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Challenges in Transistioning to the Simple Church

Written by Craig Wilson

So you're thinking about making the transition from a traditional church model to the simple church model? Maybe you have visions of utopia in your head and that things will be be radically different overnight. Well.... I don't want to throw cold water on your dreams, but let me speak from my experience so far of making the transition from the traditional church to the simple church or a house church.

Don't expect too much to quickly

Most people have been brought up with only a traditional church experience. Sometimes as in my case that means over 40 years worth of experiencing church in a very different form than you find in a house church or simple church. Try as you might you can't leave all of that behind either quickly or easily. And I don't think you should be quick to. Be prepared to give people enough time to adjust to a different setting and a whole new philosophy of ministry, outreach etc.

Don't expect others to understand what you're doing

Many, many people will find it hard to believe that you're even a "real church" if you meet in a house. Far too many Christians and non-Christians are so bound up with the traditional church that they can't even begin to comprehend that you can be a "real church" if you don't meet in a "real church building". Be prepared to explain over and over again why your church meets in a house, be prepared to educate them as to what the church really is. Be patient your words and your actions will make a compelling and persuasive argument for the simple church.

Don't try and replicate the traditional church in the simple church setting

This can be a real challenge. Yes, our simple church does many of the same things that a traditional church does. We have public reading of the Scriptures. We pray publicly for ourselves, our leaders and other believers. We teach expositionally from the Scriptures. We take offerings. But what we don't try and do is "programs". Again if you have been brought up in a program driven church this may be hard to overcome. The simple church is different, and it should be different, so let it be different.

Don't expect all challenges to disappear overnight

The same challenges that you face in a traditional church will probably come with you as you make the transition to a house church or simple church. What do I mean? If you struggled before building relationships with unbelievers before the same challenge come with you. If you struggled with building real authentic relationships with your brothers and sisters in Christ before, that struggle with come with you.

I know that the house church or the simple church is viewed as a cure all to what ails the traditional church. But that is not always the case. The reality is wherever you have church, whatever model you have for church there are always going to be unique challenges, but that doesn't mean that by the grace of God and the power of the Holy Spirit working in us that they can't be overcome.

Maybe it's time to consider something different

Maybe it's time you began to consider experiencing church in a different setting that doesn't just makes promises but actually works hard to meet your spiritual and relational needs. Maybe it's time to consider becoming a part of a house church or what many call the simple church. If so take a look around and feel free to contact us with any questions you may have.