A house church is not a one-size-fits-all or a cookie-cutter singular approach, but rather a zero-budget mission that is developed organically according to God’s leading and your calling.

First, start with a call upon your heart. God uses pastors in His ministry and house churches that are led by pastoral care leaders are certainly following the biblical example that best feeds God’s flock.

Second, I suggest starting by forming the foundations of beliefs, mission, and values of what your house church will be and look like. Too many house church formations in America are led by disgruntled church members who only want to start something different than what they’ve left – start something that God has defined in your heart so clarify that on paper. Another reason you want to form some definition and identity for your house church is because some house church gatherings avoid organization and end up as an all-day event led by whims and weirdness.

Third, don’t do house church on smaller scale or in a smaller way than you did at the corner Baptist church. A house church is not defined by its program, liturgy, attendance, size or location, but by its basic biblical format and purpose which allows for variables within each individual house church fellowship. It’s simple, with the basic Acts 2:42 format of Bible teaching, prayer, song, and food. It’s purpose is a regular gathering that serves as the primary spiritual community for two or more people (Matthew 18:20) for the purpose to “grow in grace and the knowledge of our Lord” (2 Peter 3:18).