Duncan and Rhonda Stewart founded Agape Simple Church House Fellowship, a lay-led house church in Colchester, Essex. In 2021, they felt divinely inspired to establish a simple house fellowship dedicated to loving God, loving others, and making disciples for Jesus Christ. The church embodies Christ’s body, serving as a conduit for His communication and actions, permeating everything with His presence. Agape Simple Church House Fellowship seeks to operate like the early Acts church, embracing simplicity without unnecessary embellishments. The Acts 2:42 church was straightforward, committed to the apostles’ teaching, fellowship, breaking of bread, prayer, and spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ. We are committed to the truth found in God's word. We are dedicated to deepening our relationship with Jesus Christ. We are the Church, extending beyond a mere building. We come from various backgrounds. We are non-denominational, led by God's word rather than human traditions. We are a church family.
The concept of house churches is not new, as early Christians met in each other's homes and temple courts. New Testament churches were small gatherings in homes (Acts 2:46; 20:20). Therefore, attending a house church is biblically valid. House churches offer advantages over large gatherings: closer relationships, greater intimacy, and unity. Historically, Temple Courts served as public venues for teaching, evangelism, prayer, and multi-church gatherings. "Breaking of bread" refers to shared meals, including the Lord’s Supper and daily meals. As the church expanded beyond Jerusalem, temple gatherings became less central. Christians can gather in homes, large buildings, or other venues without biblical conflict. House churches offer benefits like reproducibility, thorough discipleship through participation, a family atmosphere, and better financial stewardship. The Bible does not specify the size or location of church meetings, but it outlines what should occur (Acts 2:42; 1 Corinthians 16:2; 1 Timothy 4:13; 2 Timothy 4:2). As long as biblical teaching and practice are prioritized, the format and location are flexible. Is a home fellowship church right for me check this out here
What does this mean? We will continue to meet in homes, recognizing Jesus as the true head of the church, and remain non-denominational. Jesus died for the church, not for denominations. Agape Simple Church follows a straightforward biblical hierarchy: Jesus → You for individual accountability and at a group level Jesus → You → One-to-Another. While elders are present, ministry and sharing in the Lord are not limited to them. Jesus’s life can be expressed through all church members equally. We are not isolated and are building connections with other house churches in the UK and worldwide. The church is not a building; the curtain was torn from top to bottom, signifying that all are equal in God’s eyes as a priesthood of believers. We maintain honest accountability to each other, focusing on the church's true purpose: 1) teaching biblical doctrine, 2) providing fellowship for believers, 3) observing the Lord’s Supper, 4) praying, and 5) sharing the gospel. Amen. Want to know more about what happens at our fellowship click when we meet