Don’t start a house church because you want to be in charge. That’s not a good reason. Worse yet, you can not sustain a house church if you just want to be the boss. My personal opinion is that it is perhaps the one really bad reason to want to start a house church.

I happen to think that starting a house church because you disagree with your current church or minister are not actually bad reasons to start a house church. That shouldn’t be the only reason, but it is not actually a bad reason. Wanting to start a house church because you prefer to wear shorts or don’t like driving so far or hate being badgered about working in the nursery are also not necessarily bad reasons for starting a house church.

I do think that there should be one over-riding reason to start a house church and that is because you sense God’s divine pastoral calling upon your life.

You should start a house church because you believe you are called to pastoral care ministry, and a house church is a very biblical way to answer that call, especially if you have been rejected by the denominational route to ministry or seeking a second chance in pastoral ministry or needing a better fit to serve in ministry.

House church ministry leadership requires a shepherd’s pastoral heart, more like the listening ears and caring arms of a chaplain, than the motivational voice of a Zig Ziglar or the expertise level of a John Maxwell.

You don’t have to be seminary trained to have a pastoral calling upon your life. The Spirit of God gifts whom He will and He can equip you in the gift of pastoral ministry as you obediently answer and walk in that gifting.

Please, get the business executive image out of your head that portrays the pastoral calling in a three-piece suit Dr. Reverend with oratory magnificence from a big wooden pulpit standing high above a mass of congregants.

Mega churches are great when it comes to big buildings, payrolls, and funding events, but drawing a crowd isn’t what a pastor is called to do. Smaller pastoral-led gatherings is where disciples are made and souls are brought to Christ and grow in His grace and knowledge. Any executive can manage a mega church, but only a pastor can shepherd a gathering of souls.

Hundreds of people in our world are really wanting to grow their faith in the Lord, but have already ruled-out the traditional church as the means to do that. For what ever reason, right or wrong, good or bad, they need a relationship bridge to do that and your willingness to launch a simple house church ministry may be just the thing to impact a handful of people for the Great Commission!

If Jesus would have died on Calvary’s cross for only one soul, why should we think church ministry is all about building bigger congregants? A bigger church, does not necessarily mean a bigger group of people are going to heaven. Jesus said the greatest prophet was John the Baptist – not exactly a mega-church pastor.

The beauty of a house church is it is about winning one, not the multitude. It’s about the individual, not the crowd. It’s about biblical pastoral care, not a budget-backed pulpit. It’s about relationships, not religious activity.

The word church comes from the Greek word ekklesia which is defined as “an assembly” or “called-out ones” so according to the Bible, the church is the body of Christ—all those who have placed their faith in Jesus Christ for salvation.

Our society has benefited from the traditional brick and mortar church building, large and small, as a beacon of light in its presence and mission. However, 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.

Today’s lostness is in need of simple, smaller, authentic gatherings led by pastoral care leaders who will answer God’s call to provide opportunities to light the darkness of their neighborhoods, cities, and communities.

Does this stir your soul? Maybe God is calling you to use your pastoral gifting through a house church ministry. If I can answer any questions, please contact me.