Have You Considered Home Church?

Mark Virkler's picture

The following is part of the final paper from Samuel Bowman as he completed the Christian Leadership University course "THE331 House Church." His enthusiasm is contagious. Enjoy!


Everything I thought about church has changed over the past twelve months and, God’s Simple Plan for His Church by Nate Krupp has been instrumental…For some fifty years, I sat in the pew, sensing that something was wrong, but I just couldn’t put my finger on it. I thought the whole problem was just me, that I just didn’t fit…Through Spirit-led circumstances I found Christian Leadership University where I found a course called House Church, also authored and proctored by Nate Krupp. Through Nate’s course, and a volume he recommended called Nexus, God was about to rock my world.

I was so excited when I got the course! I picked up Nate’s book the first night and began to read. Page after page spoke right to every question as we were beginning our house church. I distinctly remember finishing at about two o’clock in the morning. I laid the book down on my chest and looked up at the ceiling and I had the feeling that I had just been freed from the fowler’s snare. I felt like I had been rescued from a life of deception. I couldn’t believe I had been part of such an unbiblical system and I felt like I had been delivered from prison right at the hour of execution. I just kept thinking unbelievable! And, how could we have been so wrong all that time? How could we have read the Word all these years and missed God’s true plan for His church?

I told God how sorry I was for wasting so much time sitting in the pew, letting the professionals perform my responsibility for me. I praised Him for His Word and for revelation that was setting me free to do the very things I felt I had so often been past over for. I determined that my final twenty-five years would be spent using my Holy Spirit gifting to bring people to Christ and to teach them what church really is and how to have church with their own families, right in their own home.

Krupp’s book is an easy-to-read, straightforward manual chocked full of Scriptures on each on all the relevant issues…The very first thing Nate does is redefine Church from Scripture - as not a building, a place, a meeting you go to or a service. The Church is me and you. Nate goes to the original language several times in his book, but starts with the Greek word for church Ekklesia, simply meaning "called out ones." The church is anyone Jesus calls to Himself to become His body, part of who He is....

Nate’s book covers virtually every issue relative to what the Scripture says about church: women in leadership, defining what a church is and how it functions, cities as the scriptural boundary for defining local church, who is really a minister, the role of the Holy Spirit and practical considerations when meeting in the home and much more.

If we are going save our grandchildren we must bring real church back into the home!


Read Sam's entire final report for this course by clicking here.

Order the course "House Church" here. (Scroll down as courses are listed alphabetically.) 


What about you? Have you ever been part of a home church? What was your experience? Please let us know your thoughts in the comments below!
 

Related Blogs: 

Healthy Relationships   
Add new comment

Comments

Anonymous's picture

oh boy! I felt like I was reading our life of the past year. My husband and I are in the middle of rearranging our lives after the Lord took us from our comfortable pews and began to work on us and in us! We sat in our seats, led worship and all that for 25 plus years and although I don't feel like it was a waste, it is an awesome, freeing feeling to know that now the Lord has opened our eyes to see what He wants us to do! My husband has said for many YEARS that we "DO" church wrong...but never could we actually put a name to that problem. I am also reading Nates book and have begun to try to figure out how to get in touch with him. I am wondering if you could help me with this or know who could? He lives in our home state, only a short few hours from our home and I would LOVE to see if we can arrange a meet with our "home church".

Thanks so much for posting! GOD IS MOVING!!!!

Add new comment

CAPTCHA
This question is for testing whether or not you are a human visitor and to prevent automated spam submissions.

Results

Results 151 - 160 of 490

Pages

Through the Bible New Testament CD Package

3 CD Sets by Dr. Andrew Hardy | 1 Book by Mark and Patti Virkler

Dr. Andrew Hardy takes you through the New Testament in three modules. This package includes parts six - eight of our Through The Bible series,  which provide you an overview of the entire Bible. You may choose to begin with the Life of Christ and work your way through the entire New Testament, and then follow this up by going through the Old Testament.

Why are there four Gospels describing Jesus' life? How are the three synoptic Gospels different from John? What does God want to say to me through the life of Jesus? Can I really imitate Christ and be like him? Yes, Jesus came to model the lifestyle God has empowered us to live!

Price: $89.00

Through the Bible Old Testament CD Package

5 CD Sets by Dr. Andrew Hardy | 1 Book by Mark and Patti Virkler

Dr. Andrew Hardy takes you through the entire Old Testament in this five module series. This is a part of our Through the Bible series, which gives you an overview of the entire Bible. This package contains five sets of CDs which span the Old Testament and includes the Through the Bible workbook

Price: $144.00

Unique Gifts Make Winning Teams CD Package

2 books | 1 card | 1 CD set

Can I succeed like others have? What do I need to do? How do I go about it? What if I don't have the gifts necessary to do something great?  The wonderful truth revealed in Scripture is that God uses ordinary people to accomplish extraordinary feats, especially when they say, "Yes, Lord" to the destiny He has prepared for them!

Price: $69.95

Unleashing Healing Power Through Spirit-Born Emotions CD Package

Book + 14 teaching sessions & 5 devotionals on CD

Experience Healing for Your Body, Soul, and Spirit through Kingdom Emotions!

In Christianity, emotions are often considered to be misleading and untrustworthy—a lingering part of our fallen nature that distract us from God’s truth. But our emotions were created by God, and though the enemy may seek to manipulate our hearts, Jesus sets us free! This practical teaching will empower you to see emotions as unique channels through which the Holy Spirit works to bring miraculous life-transformation, deliverance and healing.

Price: $95.00

Your Extraordinary Life CD Package

197 Page Book | 16 CD Sessions | Save 10% | by Mark & Patti Virkler

Can you imagine starting new believers off with the Holy Spirit! What if the first thing you were taught as a newborn Christian was how to connect easily and daily with the Holy Spirit Who was living inside you, anointing you, empowering you and transforming you?

Price: $45.00
LEARN 4 Keys to Hearing God's Voice Notebook

LEARN 4 Keys to Hearing God's Voice

by Mark and Patti Virkler

This 49-page Life Enrichment And Review Notebook (previously called a "Seminar Guide") is designed to go along with the CD/ DVD series and/or PowerPoint presentation. If receiving training in a group, we highly recommend that EVERY member of the group have their own copy. It offers you the following four benefits:

Price: $5.95
Counseled by God Life Enrichment And Review Notebook

LEARN Counseled by God

by Mark and Patti Virkler | 52 Pages

This 52-page Life Enrichment And Review Notebook is designed to go along with the CD/ DVD series. You will learn the precise steps to take by exploring biblical examples of people meeting God and being healed. You will be guided in taking these steps yourself, and as you do, you will find healing and release of the key emotional struggles we all face. Healing from accusation, fear, inferiority, anger, guilt and depression, all can be found by hearing God speak to you!

Price: $6.95
LEARN Prayers That Heal the Heart

LEARN Prayers That Heal the Heart - Revised & Expanded 20th Anniversary Edition

by Mark and Patti Virkler | 30 Pages

This 30-page Life Enrichment And Review Notebook is designed to go along with the CD/ DVD series and/or PowerPoint presentation. If receiving training in a group, we highly recommend that EVERY member of the group have their own copy. 

We also have a limited stock remaining of the previous version. So if you want to run a class still using your old set of DVDs, please call our office at 716-681-4896 to order those at 75% off while supplies last.

Price: $5.95
4 Keys to Hearing God's Voice Cards

4 Keys to Hearing God's Voice Cards (100-pack)

Request up to 25 of the 4 keys cards FREE with every order you place! (Excluding download-only orders.) Just specify how many you would like when checking out in the shopping cart. Spread the good news that God is still speaking and it is easy to hear His voice! Enhance someone's life!

To receive up to 25 free, do not add to your cart! Just choose a quantity of your "Free Gift" at checkout. To purchase more than 25, add to cart here.

Price: $5.00

A Stroll Along the Sea of Galilee Gift Card - 25 Pack

The #1 Tool in the World for Introducing People to Hearing God's Voice!

Why not use this powerful tool to help bring revival and restoration to your nation by distributing this FREE offer! It is an ideal gift to slip in with cards for special days such as birthdays, Christmas, Father’s Day, Mother’s Day, Valentine’s Day and Easter. It is perfect for conference attendees, newborn Christians, or anyone you want to share in the gift of greater intimacy with the Lord.

Pages