Participatory gatherings: wonderful, biblical, necessary. Do we really know how to do them?
One of my greatest joys in house church is the participatory nature of the gatherings.
For historical and biblical background on participatory gatherings I refer you to an excellent article by Brian Anderson.
My own transition to participatory church came after many years as a pulpit pastor. I echo the words of Scott William who said:
It seems easy on Saturday night to prepare three points on how to fix your marriage or how to quit sinning. On Sunday I have delivered the message, felt good about it, been complimented for it… but did it really change anything? Really?…
Oh, how I know the frustration he is talking about: trying hard to come up with something that will “feed” others and impact their lives. At the same time teaching them, by my actions, that they don’t need to wrestle with God’s word for themselves… just let me pre-package and deliver it.
How I love participatory church. I am continually moved and amazed to see others, new Christians, mature Christians, children, sharing from Scripture, leading out in worship, and being moved by the Holy Spirit to do so. It’s usually not “flashy” or dynamic in presentation, but Oh the Spirit of God is in it! We teach ourselves to listen very carefully to the Holy Spirit through the quietest person.
Yet, having said all that… Let’s be honest: participatory gatherings can be quite challenging.
The blogger at Radical Congruency talks about trying so hard to be participatory that all structure was thrown out. They were afraid of institutionalizing their spirituality with “five acts of worship” or something like it. The result was that they “institutionalized (made regular and predictable and essential) by default some peripheral things we find ourselves doing every week – reading the comics, eating, making plans, etc.”
In other words, by having no structure around spiritual things, they found themselves, by default, structuring non-spiritual things. (Thanks for sharing this, by the way).
On the other hand, in reaction to a lack of structure, it is so easy (even in a house church) for one person to take control and begin to “lead” the gatherings which, in itself, will tend to move things right on back toward traditional lines.
So… how do we structure so that there is spiritual participation, all utilize their gifts, the Holy Spirit is in control, and no one takes over?
It’s time to brainstorm!
I will share briefly what we are doing, what a couple of others are doing… But I’m hoping we can hear from some others… how, how, how are you doing it?
For ourselves, we have taken a chapter from 12-step meetings and use instructions that are read to guide the group into each section of the service. The gathering is still fluid and open to not following a set pattern, but there is a basic structure. For example, someone reads a “Welcome” statement which is simple enough. Someone else reads an “Announcements” statement that then opens things up for all kinds of discussions, business, birthdays, etc. Then, there is a “Worship” statement read that explains how participatory worship works. This opens our time for worship which is highly participatory, fluid, and open. Finally, there is a “Teaching” statement read that explains how participatory teaching works.
This sounds more rigid then it is… It’s just a framework. But the statements that are read provide some guidelines which invite full participation while providing some encouragement for “talkative” people to make room for the quieter ones.
It is working to some extent. If anyone would like to have more specific information on our actual readings, I can make them available.
Here is a description of the way someone else does it (Allelon):
In our community, we’ve been starting each meeting spending some time in silence together, waiting on the Lord for direction or just getting centered, getting in touch with the Spirit. Then there is a time in which anyone can bring their “offerings” for the common good-a thought the Lord has been working into their lives over the last week, a poem, painting, scripture, short teaching or testimony that has sprung from their walk with the Lord, or a song they feel will edify. This time together has proven time and again to be “orchestrated” by the Spirit to challenge, teach, stretch, comfort and encourage each of us.
These meetings are governed by three basic guidelines we have derived from I Corinthians 12-14:
A. Everything must be done from the motivation of love
B. It must be easily understandable or it must be explained
C. It must be edifying
There is certainly no “right” way to do any of this. But any attempts to release the whole Body of Christ to engage in releasing ministry through the Spirit… is awesome!
Two quotes sum up the beauty of participatory gatherings. One, by Aaron who commented on this blog earlier in the week:
I have never experienced God more than I have in the past few months since I began fellowshipping in a small House Church. I realize that it has been because I have taken responsibility for my relationship with God… I no longer sit back and wait for the pastor to preach me a sermon or the music leader to sing me a song, or the elders to pray, or ……… I have become an active participant in a wonderful relationship with MY GOD.
And then, I love this Frank Viola quote:
“The Lord Jesus cannot fully disclose Himself through only one member. He is far too rich. In fact, His riches are inexhaustible (Eph. 3:8)! When every member of the Body functions in the meeting, Christ is seen. He is assembled in our midst.”
Jesus assembled in our midst! Yes, yes, yes, that’s what we are after!
Please share your ideas and experiences with participatory gatherings!!!!!
Go to Part 3: Missional Church
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Comments
21 responses to “House Church Basics — Part 2: Participatory Church”
This discussion has really helped me to take the basic definition of the church that Roger has offered and to examine it to its fullest extent.
I have a vision of a “Church” that operates like a club (for lack of a better word). This “club” would be a group of people who gather together to discuss the virtues of their common interest.
If this were a club for people who loved fishing, for example, there would be no need for formalities. The group would meet and any member who felt inclined would share. They might share information about a new fishing hole, or sing the praise of the newest rod and reel, they might offer training and instruction in a new technique, or they might just sit and soak it all up. The point is there would not be the need for artificial prompts, they would simply participate as they felt led. There might be the need for some basic logistical planning and arrangement, but for the most part the meeting would just happen.
I envision a “club” of believers who gather because of their common interest in God. I see an excitement in the room that cannot be contained by formalities. I see people who are bursting at the seams with adoration and praise for what God is doing. I see people who know one another well enough that they can “sense” when something is wrong with someone. I see a willingness to reach out to one another and be vulnerable. And most of all I see this all happening spontaneously.
The small group that I fellowship with is really making headway, as am I. The group is truly developing a connection with God and with one another. Each week I am amazed by what I hear. I am constantly being touched by words from people who, in other circumstances, would never be heard. I feel that God speaks to uniquely to each person, and when everyone is give the opportunity share this we are all the richer.
love “the club” picture… roger
Nice post. Thanks for the info.
Nice post. Thanks for the info.
Really pleased to have found your blog.
I guess that we – unintentionally – do something similar to yourselves. As we begin each section I read a scripture and say a SHORT bit on why and how we do it this way.
Thus, I always read Heb. 10:24 at the beginning of every meeting and I also read 1 Cor. 14:26 regularly at the beginning of worship times. Other verses and passages vary, but I’ve found it really important to “remind” people what we’re doing every week.
That surprised me, but it’s definitely essential for our group.
I clicked on the Contemplative gathering, and although some of it wasn’t what I know as contemplative, I thought they were wonderful ideas!!!! I think I will use one or more of them in my Wed. night group.
If we women do a get away as we discussed recently I would love to do one or more of these…I believe they would be awesome and we would walk away …maybe even changed…
Did anyone else check that link out??? What do you think???
Cindy High
I’m grateful I found this blog .. it’s awesome! For those who are interested, my journey is here:
http://www3.telus.net/here/ekklesia/
Looking forward to learning from and interacting with you all!
I have really enjoy reading the blogs written by many here. I have had a struggle deep within my soulf for years, over “church-as-we-know-it” and authentic relational worship with God. I am in the process of turn the church which I oversee int multiple house churches and raising up more in the area. Thank you for the inspiration. As pastors we are often criticized and made to feel as if we are traitors to the cause when we move off from the centrality of the “church house”. Blessings. tw
Likewise, I have never experienced community and belonging more than when I was involved in a house group. One thing we had some difficulty dealing with was what to do with the children. At some points they were incorporated into the gathering, yet at others they would go off with an adult or two and play while the rest of us did the house church thing. I’ve always assumed there were better ways to incorporate the children, but have not heard or read many.
Now that my family and I are coming back out of the institutional church, HOUSE CHURCH, is in the forefront of my mind. We are considering planting, yet at the same time being somewhat associated to one of the local churches that is more like a small group meeting in a building, but very missional and driven by desire to follow God’s leading, regardless of where or what lines it may cross.
Again, I am so grateful for this site! May Father multiply your efforts and continue to uphold you by His mighty right hand!
His peace to you
ouigzh
asmvyafpo
“Simple Church” Sounds Like Just Another Form of Separatism”
One of my mentors once said, “religious movements… like fads, shift with the changing tides of youthful wantoness.” He told me that I would do well to stick to the unchanging Word of God and watch as those latest efforts also fail. I often watch men trying to fix the institution, but failing to understand…the institution is made up of men.
Leave the big box and go to the little house box! Will that fix the ailments of the ecclesia. Or is it just an exchange of boxes?
The pointing of fingers and judgement of the institution and leadership is to miss what the true problem is!
Without those who attend Church…the church is just a piece of real estate. It is neither good nor evil. I agree that people who have been gospel hardened should become doers of the word, and there is a true need to go into all the world and preach the good news of Jesus Christ.
But, then we must look at the system by which we make disciples! Does exchanging boxes or minimizing the five fold gifts of the church aid this process. No! And I speak this from experience!
Simply put, people will always clamor for a leader, even in the house church movement. The evolution of house church is the same as that of the institutional church! For heavens sake Look at your definitions of simple church.
Problems can arise in any group of two or more! Look at Paul and Barnabus! But we are not looking at the plank that exist in our own eyes…we are too ready to blame the system God uses to bring the message and Christian education through!
When will the Christian population stop fighting with each other like brothers in a back yard brawl?
Listen to our Master on the subject of what is wrong with the CHURCH of God: He said to them, “The Scriptures declare, ‘My Temple will be called a house of prayer for all nations,’ but you have turned it into a den of thieves.”Mk 11:17 (NLT)
Anarchist always look at leadership and complain, but they themselves are doing less than those they judge. Don’t get upset that someone looks at the real problem and doesn’t accept the Box as the problem. Jesus did not talk to the box about what was wrong…but he did talk to men!
Thank you, Ronald, for the challenging comments. I certainly hope that “simple church” is not a form of separatism. On the other hand, I hope that all of us will remain open to anything that will bring reform and renewal to a church that is meant to inhabit God’s glory. If we are going to stick with the unchanging word of God (which I heartily agree with) then we want to continually line up our understanding of the Christian life (including church) with what that word says! That will certainly cause us to seek renewal! I couldn’t agree more that just “changing boxes” will not accomplish anything and I also agree that going into the world to live missionally is the heart of the issue for all of us. Nevertheless, I personally do not want to be content with just being one of those who “attend church” when that concept does not match with Scripture and does not release the fullness of what church is and can be. I do not wish to judge any expressions of church; nor do I wish to be judged for wanting more when the Scripture points to more.
I know that this post is old, but I just came across it recently, and it is a breath of fresh air… actually, a refreshing spring. I am a founding member of a house church/simple church in Canton… we’ve been around for over 5 years now. We’ve tried different “forms” and struggled with too much rigidity and too little structure. We even took a couple months off to reevaluate our purpose in God.
We currently have a system that tries to incorporate everyone who wants to be a part of the gathering, while still providing some form and also connecting us to the larger Christian body. Basically, this is our “form”:
*We gather, and have announcements.
*Then we have a prayer chain, where we can share our personal and public prayers with God and the group.
*We have four scripture readings each week, from the Revised Common Lexionary, to connect us to the larger Christian community, while also informing our imagination with God’s word. We have the first two read by two of the kids (ages 8 and 11), have a small verse repeated by the youngest (age 4), then a period of worship, followed by two more readings. The second two readings are read by different people each week.
*Then we have a message followed by interactive time. We have a list of four people currently who rotate weekly and who volunteer to guide the thoughts, then we discuss it.
*We have a potluck meal, and share what’s going on in our lives
*Afterwards, we have communion, where we actually serve each other.
*Finally, those who want and can stay, we have more free form worship.
It is far from perfect, but it is a great experiece, and serves us and the community well right now. Truly, the small size does allow for quick, Spirit-led change, but we also value rhythms, and believe the above “rhythm” helps us center ourselves in God.
Thanks for the blog site!
Tony
Part 2: Participatory Church
Participatory gatherings: wonderful, biblical, necessary. Do we really know how to do them?
I could share what our meetings were like.
Perhaps they would be called “open-pulpit”.
We would all come in and sit,( I like Roger’s words “getting centered” ). We would wait on the Spirit for who ever would lead the praise. Lets say a 13 year old girl stepped out in the Lord and wanted to lead praise. There were any number of members musically inclined with guitars, piano etc.
The whole assembly would rejoice in that 13 year old, wanting her to realize her gifts. We would all support and encourage her, and in the process, we’d raise the roof!
After the praise, the pulpit was open for those who felt they had word to share. Contrary to what one would imagine, we had an incredible richness in the word. Once people realize they have a gifting in the word, they will often really press into God for it. Typically, the word would come line-upon-line. It was awesome to watch. After this came special prayer needs etc. I’m believing its the great joy of the Holy Spirit to build-up the structure of each assembly like He does with the distinctiveness and beauty of every snowflake. God is an awesome creator!
I am meeting with a group at my university (A majorly hispanic baptist university) trying to get an organic gathering to be regular. We meet every Thursday for worship, but since they, in my opinion, are struggling with Sunday programming, it is difficult for them to understand that this is the earliest expression of worship. They just consider it a “get together” even though we sing and share in a way that leaves us weeping.
The basic structure we use is:
1 Go to our gathering spot, which is reserved, but not marked, so that we can invite other believers that might be present.
2 Then we do an introduction with a teaching of 1 Corinthians 14:26-40 to explain what the gathering is all about, and teach about how personal Organic fellowship is. I feel this is necessary because I have been accused of leading a Pentecostal house church because I cite a scripture including the word “tongue” *ugh* and I need to explain that this scripture is not a scary bunch of nonsense, but, in truth, it is a guide. Once this is solid in their minds, the opening teaching will be done away with and the gathering will be worship for the full three hours.
3 Preaching to the nonbelievers is kept as a separate event and it is only a gospel of Christ. We go out and speak in public forum and bring converts into the gathering.
4 Teaching to the believers will be a separate event as well. We do this because teaching can often go off in many directions when it is participatory, and to avoid this washing out the worship time we do the teaching on a separate day.
5 Discipleship is done in a one on one form from elder to non-elder. Unfortunately, since we are very VERY new, we have no appointed Elders, but we still get in touch with mature believers from other gathering groups to help us. We are VERY new and could use prayers in this area especially.
This form, keeping everything as separate events, is to make sure that the three major aspects of the body receive their full attention. Worship gets its own time, Preaching gets it’s own time, Teaching/discipleship get their own time. Don’t know if this helps or not, but it works nicely here =-D
Praying with you for your work, Scott. Thanks for sharing!
Roger, do you let woman speak? Thanks Paul
Absolutely!
Roger, When you get back could I get a copy of the statements read in your house meetings – welcome, announcements, worship, teaching, etc. Thanks.
Roger, like you, I was so impressed with Brian Anderson’s article, that I included part of it (with Brian’s permission) as an Appendix in my just-published book, CURING SUNDAY SPECTATORITIS: FROM PASSIVITY TO PARTICIPATION IN CHURCH.
The book presents the New Testament basis for one-anothering when we gather and identifies many of the church traditions that work against it. CURING SUNDAY SPECTATORITIS also includes stories from 25 church leaders who tell how they are incorporating congregational participation in their weekly meetings.
Published by Urban Loft Publishers, the book is available from Amazon.com in both paperback and Kindle editions: http://tinyurl.com/j7w2jyr
Thanks for the note, Larry. Look forward to taking a look at your book!