Francis Chan walked away from a 1,600-member megachurch in 2010 to pursue something closer to the first-century gatherings described in Acts 2:46 — believers meeting in homes, not auditoriums. His public break with institutional church sparked a conversation millions of Christians were already having quietly. This page examines his case for returning to small, relational, home-based worship and what it means practically for anyone reconsidering how they do church.
TEXT: Imagine being tasked with defining the concept of church, but your only point of reference is the Bible – no drawing from personal anecdotes. How would you go about it? Starting with the Scriptures is crucial, for without this foundation, we’re likely to veer into personal preferences, uttering desires like, “This is what I want in my church,” which might mislead us. This situation can be compared to perfecting a spaghetti sauce only to discover at life’s end that God envisioned something altogether different for us. So, what insights does the Bible offer about the church? When I explore this question, four themes consistently arise. First, love: the church is fundamentally described as a family-like community characterized by deep mutual love, fulfilling one another’s needs with a generosity that says, “what’s mine is also yours.” Second, mission: it’s evident that the early followers were driven to share the gospel, gathering to devise plans for reaching those unaware of Jesus. Third, the aspect of communal worship and teaching stands out, focusing on the Eucharist, and demonstrating a dedication to prayer, fellowship, and the study of Scriptures. Fourth, there’s an emphasis on preparing for ministry, with leaders equipping members for service and creating an environment where individual gifts are developed for God’s purpose.
This vision of the church is indeed inspiring, leading us to ponder if our current church experiences measure up. From my observations and journey, the presence of such familial love and mission-driven urgency seems scarce. Also, church gatherings often miss the lively engagement depicted, tending towards passive consumption rather than active participation. In terms of leadership, there seems to be a preference for recruitment over development, diverging from the biblical example of cultivating leaders who go on to initiate their own ministries. These observations underscore the necessity for change.
This realization spurred the creation of a novel church model, discarding traditional preconceptions like the need for a preacher, a building, or a youth pastor. Our focus is on establishing a community devoted to familial love, mission engagement, and mutual training, all within a home environment to minimize typical distractions. A unique strategy includes limiting gatherings to no more than a year, aiming to prevent insularity and motivate mission expansion.
Critical decisions also involve encouraging the entire congregation to engage with the Bible, making the Word more central than any single teaching voice. This adjustment reorients Sunday experiences toward communal activities such as prayer and commemorating the Lord’s Supper rather than long sermons. Furthermore, a deliberate push for leadership development promises future growth for the church and wider dissemination of its mission.
Though stemming from 17 years of pastoral work and the initiation of a home-based church, this venture is not claimed as the definitive solution but rather a continued quest for a church model that is more aligned with biblical, communal, and missionary principles, mirroring the rapid, organic expansion observed in communities like China’s underground church. This method, grounded in scriptural values and creative adaptation, challenges us to persist in the pursuit of a church that truly reflects Christ’s love and mission.