Considerations about Home Churches
Some may say why go to a church bldg when you can go to a church home group. Since early church used to do that.
Today in the west & globally believers meet in a building that fits them all. It has heaters and water and plumbing, and equipment and rooms designated for various things and needs. But these church buildings serve many purposes - which home churches cant provide.
Most home churches have a lot of pre set up and break down & clean up required at them and it just takes too much unnecessary work. You have to haul all your materials and equipment to and from also, and nothing stays in one particular place for ease of usage. You also cant have a impromptu event, study or meeting cuz there is one home used and the family cant be bothered [all the time] outside of Sunday. And parking is usually always non existant. Neighbors likely dont take kindly to their street losing parking when they want their relatives and friends to be able to come over on weekends, they cant. And that causes lots of issues & negativity. Plus noise ordanance violations with loud chatter, and music/singing. Home churches today dont make for good witnesses to the neighborhood. Lots of downsides to a home based church.
Small home churches also have the possibility to manipulate and decieve the parishioners. Churches that gather at a church building have to follow laws and also are more scrutinized. They have many more people, and their church has rules and policies for the leaders hired or as volunteers there. Including background checks, and are ensuring the Pastor has accountability and oversight. Hes not got free reign to act like some guru or messiah who [like cults] can decieve people and have control over them, or are found to be molesters or rapists who can instill fear and pressure parents to keep quiet. Many false preachers are rampant in todays era, so being in a particular denomination & at a actual church is the best way to go today. It has varied protections for you, and many benefits as a believer in general.
Small tiny home churches are usually not able to help the members who have financial problems or need counseling like larger churches can that meet in buildings. Plus, how do you know any money being given/collected at a home church isnt going to the "pastors" pocket, being mismanaged, vs being used rightly for the churches needs and agreed purposes.
Real churches have ministries (and Sunday school) specific to age groups, [have child care], groups for new parents, the engaged, newly married, college age, teens and young people, elder, missions, youth clubs like awana and royal ambassadors/Girls in Action, and VBS. They also have mission trip opportunities, outreach options, serving opportunities, event assisting, multi conferences annually, and holiday concerts. Some have book & coffee shops with a safe relaxing place to go to during the week too. You can get questions answered from reliable and various mature believers, you can make lifelong friends there, and much more.
The average church size in US is 75 members, many have 200-400 and some [biblical] churches might have 1,000 to 8,000. But you can't get those specialized needs and benefits in a tiny home church.
Most small home churches join up with a local church after it grows a bit, so they end up at a church anyway. Lots of reasons and benefits of going to an actual church building today. You are still traveling somewhere to church so best to be at a designated church building place.
There are plenty of solid & reputable churches in every town and area these days, so find one and join there.
God bless
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