Home Group

Following the day of Pentecost when many people became Christians they met together daily for communion, prayer, teaching and fellowship both in the temple and in their homes (Act 2:42-47). Soon however, friction developed between the traditional religious leaders and the new believers over their belief of Christ’s resurrection. This lead to most of the Jewish Christians being excommunicated (banned) from the temple or synagogues and they were forced to meet solely in private homes.

Throughout the NT reference is made to the ‘house meetings’ in private residences (Rom 16:5; 1 Cor 16:19; Col 4:15; Phm 1:2). This is the concept behind cell or home group meetings which, although still part of the local church's discipling, provide a non-threatening means for fellowship and friendship evangelism along with hospitality (Act 18:26; Heb 13:2). In countries that are aggressively opposed to

Am I part of a small group doing life together?

Christianity, the believers meet secretly in small ‘underground’ groups that do attract the attention of the unsympathetic authorities. These tight knit groups of believers take seriously their faith, hence why they are sometimes called journey groups.

See also: disciple/discipleship, persecution.