Directory of new testament house churches
What a fascinating topic! While there isn't a single, comprehensive directory of New Testament house churches, I can provide you with some information on the early Christian communities and their gatherings, as well as some modern-day house church movements.
New Testament House Churches:
In the New Testament, we see examples of early Christian communities gathering in homes, often referred to as "house churches" or "domestic churches." Here are a few examples:
- The Jerusalem Church (Acts 2:46-47, 5:42): The early Christian community in Jerusalem, led by Peter and the apostles, gathered in homes for worship, fellowship, and teaching.
- The Philippian Church (Philippians 1:1-2): The church in Philippi, founded by Paul and Silas, likely met in a home or a private residence.
- The Corinthian Church (1 Corinthians 16:19): The church in Corinth, also founded by Paul, may have met in a home or a private residence.
- The Thessalonian Church (1 Thessalonians 1:9-10): The church in Thessalonica, founded by Paul, likely met in a home or a private residence.
Modern-Day House Church Movements:
In recent decades, there has been a resurgence of interest in house churches, particularly among evangelicals and charismatics. Here are a few notable examples:
- The House Church Movement (1960s-1980s): This movement, led by figures like David Bosch and John Wimber, emphasized the importance of small, informal gatherings in homes for worship, fellowship, and evangelism.
- The Simple Church Movement (1990s-2000s): This movement, led by figures like Neil Cole and Alan Hirsch, emphasized the importance of simplicity, community, and mission in house churches.
- The Emergent Church Movement (2000s): This movement, led by figures like Brian McLaren and Rob Bell, emphasized the importance of postmodern, relational, and missional approaches to church.
Directory of Modern-Day House Churches:
While there isn't a single, comprehensive directory of house churches, here are a few resources that may be helpful:
- The House Church Directory (housechurchdirectory.com): This online directory lists over 1,000 house churches from around the world.
- The Simple Church Directory (simplechurchdirectory.com): This online directory lists over 500 simple churches from around the world.
- The Emergent Village Directory (emergentvillage.com/directory): This online directory lists over 100 emergent churches and house churches from around the world.
- The Association of Vineyard Churches (vineyardusa.org): This organization has a directory of Vineyard churches, many of which are house churches.
- The International House Church Movement (ihcm.org): This organization has a directory of house churches from around the world.
Please note that these directories may not be exhaustive, and the information may not be up-to-date. Additionally, some house churches may not be listed publicly due to their private nature or security concerns.