A Weekly Gathering in Homes: Structure

We meet in homes on Sunday afternoons from approximately 4pm to 6:30pm.

Three Sundays a month, we meet in our own house churches—to celebrate the Lord’s Supper, to study God’s Word, and to pray. See below for how we structure our time in these gatherings. How do we typically structure our time when we meet in our house churches?

Welcome and Fellowship (15 minutes)

The Bread (5 minutes)

  • Scripture Reading and Explanation

  • Breaking, Passing, and Eating the Bread

  • Prayer

The Meal (50 minutes)

Bible Study and Prayer (50 minutes)

Here we use lessons from The Discipleship Series.

  • Bible Teaching and Discussion

  • Prayer (typically focused on what we learned and discussed from the Bible)

Singing OR More Time for Personal Sharing and Prayer (15 minutes)

The Cup (5 minutes)

  • Scripture Reading and Explanation

  • Passing and Drinking from the Cup

  • Closing Prayer for the Evening

Additional Fellowship and Ministry to One Another (10 minutes or much more!)

During the week, we try to encourage one another on a daily basis (Heb. 3:13). We also serve others in our communities—striving to be the hands and feet of Jesus.

One Sunday a month, we encourage those who attend a given house church to host a meal for their family members, friends, acquaintances, and/or neighbors—two to ten people. For example, if there are twelve adults in a given house church, ideally (in groups of two or three) they will host groups of people in their own homes. That way, in time, the members of a given house church will build a network of relationships in their own communities, with a view to that group becoming a house church in the future. What do we discuss when when we invite others into our homes?

At one end of the continuum, we might initiate discussions about others’ faith, such as:

  • “What is your religious background?”

  • “How can I help you grow in your faith?”

  • “Can I tell you about my house church? I would love to share a meal with you there.”

On the other end of the continuum, the meal might include little, if any, discussion of the Christian faith, though the question, “For what are you thankful in your life?” often leads to other stimulating dialogue.

Either way, the key, Lord willing, is to open up the lines of communication with our other family members, friends, acquaintances, and neighbors.

In time, (1) invite them to your current house church and/or (2) invite them and 15 to 20 others (hoping 10 to 12 will come) to study the book Discover with you in your own home, for example, on Saturday nights.

If there is a fifth Sunday of the month, we schedule a social outing or service project in one of our neighborhoods, where we also invite those who are not part of our house churches.