Christians basically have gathered together because they want to be in the presence of Jesus. Jesus told his followers where two or three are gathered in my name there I am in the midst of them. (Mathew 18:20) Jesus said that size does not matter. Men always think that big is better. Better to have a big house, better to have a big income and better to have a big important job. Yet Jesus said it only takes a couple of believers coming together for him to show up. In fact he may have been hinting that small is better.
How could small be better? It has to do with quality of relationships. Which is better to have many acquaintances or have a few really good friends? If you want a lot of superficial relationships where you barely know anyone then a church of thousands may work for you. However, if you really want to know people and really want to be known by others then small is definitely better.
House churches by physical necessity have to be small with most not becoming more than 20 to 30 people. The smallness of the group allows for the members to become the body of Christ. Christians become Jesus in the flesh to one another.
That is why the Bible has over 58 references to “one another” each other. (See appendix 1 for the complete list of 58 one anothers.) Christians are to love one another, accept one another, encourage one another, weep with one another, rejoice with one another and forgive one another as Christ has forgiven us. Christians are to be Jesus to one another. Early Christians believed that they had become family to one another and they worked hard to create that for every believer.
Small house churches have the opportunity to balance two important spiritual dynamics. Christians are to worship Jesus and experience his presence. Secondly, Christians are to have fellowship with one another and be the body of Christ. Traditional churches get the first task done really well. However they fail to help many members become Jesus to one another. Jesus said that “By this all men know that you are my disciplines if you have love for one another.” (John 13:35) Sadly many people can attend a traditional church for years and not really know they are loved by Jesus and by their fellow believers. Most traditional churches just don’t provide the time or the opportunities for people to get to know one another in a deep and meaningful way. Sunday School classes and cell groups were created to address this need.
However the two tasks are still separated into different activities and fellowship is made secondary to the need to worship. House churches that are healthy help believers enter into the presence of Jesus through worship and through fellowship. House churches fuse worship and fellowship together. Mature Christians realize they need other believers and need to be close to other believers to fully experience the presence of Jesus. The early church had a word for this. They called it “Koinonia”.
How does a house church develop “Koinonia”? The house church unleashes the power of the laity ministering to one another. House churches encourage everyone to participate in the whole gamut of activities. Believers share with one another, pray for one another, discuss scriptures together, encourage one another, sing songs together, listen to one another, help one another, and eat together. The focus becomes sharing life together and developing relationships with one another and with Jesus. House churches focus on developing people and not programs. House churches develop relationships and don’t focus on rituals or rules. It is the development of loving relationships that helps people grow into the fullness of Christ.