data but to get response in life. Always ask what impact should this lesson have on each of us here in this room?

Prayer time will be an essential whenever the church meets in the homes. People will want to pray over what they have studied and learned from scripture. Of course, there will be many real situations in their own lives which will be a delight to share in mutual support through prayer.

Without a doubt, believers are generally hungering for deeper relationships with others.  Through home meetings, God can enrich each believer’s life for the good of the others, as Scripture plainly teaches, I Corinthians 12:7. Just as individual devotions of prayer and Scripture must forever be a daily mark in the believer’s life, so fellowship with others in Scripture and prayer must be a regular experience. This latter benefit is not fully realized by looking toward a public platform “up front.”

When one person bares a need, then others who are present with their spiritual baskets full of good things will meet that need. As folks become more and more open to help – to give and to receive it, the matter of discretion will become important. Here the shepherd will have to be alert and see that indiscretions do not develop.

Early in our experience it should be clear that there will be no exalted platforms in the home gatherings. These meetings will not invite shining lights and stars to perform. There will be leadership, however, but not the kind that exalts someone “up front.” However, the meetings must not be one grand puddle of unpreparedness in a patented equality. Domination by personalities should be anathematized. However, if adequate emphasis is placed on fruit- bearing outreach, and growth with a view to dividing and beginning new house churches, that very “bleeding” experience will tend to prune self-centeredness and keep us healthy and balanced.

Now a word about children in the home meetings. A church in the home is a family affair. Children are a vital part of it and should be made to feel that. What about disruption and discipline problems? There are ways to minimize problems of this kind and at the same time have the blessing of whole families.

First, the meetings must be so interesting and real that even youngsters will be captivated. Infants and less manageable youngsters will be cared for in a separate room. (The mothers will have to take turns watching them.) As parents grow and gain more skill in managing their children, they will be able to have them in the main meeting for longer periods of time. Because the meetings are informal, a parent might stand in the doorway with their little one and if the child becomes quiet, return to the meeting or if they continue to be restless, take them to the other room. This kind of interaction between families is wholesome and stimulates real growth in all our lives.

Many words could be written about the value this experience has for children and young people. Teenagers, for example, who share regularly in this kind of life, will gain a new respect for their own mothers and dads and other men and women as the adults use their spiritual gifts in earnest ministry in these closeup relationships.

May God grant us this rich experience!