MEETINGS OF THE HOUSE CHURCH

Presently most of our house churches meet two times a week; once on Sunday and in the mid-week. I think that the use of our meeting times is slowing down our ability to reproduce and may even be contributing to a tendency for the house church to crystallize. For example, although several of our churches have started from gathering meetings in the mid-week, once we make a transition into the "work" stage, we stop the gathering meetings. We start a Sunday meeting and then both meetings are used for edification. The Sunday morning meeting for worship and teaching, and the mid-week meeting for decision making and prayer. The result of no on-going gathering meeting is usually a drop in evangelistic effort, with a resulting deceleration in church reproduction. Often we find that months later when we try to restart evangelistic efforts, the results are sluggish at best.

With this in mind I offer the following suggestions for our use of meetings. Some churches may decide these are better able to meet the needs as they seek to fulfill God's plan for growth and reproduction. I think the sub-teams should strongly consider this approach as they start new gatherings. These suggestions follow from the paper "Stages of House Church Development", and that paper should be read in conjunction with considering this proposal.

Sunday Meetings

I would suggest that these be considered THE COMMUNITY MEETING. Rather than falling into the pattern of worship and teaching every week, I think all aspects of edification of the community should be built into this. Certainly this will often involve worship (The Lord's table should occur regularly at this meeting) and teaching as well. I think that a reading schedule should be prepared for each week even if a "teaching" does not occur at the meeting on a particular week. This assures that the congregation is learning together through teaching in the home. This is especially important for the development of male leadership and cooperate vision.

Other types of community meetings could be: decision making, planning for the future, evaluation of community health and direction, covenanting, baptism, etc. Teaching, reading schedules, an such should follow from the vision statement and the need of the community. The COMMUNITY MEETING should thus be diverse from week to week and not fall into the same pattern. Special community meetings may be needed once in a while for discipline, etc.

Mid-week Meetings

It is here where if feel we need to make our biggest changes. I would suggest that rather than the whole church meet together as a church in the mid-week, there be two other types of meetings possible from which the members should prayerfully choose.

One type of meeting would be a GATHERING MEETING. I believe that it is a mistake to end gathering meetings once the group moves toward covenanting. In many cases new social circles are being penetrated, and old ones have not yet been fully explored as far as each member of the social circle being taken captive for the kingdom. Yet we have discontinued the gathering meeting and changed both meetings into edification meetings. My suggestion is that we continue the gathering meetings and look to start others as well. It ought to be the norm for a church to have a single community meeting but several gathering meetings.

These gathering meetings ought to run for a specified duration with a specific topic. For example: 8 studies on the Kingdom from Matthew, 6 studies on Kingdom Living from the Sermon on the Mount, 8 studies from Acts on the growth of the Kingdom, etc. All of these would be like the evangelistic studies we are so familiar with. This type of gathering meetings should be for unbelievers and thus only those believers who are trying to bring their unbelieving friends should be coming.

I believe that we can use other types of topical studies for gathering as well. Anything that can gather unbelievers and be used as a vehicle to convey the gospel should be considered as a legitimate topic for a gathering meeting. Some examples could be: Biblical Principles of Child rearing, Biblical Principles for a healthy marriage relationship, Principles for the Healing of Souls, How to be Man (Women, teenager), Financial help in a crumbling world.

Anything that can draw the lost and make the gospel good news should be fair game. Obviously effort needs to be made to present the GOSPEL as good news not simply the wise advise the Bible gives, but I think we need to find ways to make the Gospel relevant to the fallen world as Jesus himself did.

These second types of meetings could also be designated as MINISTRY MEETINGS if they are for believers only. These can also occur in the mid-week and could be used to enable the congregation to minister more effectively. As noted above, they could also be used for a combination ministry and gathering. In any case we need to see that neither a gathering meeting or a ministering meetings is a meeting of the WHOLE CHURCH. Thus the different members should prayerfully consider where God would have them best spend their efforts. Some may attend neither and do other types of service. Some (perhaps many) of these Ministry meetings could be Fellowship wide. For instance a group of parents might want to go through the "Growing Kids God's Way" tape series but might come from different house churches. Still others from different house churches might want to organize an intensive time for working on music or drama for a fellowship meeting or a special evangelistic rally.

Other ministry meetings may occur as the Spirit leads. Certainly men's meetings and women's meetings would be an example of these. Certainly Ministry Meetings of prayer could be ongoing. Prayer partnerships could exist as needed, etc. However, all mid-week type meetings should be for a specific purpose, last for a specified period, and be evaluated at the end.

Central to this proposal is that we move to a one-community meting per week of the church, and having multiple, decentralized ministry and gathering meetings as different members of the church are so moved. The hope is that our flexibility can be increased, crystallization averted, and the churches can move forward with as God's Spirit so leads.

PURPOSE AND USE OF MEETINGS
I. Now begin to evaluate how your group meetings can aid you in accomplishing the purpose of your group. You may have more than one objective for each meeting.

The chart below should be filled in with your leadership team so that a spectrum of activities can be used to meet the objectives of the meeting.

Evaluate your meeting regularly with your leadership team always looking for improvement. Ask other groups what they are doing.

Fellowship

Decision Making

Visioning

Conflict Resolution

Bonding

Worship

Prayer

Planning


SHEPHERDING MEETING FORMAT
The purpose of a shepherding meeting is to gather the flock for close interaction with the Lord and one another. A good study of Heb. 10:23-25 will be helpful here as well as Acts 2:42-47. It should be a good time of sharing and encouragement. The following is a suggested format (skeleton), with additional possibilities listed. These are only suggestions. You may alter your meetings as the Spirit leads. (Heb. 13:17, notice responsibility of leaders)!

I. Opening prayer (by you or another)

Do this promptly at 7:00 or late comers will be encouraged to continue to come late.

II. Singing

We are there in the presence of the Lord, so it is appropriate that we worship him in song: check to see who can lead if you are not talented in this way. Any Guitars? Piano in a home?

III. Study:

We have decided to begin with Galatians. REMEMBER: Come with questions so they can discover truths (not lecture). Be sure you study to the point of application so that you have something which leads right into prayer (individually or prayer for corporate needs.)

IV. Prayer:

Prayer should arise out of the study. It should concentrate on such areas as personal holiness, service, knowing God better, etc. especially not Paul's prayers for the Galatians. The book is designed to further these prayers as Paul carries out his shepherding responsibilities before the Lord.

Prayer and Study time ideally should be about equal.

Additions:

- Testimonies followed by praise in the early part.

- Personal requests (usually in the early part as well.)

- Children's challenge (to include the little ones.)

- You could split up at the end in groups of two or three for the prayer time. This is especially good if the application is very personal.

MEETING GUIDELINES - GUIDELINES TO WORSHIP

I. Pray and ask God for His guidance and wisdom. Be humble.

II. What should the purpose of the worship leader be?

1. To glorify God - to lead the church in such a way that it brings glory to God. The goal of the leader is to corporately bring glory to God. 1 Cor. 10:31; 2 Thess. 1:12; Romans 15:6. Our aim should be to lift up the name of Jesus. Get our eyes off ourselves and onto Him. Heb 12:2; Col. 3:2.
2. To allow maximum freedom to participate, to allow others to use their gifts, and share what god is doing in their lives, with just enough structure that our worship is not out of control, but orderly. 1 Cor. 14:40; Eph. 4:16; 1 Peter 4:10,11. Caution: Too much structure can stifle the people and grieve the Holy Spirit.
   

III. What can the worship leader do to prepare the church for worship: (Use this as a time of meditation or participation, or both. It's always best to allow for interaction.)

1. Ask yourself what does the church need?
2. Have the church look at His Word. If there is a teaching time, you might want to connect with the theme of the teaching.
3. Have the church look at a specific characteristic of who God is: His holiness, justice, love, wrath, etc.
4. Look at what God has done: His deeds, creation, salvation.
5. Break up into smaller groups for prayer.
6. Have the church suggest songs, or come prepared with some.
7. Ask for answers to prayer.
8. Share testimonies of what God is doing, or ask specific questions such as: How have you seen God work this week?
9. Prepare the church ahead of time on a specific topic or theme, or reading schedule. 1 Cor. 14:26.
10. Look at a Psalm and praise God from it.

These are just some basic ideas to help the worship leader prepare and lead the church. You can use 1 or more of these suggestions, or do something totally different. Be creative!


GUIDE FOR THE LORD'S TABLE
Explanation of what the table means:

The table is open only to believers, this should be mentioned if visitors are present, or if there is someone present that you are not sure of. Believers should examine themselves for unconfessed sin and holding something against another believer.

2. Preparation: Can be a variety of things.

1. Silent prayer to search hearts.
2. Praise to God.
3. Testimonies
4. Song time
5. Reading the Word.
6. Read covenant
7. Other

3. Presenting the Elements: Ways may vary

A. Bread

B. Cup


GUIDELINES TO KID'S CLUB
Kid's Club is a vital, important ministry in the church. The purpose of Kid's Club is not to baby-sit kids during church, or as a time to play with the kids. Rather the purpose of Kid's Club is to train and teach kids the important truths from the Bible in a way that they can understand and enjoy. (It is not meant to be a substitute for what we should teach our children at home.) the person, or people who lead Kid's Club have a tremendous opportunity to teach children about God using fun, imaginative, and creative means. Most children love to learn about God, and it may be something they've never heard about before, so you usually have a very attentive audience. Even if it is something they have heard about, children love to hear familiar stories. Here are a few ides of things which have worked very well in the past in Kid's Clubs, or Sunday Schools:

1. Telling a story from the Bible in a way that is understandable and interesting. The point is to focus on something they can take home with them, like the fact that God answers prayer, or that God cares for them, or how God protected someone, etc. It usually is best to take one theme and focus on that. There are many ways to tell a story. You can us flannelgraph pictures, or draw pictures, or have the kids act it out as you tell it, or just tell it using different voices.

2. Kids love to do any kind of craft. Younger kids may just want to color, while older kids want to actually make something. Try to think of something that fits in with your story.

3. Kids also love to sing. There are millions of songs for children that talk about God.

4. When the weather is nice, there isn't any reason you can't take them outside for part of the time, or for the whole time.

5. Sometimes kids need a snack, so a cracker, veggie, fruit, or cookie will do wonderful things to get/keep their attention! Check parents for advice.

We have access to many idea books and materials that can help us plant the time out. Don't worry if you feel you don't know what to do. We can get lots of help.

The usual way Kid's Club is set up, is that everyone who wants to be involved takes turns on a rotating basis, for a term of one month. Depending on the number of kids, there can be a teach and a helper. The one month time period is helpful for picking a theme and continuing it for a few weeks to really get them to understand and grasp onto it.

Children are a major part of the church. We need to spend as much time nurturing them and teaching them about God as we do teaching adults.

WHAT IS A GIFTS MEETING?
A gifts meeting is a meeting of the church where each person comes to participate and share what God has been doing in their life. The meeting is similar to others, where we come to serve and not to be served. But, this is different in the sense that we come prepared and ready to edify the body and glorify God. Just a word of caution, this should not be a tie for us to draw attention to ourselves, but to draw attention to Jesus and what He's been doing in our life. Our heart and attitude should reflect that of John the Baptist, "He must increase and we must decrease."

The Bible says that each one has been given a spiritual gift. (Rom. 12:6; Eph. 4:7; 1 Peter 4:10; 1 Cor. 12:7) there is a right and a wrong way to use God's gifts. The gifts were given for the building up of the body of Christ and to bring glory to God (1 Peter 4:10,11; 1 Cor. 14:26). They were not given for personal enrichment or self-glorification (1 Cor. 14:4).

What kinds of activities take place in a gifts meeting: Col. 3:16,17; Eph. 5:18-20; 1 Cor. 14:26

1. Someone can share a scripture that has spoken to them, possibly through the reading schedule.

2. Select a song, or favorite hymn.

3. Personal testimony of what god has been doing, as the women in John 4.

4. Share and answer to prayer.

5. Share a positive or negative opportunity with someone you witnessed to.

The main purpose behind a gifts meeting is to be prepared to corporately minister to one another. Remember, Christianity is not a spectator sport. We are to be active participants with the King.