Houses that Change the World

Rating:
Summary: Good book!!!
Review: Wolfgang Simson presents a vision for planting house churches. 'House church' is the terminology used to describe a return to a more primitive, New Testament type of gathering. These house churches generally have meetings in which believers in the congregation use their gifts to edify one another per I Cor. 14:26 and Hebrews 10:24-25. Many in this movement desire to have strong relationships with one another, rather than a superficial handshake once a week at church meetings.

Wolfgang Simson gives readers a vision of how house churches can be planted, and how these home meetings are a good tool for evangelism. The book describes practical ways in which believers can build one another up in the Lord. His explanation of house churches in church history was very interesting. The book was an exciting read for me.

I got the impression that Wolfgang Simson's view of church government was a bit more like a cell church system put into house church packaging. For example, he presented the idea that a 'pastor' is responsible for many house churches--with the house churches having elders. Many house church advocates see the elevation the role of the one-man pastorate as not scriptural. Wolfgang's view of an apostle as someone who gives others a vision, etc. seems a bit atypical when compared to the views of many house church people in the US. Some see Acts 13 as a model for apostles--with apostles being sent out on evangelistic missions to plant churches. The views presented of five-fold ministries seem similar to institutional cell church views of these roles in the Charismatic movement. The book 'felt' a little like something coming from the Third Wave of Charismatic movement to me.

Another concern of mine is the brief re-hashing of the teaching that 'Nicolaitan' refers to clergy, which shows up in a quote from Watchman Nee. This idea is often repeated in house church circles in the US, but, imo, doesn't fit well with the text in Revelation.

I think Wolfgang's book can serve as a paradigm-shifting book which is especially suited for Charismatics who emphasize the role of five-fold ministry.

Overall, I really enjoyed the book. It's a good read for those who are interested in such things. I think this book is especially good for Christians who are planning on doing traditional church planting or missions, or a church leader or 'lay person' who wonders why they are unfufilled in a traditional church setting.

Rating:
Summary: Good book!!!
Review: Wolfgang Simson presents a vision for planting house churches. 'House church' is the terminology used to describe a return to a more primitive, New Testament type of gathering. These house churches generally have meetings in which believers in the congregation use their gifts to edify one another per I Cor. 14:26 and Hebrews 10:24-25. Many in this movement desire to have strong relationships with one another, rather than a superficial handshake once a week at church meetings.

Wolfgang Simson gives readers a vision of how house churches can be planted, and how these home meetings are a good tool for evangelism. The book describes practical ways in which believers can build one another up in the Lord. His explanation of house churches in church history was very interesting. The book was an exciting read for me.

I got the impression that Wolfgang Simson's view of church government was a bit more like a cell church system put into house church packaging. For example, he presented the idea that a 'pastor' is responsible for many house churches--with the house churches having elders. Many house church advocates see the elevation the role of the one-man pastorate as not scriptural. Wolfgang's view of an apostle as someone who gives others a vision, etc. seems a bit atypical when compared to the views of many house church people in the US. Some see Acts 13 as a model for apostles--with apostles being sent out on evangelistic missions to plant churches. The views presented of five-fold ministries seem similar to institutional cell church views of these roles in the Charismatic movement. The book 'felt' a little like something coming from the Third Wave of Charismatic movement to me.

Another concern of mine is the brief re-hashing of the teaching that 'Nicolaitan' refers to clergy, which shows up in a quote from Watchman Nee. This idea is often repeated in house church circles in the US, but, imo, doesn't fit well with the text in Revelation.

I think Wolfgang's book can serve as a paradigm-shifting book which is especially suited for Charismatics who emphasize the role of five-fold ministry.

Overall, I really enjoyed the book. It's a good read for those who are interested in such things. I think this book is especially good for Christians who are planning on doing traditional church planting or missions, or a church leader or 'lay person' who wonders why they are unfufilled in a traditional church setting.