A visit to our old home church.
Yesterday on the blog we visited a family integrated church. Today, we visit the home church we attended prior to that.
Our home church really didn’t have a name. We fondly called it the Pilgrim Church because we went from house to house like wandering pilgrims. Each family took a turn hosting. This meant they either hosted in their home or found a place to host (like a park or often the basement of a local library). When they hosted, they were also in charge of providing the juice and bread for Communion. We had Communion every Sunday, usually in the middle of the service.
I can’t really give you an order of service because much of the service was Spirit-led. However, I will try to give you a description of what a typical service might look like.
10 am – Everyone gathers at the meeting place. Usually, we sat as families, but occasionally (like when a mother with many little ones would come without her spouse) there were children interspersed amongst other families who would help care for them during the service. Often there were little ones on blankets because space was a precious commodity.
The men led the service. At the beginning of the service, they would introduce guests if need be, ask prayers, and offer praises. Then, there would be a time of prayer where the men each took turns praying around the room (although not every man was required to do so).
The men were also encouraged to be prepared to offer something within the service even if it was simply a song. As the boys in the congregation came of age, they were invited to begin offering as well. We had a set of hymnals and sang acapella.
I’m going to take a second to explain something here that I feel is very important. Singing acapella was not a rule. At one point, we had a piano that one of the girls played when we were at her house and often after church, we would gather at the piano or around anyone who had brought a guitar, but it was decided that singing acapella during the service itself helped to provide unity amongst the Body on a subject that can often lead to dissension.
There were men within the congregation who always had a sermon prepared and men who were excellent at telling what their family had been learning throughout the week from Scripture. Other men would pray or offer songs or tell of a mission opportunity. There was no order of service. It all came about as each man was led to offer his part.
At some point, one of the men would either offer a song or a prayer that would lead into Communion and each father would serve his family and his guests.
Some would think this sounds like a rather chaotic way to conduct a service, but really there wasn’t anything chaotic about it.
But what I am really wanting to tell you about is the part of this church that makes us long to return even years after moving away. Remember, I mentioned RELATIONSHIPS in my post on finding a church? That was something this church did and did well.
We truly had “all things in common.” If I needed to borrow something, all I must do is ask. In this little church, “all things in common” took on flesh and blood. And even though we only got together once a week and lived miles and miles apart from each other (some as far away as 40 miles), it was not uncommon for us to meet for an impromptu homemade ice cream party or a soap making party. It also became commonplace to stay at the host family’s home long after church was over. The children would play and everyone would talk and talk and talk. We would always eat a meal together and then manage to throw together leftovers if need be to make supper as well. Sometimes these afternoons would include canning of peaches, sewing lessons, musical gatherings, and prayer meetings. We were family.
It is my understanding that shortly after we moved away another family moved as well and the church has since struggled. I cannot help but wonder if Satan was determined to undermine such a beautiful example of one-anothering. It is my prayer the church would heal again.
While I do not know if we will ever worship in a home-church setting again, Ty and I do wholeheartedly enjoy that model of church and find it to be as close as you can come to the Acts 2 Body of believers.
And despite what I said on Tuesday, I truly am excited to start visiting local church congregations and be with other believers again!
NOTE: Last night, I watched Divided, a movie about the modern age-segregated ministry movement. This documentary was incredibly well done and a must-watch for anyone interested in understanding the Biblical roots behind family integration in worship.
Samantha @TheKelleyEight says
We only sing a capella. I was raised with instruments, and feel a capella is more toward God, less about being entertained. The early church did not use instruments. I love it. Sounds very nice.
Amy Clark says
Just out of curiosity, how do you know that the early church didn’t use instruments? Like another commenter, I’m not trying to start anything, just being curious. Also, if you read Psalms, David and other psalmists mention praising the Lord with a variety of instruments. Why, reading Psalms, would you think that a cappella was more toward God?
I have no animosity here, just wondering where other’s viewpoints come from.
Amy says
I believe the stance of churches that do not use musical instruments in worship is due to there being no precedence for their use in the New Testament.
Danielle B says
Not trying to get anything started either.
There a more than a few things that are mentioned in the OT and not in the NT, and most Christians follow. (IE: 10 Commandments, tithing) Where do people draw the line?
Jesus gave us FREEDOM, to not do something because it wasn’t in the NT… you are binding yourself to the law.
Trevis Moss says
Amy, “where two or more are gathered in My name, there I am also”. I tried pasting a link to time line drawing of the history of Christ’s Church from inception to aposty and what went on in between for you, but can’t past into this comment field. If interested send me an e-mail and I can return it that way.
Grateful for Grace says
That sounds lovely. Truly.
So, visitors were allowed? Other families were allowed to join?
Amy says
Oh yes, absolutely! Now, it was a little hard to find us because it was all word of mouth, but everyone was welcome. 🙂
Tiffany says
We go to a family integrated church and it is such a blessing we found it.
Our preacher gave us each that movie Divided for Christmas.
Heather says
I’d like to ask a question, but am a little worried about sounding judgmental or like I’m trying to pick a fight- I’m really not, but am truly curious:
I realize every FIC and home church is different, of course, but the Bible (including Acts) is clear on the importance of pastoral leadership and missions outreach (the Great Commission is personal, but it was also given to the church). How do these reconcile with the experiences you’ve had in these churches?
Again, I really am simply asking and not trying to start anything!
Amy says
Excellent questions, Heather! Our home church was made up elders and deacons. As for the Great Commission, I do see where mission work as an entire church is rarely done, but there were a few opportunities. For the most part, families were expected to take on that responsibility because even by themselves, they are the Church.
Lisa~ says
That sounds a lot like the homechurch we meet with. I love that the Spirit leads our time together. There is order, but not necessarily a sermon in the traditional sense. Thanks for sharing. Lisa~
Liz says
that sounds amazing….I would love for our church to move in that direction! I find it weird that we talk (in our church at least!) so much about the importance of the Bible and believing what it says, but then we stick with these man-made rituals which suck all the life out of what God wants to do.
Carla B says
The relational , simplicity of the church sounds wonderful. Like a true body of believers..not just a place to go. There is a fine line between purity and legalism and sadly Satan so often uses legalistic pride in a body to tear it down and keep it from it’s potential.
Elizabeth says
The Divided dvd looks great-Thanks for the info!
Anita says
Amy, thank you so much for sharing this… it made tears come to my eyes to read about such a beautiful, Biblical gathering of believers… the simplicity, being led by the spirit, the men taking a special role towards their own family, etc.
I shared ages ago in reply to one of your posts on church that we had been feeling dissatisfied at our church.. I think it may have come across wrong, that we wanted our church to serve us and not the other way around… I have been at this current church since I was 8 (hubby joined me there when he was 15- obviously before he was “hubby”!!) and I love the people there like true family- they are Aunts, Uncles, Grandmothers and grandfathers, brothers and sisters. They have been a big part of my formative years and I love them dearly.
What I have struggled with, as I have learned more of the love, grace and mercy of God and the amazing way of “walking in step with the spirit” instead of walking in religion and rules, is that often our church there is more prone to fight the leading and the things of the spirit if they don’t follow the regular, every-sunday routine… and quite a few aspects of that routine are not based in the Bible, just in tradition.
We also live in a small island state where everything is very close and driving ten minutes to church is normal, but we were driving four towns over to attend this particular church every sunday (for 7 years) because we felt God was calling us to be committed there until he led us elsewhere.
I think God has been allowing this hunger to well up in me for a real experience of church as the family of God so that I would be ready to leave this place where I grew up… we shared last Sunday that we were moving on to a new church, how much we love them all and want to remain in contact and relationship with them. It was taken very well and had lots of lovely responses…
We as a young family are very excited to see what God has for us next… we are praying and hoping for a church where we can truly see and participate in the leading of the spirit.
Funny thing is, just as we are feeling sure that now God is calling us somewhere else, it seems that things are finally starting to change slowly at this first church… I guess God’s promise to us that he had us there for a reason may have been to help start a move there to follow the spirit more closely! God is good!!
Amy says
This sounds lovely =)
Sonia says
I like the idea worshipping in the house even one day a week.hope to receive more i fo.by the way do you do some arrangement inside the house?or you have special part of the house for the service?Thanks and God bless
Amy says
Some people like to have a separate area they can worship in and some people just put lots of chairs in the living room. Basically, you just need an area where you can place a lot of seating.