"They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts..."
Acts 2:46 



"For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them."
Matthew 18:20 





I read an article the other day about the rapid rise of house churches in America since the 1990's. According to the Pew Research Center, 9 percent of Protestants in the United States these days attend church services in homes. That did not surprise me as I see and hear about house churches popping up all around me. 

The article went on to say that the appeal of these home gatherings is their intentional smallness, simplicity and intimacy. Their goal is not to start small and grow big--their goal is "to move toward a more organic form of disciple-making and church life. By basing our times together on Acts 2:42, which stresses getting into the Word, fellowship, food and prayer, we enable every member to participate." 

When you participate, my friends, you make it your own. "Some describe this as liquid church. Just as spilled water flows everywhere, when we go out rather than inviting people in, we can reach into every crack and crevice of society." (Charisma, Sept. 2012, "Small is the New Big")  
   
When I try to explain to someone what Life Discovery is all about and what we do they often ask me, "Are you a church?" I always have trouble answering that question because I honestly have to say, "Yes and No."   

The simple answer is "no." Technically we are not incorporated as a church; we are incorporated as an Arizona 501(c)3 non-profit organization. When we founded Life Discovery in 2005 we did not want to start another church. We figured there were already plenty of great churches out there to choose from.        
                
Besides, our model is very different from that of a typical church. We have no building, no membership, no programs for children, no choir, no mega-conferences to attend. Our ministry vision is focused toward recovery and healing the family of God, and that happens one person at a time. We want people who are part of other churches to feel free to come and go, participating in our classes and workshops with no strings attached. We ultimately want to be a help and supplement to the greater church, not necessarily bring new members into our fold. 

I often refer to Life Discovery as an organism rather than an organization.  I think of us as "special forces" in the church--a branch of the Body that is fluid and flexible and able to adapt quickly and easily as needs change and the Spirit of the Lord moves and guides us.  

In my personal ministry the Lord showed me a long time ago not to try to control people, but to keep my ministry open-handed so He could send people for healing or discipleship or teaching and then move them on for His purposes in the Body of Christ. I am very comfortable with that.  I've never been one to have a tight grip on getting or keeping people, but to be obedient and let the Spirit move as He wills. 

On the other hand, for those of us who are called to the mission and ministry of Life Discovery, we are very much like a house church. Church, after all, is not a building but a spiritual family--a family defined by our relationships and our shared lives. The church is the Body of Christ where the Spirit of the Living God resides. It's a fellowship of followers! And it is not something we do; it is something we are.  

In that light, after all is said and done, maybe we are a church. Not a church formed by intent or organizational structure, but by relationship. Scripture tells us that Jesus' followers "...devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer." (Acts 2:42)  That sounds like church to me. 

The article in Charisma magazine finishes with the following statement:  
"What does it all mean? Maybe the body of Christ will end her days where she began--in homes. God is certainly doing something big through the intentionally small. May He alone receive the glory."   

Amen to that!  

Greg