Churches aren't churches anymore. Our idea of church in the 70's, or 80's, 90's - none of them compare to the way churches operate in the 2K's. Church as it was when I was 5 still exists, just not nearly as many places. There are churches where they have a weekly attendance that rivals any NFL team. Even churches that size want to still be individually friendly but, there is no way you and that megachurch pastor will spend time one-to-one very often if ever, and let's be honest, if the church is balanced their goal isn't to connect anyone to the preacher, it is for them to connect their individual hearts to God, and their individual lives to other individual lives.
Jesus' Kingdom is people, not palaces. The best churches, no matter the size, understand this principle. So the question to any church is; how do you connect individual people to each other? Small Groups, House Churches, Home Study Groups, House to House, Discipleship Groups, give them any name you wish, but they have taken over much of that one-to-one job the corporate churches once offered. No matter the name or size (most are less than 30 people), the principle is the same - the idea is to get fewer people in one place and get them more directly involved in each other's worlds.
House Church Function
What could make this concept work for you? And if you are already doing it, what could make it much better? There are numerous types of programs, studies, lessons, journals, videos and the like for your teaching needs. We'll leave that one for another time, but in every size project there are some basic needs which have to be met. No matter what size church group you have, you will need a few basic church supplies items. Probably the most common and expected item all churches have are communion sets. While we mainly think of them for the larger church body, they are becoming more popular all the time in many house church groups.
Now, you'll find tons of various kinds of sets which I'll explain to you in more detail. Let's start with the easy part; we all want to take part in communion as Jesus took communion with His disciples right before the Crucifixion. Also numerous denominations believe in and use anointing oil to pray for each other as the Scripture calls us to do. I'm trying not to go into teaching mode, because then we will never get done here under 10,000 words! We can do that one another time, this one is going to be strictly the peripheral details and functions of running an effective house church.
Church Needs 101
Is it ok for Home Churches to have communion? Yes. There is no Scriptural for or against, just go with yes. The technical points are as follows: most commonly used communion sets include trays which hold all the cups and a separate tray for the bread. These are very classy and have been used for years, and provide the easiest way to take communion. Another option for home groups which is becoming more and more popular is the wafer and juice communion cups. This one is particularly unique, due to the fact it has the wafer and wine (actually grape juice) together in one peel-top little cup. They resemble those little creamers you get with your coffee at a restaurant. The small wafer is right on top of the juice; you just peel back one seal to access the bread wafer, and then a second seal opens the pre-measured juice section. They are easy to use and extremely simple to store. Most offer a shelf life of 6 months.
Church Supplies for Healing
Once you have assimilated your small group communion, and would like to try another element of a New Testament house church, consider praying for people, and anointing them with oil. Some groups get cautious here, because yet again, religion sometimes trumps Biblical reality. There is no reason you must use some special anointing oil, it doesn't do any actual healing, it is a symbolic gesture of several things: first the Bible portrays the Holy Spirit to the anointing oil of Scripture, and second because it is a tangible reminder to the person for whom you are praying. Praying for each other and taking up each other's burdens is one of our callings to be like Christ. Did you also know the Bible says to anoint yourselves with oil whenever you pray for healing? Not a bad idea to just keep your own little bottle handy.
It is important that you pray for one another in your home groups, and I highly recommend keeping several containers of frankincense anointing oil, or one of many other scented oils on hand at all times. It is one of my favorite church supplies. Your church group will really feel more unified when praying for one another as God commanded. When we act on God's Word, we can expect miracles to take place in His name!
Jesus' Kingdom is people, not palaces. The best churches, no matter the size, understand this principle. So the question to any church is; how do you connect individual people to each other? Small Groups, House Churches, Home Study Groups, House to House, Discipleship Groups, give them any name you wish, but they have taken over much of that one-to-one job the corporate churches once offered. No matter the name or size (most are less than 30 people), the principle is the same - the idea is to get fewer people in one place and get them more directly involved in each other's worlds.
House Church Function
What could make this concept work for you? And if you are already doing it, what could make it much better? There are numerous types of programs, studies, lessons, journals, videos and the like for your teaching needs. We'll leave that one for another time, but in every size project there are some basic needs which have to be met. No matter what size church group you have, you will need a few basic church supplies items. Probably the most common and expected item all churches have are communion sets. While we mainly think of them for the larger church body, they are becoming more popular all the time in many house church groups.
Now, you'll find tons of various kinds of sets which I'll explain to you in more detail. Let's start with the easy part; we all want to take part in communion as Jesus took communion with His disciples right before the Crucifixion. Also numerous denominations believe in and use anointing oil to pray for each other as the Scripture calls us to do. I'm trying not to go into teaching mode, because then we will never get done here under 10,000 words! We can do that one another time, this one is going to be strictly the peripheral details and functions of running an effective house church.
Church Needs 101
Is it ok for Home Churches to have communion? Yes. There is no Scriptural for or against, just go with yes. The technical points are as follows: most commonly used communion sets include trays which hold all the cups and a separate tray for the bread. These are very classy and have been used for years, and provide the easiest way to take communion. Another option for home groups which is becoming more and more popular is the wafer and juice communion cups. This one is particularly unique, due to the fact it has the wafer and wine (actually grape juice) together in one peel-top little cup. They resemble those little creamers you get with your coffee at a restaurant. The small wafer is right on top of the juice; you just peel back one seal to access the bread wafer, and then a second seal opens the pre-measured juice section. They are easy to use and extremely simple to store. Most offer a shelf life of 6 months.
Church Supplies for Healing
Once you have assimilated your small group communion, and would like to try another element of a New Testament house church, consider praying for people, and anointing them with oil. Some groups get cautious here, because yet again, religion sometimes trumps Biblical reality. There is no reason you must use some special anointing oil, it doesn't do any actual healing, it is a symbolic gesture of several things: first the Bible portrays the Holy Spirit to the anointing oil of Scripture, and second because it is a tangible reminder to the person for whom you are praying. Praying for each other and taking up each other's burdens is one of our callings to be like Christ. Did you also know the Bible says to anoint yourselves with oil whenever you pray for healing? Not a bad idea to just keep your own little bottle handy.
It is important that you pray for one another in your home groups, and I highly recommend keeping several containers of frankincense anointing oil, or one of many other scented oils on hand at all times. It is one of my favorite church supplies. Your church group will really feel more unified when praying for one another as God commanded. When we act on God's Word, we can expect miracles to take place in His name!
About the Author:
You'll find everything you need for your home Bible study groups, and corporate worship, at savings of 30-60% when you buy from select online Christian bookstores. You will reach more people and grow the church 'door to door and house to house' just like the book of Acts says. That's my opinion, and I'm usually right. Be Blessed.