Elijah Grant
The Bible describes early Christians meeting in homes, rather than renting facilities. This was due to the lack of established places of worship for Christians at the time, as well as the need for secrecy to avoid persecution. House churches played a crucial role in the rapid growth of Christianity, fostering a family-like atmosphere and allowing believers to challenge the social order. While some question the existence of house churches, citing the social status of early Christians, others argue that meetings took place in the homes of affluent members. Today, some groups continue to meet in homes, while others opt for traditional church buildings.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Meeting places | Homes, caves, catacombs, large outdoor areas |
| Group size | 10-20 people, rarely more than 15 or 20 |
| Meeting purpose | Breaking bread, deepening faith, teaching, preaching, baptismal instruction, prayer, missional activities |
| Leaders | Biblically qualified elders or pastors |
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What You'll Learn
The New Testament mentions groups meeting in homes
The New Testament mentions groups of believers meeting in homes, which were referred to as "house churches". These meetings were typically small, intimate gatherings of early Christians who would come together to break bread, pray, and discuss the teachings and life of Jesus.
For instance, Acts 2:46a states, "Every day they devoted themselves to meeting together in the temple area and to breaking bread in their homes." This verse highlights how early Christians would gather in homes for fellowship and to observe the Lord's Supper. Similarly, Acts 12:10–17 describes a meeting of believers in the house of Mary, the mother of John Mark, where they gathered for prayer.
Paul also speaks of house churches in his letters. He mentions the church in the house of Aquila and Priscilla (1 Cor. 16:19; Rom. 16:3, 5), of Philemon (Philemon 1, 2), and of Nympha in Laodicea (Col. 4:15). These references suggest that house churches were a common practice in the early days of Christianity.
Meeting in homes provided a sense of intimacy and facilitated the growth of the early church. It allowed for smaller groups to connect and engage in meaningful discussions, which could have been challenging in larger, more formal settings. Additionally, during a time when Christians faced persecution, meeting in homes provided a discreet and safe environment for fellowship and worship.
While the construction of grand church buildings became more common from the fourth century onwards, some Christian groups continue to embrace the house church model today. They view it as a valid and biblically sound practice, allowing for a more personal and community-oriented approach to worship and fellowship.
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No established place of worship existed
The house-church movement played an essential role in the rapid growth and triumph of Christianity, with the first three centuries belonging to this movement. House-to-house ministry allowed believers to challenge the social order of the day and spread the word in new ways. House churches maintained a family-like atmosphere and practiced brotherly love in personal and effective ways. They were diverse and spontaneous but always centred on belief in the risen Jesus.
House churches were often led by men who were biblically qualified as elders or pastors. Each elder was responsible for the care of as few as ten or fifteen people and as many as twenty-five to thirty. In some cases, an elder might oversee two congregations, resulting in a group of up to fifty people. The small size of these gatherings allowed for a sense of intimacy and community that would have been difficult to achieve in a larger, more formal setting.
The lack of an established place of worship also served a practical purpose, as several governments were trying to attack and kill Christians for their meetings. Having a fixed, well-known location would have made them an easy target for persecution. As such, they also met in secret in catacombs and caves to stay out of harm's way.
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Meetings were held in caves and catacombs
In the early days of Christianity, followers of the faith did not have established places of worship. As such, they often met in people's homes, caves, and catacombs to stay out of the way and avoid persecution. This is because several governments at the time were trying to attack and kill them for their beliefs, so having a fixed location was not ideal.
The Bible does not explicitly command Christians to meet in homes, but it was the apostolic model. The New Testament and the annals of church history indicate that the earliest Christians did not feel the need to construct special buildings for their gatherings. No church building can be identified until at least the end of the second century, and the grand, ornate structures that marked the Middle Ages did not become the norm until the fourth century, during the time of the Roman Emperor Constantine.
The house church model has several advantages. Firstly, it allows for more intimate gatherings, facilitating better fellowship and participation. Secondly, it enables expansion while maintaining an ideal setting for fellowship through the multiplication of home congregations. Finally, it helps keep costs low, as buying or renting a large building can be expensive.
However, as the Christian community grew, it became impractical to accommodate large groups in people's homes. This likely contributed to the eventual shift towards meeting in dedicated church buildings.
Caves and catacombs served as secret meeting places for early Christians, allowing them to practice their faith away from prying eyes and potential harm. These natural hiding places provided refuge and protection during a time when their beliefs could have led to dangerous consequences.
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House-based ministry was common
The house church movement played an essential role in the rapid growth and triumph of Christianity. House-to-house ministry allowed believers to challenge the social order of the day and become witnesses through their words, lives, and suffering. House churches maintained a family-like atmosphere and practiced brotherly love in personal and effective ways. They also served as centers of social services, providing support for young widows and the poor.
The book of Acts mentions local churches or church meetings, whether for worship or fellowship, which took place in homes. These house churches could rarely have been more than 15 or 20 people, and normally met in the largest room of a private home, usually the dining room. The dining room and adjoining public courtyard provided space for teaching and preaching ministries, baptismal instruction, prayer meetings, the celebration of the Lord's Supper, and missional activities.
The practice of meeting in homes was also a practical solution to the high costs involved in buying or renting a building for larger groups. However, some have argued that the social status of early Christians was such that they could not have owned their own houses, and may have met in the homes of affluent members or in low-rent apartment housing.
Today, some Christians continue to meet in homes, citing the apostolic model and the benefits of small-group ministry. Others defend the longstanding tradition of meeting in large central buildings, acknowledging the excellence within that tradition.
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Home meetings were more intimate
The early Christians had no established place of worship, and several governments were trying to persecute them, so having a fixed location was not a good idea. They also met in secret in catacombs and caves. It was not until the second century that established places of worship were created, as more people were allowed to worship without fear of death.
Home congregations were led by men who were biblically qualified as elders or pastors. Each elder was responsible for the care of as few as ten or fifteen people and as many as twenty-five or thirty. Home congregations could also have more than one elder, which would enhance the care for members.
The multiplication of home congregations can facilitate expansion while maintaining an ideal setting for fellowship. House-based ministry allowed believers to challenge the social order of the day. They became witnesses through their words, lives, and suffering. Because of their small size, house churches maintained a family-like atmosphere and practiced brotherly love in personal and effective ways.
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Frequently asked questions
No, large groups did not rent facilities to meet in Bible times. The New Testament speaks of groups of believers meeting in the homes of affluent members, rather than in rented or specially constructed buildings.
Groups met in people's homes because there was no established place of worship for Christians at the time. Meeting in homes also allowed Christians to keep a low profile and avoid government attacks.
Yes, there were instances of large groups meeting in the Bible. Acts 12:10–17 records a meeting of believers in the house of Mary, mother of John Mark, where "many" were gathered together praying. On special occasions, large groups may have met in large outdoor areas, such as the church in Jerusalem.
Groups that met in homes engaged in diverse and spontaneous activities centered on their belief in the risen Jesus. They broke bread, shared meals, and practiced baptismal instruction, prayer meetings, and missional activities. They also communicated information, news, and warnings of persecution.
