Church Simply: Homes Make Great Places to Meet

Continuing with this series of living church simply, in this post we'll look at homes as being great places to gather.

It is obvious that when churches gather they need some place to do so. In the bible we see one primary place where the body of Christ comes together: in homes. A few examples:

"Greet Prisca and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus, who risked their necks for my life, to whom not only I give thanks but all the churches of the Gentiles give thanks as well. Greet also the church in their house. Greet my beloved Epaenetus, who was the first convert to Christ in Asia." Romans 16:3-5

"The churches of Asia send you greetings. Aquila and Prisca, together with the church in their house, send you hearty greetings in the Lord." I Corinthians 16:19

"Give my greetings to the brothers at Laodicea, and to Nympha and the church in her house." Colossians 4:15

"Paul, a prisoner for Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother, to Philemon our beloved fellow worker and Apphia our sister and Archippus our fellow soldier, and the church in your house..." Philemon 1:1-2

The above passages do not make it imperative that we meet in homes (click here to see another location). However, they do show us that this was the general practice of the day. In light of this, we do well to follow their example.

Why meet in homes? What are the benefits? Below are five that come to mind quickly:

1. Homes are comfortable. It's wonderful to sit around some family's living room on couches. It is conducive to relaxed conversation.

2. Homes are safe. In countries where persecution is real, homes offer a relatively safe place to come together. Houses do not draw the attention that church buildings do.

3. Homes are cheap. Meeting in a house costs next to nothing. Even the poorest Christians in the world can do this.

4. Homes are where real life happens. There is a real-world feel to gathering in houses. This atmosphere is good for real-life conversations. This is when edification can easily and naturally happen.

5. Homes are great places to eat. It is easy to have a meal in a house. Eating together is one of the primary things churches do. When everybody eats the same food, it levels the playing field. It helps all involved bond together and promotes the building up of the body.

Are we required to gather in homes? I do not believe so. Should we gather in homes - at least some of the time? Yes, we should. Too many benefits exist to ignore homes as obvious places to meet.