How Church Is Moving From Buildings to Communities
From Church Buildings to Home-Based Ministry
What’s home-based ministry? Allow me to give some background: When I was a kid, everything seemed to happen at the church building. From evening services to weekly Bible studies and prayer meetings, the church building was the hub of activity. My parents, like so many others, felt the unspoken pressure to attend every function.
I doubt my parents were ever thrilled about carting three boys to church multiple times a week. Not to mention the dressing up (and not acting up) that was expected. Did we ever skip? Every once in a while, but not often. If we didn’t show up, what would people think? What would the pastor say?
Then came the early ’90s, and culture shifted.
A Change in Perspective: Home-based Ministry
Gen-Xers like me started asking, “Why?” Why did everything have to revolve around the church building? Why were so many programs happening inside those walls? The answers often echoed the refrain from Fiddler on the Roof: “Tradition! Tradition!”
People started staying home. Evening services, prayer meetings, and midweek Bible studies were slowly cancelled across denominations. Many Christians were simply churched out of church buildings. Thankfully, you can’t cancel the Holy Spirit.
The Spirit Moves Beyond the Building
Even as traditional church programming declined, the mission of the Gospel remained alive. Evangelism, Bible studies, and prayer meetings didn’t stop—they just moved into homes, neighbourhoods, and community spaces. This shift mirrors the early church’s practices, where believers gathered in homes to break bread and share life.
Acts 2:46-47 describes this beautifully: “And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.”
Why the Shift?
Studies from Barna Group and LifeWay, as highlighted in Christianity Today and Outreach Magazine, reveal that this isn’t just about convenience. It’s about believers wanting to share the Gospel and use their gifts in their own communities, on their own turf.
This doesn’t mean church buildings are obsolete. They still serve as places for Sunday worship and special events. But for many, the warmth and openness of home-based gatherings foster deeper connections that a foyer conversation simply can’t replicate.
A New Expression of Church: Home-Based Ministry
The church building, once the hub, is now just one part of a larger picture. Believers are shifting from pews to communities, embracing authentic relationships and localized ministry. And honestly, I don’t think it’s a bad thing. This movement reflects Matthew 18:20:
“For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.”
While the pendulum may swing back someday, for now, Christians are reshaping how the Church looks. And maybe, just maybe, this is what God intended all along.
Dive Deeper Into Scripture
- “And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts.” (Acts 2:46-47, Read on Bible.com)
- “For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.” (Matthew 18:20, Read on Bible.com)
Join the Conversation; Share Your Thoughts
- How has home-based ministry positively impacted your church or community?
- What are some ways your church can engage more with the local community?
- How does meeting in homes deepen relationships and foster connection?
Hey Jer,
Great thoughts here.
As a church plant that still meets in a school we just don’t have the facility for church building based programs … and it’s actually been great!
By having so much home-based ministry there is a greater opportunity to push ministry into the congregation … less sitting and watching the “experts” do all the ministry and more using your gifts. It’s so cool to see leaders and teachers and shepherds develop in small groups and then reproduce more leaders and disciplers, etc. It’s also great to see so much ministry (caring, praying, digging into the Word, evangelism, community involvement, hospitality, etc) happening all week long and not just on Wednesday night at the church.
I’m not saying I would turn down a free church building 🙂
Hey Kaj,
Great to hear from you!
The description of your church is adding to the list of examples. There is something strange that happens once a congregation moves into their own building. So many times, the building sits empty all week long; save for a few mid-week evening programs.
It’s easy to slip into the mode that says, “now that we have a building, the pastor can handle this without us.” Seemingly, the set-up and take-down of church-plants and other churches without buildings gives an understanding that EVERYONE must do their share to make this thing (the church) exist.
Thanks for taking some of your valuable time to read this article. It was a huge encouragement to see your face in the comments box this morning!