Customer Reviews

House Church - Simple-Strategic-Scriptural

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What I appreciate most about this teaching is that it is not simply a self-serving justification for leaving State churches, by someone with an axe to grind. Rather than simply poking holes in established traditions, (and perhaps setting up new ones which are also unscriptural) the case is made for following the apostolic tradition, and it is based upon the Bible, not merely some new and effective alternative methods.

Even if you reject the house-church model, and maintain your membership in a State-registered 501(c)(3) brick-and-mortar congregation, you cannot easily dismiss the sound Biblical arguments in favor of restoring the actual apostolic traditions for church meetings as illustrated in scripture.

It seems that when someone claims to follow in the way of apostolic and Biblical tradition, that they inevitably show themselves hypocrites over the issue of all-male leadership. Most house-church practitioners pride themselves on casting off archaic traditions, and doing something with freshness and vitality. They are not afraid to repudiate centuries of established tradition, but they quickly bow to a feminist mindset of female leadership which is of relatively recent origin. As a measure of his integrity, Steve Atkerson stays consistent in his desire to use scripture as his guide, even on this controversial point.

Like a house-church itself, this is a compilation from several different contributors. It provides a sound basis for interactive meetings in homes with the sharing of a full meal, consensus governing by a plurality of elders, and teaching from a variety of members. It shows how freely God works among a body of believers who dare to return to the original simplicity of the early church model.

This group of essays, edited by Steve Atkerson, clearly seeks to convey the practice of the early Church of Jesus Christ as prescribed and described in the New Testament.

While other "house church" books tend to be pragmatic (whatever works), "culturally relevant", or "emotionally appealing", Atkerson's book takes the New Testament documents seriously. He and his colleagues use the historical, grammatical and literary approach in interpreting the New Testament Scriptures. As a student of the Bible, I found this both refreshing and convincing.


After you have read "House Church" you may not agree with all of the authors' conclusions; but you will certainly be challenged to take them seriously. They will forever change how you view the way present day Church should function.

House Church is a book about house church that is down to earth and provides detailed scripture. It lays out, in a way I could understand, all the cornerstones of home church. It is very eye opening as well. This book gets to the actual roots of biblical church life. It has a lot to teach about Biblical guidelines for church and community

Just as a generation ago homeschooling might have been considered revolutionary, home churches now are on the cutting edge of a groundswell of people who are searching for an authentic and truly Biblical church. If you have ever wondered at all about home churching or 'cyber' churching I recommend House Church

After years of seeing these scriptures the lights came on seeing these truths put into application. Thank you Steve and others that have brought these truths to our attention at the expense of having to 'rock the boat' a little.

author Corinthian Elders

Really shows us what true church, Biblical church, should be. A great read and looking forward to putting it into practice.

Steve: I just wanted to send a word of thanks for the books that we have passed out to our home Church. You have a real gift in writing and have been able to include years of trials and blessings as we also have but you have done a better job of getting it out to the Church. One item that impressed me the most was your handling of spiritual gifts in the Church meetings and especially with your Baptist background. You did well and I liked it a lot. Your book is timely and when the Spirit begins to move to the called out ones your book will be a classic. So please never stop printing them.
Jim Dermanoski

It is amazing just how blind some, who have a good perspective on some issues (most house church principles),
can be SO BLIND in other areas.... If you want to SILENCE half of the body of Christ then this book is for you.
If you want 'every member functioning' then it is NOT the book for you. These authors should read their friend
Jon Zens who presents a very clear contrary argument to the 'cherry picking of verses' done in this book.
For example, Zens has at least two books that would clear this up for anyone.. one is called: What's With Paul
and Women.... another is called: Women's Ministry in Light of All That's in the Bible

It's sad in this day and age with the ability to read those "verses" while actually find out what was going on
in the Ephesian culture (for example).. and then looking at the entire Word of God.. to see that women still
don't have an equal part in His Body, the ekklesia. ( in the minds of some brothers ) What would happen to
half of your body if it were not permitted to function? That's not organic house church that I see in the heart of God.