Missional House Churches examines the impact and effect that house churches are having in the United States in evangelizing, discipling, and church planting in local communities. Based on the author's first-hand research and interviews with over thirty missional house churches as well as his own experiences, this insightful work offers an inside look at, and analysis of the workings of the missional house church.
Topics addressed include the recent growth in the popularity of house churches in the United States, what defines church, various characteristics of the house churches, methods of evangelism and leadership development which lead to growth, use of financial resources for missions and benevolence, future of house churches in North America and the relationship of church planting movements and house churches. The appendices describe the research methodology and surveys used in the study as well as characteristics of church planting movements.
This book will be of interest to church leaders, mission-minded thinkers, and students who wish to explore, understand, and participate in this phenomenon of the missional house church movement.
Acknowledgments vii
Introduction 1
Chapter 1 What Is the C/church Anyway? 17
Chapter 2 Meet the Missional House Churches 45
Chapter 3 Church Growth and Missional House Churches 67
Chapter 4 Money and Missional House Churches 93
Chapter 5 The Future of Missional House Churches 115
Chapter 6 Church Planting Movements and Missional House Churches 133
Appendix 1 Research Methodology 165
Appendix 2 Phase I: Web-based Questionnaire 169
Appendix 3 Phase II: Phone Survey Questionnaire for North American Churches with Both Baptisms and Church Plants 173
Appendix 4 Common Characteristics of Every Church Planting Movement 181
Appendix 5 Characteristics of Most Church Planting Movements 183
Notes 185