THE CHURCH IN YOUR HOUSE
Must Christians have a church building to worship God?
When we hear the word church, what comes to mind?
A building? A steeple? Pews? A pulpit? A sign out front?
Those things may be useful. But none of them is the church.
The church is people.
That simple fact may be much more important than we realize.
God Does Not Live in Church Buildings
Stephen said:
“The Most High does not dwell in temples made with hands.”
— Acts 7:48
Paul said the same thing in Athens:
“God, who made the world and everything in it... does not dwell in temples made with hands.”
— Acts 17:24
Where, then, is God's temple today?
Paul told Christians:
“Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?”
— 1 Corinthians 3:16
Peter called Christians “living stones” being built into a “spiritual house” (1 Peter 2:5).
Under the old covenant, God placed His name at the temple in Jerusalem. But even Solomon knew that no building could contain God (1 Kings 8:27).
Under the new covenant, God's dwelling place is His people.
We may call a building a church, chapel, sanctuary, or cathedral.
It is still a building.
A church building should be an AID, not an ADDITION.
It can aid Christians by giving them a convenient place to meet. But God never added a church building to the requirements of Christian worship.
The Church Met in Houses
This isn't a new idea.
Listen to Paul:
“Greet the church that is in their house.”
— Romans 16:5
Again:
“Aquila and Priscilla greet you heartily in the Lord, with the church that is in their house.”
— 1 Corinthians 16:19
Paul also mentions “the church that is in her house” in Colossians 4:15 and “the church in your house” in Philemon 2.
Paul didn't call these gatherings something less than church because they met in houses.
He called them churches.
But How Many People Does It Take?
The New Testament doesn't say.
We sometimes quote Jesus' statement about “two or three” gathering in His name (Matthew 18:20). But in context Jesus is discussing discipline and agreement. We don't need to turn that passage into a rule about the minimum size of a church.
There is no such rule.
Suppose a Christian husband and wife move somewhere where there is no congregation.
Sunday comes.
Must they say:
“There aren't enough of us, so we cannot worship”?
Where does Scripture say that?
They pray. They sing. They study God's Word. They remember Christ around His table. They teach their children.
Later another Christian joins them.
Then another family.
Eventually twenty people are squeezing into the living room, so they rent a schoolroom.
When did they become the church?
Was it when the second family arrived?
When they reached ten members?
When they rented the school?
The New Testament gives us no such dividing line.
They were God's people before they ever rented a building.
What Can Christians Do in a Living Room?
Look at Acts 2:42:
“They continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.”
Can Christians study the apostles' teaching at home?
Certainly.
Can they pray?
Of course.
Can they sing?
Yes.
Can they encourage one another?
Yes.
Can they teach their children?
Certainly.
What about the Lord's Supper?
The Lord's Supper Did Not Begin in a Church Building
Jesus instituted the Lord's Supper during His final Passover meal with His disciples (Matthew 26:17–29; Luke 22:7–20).
They were not in a temple.
They were not in a church building.
There was no Christian priest standing behind an altar.
Jesus took bread and said:
“This is My body.”
He took the cup and spoke of His blood of the covenant.
Paul later summarized it simply:
“For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death till He comes.”
— 1 Corinthians 11:26
Bread.
The cup.
Remember Christ.
Remember His body and blood.
Proclaim His death.
Look forward to His coming.
We should be careful not to make the Lord's Supper more complicated than Jesus and the apostles made it.
Christians themselves are called a “royal priesthood” (1 Peter 2:9). The New Testament never says that an ordained clergyman must administer the Lord's Supper.
So what prevents a Christian family from remembering Christ around His table in its own home?
Where does the New Testament say they cannot?
What About Giving?
Paul told the Corinthians:
“On the first day of the week let each one of you lay something aside, storing up as he may prosper...”
— 1 Corinthians 16:2
A family can do that too.
Perhaps the amount is small.
Save it.
Week after week it can accumulate.
Then someone needs food.
A Christian family needs help.
Someone needs medicine or clothing.
A preacher needs support.
An opportunity arises to spread the gospel.
The money is available.
Paul wrote:
“As we have opportunity, let us do good to all...”
— Galatians 6:10
A congregation doesn't have to spend its money simply because it has money.
And Christians don't have to spend large amounts purchasing land, constructing impressive buildings, furnishing them, and maintaining them before they can serve God.
Buildings can be useful.
But remember:
A BUILDING IS AN AID, NOT AN ADDITION.
People matter more than buildings.
“But Aren't We Supposed to Meet Together?”
Absolutely.
Hebrews says:
“Let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together...”
— Hebrews 10:24–25
This study is not an argument for Christians to isolate themselves.
If Christians can safely and reasonably meet together physically, they should.
There is something special about sitting together, talking face-to-face, sharing meals, singing together, helping one another, and simply being present.
Physical fellowship should be preferred when it is possible.
But what happens when it isn't?
Sometimes Meeting Publicly Is Difficult
There are places in the world where openly attending Christian worship can bring severe family pressure, community opposition, or even danger.
There are other situations where Christians live many miles from the nearest congregation.
In some countries, establishing a public place of worship can be difficult while families are nevertheless allowed to practice their religion privately in their own homes. Laws differ from country to country, and Christians should understand the laws where they live.
But government permission isn't what makes home worship acceptable to God.
Scripture must answer that question.
And Scripture shows us churches meeting in homes.
Technology Has Changed What Distance Means
The first Christians didn't have telephones.
They didn't have radio.
They didn't have computers.
They didn't have the internet.
We do.
Today two Christians can be thousands of miles apart and see one another while they talk.
They can pray together.
They can study Scripture together.
They can encourage one another.
A Bible teacher can teach Christians scattered among many different homes.
Several Christian families can meet in their own living rooms while remaining connected with other Christians.
Does this mean Zoom is better than being physically together?
No.
When Christians can safely meet physically, that should be preferred.
But when they cannot, why should they do nothing?
The internet should not replace Christian fellowship. It can help preserve Christian fellowship when circumstances keep Christians apart.
Technology isn't the church.
Technology can connect the church.
Imagine One Person Hearing the Gospel
Perhaps someone lives where openly entering a Christian building would cause serious trouble.
But there is a radio.
Or a telephone.
Or the internet.
That person begins hearing the gospel.
Questions are asked.
Scripture is studied.
Faith grows.
Eventually that person believes and wants to obey Christ.
Does that person need a church building to be baptized?
Philip baptized the Ethiopian when they came upon water during a journey (Acts 8:36–39).
Baptism requires water—not a church baptistry.
After baptism, our new Christian may still be unable to attend a public Christian gathering safely.
Should that person simply do nothing every Sunday?
Why?
Pray.
Read Scripture.
Sing.
Remember Christ.
Set something aside to help others.
Stay in contact with other Christians by whatever safe means are available.
Learn.
Grow.
Teach the family.
And when safe opportunities for personal fellowship with other Christians become available, use them.
One Person May Become a Household
Perhaps a spouse begins listening.
Then a child becomes interested.
Perhaps another relative begins asking questions.
Eventually there may be several Christians in that house.
Another household may someday begin doing the same thing.
This shouldn't be surprising.
Acts repeatedly shows the gospel entering households.
Cornelius gathered his relatives and close friends to hear Peter (Acts 10).
Lydia and her household were baptized (Acts 16:15).
The Philippian jailer heard the word with those in his house, and baptism followed (Acts 16:31–34).
Crispus believed in the Lord “with all his household” (Acts 18:8).
The gospel can move:
Person → family → household → other households.
No cathedral required.
Don't Confuse the Building With the Church
A beautiful building may be helpful.
Use it.
A rented schoolroom may be helpful.
Use it.
A family's living room may be helpful.
Use it.
The location doesn't make God's people the church.
God does not live in our buildings.
He lives in His people.
So perhaps we need to change the way we ask the question.
Instead of asking:
“Where is the church building?”
Perhaps we should ask:
“Where are the Christians?”
Because wherever God's people are, they can begin serving Him right there.
TEXT B4 TRADITION
Read First. Conclude Later.
Before making a church building necessary, find where the New Testament makes it necessary.