House Church and Mission

Scot McKnight summarizes these highlights from House Church and Mission;what he calls "the most significant book ever written on house churches in the 1st Century":

1. Jesus centered his ministry in Peter’s house in Capernaum (Mark 1:29, 33; 2:1; 3:20; 9:33) and from there he launched missional work and in that home they prayed, worshiped, and learned at the feet of Jesus. There is solid archaeological data for this stuff.
2. Jesus sent his disciples out and expected them to establish missional centers in communities by founding a house church. (Matthew 10)
3. The Jerusalem church was established through house churches (Acts 2:42-47).
4. Paul’s ministry was to establish house church missional centers (Romans 16).

The basic history of church architecture development is:

1. House churches until about 150 AD.
2. Church houses (houses converted into houses devoted almost entirely, or at least several major rooms, to church). Until 250 AD or so.
3. Basilica/hall-length churches. From c. 250 on.

Scot McKnight