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Title: Houses that Change the World by Wolfgang Simson ISBN: 1-85078-356-X Publisher: Authentic Media Pub. Date: 06 March, 2001 Format: Paperback Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $14.95 |
Average Customer Rating: 4.86 (7 reviews)
Rating: 5
Summary: A Dangerous book for Pharisees
Comment: I don't often recommend books so highly, but I read this through once and then immediately turned back to the beginning and read it again. And again. I kept waiting to find the fly in the ointment (a few typos was the best I could manage), but this is simply one of the best books written on the subject of the house church. Thankfully, the author repeatedly states, "I'm not here to provide a model for the house church. That's not the point of this book. I simply want to present the theology and value of the house church as a model for true community."
My own admitted bias is strongly against "church as usual," so Simpson's book is of particular significance for me. He goes through some lengths to not judge the church structure, per se, but is firm in his evaluation of where such a structure has led us (and indeed the world) since the 3rd Century.
Ministers and church leaders who are dyed-in-the-wool conservative in their respective dogmas and doctrines will condemn this work outright as a threat to the very church. They will be profoundly wrong in doing so. Simpson presents what many believe is the salvation and survival of the church.
Perhaps this book resonates so strongly with me because I had just finished reading John Eldridge's "Waking the Dead." His chapter on his small group made me weep. That's what I'm looking for. That sense of vulnerability in a safe place, honest encouragement and support, and a place where my own gifts can be recognized, nurtured and called out. Simpson merely reaffirmed that desire in greater dimension and detail.
If you are satisfied with church as usual and simply going through the motions of what looks like Christianity, if you value form over substance, if you value the image of community more than community itself, stay away from this book. Just go to church on Sunday and clutch your coffee and doughnut, do the grip-and-grin and convince yourself everything's just fine. But if you long for something more, something real, something lasting, read this book. Then go do what it says you can do.
Rating: 5
Summary: Very Valuable Insights That Church Leaders Need to Hear
Comment: Was very impressed with this book that both takes us back in time to the early church and forward to where the Holy Spirit seems to be leading the church in the 21st century. For many, this book will be a breath of fresh air that will strike a chord in many hearts. It's a cry to move back toward a Christian faith that centers on Christ and His followers and not programs and charismatic leaders. Well-written, insightful and provocative.
Rating: 4
Summary: Good book!!!
Comment: Wolfgang Simson presents a vision for planting house churches. 'House church' is the terminology used to describe a return to a more primitive, New Testament type of gathering. These house churches generally have meetings in which believers in the congregation use their gifts to edify one another per I Cor. 14:26 and Hebrews 10:24-25. Many in this movement desire to have strong relationships with one another, rather than a superficial handshake once a week at church meetings.
Wolfgang Simson gives readers a vision of how house churches can be planted, and how these home meetings are a good tool for evangelism. The book describes practical ways in which believers can build one another up in the Lord. His explanation of house churches in church history was very interesting. The book was an exciting read for me.
I got the impression that Wolfgang Simson's view of church government was a bit more like a cell church system put into house church packaging. For example, he presented the idea that a 'pastor' is responsible for many house churches--with the house churches having elders. Many house church advocates see the elevation the role of the one-man pastorate as not scriptural. Wolfgang's view of an apostle as someone who gives others a vision, etc. seems a bit atypical when compared to the views of many house church people in the US. Some see Acts 13 as a model for apostles--with apostles being sent out on evangelistic missions to plant churches. The views presented of five-fold ministries seem similar to institutional cell church views of these roles in the Charismatic movement. The book 'felt' a little like something coming from the Third Wave of Charismatic movement to me.
Another concern of mine is the brief re-hashing of the teaching that 'Nicolaitan' refers to clergy, which shows up in a quote from Watchman Nee. This idea is often repeated in house church circles in the US, but, imo, doesn't fit well with the text in Revelation.
I think Wolfgang's book can serve as a paradigm-shifting book which is especially suited for Charismatics who emphasize the role of five-fold ministry.
Overall, I really enjoyed the book. It's a good read for those who are interested in such things. I think this book is especially good for Christians who are planning on doing traditional church planting or missions, or a church leader or 'lay person' who wonders why they are unfufilled in a traditional church setting.
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Title: The Church Comes Home: Building Community and Mission through Home Churches by Julia Banks, Robert J. Banks ISBN: 156563179X Publisher: Hendrickson Publishers, Inc. Pub. Date: 01 January, 1998 List Price(USD): $14.95 |
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Title: How to Meet in Homes by Gene Edwards ISBN: 0940232537 Publisher: SeedSowers Pub. Date: August, 2002 List Price(USD): $10.95 |
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Title: Paul's Idea of Community: The Early House Churches in Their Cultural Setting, Revised Edition by Robert J. Banks ISBN: 1565630505 Publisher: Hendrickson Publishers, Inc. Pub. Date: 01 November, 1994 List Price(USD): $12.95 |
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Title: House Church Networks: A Church for a New Generation by Larry Kreider, C. Peter Wagner ISBN: 1886973482 Publisher: House to House Press Pub. Date: May, 2002 List Price(USD): $9.99 |
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Title: The House Church: A Model for Renewing the Church by Del Birkey ISBN: 0836134672 Publisher: Herald Pr Pub. Date: August, 1988 List Price(USD): $18.99 |
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