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...What on earth is a house church?


...Isn’t that just a small group bible study?


...That sounds new.


...Does that mean I don’t have to go to church?


...What on earth is a house church???!!!


These are just a few of the things we hear as we talk about Christ Journey as a collection or network of house churches. In all honesty we’re still learning and experiencing what exactly that phrase means.


“House Church” is certainly not a term unique to Christ Journey, and it can carry different connotations depending on its context. For us a house church is a gathering of several families, usually between 3 and 7, that meet in one another’s homes to worship, pray, study, break bread (which means both sharing a meal and participating in the Lord’s Supper together), practice spiritual disciplines and respond to both the calling and sending of our God.


In short, house church is the basic expression of “church” in our community.


When a house church comes together, participants experience a time where our basic beliefs and values are taught and lived into. It is a gathering where worship happens. This is a gathering where pastoral ministry begins and where the good news of God’s Kingdom is proclaimed. This a gathering where we practice silence and engage in celebration. Our house churches serve one another and together serve others. Everything communicated as a value of the Christ Journey community finds expression in the house church first.


This is far from new to Christianity. Even in the New Testament we find churches gathering in people’s homes. The Apostle Paul sends greetings to several folks and the churches that meet in their homes. These house churches existed together and were apparently connected in various ways (some of which we are aware and some we can only guess).


And so we don’t “go to church.” The word “church” refers to the gathered people. We are the church and we seek to live church in the midst of our neighborhoods, work places, schools and hang out spots. If you live in Burleson, south Fort Worth, Crowley, Joshua, Cleburne, Alvarado or any of the surrounding communities we invite you to join us on this journey. If there isn’t a Christ Journey house church meeting near you, then perhaps we can partner together to begin one in your living room!


It doesn’t matter if your living room is located in a 4,000 sq ft suburban McMansion, a small duplex, an apartment on the 3rd floor or between two bunks in a dorm room. It doesn’t matter if you have fancy decorations or haven’t ever gotten around to getting “grown up” furniture. You don’t have to be a scholar, a successful entrepreneur or a ridiculously talented homemaker. What matters is that you want to see the hope and light and life of God break in to your community. What matters is that you want to know what it is like to participate in the in-breaking of God’s amazing Kingdom here and now. What matters is that you are willing to open your doors and invite in the hurting and the broken to journey with a community which believes God is at work setting things to rights and reclaiming his beloved creation.


Who wouldn’t want that?


Currently, Christ Journey has house churches gathering on Sunday nights, Tuesday nights, Wednesday nights, and Saturday afternoons. Although the opportunity to host the house church gathering is typically shared among the participants, for the most part, our house churches come together in the following cities: Burleson, Crowley, and Alvarado.


If you would like to join a Christ Journey house church this week, contact Bret @ 817.889.2742.