Effective households

In the early church, houses were very important. There were no church buildings so the work of ministry took place in people’s homes. When Jesus sent His disciples out in pairs to preach the gospel He instructed them to find ‘worthy’ houses. He said, ‘Whatever city or village you enter, enquire who is worthy in it and stay at his house’. Matt 10:11. In his letters, Paul often referred to the ‘church in the house’ of prominent men and women. We read of churches in the homes of Nympha, Philemon and Priscilla and Aquila. Rom 16:5. Col 4:15. Phm 1:2. These ones probably began with a burden and motivation to share the Scripture, but they progressed to become homes where people gathered to hear God’s word preached and taught. Churches were established in these houses and they became platforms from which the word of God could spread out into that town or area.

Of course, when we think of ‘houses’, we are not just referring to the buildings we live in. Our house describes everything about us; our family, goals, motivations, history and ministry grace. We might say the houses just mentioned were ‘teaching houses’. As we study the Scriptures we can find other kinds of ‘houses’. We see pastoral houses which were places where people were cared for, shepherded, tended and supported. We read that the house of Stephanus ‘devoted themselves to the ministry of the saints’. 1 Cor 16:15. We also find an evangelistic house which reached out into the community. We think of ‘the house of Philip, the evangelist’. Acts 21:8. We read of a Jew called Jason, who was targeted by the priests for welcoming Paul into his house after being converted by his preaching in the temple. Acts 17:4,5. Jason would have brought other seekers into his home, hoping to convince them of the gospel just as he had been convinced. Phillip and Jason were not necessarily people who stood preaching on street corners but they were ones to whom people were drawn. And finally, there were houses of prayer which became houses of refuge.

After Jesus had risen from the dead and ascended, we read that one hundred and twenty people gathered in the upper room of someone’s house. The disciples were there as well as Mary, the mother of Jesus, His brothers and the women who had followed Him. Acts 1:13, 14. They were ‘devoting themselves to prayer’ as they waited for the Day of Pentecost. It would have been a house that was familiar to them. Perhaps they had prayed there many times. When the angel opened the prison doors, Peter sought refuge at Mary’s house. Acts 12:12. It may have been the same house that had the large upper room, because again we find ‘many were gathered together and were praying’. It was certainly the place from which John Mark, Mary’s son, became the ministry travelling companion of Barnabas and Paul.
Acts 12:25.

What kind of house do you have? If you’re not sure, try something! Invite people in. Think about who you are. Can you share the Scriptures? Do you pray together? Do you care for people? Can you show hospitality? Allow the Lord to make you an effective Christian household.

David Falk

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Feature Articles
June 2009

The love of God

Preparing the way

Unrestrained lips

Redeemed to be sons

As for me and my house

Sweet fellowship

Effective households

Freedom

Setting goals

Pray without doubting