MICRO-CHURCH (IN BRIEF) 

LOVING GOD….LOVING OTHERS

Just as the human body is made up of countless microorganisms, the Body of Christ is an organism made up of millions and millions of believers. As a living organism, it consists of a family of believers who relate to the Head of the Church, Jesus, and other family members.

There has been a major restoration of believers relating to one another in smaller numbers through the house church and cell church movements.

DISTINCTIVES.

Those who are in microchurches also meet in homes. However, we have certain distinctives which we value highly. These are based on Relationship! Relationship! Relationship!

1. PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP.

We are saved not just to get us to heaven. Eternal life is a relationship, not a place.

“Now this is eternal life that we might know Him.” John 17:3.

We believe it is vital that every believer is equipped to enable them not only to talk to the Lord as a friend but also to hear directly from Him. This relationship and subsequent obedience empowers believers to love one another. Out of that intimate friendship and the fulfillment it brings, comes a desire to tell unbelievers that they can have this incredible relationship as well.

2. NATURAL FAMILY.

The second vital microrelationship is that found in the natural family.

The family is the smallest form of the church. It begins the day the couple are married.

“Where two or three are gathered in My name I am there in the midst”. Matt. 18:20

The mum and dad become the “pastor” and “copastor” of their children.

The microchurch obviously meets together daily. Other informal micromeetings of two or three believers fall into this category as well.

3. SPIRITUAL FAMILY.

The next level of microrelationships comes when “mothers” and “fathers” in Christ either reproduce born again spiritual children or provide foster care. They help disciple them and become models for them to imitate. These larger family groups come together to encourage one another to love and good works and usually meet weekly in homes.

SPIRITUAL SCHOOL.

Natural parents cannot fully educate their children in every facet of life. Even if they home school, they cannot provide a teaching degree or a plumber’s license.

Just as Maths, English and History teachers etc. provide part of a child’s education, God provides His family with apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers. Together they equip believers to come to full maturity. Microchurches realize that one person, (whether they are a full time minister or a group leader) cannot turn ordinary Christians into extraordinary ones.

Microchurches provide a spiritual school, a discipleship course to transform little children into world changers. Every spiritual parent knows the value of the school and encourages every one of their“children” to attend.

The basic school is held once a week and is conducted over approximately a twelve month period. Further equipping for overseas missions etc. is also available after completing “primary” school. Unlike our natural schools, the numbers in our spiritual schools are small.

Small Classes.

Jesus preached to large numbers, but when it came to equipping His disciples He chose just twelve. The truth of small numbers has been adopted by most of those who have churches in the home. However, in the Spiritual School, small numbers in each class are essential. The class is more a time of impartation, not a lecture. Like Jesus’disciples, it allows those being equipped to ask questions.

It also allows time to find out if what is being taught is being put into practice. This is not possible with larger groups.

Because of the small numbers these classes conducted by God’s gifted equippers can take place in homes as well. Therefore we have two types of small group with specific goals.

• The “school” where believers are taught the basics and 
• The home church, where these values are modelled by the “parents” and those learning are encouraged to put what they learned into practice.

4. LARGER GATHERINGS.

The early church met in homes but on occasion they all came together.

“Therefore if the whole church comes together in one place…” 1 Cor. 14:23

Notice it doesn’t say when the whole church comes together…it says “if”. Some have thought the church came together every week in large numbers but this was not the case.

Meeting in larger numbers is scriptural but it needs come from the hearts of believers, not because they feel they must attend. Spiritual families who meet in the home will desire to connect with other families. As they grow and multiply they will want to see old friends. In these larger gatherings they can hear what others are doing, be encouraged and be ministered to by other gifting in the church.

Cross pollination is vital for strengthening each inpidual and spiritual family. Around five home microchurches gather together for meetings, some monthly, others less frequently. They usually finish with a meal either pot luck or barbecues.

Even larger gatherings of various networking groups can be arranged for either celebrations or conventions, once or twice a year.

5. THE FOUNDATION.

The whole of the microchurch structure stands on the inpidual believers’ relationship with the Lord. If believers are not Spiritled then the various meetings will eventually become mundane and boring. Therefore, we place great importance on each believer not only asking for things but hearing from Him.

Many people are wondering why, with all our prayers, the saints of God aren’t once again turning the world upside down.Is it because, as we’ve already pointed out, we are not hearing directly from the Lord? We are told: 

“Christ is the head of the church …. We are members of His body.” Eph. 5:23,30

For a hand to function correctly in a natural body it has to receive a message directly from the brain. Jesus is “the Brains” of his Spiritual body and we are His hands, feet, etc.

If God wanted to use you as “a hand” for Him, how would you most effectively operate? You could read books on what a hand is supposed to do. You could listen to tapes on how a hand functions. You could be trained by equippers and hear what they or other hands have done. All those things would be helpful. But in the end, if you are to be an effective hand, you need to hear directly from“the Brain”.

Every believer has the potential to hear directly from, and be led by, the Head. If this were achieved, can we see how the Body would be incredibly effective and many of our present problems resolved? 

Some of us may argue, using the head and body parable, that a hand doesn't operate independently. It's connected to a wrist, arm, and shoulder, all working together to achieve a goal. The problem is that any parable has its limitations and, if you go beyond the specific truth it's attempting to convey, you may end up missing the main point.

In a natural body, even if body parts are connected, each still receives its orders from the brain. It doesn't move under its own power. Any part of the spiritual body still has to receive its direct orders from the Head and then we can give prophetic words to one another, exhort, pray for, and help one another. Those parts of the Body that are joined to each other, such as spiritual arms, wrists and hands, still need to be directed by the Head. Only then will we see the ultimate in coordinated movement. There are some tasks that will be completed by working as a team and other times working as an inpidual.

Can you imagine what kind of church we would have if every part was directly connected to the Head and was receiving instructions and obeying them? We would have a cohesive unified group of believers who would once again turn the world on its ear. To some it may sound idealistic but to the Lord it’s realistic. 

Microchurches(and the name is not important)aim to be part of the restoration of truths that will empower Christians to be Spiritled and do the works that Jesus did ……..and even greater things, by simply loving God and others.

If you would like to understand more about micro-church concepts, we suggest you read our book "Where is 'Church'?" in our E-School section.