House Churches (find schedule of house churches below)

We are living in a day when the Lord is stirring in remarkable ways to restore the church in our land. If you're like us, you've experienced forms of institutionalized church that fall short in fulfilling Jesus' mandate to "make disciples."

Throughout our culture many who profess Christ "hold the form of religion, but deny the power of it" (2 Timothy 3:5). Too often church leaders (at both local and denominational levels) serve the best interests of the religious institution rather than the cause of Christ. As we work to fulfill the Lord's call to us, we see the "house church" as a way of being the church that looks like the New Testament church.

Real discipleship requires real friendship. A large group gathering where it's easy to remain anonymous, does not invite real growth. The Lord expects us to love one another. It's in walking together through the tough stuff that we discover how real and powerful the Lord is.

We believe that Jesus is fully present in the lives of his followers whenever two or three are gathered in his name to watch over one another in love (Matt. 18:20). We recognize the value of various kinds of small groups like Bible studies and prayer groups. However, we believe that the "house church" is a renewed form of church that the Lord is using in our day to equip the body for more effective outreach and ministry.

When we say "house church" we mean a small gathering of believers meeting regularly under the care of gifted, equipped and called leadership to share the Word of God, the Sacraments, mutual accountability, praise and worship, and outreach. We expect a house church to be a gathering "where divine life and power is manifestly present to glorify God and meet the needs of repentant human beings" (p. 246, Dallas Willard, Renovation of the Heart).

A healthy house church conforms to the description of the early church found in the Book of Acts.

And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching, and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. (Acts 2:42)

It also participates in larger gatherings of celebration for edification and witness.

And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking the bread in their homes, they partook of food with glad and generous hearts praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved. (Acts 2:46,47)

A house church has its own spiritual integrity. It is not merely an adjunct small group of a larger group that is somehow more "church." While it participates with broader expressions of the church in the community in which it resides, a house church is nevertheless fully church. The Holy Spirit is present and at work within the gathered body to equip the saints for the work of ministry (Eph. 4:12) through sacrament, word, order, and outreach.

Even as we experience the immediacy of Christ's presence in the intimacy of the house church, we realize it is important for a house church to be in relationship with the body of Christ beyond itself. The discipline of mutual submission to one another, other house churches, and the broader church maintains the house church in unity and equips it to function as the body of Christ in the world.

House church leaders model mutual submission in the house church and in relationship with other believers and leaders. Authentic spiritual authority flows from this modeling of submission and protects the house church from false teachers and doctrinal error.

We are praying that the Lord would start house churches throughout Tehachapi. We are committed to providing appropriate training and oversight for anyone who feels led to start a house church. We are not looking for control. We seek real fellowship and the fruit that comes through real faithfulness.

We've got a number of house churches meeting at all sorts of times throughout the week. We encourage you to visit any or all of them. If you would like to start a house church or perhaps host a fellowship, we'd love to talk with you.

House Church Opportunities

Gather with Candy and friends each Tuesday.  Prayer is central.  Come and enter into the presence of the Lord!

Every Wednesday men gather for fellowship, prayer, and time in the Word at the Village Grille on Tehachapi Blvd., downtown. We are currently working verse by verse through the Gospel of John. We support Pastor Elisha and his family in India monthly. Come and enjoy great fellowship and always challenging truth from the Word.

The Nixon live at 536 East D St. in Tehachapi. Phone: 822-0751. All are invited.

Kyle and Kris welcome you to join the "wide-open" gathering Thursday evening at the Phillips home in Alpine Forest.  We will be focusing on the Book of Galatians in the weeks ahead..  Come join us as we seek to share our lives and friendship simply and authentically.  Address: 21950 Basil Place; Phone: 822-1752.  Pot-luck begins at 6:00 pm with time in the Word beginning around 7:00 PM.

Pot-luck begins at 6:00 PM followed by study at 7:00 PM.  The Bresslers live at 19819 Jolynn St (off Highline).  Their phone number is 823-7423.

Join Russ Slover and the team as they bring church to those under the care of Tehachapi Hospital. Call Russ for mor info: 822-5673.

We gather Sunday evening for sharing, prayer, and time in the Word.  We meet at Grace Hall, 213 East E Street.