So You Want To Start A House Church

Article # three: Agendas

Even in a small group there will be at least one with an agenda, maybe two or more. Is it wrong to have an agenda? Well, that depends on the agenda. The Father had an agenda when He sent His Son. Jesus had an agenda when He went to the cross.

T e v y e : On the other hand….. (Fiddler On the Roof)

The religiously ambitious also have an agenda. So do controllers.

An agenda is wrong when contrary to the agenda of the Holy Spirit. Such agendas are usually secret agendas, motivations of the ignoble ‘flesh’, or even a well-intentioned heart.

If ‘my’ agenda is His agenda my life will be successful. If ‘our’ agenda is His agenda our house gathering will be successful.

Most have mixed agendas. Sure we want to love the Lord our God with all our heart and soul and mind and strength. But we also have our religious ambitions to fulfill, egos to be stroked. Many still want god me to rule and reign over ‘me’. When ten people gather ten egos gather, ten mixed baggages congregate, concealed agendas compete for supremacy. What hope do ‘we’ have?

Same hope as ‘I’ have. “With God all things are possible.” “I can do all things through Christ.”

Only one agenda will bring bountiful fruit…. to know Him. Both ‘my’ and ‘our’ agenda must be Him. Branch/branches abiding in the Vine.

Most of us have had various agendas. Religious ambitions seem okay simply because they’re religious. Gotta do. Gotta build. Gotta please. Gotta lead. Gotta accomplish. Gotta learn.

Two sisters with two opposite mindsets: Martha, a spinning top, and Mary, a relaxed teddy bear. Spinning Top resented Ted. Here she was scrambling around the kitchen preparing something real nice for her guests while lazy sister sat at the feet of Jesus, doing nothing but listening. This just ain’t right!, thinks Spinning Top, and asks Jesus to give Teddy a scolding. But Jesus commended Mary and scolded Martha.

Down through church history there has been Marthas and Marys. Who rules most of the time? Marthas. Who loves Jesus more? Marys. Who works hardest? Spinning Tops. Who gets the most done? Relaxed Teddy Bears. Who lays up treasures on earth? Marthas. Treasures in heaven? Marys. Who are the touchiest? Marthas. Who are the more peaceful? Marys. Who are in the majority? Spinners, by far. Who get their prayers answered? Bears. Who have the most unbelief? Marthas. Who will hear the Master say, “Well done, good and faithful servant”? Marys.

Why do Spinning Tops spin? Because they don’t want to sit at the feet of Jesus. Sitting at the feet of Jesus causes me to shrink. Can’t have that.

Spinning Top preaching: “Gotta do! Gotta build! Gotta accomplish!” Teddy Bear preaching: “Isn’t He lovely! Worthy is the Lamb!”

A house church must get it right. From the start. Getting it right now is much easier than trying to get it right later.

Starting over is better than straightening out. Repentance will bring the gathering back to the starting line. What does the starting line look like? Like this: Jesus is Lord, the Holy Spirit leads, Marys sitting at the feet of Jesus.

A small group with the sole agenda of gathering unto Jesus will be powerful. Very powerful. Very fruitful. What stunts the christian’s growth is another agenda. The problem of evangelicalism is another agenda. If a house church isn’t doing well it’s because of another agenda.

C h a l l e n g e : Be brave and ask yourself, “What has been my agenda?”

P r a y e r : Father, as the Husbandsman, we invite You to prune. As the Potter, we invite You to mold. In Jesus’ name. Amen.