A

Manual
for
Theory
and
Practice
RAD ZDERO

This book, The House Church Revolution (by Rad Zdero),

can be downloaded free from the Resources section at
www.housechurch.ca
For more information about the house church revolution
or to invite Rad Zdero for visits, seminars, or
conferences:
Rad Zdero
P.O. Box 39528
Lakeshore P.O.
Mississauga, ON
Canada L5G-4S6
www.housechurch.ca
[email protected]
Copyright 2008

Rad Zdero

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www.housechurch.ca

CONTENTS
Part 1: The World House Church
Movement Today

Part 2: New Testament Foundations

for the House Church Movement

22

Part 3: House Church Movements

Across the Ages

33

Part 4: Practical Lessons for Starting

a House Church Network

42

Recommended Resources

51

Rad Zdero

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www.housechurch.ca

Part 1:
The World House Church
Movement Today

Rad Zdero

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www.housechurch.ca

What is a House Church?

House churches are fully functioning, self-governing churches, in
and of themselves.
They desire to get back to the Bible basics of church life and
mission.
They are free to eat the
Lords supper, baptize
new believers, marry,
bury, exercise church
discipline, and chart
their own course.
They are volunteer led
and meet in homes in
small groups for
participatory and
interactive prayer and
worship, Bible study
and discussion,
mentoring and
outreach, and the use
of all spiritual gifts.
They are not event oriented, building centered, or clergy led.
They are part of a movement of grassroots Christianity that is
spreading all around the world!

Rad Zdero

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How are House Churches

different than Cell Groups?
Cell Groups

House Churches

PHILOSOPHY of MINISTRY
Operating
Principle
Practical
Application

Scripture is descriptive for

church forms

Scripture is prescriptive for

church forms

Retrofit or add on

Restoration

to otherwise traditional church

structure

of apostolic patterns for church

life and mission

EXTERNAL ASPECTS
Operating
Principle
Practical
Application

A segment of the church

Full-fledged church in itself

(church OF small groups)

(church IS small groups)

Pyramid Structure

Peer Network

of Cells

of HCs

INTERNAL ASPECTS
Operating
Principle

Practical
Application

Rad Zdero

Accountable and Dependent

Self-governing and
Self-sustaining

- Big decisions (e.g. church

discipline) by board/pastor

- Internal decision making

- Format/Content approved by
board/pastor

involving all spiritual gifts

-6-

- Participatory meetings

www.housechurch.ca

Whats the Difference?

Church WITH
Small Groups

Church OF
Small Groups

Church IS
Small Groups

Traditional Church

Cell Church

House Church Network

Revitalization
of Status Quo

Rad Zdero

Restoration of New
Testament Patterns

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House Church Movements

around the Globe
Canada
HC networks
forming in cities
& towns (approx.
500 HCs)

India
1995-2001 saw
3500 HCs planted
in Madhya Pradesh
with 70,000
new believers

China
80-100 million
believers in HCs

USA
approx.
1600 HCs
on internet
alone
Cuba
6,000 to 10,000
HCs formed since
1992 petrol crisis

This is just
the tip of the
iceberg !

Ethiopia
growth from 5,000
to 50,000 believers
in HCs during
1980s Marxist
oppression
Cambodia
1992-1999 saw
200 new house
churches formed
with 10,000 new
believers

Burma, Hong Kong,

and the Philippines
new HC leaders and
groups being formed
Australia
Oikos Australia:
national, informal,
network of HCs

300,000 house churches started (outside China)

between 1998 and 2006!

Rad Zdero

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INDIA (1990s)
Madhya Pradesh
In 1995, Victor and Bindu

Choudhrie begin an experiment in

church planting in the Indian state
of Madhya Pradesh
no buildings, no Sunday morning

services, no professional clergy

deploy young men with basic

training from low caste as church planters

3500 house-churches by 2001, with 70,000 people

Strategy plant a house-church in every one of 17,000 villages

in Madhya Pradesh

Uttar Pradesh

In 2001, 1250 new house-churches formed and 6000 new

believers willing to be trained

young believers go door-to-door and offer prayer

healings and demonic deliverance are common

converted families host houses of prayer that become

multiplying house-churches
100,000 house churches started between 2001 and 2006!

Rad Zdero

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www.housechurch.ca

CUBA (1990s)
History

1992 petrol crisis led to traffic

standstill

Protestant church re-organized

congregations into
neighbourhood house groups

Thanks Castro !

by year 2000, emergence of

6,000 to 10,000
house-churches

Characteristics

house-church within walking distance of nearly every Cuban

1 house-church for every 1,500 people

part-time preachers/teachers traveling from group to group

Critique of some Cuban house churches

o very traditional services and meetings
o very traditional mindset re: clergy and leadership
o would construct buildings if they had opportunity

Rad Zdero

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Top 10 Ingredients for

Church Planting Movements Today
A Church Planting Movement is a rapid and exponential
increase of indigenous churches planting churches within
a given people group or population segment.
(David Garrison, Church Planting Movements, 2004)
1. PRAYER
2. ABUNDANT GOSPEL SOWING
3. INTENTIONAL CHURCH PLANTING
4. SCRIPTURAL AUTHORITY
5. LOCAL LEADERSHIP
6. VOLUNTEER LAY LEADERS
7. HOUSE CHURCHES (10 to 30 people)
8. CHURCHES PLANTING CHURCHES
9. RAPID REPRODUCTION
10. HEALTHY CHURCHES:
outreach, discipleship, worship, fellowship

Rad Zdero

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% Canadians

Christianity in Canada
50
45
40
35
30
25
20
15
10
5
0

Committed Life to Christ

Attend Church Weekly

1993

1996

2003

(Source: Ipsos-Reid Poll, commission by the Evangelical Fellowship of

Canada, 2003, www.outreach.ca/research)

Rad Zdero

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TRADITIONAL CHURCHES
ARE CLOSING THEIR DOORS
72 existing churches shut down every week
24 new churches started every week

net loss of 48 churches every week

(Source: Larry Kreider, House Church Networks, 2001)

TRADITIONAL CHURCHES
ARE NOT REACHING THE LOST
75 % of churches no growth
24 % of churches growth by migration
1 % of churches growth by conversion
(Source: Rick Shrout, New Culture, New Church, Chapter 54, in Nexus:
The World House Church Movement Reader, Rad Zdero (ed.), William Carey
Library Publishers, 2007)

Rad Zdero

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NEWER CHURCHES
ARE BETTER AT EVANGELISM
AGE OF CHURCH

CHRISTIANS CONVERT

10 years or more
4 - 7 years
3 years or less

85 1
7 1
3 1

(Source: Larry Kreider, House Church Networks, 2001)

SMALLER CHURCHES
ARE BETTER AT GROWTH
SIZE OF CHURCH

1000 or more people

300 - 400
200 - 300
100 - 200
1 - 100

% GROWTH
IN 5 YEARS

4
7
17
23
63

(Source: Wolfgang Simson, Houses that Change the World, 1998)

Rad Zdero

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HOUSE CHURCHES ARE MORE MISSIONAL

In a survey of 255 house
churches in the USA:

In a study of 33 missional
house churches in the USA:

91 (or 36%) were

missional!

24% to 43% of members

are new believers!

missional house church = baptized at least 1

person in previous year, and planted at least 1
other house church in previous 3 years

Ratios of this size automatically place these [house]

churches among the most effective evangelistic
churches in North America.

(Source: Prof. J.D. Payne,

Missional House Churches,
2007)

Rad Zdero

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The Changing Church in North America

Year 2000
Alternative Family
Church
5%
5%
Marketplace
Ministry
20 %

Year 2025
Alternative
Church
30-35 %

Family
5%

Traditional
Church
30-35 %

Marketplace
Ministry
30-35 %

Traditional
Church
70 %

Source: George Barna (2005), Revolution.

Rad Zdero

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www.housechurch.ca

House Church Movement in North America

In addition to many independent HC networks, the following groups
are sponsoring the HC movement in a North American context
Denominations
The Canadian Evangelical
Christian Churches
o Waterloo (Ontario)
Dove Christian Fellowship
o cell group and HC
focus internationally
Evangelical Missionary
Church in Canada
The Free Methodist Church
in Canada
o HC projects in BC
and Alberta
The Foursquare Gospel
First Canadian House Church Roundtable 2002
Church of Canada
(Sponsor: Evangelical Fellowship of Canada)
o National director for
cell and HCs
Partners in Harvest
o Barrie (Ontario)
The Presbyterian Church in Canada
o Cariboo (BC)
The Southern Baptist Convention
o Church Planting Movements internationally
o HC networks in Dallas area and Colorado
The Vineyard
o Cincinnati (Ohio)
Mission Agencies
DAWN (Discipling a Whole Nation)
o HC coaching network - vision for 4 million HCs
The Evangelical Fellowship of Canada
o National HC database and regional facilitators
YWAM (Youth with a Mission)
international HC ministry of Robert Fitts, Sr.

Rad Zdero

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www.housechurch.ca

Number of House Churches

Church Multiplication
Associates (U.S.A.)
1000
900

1000

800

36 States in USA
31 countries

700
600
500

768

368

400
300
200
100
0

168
10
1

28
2

80

Year (1999 - 2006)

Rad Zdero

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www.housechurch.ca

The House Church Movement

of the Lake Ontario Region (Canada)

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Rochester (NY)
Oxford County
Golden Triangle
Golden Horseshoe
Barrie

Rad Zdero

6. Trenton
7. Kingston
8. Ottawa / Gatineau
9. Montreal
10. Quebec City

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Why are people getting involved in the

House Church Movement?
Called by God: personal calling and sending by the Holy
Spirit (Acts 13:1-3)
Restoration: getting back to the New Testament apostolic
blueprint for function and form in the Church
Participatory
Meetings: each one
contributes to the
spiritual potluck
(1 Cor 14:26, Col
3:16, Eph 5:19-20,
Heb 10:25)
Community: build
relationships and one anothering
Discipleship: maturing new believers
Evangelism: neighbourhood or oikos outreach
Multiplication: new leaders and new churches
Stewardship: funneling money toward mission and poverty,
rather than buildings and staff
Personal: preference or need for small group settings
Other?
Rad Zdero

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www.housechurch.ca

Challenges facing the

North American House Church Movement?
Legitimacy: misperceptions about HCs
among more established churches and the
broader community
Links to Larger Body: what is HCs
relationship to other parts of the Church?
Work inside or outside established
denominations?
Funding: for 5-Fold Circuit Riders to travel
to existing HCs and to start new HCs
Networks: seeing HCs form cohesive, healthy, long-term links
with one another
Mission: having healthy focus on church growth, evangelism,
and practical community service
Fuzzy Factors:
o pride
o anger/hurt
o personality cults
o heresy
o catch the next new wave

Rad Zdero

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www.housechurch.ca

Part 2:
New Testament Foundations
for the
House Church Movement

Rad Zdero

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www.housechurch.ca

THE GREAT WORK

Jesus said: Go and make disciples of all nations,
baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son
and Spirit, teaching them to obey everything I
have taught you. And I will be with you always.
(Matthew 28:19-20)

Growing Disciples
Go Make Baptize Teach
Growing Trees
Till Plant Fertilize Water Prune

Rad Zdero

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JESUS MODELS HIS

SMALL GROUP STRATEGY
FOR THE GREAT WORK
[Jesus] ate with [his 12 disciples], slept with
them, and talked with them for the most part of
his entire active ministry. They walked together
along the lonely roads; they visited together in
the crowded cities; they sailed and fished
together on the Sea of Galilee; they prayed
together in the deserts and in the mountains;
and they worshiped together in the synagogues
and in the Temple.
(Robert Coleman, The Master Plan of Evangelism, 1999)

Rad Zdero

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JESUS METHOD TO START HOUSE CHURCHES

(Luke 10:1-11,16)
Have a Vision
1 Now after this the Lord appointed seventy others, and sent them in pairs ahead of Him
to every city and place where He Himself was going to come.
Pray about the Vision
2 And He was saying to them, "The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few;
therefore beseech the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.
Go!
3 "Go; behold, I send you out as lambs in the midst of wolves.
Trust God to Meet Your Needs
4"Carry no money belt, no bag, no shoes; and greet no one on the way.
Make Contact with People Friends, Family, Neighbors, Strangers, etc.
5"Whatever house you enter, first say, 'Peace be to this house.'
Follow-up with Open People
6 "If a man of peace is there, your peace will rest on him; but if not, it will return to you.
Build a Base of Operations in their Home Start a House Church!
7 "Stay in that house, eating and drinking what they give you; for the laborer is worthy of
his wages. Do not keep moving from house to house. 8"Whatever city you enter and
they receive you, eat what is set before you;
Minister to their Needs
9 and heal those in it who are sick, and say to them, 'The kingdom of God has come
near to you.'
Go Elsewhere if You are Rejected
10 "But whatever city you enter and they do not receive you, go out into its streets and
say, 11 'Even the dust of your city which clings to our feet we wipe off in protest against
you; yet be sure of this, that the kingdom of God has come near.'
Remember This is Gods Work Not Yours
16 "The one who listens to you listens to Me, and the one who rejects you rejects Me;
and he who rejects Me rejects the One who sent Me."

Rad Zdero

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The Early Church of the New Testament

Common
Homes
homes and
house-sized
churches

Common Meetings
Spirit-led, open, and participatory gatherings

Common Leaders
Local leaders
elder = presbyter = bishop = overseer = pastor = shepherd
local house-church leadership, long-term, teams, co-equal
unpaid volunteers
Traveling Leaders
apostles
start new house-churches, lay foundations, temporary role,
work in teams, move around from place to place
financially supported when needed

Rad Zdero

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The Early Church - Common Homes

The churches of Asia greet you. Aquila and Prisca greet you heartily
in the Lord, with the church that is in their house. 1 Cor 16:19
Greet Prisca and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus, who for
my life risked their own necks, to whom not only do I give thanks, but
also the churches of the Gentiles; also greet
the church that is in their house. Romans 16:3-5
Greet the brethren who are in Laodicea
and also Nympha and
the church that is in her house.
Colossians 4:15
Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and
Timothy our brother, to Philemon our
beloved brother and fellow worker and to
Apphia our sister and to Archippus our
fellow soldier and to the church in your
house. Philemon 1:1-2
If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not
receive him into your house and do not give him a greeting.
2 John 1:10
And day by day continuing with one mind in the temple* and breaking
bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with
gladness and sincerity of heart. Acts 2:46

* Does meeting in the temple contradict house-to-house patterns? What did they do when
they visited the temple? Transitional time from Judaism to Christianity?

Rad Zdero

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The Early Church - Common Meetings

What shall we say, brothers? When you come together,
everyone has a hymn, or a word of instruction, a revelation, a
tongue or an interpretation. All of these things must be done for
the strengthening of the church. 1 Cor 14:26
But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the
common good. For to one is given the word of wisdom through
the Spirit to another the word of knowledge to another faith
to another gifts of healing
to another effecting of
miracles to another
prophecy to another
distinguishing of spirits
to another various kinds of
tongues to another
interpretation of tongues.
1 Cor 12:7-10
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and
admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms,
hymns, and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.
Colossians 3:16
Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of
doing, but let us encourage one another, and all the more as you
see the day approaching. Hebrews 10:25

Rad Zdero

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The Early Church - Common Leaders

And from Miletus [the apostle
Paul] sent to Ephesus and called
to him the elders of the church
he said to themI did not
shrink from declaring to you
anything that was profitable and
teaching you publicly and
from house to house be on
guard for yourselves and for all
the flock among which the Holy
Spirit has made you overseers to shepherd the church
I coveted no ones silver or gold or clothes these hands
ministered to my own needs and to the men who were
with me. In everything I showed you that by working hard
in this manner you must help the weak.
Acts 20:17,20,28,33-35

(see Matthew 23:6-11, Acts 14:23, 15:2,4,6,22, 20:17-38; 1 Cor

9:1-5; Eph 4:11; Philip 1:1; 1 Tim 3:1-7; Titus 1:5-9; Heb 13:17;
James 5:14; 1 Pet 5:1-3)

Rad Zdero

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www.housechurch.ca

New Testament Leadership

Governmental
Leadership
(Acts 15)

Equipping
Leadership
(Eph 4:11-12)

Apostles

Apostles
Prophets
Evangelists
Teachers

Elders

Rad Zdero

Pastors

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www.housechurch.ca

The New Testament Church

(House Church Network)
HC

+ + +
+ +
+ +
+ +

HC

+ +
+ + ++
+ + +
+ + +
+
++ +

HC

+
+ + +
+ + +
+ +
+
++
+ + +
+ +
+ +
+ +
Elder
= Pastor
= Bishop

Rad Zdero

Apostles
Prophets
Evangelists
Teachers

+ +
+ + ++
+ + +
+ + +
+ HC
++ +
HC

Deacon

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+ Believer

www.housechurch.ca

The Early Church - The Apostolic Blueprint

Now I praise you because you remember me in everything,
and hold firmly to the traditions, just as I delivered
them to you. 1 Cor 11:2
So then, brethren,
stand firm and hold to
the traditions which
you were taught,
whether by word of
mouth or by letter
from us.
2 Thes 2:15
[Timothy] will remind
you of my ways which are in Christ, just as I teach
everywhere in every church.
1 Cor 4:17
But if one is inclined to be contentious, we have no other
practice, nor have the churches of God.
1 Cor 11:16
Did the word of God originate with you? Or are you the only
people it has reached? If anybody thinks he is a prophet or
spiritually gifted, let him acknowledge that what I am writing to
you is the Lord's command. If he ignores this, he himself will
be ignored.
1 Cor 14:36-38
Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or
seen in meput into practice. And the God of peace will be
with you. Philip 4:9

Rad Zdero

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www.housechurch.ca

Part 3:
House Church Movements
Across the Ages

Rad Zdero

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The Big Bad Drift of Church History

Rad Zdero

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House Church and Small Group

Movements in History !

St. Patricks
Missionary
Movement

Methodists

Brethren

Quakers
Lo
lla
rd
s
Hussites
Moravians
Anabaptists
Waldenses
Huguenots

Priscillianists

Donatists

Rad Zdero

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Montanists

www.housechurch.ca

The Fall of the Church

Apostle Pauls Warnings (c.55 AD)
Nicolaitans - Rev 2:6,15 (90s) - clergy system
Ignatius of Antioch (100) - clergy system
Gnostics (150) - flesh/spirit dualism
Roman Emperor Constantines
Cathedral Christianity (300s)
Roman Papacy
Established (450)

holy men, holy buildings, holy

rituals, holy days, holy
fees, and holy empire

Special clergy clothing (500)

Image & relic worship (786)
Holy water (850)
Dead saints canonized (995)
Celibacy of priesthood (1079)
Religious Crusades &
Persecution of Heretics
(1000-1600)
Purgatory taught (1439)
Church Tradition & the Bible
equal in authority (1545)

Reformers (1500s)
Luther & Zwingli
persecute fanatic
Christians and
Anabaptists

Evangelical/Charismatic Church (2000)

Left-over practices/structures from
Constantines Cathedral Church System
Egos and Logos - big business, marketing,
bigger is better, denominationalism, etc.

Rad Zdero

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www.housechurch.ca

The Rise of the Church

Cell-Group Movement
(20th cent.)
Pentecostals and
Charismatics (20th cent.)
William Carey and the
Protestant Missionary
Movement (1800)

Brethren
(1850)

Methodists and
Moravians (1700s)
George Fox & the
Quakers (1650)

Huguenots (1600s)
Anabaptists (1520)

The Reformation of Luther,

Zwingli, & Calvin (1500s)
Hussites (1400s)
John Wycliff & the Lollards (1370)
Peter Waldo & the Waldenses (1150)
St. Patricks Missionary Movement (400s)
Donatists (300s)
Priscillianists (300s)
Montanists (150 AD)

Rad Zdero

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Priscillian (340-385 A.D.)

History

Spanish nobleman, wealthy,

educated, charismatic

converted as adult

diligent Bible student, ascetic life

began to preach and teach

became a Bishop, but opposed

by some Spanish clergy

Emperor had Priscillian and 6

friends beheaded in France

movement spread to Spain, Portugal, and France

200 years before movement totally suppressed by state-church

Characteristics

lay movement, little distinction between clergy and laity

brotherhoods = Bible reading sessions

met in private homes

both men and women participated

only converted and baptized believers could participate

joined by many bishops, priests, and the educated

Rad Zdero

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www.housechurch.ca

George Fox and the Quakers (1650)

History
late teens and early 20s
traveling England searching
for personal enlightenment
Pendle Hill vision of masses of
people who would respond to
his message
2x2 traveling preaching teams
20,000 converts in 5 years
persecuted by state & by both
Roman Catholic and
Protestant churches
Characteristics
called themselves Friends, nicknamed Quakers by critics
referred to their mission as The Lambs War
serious devotion to Biblical authority in personal and church life
open and participatory meetings
inner light within everyone
complete pacifism, no swearing oaths, prison reform
equality between sexes
opposed Catholic and Protestant steeple houses and clergy
open air preaching and meeting in homes

Rad Zdero

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www.housechurch.ca

John Wesley and the Methodists (1750)

History
Anglican priest
holy club at Oxford for prayer,
Bible study, accountability,
communion, & outreach
failed missionary to American
Indians in Georgia
heart strangely warmed
outdoor preaching begins
Great Awakening in U.S./Britain
100,000 Methodists by Wesleys
death in 1791
Characteristics
renewal movement within Anglican church, but spilled over
lay leadership involving men and women
classes and bands of 6-12 people = cell groups meeting in
neighbourhood homes of members
circuit riders traveled from town-to-town to evangelize in open
air and teach believers
10,000 home cell groups by Wesleys death in 1791
social concern for poor, imprisoned, and sick
Pros
lay involvement, massive growth, added to Great Awakening
Cons
Unbiblical pyramid leadership structure
House groups were overly programmed and pre-planned
House groups not considered self-governing house-churches
Wesley hesitant to allow movement to go beyond Anglicanism

Rad Zdero

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The Rise of the Church

If we would reform the Church,
we must make use of the Holy
Scriptures and especially of Acts,
where it is clearly to be found
how things were in the beginning,
what is right and what is wrong,
what is praiseworthy and
acceptable to God and to the
Lord Christ.
Caspar von Schwenckfeld
(1490-1561)
Church Reformer
Events in the history of the churches in the time of the
apostles have been selected and recorded in the book of
Acts in such a way as to provide a permanent pattern for
the churches. Departure from this pattern has had
disastrous consequences, and all revival and restoration
have been due to some return to the pattern and
principles in the Scriptures.
Edmund Broadbent (1861-1945)
Author of The Pilgrim Church

Rad Zdero

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Part 4:
Practical Lessons
for Starting a
House Church Network

Rad Zdero

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www.housechurch.ca

The Mission
To see the kingdom of God established in our region,
by linking arms as a relational, intentional,
and missional network of house churches,
that develop and deploy all believers
into maturity in Christ
to impact others

Rad Zdero

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www.housechurch.ca

The New Testament Church

(House Church Network)
HC

+ + +
+ +
+ +
+ +

HC

+ +
+ + ++
+ + +
+ + +
+
++ +

HC

+
+ + +
+ + +
+ +
+
++
+ + +
+ +
+ +
+ +
Elder
= Pastor
= Bishop

Rad Zdero

Apostles
Prophets
Evangelists
Teachers

+ +
+ + ++
+ + +
+ + +
+ HC
++ +
HC

Deacon

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+ Believer

www.housechurch.ca

How to Start House Churches?

Prophetic Direction
house-churches are started and leaders appointed through Gods guidance
through dreams and visions and other supernatural ways
see Acts 13:1-3, 16:6-15

Public Outreach
outdoors, house-to-house, market square, streets, temple courts,
synagogues, wherever people gathered, etc.
see Acts 2:14-41; Acts 8:5-8; Acts 17:16-28

Private Outreach
family, friends, workmates, neighbours, strangers, hospitality, etc.
see Acts 8:26-38, Acts 28:23,30-31

Power Encounters
demonic deliverance, healings, prophecy, miracles,etc.
see Acts 9:36-42, Acts 14:8-11

Plant House-Churches by Sending Teams

Send a team to start a new group somewhere when it gets too big
see Luke 10:1-11, Acts 13:1-3

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www.housechurch.ca

WHAT DO YOU DO IN A HOUSE CHURCH?

KEY PRINCIPLE #1 EVERYONE CAN PARTICIPATE
What is the outcome then, brethren? When you assemble,
each one has a psalm, has a teaching, has a revelation, has a
tongue, has an interpretation. Let all things be done for
edification. (1 Cor 14:26)

KEY PRINCIPLE #2 HAVE TRUE FELLOWSHIP

And all those who had believed were together and had all things
in common; and they began selling their property and
possessions and were sharing them with all, as anyone might
have need. Day by day continuing with one mind in the temple,
and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their
meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart.
(Acts 2:44-46)

KEY PRINCIPLE #3 REACH OUT TO OTHERS

Peter said to them, "Repent, and each of you be baptized in the
name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and
you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
So then, those who had received his word were baptized;
and that day there were added about three thousand souls.
(Acts 2:38,41)

Rad Zdero

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www.housechurch.ca

Local House Church Leaders

Rad Zdero

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www.housechurch.ca

CASE STUDY:
CANADA
Phase 1.
Missionaries Sent
promises of God for
spiritual generations
(Isaiah 60:22)

Phase 2.
Began Relationships
with Students
initial contact
student survey
student clubs day
social events etc.

Phase 6.
Evangelism and the
House Church
vision for evangelism
personal evangelism
public evangelism
spiritual surveys
discussion dinners etc.

Phase 3.
Formed a Core Group
started with 12 students
invest in the individual
one-on-one discipleship
small group meeting in
home (Bible study,
prayer, worship,
friendship, food, fun)

Phase 5.
Established a Strong
House Church
50-70 students
meeting in a home
large group time
cells meeting in
rooms of the house

Rad Zdero

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Phase 4.
Found a
Person of Peace
influencer and insider
outward focused
invited friends to house
church meetings
grew to 50-70 students

www.housechurch.ca

Lessons for the Future

Early Church Example
Living-room Revolution for the first 300 years
No holy buildings, rituals, or clergy required
Biblical house-churches, not just home cell groups
Exponential Growth
Multiplication of simple house-churches
Get small to grow big
Efficiency
Think simple, cheap, adaptable
Equal Opportunity
Open and Participatory meetings
Everyones skills used
Flat leadership structures
No Big Pyramids Please!
Economics
Mutual support or Communal living
Financial support for traveling
apostles / teachers
Entropy
house-church networks, not stand-alone groups
outside rather inside institutional church
Essential Elements of Healthy Movements
Revival - outreach / mission
Renewal - passionate faith and obedience
Reform - New Testament church organizational structures

Rad Zdero

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www.housechurch.ca

A Prophetic Word ???

A revolution is coming to Christianity that will eclipse the
Reformation in the sweeping changes that it brings to the Church.
When it comes the present structure and organization of the
Church will cease to exist, and the way the world defines
Christianity will be radically changed.
What is coming will not be a change of doctrine, but a
change in basic church life. The changes that are coming will be
so profound that it will be hard to relate the present form of church
structure and government to what is coming.
The future leaders of the Church are now being given a
vision of radical New Testament Christianity being restored to the
earth.
Rick Joyner
The Morning Star Prophetic Bulletin
Revolution, May 2000

Rad Zdero

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www.housechurch.ca

Recommended Resources
For more on the history and
nature of the house church
movement

Books
Rad Zdero (ed.) (2007)
Nexus: The World House Church Movement Reader
(Best price at www.missionbooks.org)
Rad Zdero (2004)
The Global House Church Movement
(Best price at www.missionbooks.org)
Roger Gehring (2004)
House Church and Mission: The Importance of Household
Structures in Early Christianity
David Garrison (2004)
Church Planting Movements
Peter Bunton (2001)
Cell Groups and House Churches: What History Teaches Us
Wolfgang Simson (1998)
Houses that Change the World
E.H. Broadbent (1931/1999)
The Pilgrim Church

Websites
www.housechurch.ca (see Resources section)
www.ntrf.org (New Testament Restoration Foundation)
www.house2house.com (House 2 House magazine)

Rad Zdero

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www.housechurch.ca

REVOLUTIONARY BOOKS
by RAD ZDERO

The Global House

Church Movement
Rad Zdero gives you
biblical, historical, and
practical insights for a
radical new type of
church that is arising all
around the world. This
book is guaranteed to
challenge your understanding of what the
church is really meant
to be and do! Perfect as
a study guide to kickstart a new house
church! (paperback,
155 pages)

Nexus: The World

House Church
Movement Reader
As the editor of this
volume, Rad Zdero has
compiled the writings
of almost 40 house
church leaders and
scholars from 20
countries in over 60
provocative articles.
Get trained to start
your own network of
missional house
churches no matter
where you live!
(paperback, 528 pages)

Best price from

www.missionbooks.org

Best price from

www.missionbooks.org

Entopia: Revolution
An allegorical tale written
in the tradition of C.S.
Lewiss Narnia chronicles
and George Orwells Animal Farm. An adventure
of grassroots revolution in
the hierarchical and ordered world of an anthill.
The system must change!
Although just a fable, it
has challenges for the
church to grapple with.
Fun for kids of all ages!
(paperback, illustrated,
132 pages)
Best price from
www.amazon.com

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

RAD ZDERO earned his Ph.D. degree in Mechanical Engineering from Queens
University (Kingston, Ontario, Canada), specializing in orthopaedic biomechanics. He is
currently the director of a hospital-based research lab in Toronto. Rad has been actively
involved in the house church and small group movement since 1985 and is dedicated to
encouraging the full restoration of original New Testament Christianity in our day. He
lives just outside Toronto, Canada.