SimpleChurch Journal

Church at Home: Explained in 2 Minutes on a Napkin

Church at Home: Explained in 2 Minutes on a Napkin

Kickstart the Next House2House Magazine

You can help kickstart the next House2House magazine.

Before House2House had a website or conference it all began with a printed magazine. The House2House magazine ended up in a lot of people’s hands and contributed to spark the growing house church movement. As the Holy Spirit was stirring this vision of simple, organic churches in the hearts of Tony and Felicity Dale and others in Texas, He was also cultivating it in you, me, and many others around this same time. Now there are millions of Christians meeting together as the church in homes, coffee shops, businesses and wherever they can.

Due to many factors including the rising costs of production, the last issue of House2House was printed in 2008.

You can help bring it back!

Some of you wrongly assume that I have some formal connection to House2House.  I do not.  They have simply been wonderful partners and encouragers over the years as they have been to so many.

I think there is something potent about holding a magazine in one’s hand that can be passed along to another.  If God is nudging you to help make this happen, jump in!

The Power of Authentic, Committed Community Life

Someone recently commented to my wife, regarding our core community gang, “It’s obvious that you guys really take care of each other.”

It’s been a while since I have blogged on the topic of community-life due to a greater focus on the missional aspect of 24/7 organic church lifestyle.

But, I do not want to forget that Jesus tied community-life and mission together when he said, “May they experience such perfect unity that the world will know that you sent me (John 17:23)”

Now, let’s be clear.

Developing committed, authentic community life among a core group of follower is, well…

• Messy.  There is no smooth sailing when it comes to forging relationships.
• Difficult.  It’s easy to give up and find excuses to just move on.
• Humbling.  Like any relationships, our pride will be challenged.
• Frustrating.  Why do people have to be so much like people???
• Hard work.  Honestly, most people do not want to invest what it takes. You get out of it what you put into it.  Nothing more.  There are no free rides in the experience of community.

But forging deep relationships over a longer period of time has amazing benefits:

1. I have many spiritual friends that have stood with me while going through some of the darkest times of my life including losing a son two years ago.  There is nothing like that kind of care and support when you need it most.  It makes the hard work of building community well worth it!

2. I have grown immeasurably from the challenges of working through issues and conflicts with others in my community, however uncomfortable.

3. I have support for my mission and passions which is practical and real.  I trust that I provide similar support to others in my ‘gang.’

4. I get to experience, in no small measure, what John Eldredge describes:

“You cannot live the Christian life without a small group of intimate allies surrounding you... who know you... and who will stand with you and fight for your heart."

I believe community is one of the most difficult aspects of true Jesus-following.  But I do know what it is to feel the strength of having intimate allies in my life, and it’s worth the effort.

What's been your experience?