Meeting report: Decision making

Thursday night we met in East Victoria Park at Tim's house. We were treated to a banquet prepared by Tim with five main dishes. His excellent hospitality made the night feel very special.

(Paradoxically, there's a risk of too much good food in a house church. It does make a house church meeting very special. But you don't want it to become pressure to produce a feast every week. That's when people can feel burnt out by house church. The Christian Centre for Social Action has a weekly meeting - also in East Victoria Park! - which ends in a simple meal of bread, cheese, jam and apples. There's something to be said for this, too.)

Dave then led an excellent discussion on decision making. The group consensus seemed to be a middle ground between the Sydney Anglican line that God speaks only through the Bible, and feelings etc have nothing to do with it, and the Pentecostal search for visions and signs. We all held open the possibility and hope of God speaking directly into our lives, while also affirming that he speaks through others in our Christian community, and indeed through the Scriptures.

Community begins at three and ends at fifteen

Someone once said, "Community begins at three and ends at fifteen." Keeping the group small maintains the feeling of community. Only in the intimacy of a small, closely knit group will people confess their faults one to another in order to be healed (see James 5:16). Open sharing becomes more difficult when the group grows to more than fifteen.

- Joel Comiskey, The Spirit-filled small group: p. 96

Masks...

Many local churches have become so big that people can remain anonymous, becoming spectators rather than real participants. We have consciously sought to avoid the masks which people put on in that environment - the masks of security, niceness and personal piety.

- Robert Banks, The Church Comes Home, p. 94

why house church?

Non-hierarchical - everyone takes ownership of the group.
Participatory - the meetings help you engage rather than be passive.
Relational - we know each other personally, encourage and help eachother.
Varied - we bring different gifts and styles to the meeting. The meeting is flexible enough to change to suit different needs and circumstances.
Approachable - church is in the place you feel most at home.
Eating together - church is gathered around a meal.
Simplicity - it is easy to grow, and to change.
Local - forming community, and bringing God into everyday life, is easier with people who live close to eachother.

These are a few we can think of. Can you think of anything else? Leave us a comment!