What are some of the practical steps and guidelines for starting a home church?

Here are some of the practical steps and basic guidelines that have helped us at our own home church. They are far from being exhaustive, but will prove to be helpful for a successful start:

 

• Set specific times to meet on each seventh-day Sabbath (Yahuwah's holy convocation) as per His calendar. We do not mean Saturday, but rather the seventh-day Sabbath as determined by the phases of the moon. Click here for more information on His calendar, and how to find His true seventh-day Sabbath.

• Agree on a person to be laid hands on as a deacon, as early as possible, provided he meets the biblical criteria as spelled out in 1 Tim. 3:1-13. Special consideration should be given to verse 10, to ensure that the selection is a blessed one.

• Designate a treasurer to be responsible for tithes and offerings. Abide by the rule that tithes can only be used for the support of a minister, or for the printing of literature (silent preachers). For other church related expenses, offerings, or specifically collected funds can be used. But in no way should the Lord's tithe be used for outside its main purpose.

• Where a minister is not available, agree amongst yourselves to the subjects to be studies during your holy convocations. Members need to remember that His spirit will bless these meetings, and they need to be formal and structured, even though they are carried out within a home. Kneeling down should be always the preferred position (see Psalms 95:6).

• There should be time in every meeting for the following:

• Witnessing time, in compliance with Mark 5:19.

• Prayer time preceded by giving an account of His blessings by members, followed by listing specific needs to be lifted to the Lord in prayer.

• Study of the word: where there is not full time worker or minister to present studies or sermons, we have found from experience that the best thing to do would be to devote a chapter for reading from and of the following books: The Great Controversy (the Last Call), Desire of Ages, Patriarchs & Prophets, Christ Object Lessons. Each member can participate in the reading, allowing for comments on what is being read for emphasis or clarification. This way of studying His word has proven with us most effective and highly beneficial.

There should be an agreements amongst the members from the outset on the following principles:

• No tolerance for open sin, and members guilty of open sin and who do not repent should be dealt with in accordance with 1 Cor. 5:9-13.

• That Matthew 18 will underpin interpersonal relationships amongst members.

• Children will not be allowed to disturb the meetings, and  parents should resolve to train their children to act reverentially in the presence of His spirit. This is an important subject and one that should be brought to the attention of members from the very beginning.

• Where possible, special Sabbath School program should be conducted for the children.

Lastly, starting a home church will be learning experience for each member. However, it is within the context of the church that His people will ripen for the harvest. The home church is not an option for His people today. "Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some [is]; but exhorting [one another]: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching" (Hebrews 10:25). It is a must, for His people today are not to be found worshiping Him where He is not to be found.