| ![]() |
| | 
| | | "House Churches" | |
 House churches are set forth by God in His Word in the book of Acts and later expounded upon in the Epistles by Paul. However, 1st Century believers gathered in the temple and from house to house. It is vital that those who endorse the
house church model do not become "anti-institutional church," nor should they become caught up in the house church movement being advertised as the "next big thing." Humble obedience to the shared-life Biblical model of house churches, the Spirit-led proclamation of God's Word and the demonstration of the Holy Spirit's confirming power will enable believers to rightly manifest 3 basic tenets of the Church at large - simplicity, spirituality and God's loving power. The
institutional church is not the end. Neither are house churches. We are all built together into a habitation for God (Ephesians 2:19-22).
| | "Internet Ministries" | |
 With the advent of the world wide web, many doors to take the Gospel "to the uttermost parts of the earth" have been opened to believers the world over. In ever-evolving and innovative ways, followers of Christ are being inspired by God to set forth the Truth of His love and saving power on the Internet. Internet ministries have the opportunity to reach certain groups of people that will never be reached by classic local churches. And this opportunity is potent; in its 5 years of existence, for example, the Praisetown website and its affiliated ministries and outreaches were used by God to lead many people to Christ. If believers will listen, God is just beginning.
| | "Creative Ministries" | |
 Calling a ministry "alternative" is quite humorous. Jesus and His followers, our standard, were nothing but alternative in the ways they shared the Truth. Jesus preached in temples, on hills, in boats and in the homes of unbelievers. He made mud with His spit to heal a blind man, and stuck His spit-covered fingers into a deaf man's ears to heal him. John the Baptist wore camelskin clothes, ate bugs and wild honey, wouldn't go into town, yelled at Pharisees and baptized people in the dirtiest river around. The apostles ministered to formerly shunned Gentiles, preached in prisons, and even led members of Caesar's own household to Christ. God is our Creator. He is creativity. We, who are formed in His image, will be creative beyond our own abilities when we follow the leading of God's Spirit.
All Rights Reserved, 1995-2007
153 House Churches Network
| | |
| | What Is 153? |
The 153 House Churches Network's house churches, institutional churches, para-church ministries and Internet ministries are located throughout the world. We consider ourselves believers who are one with all God's people, and not churches that are separate from others. We work together in the harvest as led by God's Spirit to win souls and make disciples for our Lord Jesus Christ, to the end that "we will in all things grow up into Him
who is the Head, that is, Christ (Ephesians 4:15)."
| | | 153 Is A Servant of the Church at Large |
153 is committed to the
manifested oneness of the Body of Christ at
large, and not just certain
"factions" of it. In pursuit of this, 153 works closely and actively with many institutional churches and ministries.
| | | Terminology at 153 | |
Although we use the term "house churches" at this site, it is used primarily for the purpose of clarity. We do model the daily practices of the Church in Acts and beyond, but we
don't, in some other ways, resemble what are sometimes called "house churches" today.
Typically, we do not feel either united with or allegiant to one house church or another, but rather we feel united with
and allegiant to Christ and each other. Further-more, we will gather in houses, parks, malls, camping grounds, local restaurants - anywhere - as led by the Holy Spirit.
|  | |
