On October 19, 2008, Dr. Curtis Martin preached a message about what constitutes a New Testament church. The following text is the outline that he used for the message. Dr. Martin is pastor of New Testament Baptist Church in Rochester, Minnesota.
Are House Churches Scriptural?
The “house church” movement is large and growing. Is it Scriptural? That depends on one’s definition of it. A proper New Testament church can meet in a house, or in its own building, or in the forest; the location is irrelevant.
The main requirement for a church to be scriptural is that it must be organized along biblical lines.
1. A BANDING TOGETHER OF BELIEVER INTO AN ORGANIZED LOCAL BODY
1Tim 3:15 But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.
Hebrews 10:25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. “Assembling” implies organization, planning, leadership.
Act 1:15 And in those days Peter stood up in the midst of the disciples, and said, (the number of names together were about an hundred and twenty,)
Gal 1:1-2 Paul, an apostle, (not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised him from the dead;) 2 And all the brethren which are with me, unto the churches of Galatia:
1Th 1:1 Paul, and Silvanus, and Timotheus, unto the church of the Thessalonians which is in God the Father and in the Lord Jesus Christ…
Rev 1:10-11 I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet, 11 Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: and, What thou seest, write in a book, and send it unto the seven churches which are in Asia; unto Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamos, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea.
Titus 1:5 For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee.
We see from verses that a group of believers have banded together whether it was verbally or with a written covenant and are meeting as a local church. Some met in homes, some secretly but all would be considered a church.
The main reason that some people promote the “home church” philosophy and refuse to join a local organized church is because they do want to submit to its authority. Therefore, they twist the scriptures and preach only the verses that support their position.
1. A BANDING TOGETHER OF BELIEVER INTO AN ORGANIZED LOCAL BODY
2. THE RECOGNITION OF QUALIFIED LEADERS
Phil. 1:1 Paul and Timotheus, the servants of Jesus Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus which are at Philippi, with the bishops and deacons:
Acts 14:23 And when they had ordained them elders in every church, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they believed.
Titus 1:5 For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders (presbuteros) in every city, as I had appointed thee.
1. Pastor (the shepherd or protector of the Flock; And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors (Greek word – poimein = shepherd) and teachers; Ephesians 4:11.
John 21:16 He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep. (Feed = Greek root word “poimainō” means to shepherd.)
2. Bishop or overseer of the working force; Paul and Timotheus, the servants of Jesus Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus which are at Philippi, with the bishops (episkopos) and deacons: Phil. 1:1.
Take heed Therefore, unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers (episkopos), to feed (poimaino, from the root of poimen, referring to the pastor) the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood. Acts 20:28.
3. Elder or leader in a business session; And from Miletus he sent to Ephesus, and called the elders (presbuteros) of the church. Acts 20:17.
Peter uses the terms elder, bishop and pastor interchangeably. Notice 1 Peter 5:1-2 The elders (presbuteros) which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder (presbuteros), and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed: 2 Feed (from the root word poimein) the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight (episkopeo) thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind;
Deacon; Acts 6:1-7; 1Tim 3:8, 10, 12-13
3. DOCTRINE BASED ON A STRONG BIBLICAL FOUNDATION
1Tim 1:3 As I besought thee to abide still at Ephesus, when I went into Macedonia, that thou mightest charge some that they teach no other doctrine.
Jude 3 Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.
Acts 20:27 For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God.
Matt. 28:20 Teaching them to observe ALL things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
It does make a difference what you believe. In today’s liberal society we are being conditioned that anything goes. They say it makes no difference what you believe because there are no absolutes.
But that philosophy is wrong because it contradicts the Word of God. The Bible is an unchanging guide of absolute rules that all of mankind is to live by. To be united with little regard of doctrine is to be united in error.
God’s Word is perfect and complete. The Bible alone should be our only rule for faith and practice. It was ONCE delivered to us; therefore, we should not look for change. In fact, we are warned against change. Pro 24:21 My son, fear thou the LORD and the king: and meddle not with them that are given to change:
4. A PROPER BIBLICAL OBJECTIVE - which is the fulfillment of Christ’s great commission
Matt 28:18-20 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. 19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
Mark 16:15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.
Luke 24:46-47 And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: 47 And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.
Acts 1:8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
So why did Paul write to Titus and say, “For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee” (Titus 1:5) if there was no need for pastors. There were believers in Crete, but something was lacking. The believers needed to be organized into a proper church with ordained pastors.
Unfortunately today there is widespread resistance to pastoral authority. To be sure there are some pastors that have abused their authority, and I am vehemently opposed to such abuse, but that is no excuse to reject the pattern that God has left for us to follow.
But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth, 1Timothy 3:15.
Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you, Hebrews 13:17.