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What does the Bible say about house churches?

Bible Topic · WEB

The Bible affirms believers gathering in homes for worship, fellowship, prayer, teaching, and mutual care, while grounding the church in Christ and the apostolic gospel rather than in a particular building. Acts 2:42, 46 and Acts 5:42 show the early Christians meeting both publicly and from house to house, devoted to the apostles’ teaching, fellowship, breaking bread, and prayer. Churches met in the homes of faithful members, including those associated with Philemon, Priscilla and Aquila, and Nympha (Philemon 1:2; Romans 16:5; 1 Corinthians 16:19; Colossians 4:15). Such gatherings display the church’s familial life, though Scripture also values the wider congregation’s gathered witness and orderly ministry.

Top passages, ranked by readers

Rankings: OpenBible.info Topical Bible (CC BY) · Scripture: World English Bible

  • Philemon 1:2 13 votes

    to the beloved Apphia, to Archippus, our fellow soldier, and to the assembly in your house:

  • Acts 2:46 10 votes

    Day by day, continuing steadfastly with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread at home, they took their food with gladness and singleness of heart,

  • 1 Corinthians 16:19 9 votes

    The assemblies of Asia greet you. Aquila and Priscilla greet you much in the Lord, together with the assembly that is in their house.

  • Acts 20:20 9 votes

    how I didn't shrink from declaring to you anything that was profitable, teaching you publicly and from house to house,

  • Acts 2:42 9 votes

    They continued steadfastly in the apostles' teaching and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and prayer.

  • Romans 16:5 9 votes

    Greet the assembly that is in their house. Greet Epaenetus, my beloved, who is the first fruits of Achaia to Christ.

  • Acts 5:42 8 votes

    Every day, in the temple and at home, they never stopped teaching and preaching Jesus, the Christ.

  • Matthew 18:20 8 votes

    For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there I am in the midst of them."

  • Romans 16:1-27 8 votes

    [1] I commend to you Phoebe, our sister, who is a servant of the assembly that is at Cenchreae, [2] that you receive her in the Lord, in a way worthy of the saints, and that you assist her in whatever matter she may need from you, for she herself also has been a helper of many, and of my own self. [3] Greet Prisca and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus, [4] who for my life, laid down their own necks; to whom not only I give thanks, but also all the assemblies of the Gentiles. [5] Greet the assembly that is in their house. Greet Epaenetus, my beloved, who is the first fruits of Achaia to Christ. [6] Greet Mary, who labored much for us. [7] Greet Andronicus and Junias, my relatives and my fellow prisoners, who are notable among the apostles, who also were in Christ before me. [8] Greet Amplias, my beloved in the Lord. [9] Greet Urbanus, our fellow worker in Christ, and Stachys, my beloved. [10] Greet Apelles, the approved in Christ. Greet those who are of the household of Aristobulus. [11] Greet Herodion, my kinsman. Greet them of the household of Narcissus, who are in the Lord. [12] Greet Tryphaena and Tryphosa, who labor in the Lord. Greet Persis, the beloved, who labored much in the Lord. [13] Greet Rufus, the chosen in the Lord, and his mother and mine. [14] Greet Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermes, Patrobas, Hermas, and the brothers who are with them. [15] Greet Philologus and Julia, Nereus and his sister, and Olympas, and all the saints who are with them. [16] Greet one another with a holy kiss. The assemblies of Christ greet you. [17] Now I beg you, brothers, look out for those who are causing the divisions and occasions of stumbling, contrary to the doctrine which you learned, and turn away from them. [18] For those who are such don't serve our Lord, Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by their smooth and flattering speech, they deceive the hearts of the innocent. [19] For your obedience has become known to all. I rejoice therefore over you. But I desire to have you wise in that which is good, but innocent in that which is evil. [20] And the God of peace will quickly crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. [21] Timothy, my fellow worker, greets you, as do Lucius, Jason, and Sosipater, my relatives. [22] I, Tertius, who write the letter, greet you in the Lord. [23] Gaius, my host and host of the whole assembly, greets you. Erastus, the treasurer of the city, greets you, as does Quartus, the brother. [24] The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all! Amen. [25] [26] [27]

  • Colossians 4:15 7 votes

    Greet the brothers who are in Laodicea, and Nymphas, and the assembly that is in his house.

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