How do you organise a house church?

mars 16, 2024mars 3, 2024 par Guestspeaker, publié dans ??? Questions asked, Behaviour or attitude towards others, Questions & Answers

In “How to Start a House Church?” we have investigated how we can best proceed to start a house church.

We must realize that to honour God we do not need to have a specific building, but we can freely gather in private homes or even in public places to bring glory to God.

Organising a house church can be a fulfilling and rewarding experience.

If we want to start a house church, we must first find like-minded people who want to take that step. If we have started looking for a group of like-minded individuals who are interested in starting a house church, we can arrange with those friends, family members, acquaintances, coworkers, or neighbours to meet at someone’s home at regular intervals. That doesn’t even have to be every week. There is also no obligation at all to hold those meetings on a Sunday. Any day of the week is just as good.

It is important when starting up the house church or ecclesia that clear boundaries are defined of what the beliefs are and where they want to go. What is acceptable in the community and what is not considered appropriate, such as the worship of multiple gods or so-called saints.

It is also wise to determine what purpose and vision one wants to consider for the house church.

What are your goals, values and beliefs?

What kind of community do you want to create?

To properly manage the organisation of the house church, it is recommended that you choose a leader or leadership team to help guide the group. This person or team will be responsible for planning and leading meetings, organising events, and ensuring that the house church runs smoothly.

Once one has planned to establish a house church, it is important to determine the format and structure of the meetings.

Do you have a worship service, a Bible study, a prayer meeting or a combination of these?

How often do you meet, and where? Do you have a snack or a meal together?

In order for house church meetings to run smoothly, it is advisable to draw up a schedule for meetings and events. For example, it may be advisable to determine in advance a fixed day and time to meet, as well as to indicate any special meetings or activities you want to plan. For example, a good arrangement could be to meet on the first and third Saturday of the month, so that everyone knows clearly when they can drop by or invite friends to come to those meetings as well.

It is also best to develop a system for communication and coordination. This may include setting up a group chat or email list, creating a social media page, or using a platform like Google Calendar to share updates and information. For example, we have provided the ecclesia website and a WhatsApp group for the ecclesia in Anderlecht, and further reporting can be done via e-mail.

Once the house church has been formed and is starting to take shape, it can also be interesting to consider inviting guest speakers or musicians to enhance the meetings. This can help create a new perspective and a sense of excitement and diversity within the group.

In the religious community, an effort must be made to form a lively family spirit. By the way, one is a « brother » or « sister » in Christ to one another. Everyone in the group must be encouraged to contribute to the group.

Encourage active participation from all members. This may include sharing personal testimonies, leading prayers, facilitating discussions, or organizing service projects in the community.

Create a sense of community and responsibility within the group. Encourage members to support and care for each other, ask for help when needed, and hold each other accountable in their faith journey.

Stay open to feedback and suggestions from members. As your house church grows and evolves, be willing to adapt and change to better meet the needs of your community.

Overall, the key to organising a successful house church is creating a welcoming and inclusive environment in which members can grow in their faith, build meaningful relationships, and serve others in love.

Find also to read:

Additional reading

Een pelgrimstocht niet bepaald zonder hindernissen of obstakels #1 Aanvatten van een belangrijke reis

février 6, 2024février 3, 2024 par Marcus Ampe, publié dans Gedachte voor vandaag

Een pelgrimstocht niet bepaald zonder hindernissen of obstakels

Aanvatten van een belangrijke reis

Wanneer je van plan bent om op trektocht of op een pelgrimstocht te gaan hoort er een voorbereiding bij.

Het is belangrijk om je fysiek en psychisch voor te bereiden op je pelgrimstocht. Het is niet dat je voor zulk een tocht intensief moet getraind hebben. Maar het is wel zo dat je hiervoor wel al enkele malen kleine en wat grotere wandelingen hebt gedaan. Het is een hulp als je op voorhand meerdere wandeltochten hebt gedaan, waarbij je even je verstand op nul kon zetten. Want het zal er op aan komen je gedachten te kunnen wegtrekken van de beslommeringen van deze wereld.

Zorg er dus voor dat je al wat afstanden hebt gelopen. De afstand die je elke dag zal gaan lopen, ben je best al eens fysisch doorgelopen te hebben.

Indien je aan een trektocht beging komt het er op aan dat je goed voorbereid start en het nodige materiaal mee neemt. Hiervoor heb vast en zeker al goed schoeisel nodig. Niet enkel trekschoenen om door het mulle zand te stappen, maar ook alle terrein schoenen en degelijke bergschoenen of enkellaarzen (bottinnen).

Het is zeer belangrijk om ervoor te zorgen dat je over het juiste schoeisel, uitrusting voor nat weer, passende kleding mee neemt. Je moet er van bewust zijn dat het niet altijd vlak terrein zal zijn. Op je tocht zal je heel wat obstakels, puntige en rotsachtige wegen tegen komen. Regelmatig zal je voor hindernissen komen te staan die je moet overwinnen.

Eventuele medicijnen die je gebruikt, kan je ook best ter beschikking mee nemen. Men moet beseffen als men op weg gaat om God beter te leren kennen, dat de tegenstander van God (Satan) om de hoek loert. Regelmatig zal het kwaad je trachten te beproeven. Al is het met ziektes en andere ongemakken.
Meermaals zal je in verleiding gebracht worden om een einde te maken aan de trektocht, die in het begin wel makkelijk te doen lijkt, maar moeilijker wordt naargelang men dichter bij het doel zal komen en uiteindelijk niet zo makkelijk zal zijn, of niet zo evident zal zijn om goed te beëindigen. – Velen zijn er al aan begonnen, maar weinigen hebben kunnen volhouden tot het einde, en hebben zo hun goal niet bereikt.

Vervolg: Geen goedkope of gemakkelijke vlucht

Voorgaande

Aansluitende lectuur

A pilgrimage not exactly without obstacles or obstacles #1 Embarking on an important journey

février 6, 2024février 3, 2024 par Marcus Ampe, publié dans Thought for today

A pilgrimage not exactly without hurdles or obstacles

Embarking on an important journey

When you are planning to go on a hike or on a pilgrimage, there is a preparation that is part of it.

It is important to prepare yourself physically and psychologically for your pilgrimage. It’s not that you have to have trained intensively for such a trip. But it is true that you have already done small and somewhat larger walks a few times before. It is a help if you have done several hikes in advance, where you could put your mind to zero for a while. For it will be a matter of being able to draw your thoughts away from the worries of this world.

So make sure you’ve already walked some distances. The distance you will walk every day, you should have already walked physically.

If you are going on a hike, it is important that you start well prepared and take the necessary equipment with you. I’m sure you’ll need good footwear for this. Not only trekking shoes to walk through the loose sand, but also all-terrain shoes and decent mountain boots or ankle boots.

It is very important to make sure that you have the right footwear, wet weather equipment, and appropriate clothing. You have to be aware that it will not always be flat terrain. On your journey you will encounter a lot of obstacles, pointed and rocky roads. You will regularly face obstacles that you have to overcome.

It is also best to take any medication you use with you. One must realize that when one sets out to get to know God better, the adversary of God (Satan) is lurking around the corner. Regularly evil will try to try you. Even if it is with illnesses and other inconveniences.
Several times you will be tempted to put an end to the trek, which seems easy to do in the beginning, but becomes more difficult as you get closer to the goal and in the end it will not be so easy, or will not be so easy to end well. – Many have already started it, But few were able to hold on until the end, and thus did not reach their goal.

Next: Not a cheap or easy flight

Preceding

Additional reading

A new ecclesia = a new beginning

janvier 23, 2024janvier 21, 2024 par Marcus Ampe, publié dans Announcement, Behaviour or attitude towards others, Christadelphian, Jesus Christ - son of God, Thought for today

It is great that we have found a family in Anderlecht who wants to open their house to holding meetings.

Following the example of the early Christians, we can now come together in communion under the care of Christ to serve the God of Abraham and the God of Christ.

In Anderlecht, the seed may now be planted to grow a community of faith. Some people have decided to reach out to each other to strengthen each other in faith. Together they want to set out to start a fascinating pilgrimage.

With many questions and expectations, the first pebbles have been thrown on the path, so that without too many sliders we could go together to a fixed road that gives security and life. Together we want to move towards that light that shines in the distance and from where the call rings.

Each on his own can hear the voice of God and know that the decision taken is good. Those who go out together to face the great adventure will not be ashamed or shy that they were willing to take this journey together.

The great adventure started at the beginning of this year. On this website you (reader) will be able to follow the account of our wanderings, hopes and expectations. We are aware that not everything will always go as we wish. The fellow travellers will also have to contend with the reality of this life, births, school results, job offers but also loss of work, healthy trips, but also sad things like illness and even death. But anyone who goes out is willing to carry the burdens of the other person and support them, so that everyone can achieve the end goal.

Those who come together in Anderlecht believe that they belong together and want to go for the same goal, form a community worthy to continue as a community of followers of Christ Jesus, the sent of God, whom they view as their promised Messiah or Saviour.

With suit and pocket, loaded with good intentions, hope and a range of Bibles in multiple languages, they will take the Bible as their primary Guide on the path they are not afraid of and the people who will try to discourage them will not succeed in their purpose. All who plan to go on a trek will put on a firm step of shoes and set off completely boldly.

Emerging for Christ, they will not fail to make their goals known to others. Along the way, they won’t stop talking about that Nazarene man whose footsteps they want to follow. It was a man of words and deeds who submitted completely to Heavenly Father, Jehovah, the Only True God. And that is also what the walkers want to do during this trip: straight ahead of the charity, even though we know that it will not always be an easy course and that the gate to that Kingdom, where we are heading, is narrow. The road that leads to a narrow gate that we will have to go through. Although, it is said that it is more difficult for a camel to pass through that gate than to put a thread through the eye of a needle.

But everyone has been found willing not to be discouraged and to speak to others along the way to go out with us.

So, if you wish to go out with us. Feel free to come along and discover with us the fascinating stories, details and beauties that will be found on the path.