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Gant Garner — Tue, 26 Apr 2011 19:28:43 +0000

This past Easter, my family and I stayed home Sunday morning and had church as a family. I have to admit it was a fantastic experience. We sat in the living room floor and I shared out of scripture he purposeful meaning of Easter and how that hope becomes tangible in my life. My wife and kids each took turns sharing how his applied grace impacts them daily. Everyone shared stories and we had communion as a family. It was very simple but very intimate.

After our time of worship and before lunch, I took time to share with them my heart for community and the idea of living life together with people. I was leading up to something but to be honest I was nervous because it is outside my comfort zone. I took the risk and mentioned the idea of church planting in the form of house churches.

It is something I have been thinking and praying about for a long time. We live in a 24/7 culture and church as we have experienced it has become difficult. It doesn’t make it wrong the way it is being done, but for us it has become strenuous and nearly impossible. For example, due to work schedules and sick kids, my wife hasn’t been able to go to church in almost 3 months. My work schedule isn’t that much better and there aren’t many alternatives. When we are at church, our time is spent separated and then for another hour and a half listening but not engaging one another. I am not knocking corporate large event worship, I am encouraged by that.

My heartbeat is more about bringing the church to life and not life to church. I like the people at church but honestly we don’t live life together regularly. Frankly it is a logistical nightmare. Beyond our common belief and some shared similar life experiences, there isn’t much that binds us. The term regular or everyday doesn’t enter the equation.

It’s at this point in the story that the criticism usually starts and it begins with “priorities”. My response is my faith is my priority. Realistically speaking, not everyone works 9-5 Monday through Friday or is at home when their kids are or when their spouse is. Sometimes for many, life can’t be brought to “church”. The church needs to come to life (double meaning intended).

I don’t have the answers and I am not down on the local church because I love it. Actually, it is for this very reason that we celebrated Easter at home. It is for this reason I believe God has me at a place of unsettling. It is for this reason we will have church again at home again this Sunday night (I work) and invite some others to join us to live life together.

I don’t have a big plan or mapped out strategy. Maybe that comes later or never comes at all. All I know is this is where God has moved our hearts and we will be following Him.

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