House Groups @ DBC
In the New Testament the descriptions of church life are very appealing. There is no mistaking that fact that these early groups of Christians were very dynamic, close, and exciting. For example:
And everyone was filled with awe...and all the believers were together and had everything in common...they broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favour of the people. And the Lord was adding daily to their number those who were being saved. (Acts 2:43-47)
Our church is seeking to be more than a series of meetings. We desire to build community together so that we might reach out to our town. We want to develop a church where people really love and care for each other and can learn and grow together in their faith. This means so much more than having a cup of tea every so often or saying "hello" at a meeting once a week. We believe – and scriptures like Acts 2:43-47 seem to suggest – that the only way that we can really have this kind of fellowship with people is by meeting together regularly in small groups.
The fact is that it is very hard to know more than about a dozen people well. Sociologists recognise that around twelve is a very significant number when it comes to people - and Jesus seemed to agree! Our House Groups do not all have exactly twelve people in them but when they begin to reach this number it is time to consider whether we need to start another group. The reason for this is that this number of people can look after each other and care for each other and know each other far better than a larger group of people where it can be difficult to be much more than superficial in our relationships.
The purpose of House Groups
One of the purposes of small groups is to mutually encourage and assist one another to press on in the Christian life. We are seeking to be disciples – followers of Jesus – together. To that end, we seek to gather together regular to mutually spur each other on towards love and good works (Heb. 10:23-25).
The meetings are a place where it is safe to try to be open without fear of making a fool of yourself. It is also a place where it is safe to learn how to prophecy, give words of knowledge and minister in the power of the Spirit, without making a fool of yourself.
What happens in a House Group meeting?
Worship. Prayer. Discussion. Tears. Laughter. Bible-Study. Communion. Encouragement. Accountability. Learning. Games. Growth.
It would be misleading to describe a typical house group meeting, because they do not follow a particular pattern – and week differs to week. However, it might help paint a broad picture if we describe some of the passages of scripture that are central to our understanding of would should happen when house groups come together:
Acts 2:42-47
They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to everyone as they had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favour of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.
1 Cor. 14:26
What then shall we say, brothers and sisters? When you come together, everyone has a hymn, or a word of instruction, a revelation, a tongue or an interpretation. All of these must be done for the strengthening of the church.
Col. 3:16
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.
Heb. 3:12-14
See to it, brothers and sisters, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness. We have come to share in Christ if we hold firmly till the end the confidence we had at first.
Heb. 10:23-25
Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage each other – and all the more as you see the day approaching.