Berean Fact Sheet Number 001

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Meeting in homes for fellowship and worship seems to be the latest trend in religious circles. However, many observers view such meetings with suspicion. Some question the practicality of such a venture. Others wonder: “Are ‘house churches’ Biblical?” The purpose of this fact sheet is to answer the latter question.

Nearly half of the NT references to the meeting habits of the body of Christ in the first century are found in the book of Acts. There are also some references in the letters of the NT (most notably those of the apostle Paul) that give us some idea of what those early gatherings were like. In these NT books, we find reference to: believers meeting in buildings; general references to them meeting in homes; and mention of specific assemblies in homes.

Meetings in Public Buildings

First of all, let’s consider Scripture references that speak of the NT believers meeting in public facilities. Following Peter’s preaching on the day of Pentecost, early believers met both “...in the temple, and also breaking bread from house to house...” (Acts 2:46†) “And they were all together in the colonnade of Solomon.” (Acts 5:12) “And every day, in the temple and from house to house, they did not cease teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Christ.” (Acts 5:42) After concerted evangelistic effort in the synagogue at Ephesus, the apostle Paul “withdrew the disciples, reasoning daily in the school of Tyrannus.” (Acts 19:8 -9) Later, Paul would remind the Ephesian elders that he taught them “publicly and from house to house.” (Acts 20:20) Clearly, then, there were occasions in the first century when the whole assembly of believers in a given area or city gathered in public facilities of one kind or another.

Home Assemblies (General)

Now, let’s move on to consider Scriptures that refer in a general way to the first century believers meeting in homes. You probably noticed that most of the above references for meetings in public facilities also mention meeting in homes (Acts 2:46; 5:42; 20:20). Another probable reference to assembling in homes may be found in Acts 8:3. “But Saul was causing severe injury to the assembly, entering into every house, dragging away both men and women, handing them over to prison.” After the stoning of Stephen, Saul of Tarsus persecuted the disciples in Jerusalem. Notice that the “assembly” he persecuted (“was causing severe injury to”) was found by his “entering into every house.” Some might possibly counter that the reference here to “houses” was not to assemblies meeting in houses but to the homes of individual believers. It is unlikely, however, that his “entering into every house” meant that he knew where each member lived. Given the established context of believers meeting in homes, it is more logical to understand this as a reference to home assemblies being raided. (This type of “raid” occurs even today in Christian home meetings in China, Muslim countries, etc.)

Home Assemblies (Specific)

Finally, we get down to “specifics.” Specific gatherings or assemblies of believers in one another’s homes in the NT were identified, not according to denominational affiliations, but by the names of their hosts. The following quotes are given without any comment on my part, so that the strength of their testimony might stand on the actual Biblical evidence, and not my interpretation of that evidence.

Acts 12:12—“And so, having realized this, he [Peter] came to the house of Mary the mother of John, the one being called Mark, where many were being gathered together and praying.”

Acts 16:15—“And when she [ Lydia] and her household were immersed, she urged us, saying, ‘If you* have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, having come to my house, remain.’ And she persuaded us.”

Acts 16:40—“And they, having gone out from the prison, entered into the home of Lydia. And having seen them, they encouraged the brothers and went away.”

Romans 16:5—“And [greet] the assembly in their [Priscilla and Aquila’s ] house. . .”

Romans 16:10—“...Greet those of the household of Aristobulus.”

Romans 16:11—“...Greet those of the household of Narcissus, those being in the Lord.”

Romans 16:14—“Greet Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermes, Patrobas, Hermas, and those brothers with them.”

Romans 16:15—“Greet Philologus and Julia, Nereus and his sister, and Olympas, and all the saints with them.”

Romans 16:23—“Gaius, my host, and of the whole assembly, greets you*...”

1 Corinthians 1:11—“For it has been made known to me concerning you*, my brothers, by those of Chloe’s household, that there are quarrels among you*.”

1 Corinthians 16:15—“... you* know the household of Stephanas, that it is the firstfruits of Achaia, and to the service of the saints they have appointed themselves...”

1 Corinthians 16:19—“The assemblies of Asia greet you*. Aquila and Priscilla greet you* much in the Lord, with the assembly in their house.”

Colossians 4:15—“Greet the brothers in Laodicea, and Nympha, and the assembly in her house.”

Philemon v.2—“and to Apphia the beloved, and to Archippus our fellow soldier, and the assembly in your house:”

CONCLUSION

Well, there you have it. This fact sheet provides you with the New Testament facts concerning Christian assemblies. It is clear from Scripture that believers in New Testament times consistently met in homes. The answer to the question “Are ‘house churches’ Biblical?” is a resounding “Yes.” Meeting in homes was the norm in the first century. It is now up to you to determine what the Lord Jesus would have you do with this information. May the Holy Spirit help and direct you as you share and apply these truths.

†The translation used in each of the Scripture references in this Fact Sheet is my own. Note: the rendering “you*” is indicative of the second person plural.