Every Home a Church

by Mike Chong Perkinson

There is massive shift in our ecclesiological world today. New ideas, models and implementation strategies are being birthed in the hope of reaching the world for our King. I applaud such efforts. Also motivating our ecclesiological landscape is the apparent frustration of pastors and leaders and often fruitless ministry (at least when it comes to making disciples that follow Christ) as well as, the ever changing cultural climate.

All of this is leading many followers of Christ back to some basic and powerful practices like searching the Scriptures, praying, talking and confessing with other believers and partnering (koinonia) with other believers to see the Kingdom of God extended in our land. Good things always happen when the saints seek God, search the Scriptures, and pray.

One of the major and more unnoticed thrusts in our ecclesiological world is the quiet exodus of many followers of Christ from the traditional Sunday gathering to the house church format. One might call this our modern day monastic movement.

I whole heartedly agree with the house church movement. We all need to become a house church movement. Before you write me off here, read the rest of the article.

The church I pastor is in the midst of a capital stewardship campaign. That’s right - helping our people become better stewards of God’s Kingdom resources and asking them to pray for God’s mind on what they should give to our campaign to help us complete Phase 2 of our building project. But wait, you said you were a house church guy?

During our corporate worship service last November, I stated some bold and shocking words to our congregation in the midst of a passionate vision cast. I emphatically declared, “I am not asking you to commit to the church. Rather, I am asking you to be the church. As a matter of fact, I am hoping that we start a house church movement. That’s right, a movement where every home is a church. And for us to have every home become a church, our leadership is committed to equip you to become the priest and priestess of your home (I Peter 2:9; Revelation 1:5-6).”

My long time friend and mentor, Don Smith, married my wife and I a long time ago in a land far away. One of the things Don said at the conclusion of our ceremony was, “Mike is now the pastor of worlds smallest church of 2.” Those words burned into my soul as I realized that I am a priest of my home and my wife as well. Our home needed to become a sanctuary, a church, where we lived out Jesus day to day.

Every home needs to become a church, where moms and dads first live out the irreducible core (loving God, loving others and make disciples), being examples and models of Christ as we raise up our children in the ways of our God.

This means that every pastor and leader needs to equip the saints to become the priests of their homes and live Christ in the everyday world. I am suspicious that maybe more of our ecclesiological energy should be spent on equipping the saints to do this.

And so, I challenge you to not simply join a church or ask your people to join your church. Mind you, there is nothing wrong with this. Relationship involves a covenant as is most wonderfully modeled in the New Covenant written in blood. What I am strongly asserting is that we become the church and start with our homes.

May every home become a church, every child discipled first by mom and dad, every pastor and leader a disciple maker and every church a disciple making church.

Father God, release your Kingdom and your power for your glory and for your purpose as every home becomes a church!