Four years ago we made a journey that will change us forever. We made a shift from traditional church and traditional church ministry to home church.
After talking with lots of other people there are a few paths to this…let’s explore them.
Leader 1 – The bitter and divisive person
This person leaves and tries to take as many people with them as possible. They are angry with church. Angry with the leadership. Usually spiritually immature and selfish. They aren’t in any position to lead anyone anywhere.
This person will gather to themselves other bitter and divisive people and they will try really hard to do things different in rejection of all the things they despise about the traditional church and in the end will create something worse than what they left.
Leader 2 – The called and joyful
These people may have found some dissatisfaction in the traditional church model that got them searching the scriptures. They aren’t bitter…they have joy in what they find in the scriptures. As they read Acts – they feel more and more alive and their longing for what they find in the New Testament only grows. They are following God’s lead and are often humble and teachable/correctable.
This person will gather to themselves other people looking for a healthy and biblical expression of church that runs through deep and committed relationships. They will start a home church that can last quite some time where there is mature leadership, mutuality and caring. There isn’t really much talk of what they left but more so a joyful anticipation of the future.
Leader 3 – The narcissist home church planter
This person thinks everyone should listen to them and is upset with their current church because no one will let them lead. So they will get out from under the authority of their elders and finally do all the things they wanted to do with church. Unlike Leader 2 they aren’t teachable or correctable – because they are never wrong.
Sometimes these people are so good at what they do they develop a certain charisma that on the surface level attracts a certain kind of person – usually the insecure because the narcissist likes the insecure people because it allows them to bully their way through things unquestioned. They will gather a crowd of “yes” people and most likely be abusive to the flock and that will work for a while (as they float on their charisma) but will eventually implode.
Leader 4 The Curious Adventurer
This leader has wanted something more and finally decides to make the leap. They may not quite as committed as the called and joyful because they are doing this out of a desire to know what could be more than they are out of a belief that it is a divine vocation.
Leader 5 The Visionary/Entrepreneur
There are some people who are built to build. They have that apostolic/sent drive to be the tip of the spear. They can see the vision and the end in their mind’s eye and it will bug them and bug them until they finally take action.
This is typically someone who will lead people toward the vision. They need to be in the Word to make sure their vision aligns with the scriptural vision of church to keep things going in the right direction.
BONUS – Leader 6: The Pastor who always has a flock
Some just have the pastoral gift and no matter where they go or what they do, they draw a crowd of people who are drawn to shepherding. When they start a church in their home they won’t have any trouble drawing a close group of people who are seeking direction, comfort and care.
They need to be careful to not get burned out and to bring people in who won’t just take but will also contribute. They will also need to draw people who have other gifts to bring balance to the congregation.
Final thoughts
We need to raise up healthy leaders. Healthy leaders usually beget healthy congregations and unhealthy leaders lead to unhealthy congregations. The leader helps set the culture.
If you are leading a home church or are thinking about it – please assess which of these three directions you are coming at it from. If you are #3 you probably won’t know it or be able to admit it. Ask a friend.
3 Responses
Hi Matt. I’m not sure which category I would fall into, but we started a home based fellowship about five years ago. Most of the folks here feel like the traditional church doesn’t offer the true fellowship that they’re seeking; open, participatory meetings that are unscripted. I, myself, am still connected with a local traditional congregation where I facilitate the adult SS class, then drive to a local nursing home where I facilitate a Sunday gathering and offer communion. Although I’m not on any congregation’s membership roll.
I 100% love what you are doing Bob! Keep up the great work. The least of these are so blessed by what you are doing. God bless you!
I have recently become very disillusioned. I was taking classes for Pastoral Credentials and very involved in my church. Some recent church hurt really made me evaluate the traditional church and I find myself wanting simple Acts 2 fellowship. I love my church I just think we can do better.