Global House Church Movement

This is the book I've been looking for for so long! I've known something wasn't quite right with our church worship and this book has helped me understand better what has been lacking. I've believe John Wesley knew this, others before and after him have felt the need to return to a 1st Century model church as found in Acts chapter 2. This is not the only book or group doing this but its the clearest writing I think you can find on why and how to be a "church" vice a country club for reformed sinners. You haven't read this yet? What are you waiting for?

Rad Zdero presents an argument for house church assembly in a balanced, thorough, persuasive and kind way. For me it resulted in encouragement and conviction that not only were these truths Scriptural but also that there was historical evidence of our Father using this return to a more New Testament practice to further his kingdom. The Global House Church Movement covers the biblical foundation for believers gathering in small groups with interactive participatory meetings. This house church movement is examined from the early church until recent history. Statements and practices of church fathers as Martin Luther and John Wesley are examined as they relate to the assembling of believers. Perhaps the most encouraging is the accounts of contemporary house church movements taking place around the globe today even as the institutional churches struggle in many countries.Rad's radical principles of the house church movement are perceptive so I will mention at least a few: the declaration of a present God versus an absent God, an apostolic heritage versus a man-made institution, a relevant mission versus a religious mission, a common people versus a holy clergy and common goods versus holy fees. Finally practical considerations of church planting and assembling are considered. I found Global House Church Movement to be a great resource and personally convicting.authorCorinthian Elders

I'm a church planter in the south of France. I found this book to be not an excellent encyclopedia, but rather an excellent Manifesto of sorts possessing the revolutionary dynamite of Luther's "95" rather then the extensive and scholarly Calvin's "Institutions".He sums up well the main points of the House Church movement while being respectful of those Christians who do not meet for worship in homes but rather special buildings. He chooses his words carefully and I therefore would want to recommend this book to anyone tiered with traditional models of church or who are looking to plant a new church.

Although I agree with the thesis of this book entirely, it did not live up to its billing. One would suppose that the author's PhD would equip him in some way to speak authoritatively on his subject, but his degree is in Mechanical Engineering! The book does not add anything significant to the literature on house churches. His treatment on the usage the New Testament word, "ekklesia" merely follows the traditional line. His statement that ekklesia is used in the New Testament to describe house church, citywide church, regional church and universal church ignores Robert Bank's research and shows inexperience in dealing with the New Testament text. At best, Zdero's book serves as a cursory introduction to the subject but its billing as scholarly is misleading. Even as an introduction, it contains errors, which further limits its usefulness. I would not be so hard on the book if my expectations had not been built up so high by those who recommended it and endorsed it. I guess this is a lesson to all Christian authors to show a little more humility in the promotion of their books.

Outside of the Bible, I would certainly say that this book is the finest yet written on the subject of house church. It is informative and inpiring. It is rooted in history with an eye on the current situation of the world. It is Biblical and practical. In summary, n excellent read for anyone interested in the subject - at any stage of belief. Rad brings the subject home.