Eric, I believe it can happen as well. Sometimes it is not easy but who ever said life was easy?

Jeanette, thanks for the link. I agree Frank does not state this as a requirement in his formal writings and interviews but in private conversations he comes on pretty strong about needing a planter, at least in my experience with him.

jeanette,
I agree with Frank about many things and have learned and been encouraged by his writing. The article you linked is the one I have the most trouble with. I have read it several times in the past, but for now, I’ve set it aside.

eric,
There is an element of intentionality needed in all of our relationships, even in our immediate family. If we don’t schedule a date night with our spouse it doesn’t happen. If we don’t stop what we’re busy with to spend time with our kids, it doesn’t happen. There is plenty that happens “along the way”, but being aware to make time for fun and fellowship is important.

tom,
It has been a great conversation thanks to all the insightful comments. Re-educating ourselves and thinking about church outside of the context of meetings and services is difficult. Maybe there is a time and place for that kind of gathering also, but we are so dependent on that format, that we sometimes don’t learn how to function apart from it.

I thought that Roger’s article was excellent, which is why I put it on my sidebar, listed it in my Sunday links, and quoted it twice in the past week.

The post (Re-Thinking House Church) at Roger Thoman’s blog is an excellent read. Wisdom there…

Tom

As Traveler has pointed out, it is important to understand Viola’s context. “House church” and “the organic expression of the church,” may be two different critters. How did Viola say it in Bro. Maynard’s interview? (found it…)

Meeting in a home doesn’t make a group of Christians a church anymore than meeting in a donut shop makes them police officers. (No offense to police officers. Sorry cousin Joey!) I trust you get my point. There’s nothing magical about meeting in a home. That’s not the issue.

As Jerry has aptly pointed out, if we really want to be an expression of the Kingdom then our ekklesia meetings will need to be lead by our only legitimate Head–and for us that will take a lot of re-educating.

And, yes Pam, practicing meal hospitality is an excellent place to start!!

Tom

I think it can be done, that is discipleship being life, being done around the table and as we live and walk together. I do think it has to be intentional, at least in the beginning, or we run the risk of falling back into old patterns of needing a service to feel legitimate. In other words, I need to keep reminding myself that discipleship is relational and relationships take time and the more time we spend together, both at the table and out in the world, the more we look like Jesus…