Logistics
Beacon has experience with the things that come with the territory of doing house church.
Below are just a few examples of areas we’ve addressed and found wisdom. If there are others you don’t see here, check our FAQ’s page or contact us to start a discussion.
Zoning and covenants
Zoning and neighborhood covenants are seldom an issue for house churches. Churches nevertheless should honor these protections whenever they organize and gather—being especially respectful about parking and noise. Imagine ear-splitting music coming from your neighbor’s house Sunday mornings, or guests blocking your drive, mailbox or trash pickup.
Caring for children
There are no tried-and-true processes for child care in house churches. Each house church needs to discern and determine its own policies to ensure the greatest possible nurturing and protection of children. Trust, wisdom, and communication are key.
Factors to consider include child/adult ratios, childrens’ age ranges, and levels of child involvement during the gathering. Beacon encourages children to participate in the gathering as much as possible. There is no better place for our children to discover who they are than in the church. We encourage church gatherings to invite children into the practice of being the church and functioning as the church as soon as they are able to observe and participate.
Music
Fluid needs, desires, and giftings open plenty of room for creativity during gatherings. Some churches worship with music via YouTube on a TV. Others worship with music via Spotify using a BlueTooth speaker and printed lyrics. Still others have taken a break from worship via music because it became an idol for them, and they found the need to explore and emphasize other forms of corporate worship for a season.
Teaching
Teaching will almost always be present when the church gathers, but it isn’t the singular purpose or pinnacle of each gathering.
Of the many gifts given by the Spirit to edify and build up the church, teaching is simply one of the gifts. Few can teach from a stage to hundreds using compelling stories or 35-minute sermons, but many can teach in conversations and dynamic discussions, or in shorter teaching sessions.
Financial giving
Some house churches teach and practice tithing. Others follow 1 Cor. 16, setting aside a portion each week to give when the opportunity presents. In all cases, everyone in the church is initially involved in deciding how resources will be used. Have the conversation.
Beacon recommends giving to meet specific needs rather than taking up a collection and deciding later how to spend the funds. When the practice of giving is restored to the church, participants abound in generosity.
It’s worth stating that as the church grows in devotion (Acts 2:42), giving will be replaced with sharing and the church may determine to delegate the collection and distribution of funds to a few trusted and faithful deacons within the church like the New Testament church.