Why do we choose to meet in a house instead of a “church building?”

 

The New Testament scriptures affirm that the earliest churches met in houses, and historians say many of them met in catacombs and caves as well.

 

Acts 8:3 - But Saul began to destroy the church. Going from house to house, he dragged off men and women and put them in prison.

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Romans 16:3-5 – Greet Priscilla and Aquila, my fellow-workers in Christ Jesus. They risked their lives for me. Not only I but all the churches of the Gentiles are grateful to them. Greet also the church that meets at their house.

 

1 Corinthians 16:19 - The churches in the province of Asia send you greetings. Aquila and Priscilla greet you warmly in the Lord, and so does the church that meets at their house.

 

Colossians 4:15 - Give my greetings to the brothers at Laodicea, and to Nympha and the church that meets at her house.

 

Philemon 1-2 - Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother. To Philemon our dear friend and fellow-worker, to Apphia our sister, to Archippus our fellow-soldier and to the church that meets in your home.

 

Doesn’t the scriptures say they met in Temples?

 

When the first century church began, many of them were used to meeting in the temple because many of them were Jews. That is how they worshipped God, based on the Old Covenant.  It took a while after the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, for them to make the mental change that they were now under the New Covenant. Under the New Covenant, the temple of God is practicing Christians.  Although we believe there is nothing wrong with meeting in a commercial building, Transformation Christian Church strives to apply this huge object lesson,  the church is people and not a building. We as Christians house the Holy Spirit and “not a building made by hands” as Stephen said in Acts 7.

 

“Do you not know that you are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in you?  If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy him. For God's temple is holy, and you are that temple". 1 Corinthians 3:16-17

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“Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.” 1 Corinthians 6:19-20

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“What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; as God said, “I will make my dwelling among them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.”  2 Corinthians 6:16

 

A Church that meets in a house is a natural setting for fellowship: We enjoy the home environment in that we find it to promote excellent Christian fellowship and mutual edification.

 

 

A Church that meets in a house creates a well-tended flock: The church will be healthier when elders are not overburdened by an unmanageable number of people entrusted to them.

 

 

A Church that meets in a house, manages God’s financial resources better by meeting in a home.

 

The "House Church" model frees up money to be used more effectively for God's kingdom. We believe that it makes better sense to channel the offerings with which God has blessed us toward people, rather than spending it on fancy buildings and maintenance. We choose to help people in our local body, local communities and brothers and sisters in Christ in other parts of the world.