In a previous post we discussed the benefits of a House Church. There are many. We will now take a look at some of the potential pitfalls that come with House Churches.

Without further delay here are 9 of the possible pitfalls you may encounter in a House Church.

1.) Keeping it Biblical

This doesn’t sound like it would be that difficult, but once your group grows to over four people, you will have at least four different views on what the Bible “really” says.

Can you lose your salvation? KJV, ESV, NIV, NLT, or NKJV or something else? Pre-Trib, Mid-Trib, Post-Trib, Preterist, Replacement Theologist? Women Pastors? Evolution? Universalism? Saturday or Sunday Sabbath or Sabbath at all? New-Age Christianity? And many more.

There are so many things right out of the Bible that can cause a smaller group of Christians to disagree.

One way to avoid having any problems with this is to discuss them as adult Christians, and if it is not a salvation issue, let is go. Agree to disagree.

Where you must draw the line is if someone keeps pushing an issue and must “convert” everybody in the group to their way of thinking.

In our own home church, we have come across this with Sabbath people, new age Christianity, and preterists and unfortunately have had to part ways with some over their relentless persistence.

If you study right out of the Bible and take it verse by verse, this can help avoid some of these issues.

The way we study out of the Bible and keep it Biblical is we read two to three verses in the Book that we all agreed to study and whatever the Holy Spirit puts on the group, we discuss.

We discuss it in context, and how we can apply it to our lives to help us grow as believers. When we feel we have discussed it thoroughly, the next person reads two to three verses out of whatever version of the Bible God has put on their hearts to read.

Again, draw your line when it comes to salvation issues like Universalism, Preterism, or New-Age Christianity.

If it is not a salvation issue do not let your pride get in the way. Which brings us to our next pitfall of a House Church.

2.) Pride

The true first sin.

We have seen it in our group. People have left over it. We all can be guilty at times. Usually without even knowing it.

In a small House Church setting, pride can be very destructive.

Once you see it creeping in, nip it. Lovingly, of course.

Ask God to keep you and your group humble.

3.) Anonymity

If you are one that likes to sneak in the back of a church service listen to the Pastor for an hour or so and sneak out without talking to anyone, House Church will not be for you.

In some ways, this is also a benefit of a House Church. Others will fellowship with you.

I have been to larger churches where nobody talks to you the entire time you are there. That is not what church is meant to be.

4.) Losing someone.

When you have a church that is anywhere from 6 to 12 people, if you lose a couple or a family, for whatever reason, it may leave a big hole in your House Church.

A big hole can be difficult to fill in the short-term, but we have learned, from experience, God will bring those who He wants into your House Church, when He wants them in your House Church.

There have been times we have done our House Church with three people and other times we have had as many as 14. And each time it has been exactly who God wants there.

5.) No strict oversight.

This can cause issues in a few different ways. As we already discussed under Keeping it Biblical, without strict oversight on what is being taught, it is possible to stray.

There is nothing wrong with going down a “rabbit hole” or two or even three or more during your House Church, that is one of the great things about a House Church, people get out of it what they need and sometimes that is done by straying a bit.

As long as the straying does not get into any theological unsoundness, you should be okay, but definitely keep an eye out for theological straying.

No strict oversight when it comes to finances can also become an issue in a House Church.

This problem can be easily overcome by making it clear where finances are used (supplies, missions, outreaches, materials etc . . .).

6.) Not a large selection of programs.

In a 6-12 person size House Church there are going to be very few options if a family with children is part of your group.

There will not be many ministries in your House Church such as local outreaches, or missions, or worship, or any other ministry you may find in a larger church.

Again, this may not necessarily be a bad thing. It can help give you focus.

And, as an example in our House Church, we have a lovely lady who happens to be part of a town Choral Society. She has taken the talents God have given her and led us in many wonderful hymns.

Use the talents God has given the individuals in your group to the benefit of His Kingdom.

Rather than trying to do everything, pick one or two important ministries that God puts on your group’s heart and do them very well.

It could be missions, or prayer or local outreaches. 6-12 people doing God’s will can make a big dent for His Kingdom.

7.) Out of your comfort zone.

If you are someone that does not like a challenge, a House Church may not be for you.

House Church can definitely take you out of your comfort zone as you will most likely be participating in church rather than sitting on the sidelines.

You will actually be doing church, not watching church.

Once again, this can also be a benefit to a House Church as you will most assuredly learn more in a House Church than you will in most institutional American Churches.

8.) Personalities

They can and will clash in a small House Church setting. Everybody can have a bad day or be going through a tough time when it is hard to be uplifting all the time.

In a regular church you can sneak in the back watch church and sneak out without having to talk to anybody. Really you could do this online as most churches have video recordings of their services.

You cannot do this in a House Church. It is participatory in nature. And, again, people with different viewpoints on non-salvation Scriptural issue can at times forget the hardest thing Jesus told us we need to do . . . Love Each Other.

And, one more time, this is where pride can seep in and we need to humble ourselves and just love each other as we are commanded to.

9.) Lack of Direction

This can be tied to some of the other pitfalls, but deserves a category all its own.

What to study? How long to study it? Who will lead? What about the next study and the next?

What outreaches? Which of the over 7,000 people groups or 195 countries to focus on?

A clear mission statement can solve much of this pitfall, and just either simple voting among the group or God’s leading through prayer can solve the rest of any issue that may arise.

These are just 9 of the possible pitfalls of a House Church. As we have just seen, many of these pitfalls can actually be easily turned into a benefit of a House Church.

When you get a small group of human beings together, there can be many positive aspects to what takes place, but there also can be pitfalls.