Leeds House Church - Community of Christ

Why House Churches?

Advantages of House Churches

What are some of the advantages of house churches? Well this isn't the result of some scientific survey or something taken out of a text book. This is just how we feel after a few years of being a house church.

Interactive

One of the great things about house churches is that ministry is not all one way. It's much easier for members to participate in a small group, in fact we encourage participation. So its quite acceptable for anyone to chip in and add their own thoughts or to ask for clarification. This will be more challenging for the leader, but at least you know everyone is not falling asleep. Because everyone shares, the result is much more fulfilling for both leader and members.

Informal

A home creates a totally different atmosphere for worship and study. People are more relaxed and are likely to be more open. You more naturally join in when its a home situation instead of the 'speak and sing in the right place' culture of a traditional church. It also seems to be much easier to be flexible. So you can wait ten minutes if you know someone will be slightly delayed, or you can meet on a Friday instead of a Sunday one week if its more convenient, or you can have an unscheduled prayer if someone has a problem, or you can eat sticky cakes during Bible study just because you feel like it.

Supportive

In most church services you sit looking at the back of someone's head for an hour which doesn't exactly help develop close relationships. A smaller group meeting in a home gives the opportunity to share in closer supportive relationships. It still needs group commitment to be open and caring for this to work. But if you can manage this, it is great to be part of a group where you feel you can be open without the risk of disapproval or ridicule. It's in that sort of group that you can really develop your spiritual life. Why don't you try it?