I ran across this intriguing book yesterday in the bookstore of a South Carolina megachurch: Church Planting Movements - How God Is Redeeming A Lost World. In it the author suggests the following 10 elements that his research uncovered in every church planting movement he studied here and abroad. The book suggests that "house churches" are an integral part of these movements.
Ten Universal Elements of Every Church Planting Movement
1. Extraordinary Prayer
2. Abundant Evangelism
3. Intentional Planting of Reproducing Churches
4. The Authority of God's Word
5. Local Leadership
6. Lay Leadership
7. House Churches
8. Churches Planting Churches
9. Rapid Reproduction
10. Healthy Churches
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
3 comments:
Jimmy,
Very interesting. There is a great deal of autonomy implicit in many of these characteristics: local leadership, lay leadership, churches planting churches, etc. I think such autonomy -- with necessary accountability structures built in -- is absolutely essential. I am reminded of the church in Antioch as I read this list: I think Paul and Barnabas would agree with it.
Peace of Christ,
John
Yes, John, you're right. Perhaps you've coined a phrase that helps describe the kind of connectivity that house church communties should have with one another: "accountable autonomy". This does seem to be what was happening with the early church(es).
Jimmy,
I hope others weigh in on this idea of "accountable autonomy." Is this, in part, what we are interested in having among ourselves? What would it look like? For what would we be accountable to one another? Perhaps Jim's and Marla's emphasis on covenant is also implicit in all this. As leaders of autonomous churches/faith communities we covenant to be accountable to the larger body for the leadership we exercise. There's a lot to explore here, and again Acts comes to mind. Paul established autonomous churches and yet considered himself in some sense accountable to the elders in Jerusalem. Thanks for spurring this train of thought.
Peace of Christ,
John
Post a Comment