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Houses That Change the World: The Return of the House Churches
 
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Houses That Change the World: The Return of the House Churches (Paperback)

by Wolfgang Simson (Author)
4.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (1 customer review)

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Product details

  • Paperback: 316 pages
  • Publisher: Authentic Lifestyle (1 Feb 2001)
  • Language English
  • ISBN-10: 185078356X
  • ISBN-13: 978-1850783565
  • Product Dimensions: 21.3 x 14 x 2.3 cm
  • Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (1 customer review)
  • Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 307,025 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Product Description

Product Description
The author describes what is, in his opinion, the only model of church which will enable growth - house churches.

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19 of 19 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars Overstated but Provocative, 15 Jan 2004
Whatever one concludes about Simpson's book, one thing is sure: it will be influential.

For the growing number of Christians looking for a simpler more relational expression of church life, as well as those concerned about effective church planting in secular western cities, this book is a must read, even though its detailed analysis and conclusions may fall short in certain areas.

Simpson's basic thesis is not complex: he argues that the new testament church met predominantly in houses for fellowship, prayer, teaching and the exercise of gifts of the Spirit. These "house churches" in a particular city or region together formed the church in that locality (whether or not they met together with any regularity), were lead by local elders who served as spiritual fathers and were overseen and connected with apostles and prophets who travelled between the churches to teach, care for, and expand the churches' mission into the world.
This pattern, Simpson argues, is normative for today and is in fact being rediscovered around the world.

Negatively, Simpson overstates three main areas. Firstly, he seems to have virtually nothing positive to say about what he describes as congregational style churches, and in fact creates the impression that absolutely nothing of worth has ever come from any of them. A striking conclusion!

Secondly, he states that house churches in the new testament were 12-15 in size and that therefore present day ones should be the same size. In fact, there is frustratingly little hard evidence to indicate the size of such churches in the C1. Perhaps we are not intended to know.

Thirdly, he overstates the absence of worship and teaching in the house churches, arguing instead for prayer, shared meals and the exercising of spiritual gifts. Christians seeking a balance of word and spirit may find this emphasis difficult to square with the Acts picture of the new testament church being "devoted to the apostles' teaching."

Despite these negatives, coupled with a more general tendency to make sweeping but unproven generalizations throughout the book, Simpson's book does contain numerous provocative and thoughtful challenges about the nature of the church of God.

Firstly, in an era dominated by denominations and streams, he articulates a vision of the church in a city as a present spiritual reality to be recognised rather than a future prospect to be sought (or avoided!)

Secondly, he creates a hunger for a more intimate expression of church life based around the presence of Christ and expressed in committed relationships and meaningful fellowship which is redemptive and prophetic. Unlike some who disengage from the church's mission in pursuit of deeper fellowship, Simpson holds this vision alongside an expansive view of the church's mission, as apostles prophets and evangelists are released to pioneer, plant and proclaim in the city and the regions beyond.

Thirdly, he gives a challenging analysis of Cell Church, which he sees as a God-given vehicle for Christians to look again at the centrality of small groups, but not the genuine article that God is ultimately restoring.

For those who reject Simpson's basic thesis, there is still enough rich material on small group dynamics to inspire and apply to any house group in any type of church. For those more sympathetic to its core message, this book may leave you reeling but it will not leave you unchanged.
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