I have served as leader of a family-integrated home group for five years. Sometimes people are directed to me with questions about how to deal with gobs and gobs of children, especially young crawly ones. Below is a document that our home group collectively created after studying God's Word for direction in what Christian families should emphasize when they gather together. It is an attempt to define some of the distinctive beliefs and objectives that might be a part of the radical transformation of households and churches to come. Consider it a rough draft to be edited and amended as the Holy Spirit grants wisdom and direction.

Family Based Home Group Beliefs and Objectives

By John Sleadd, Revised January 2004

1. THE SUFFICIENCY OF SCRIPTURE:

We want to study God’s Word, which is sufficient as our constitution for living. We will strive to study the Bible and live in obedience to its commands and principles. (see Isa 55:11; Col 3:16; 2Ti 3:16; Heb 4:12)

2. THE IMPORTANCE OF WORSHIP AND PRAYER:

We want to honor God by acknowledging His goodness and His care for us. We will encourage each other to establish habits of prayer, confession and devotional time spent with the Lord in our homes. We will join together to do the same, desiring to experience a greater presence of the Holy Spirit where families are gathered in home groups or as part of the larger church body. (see Ps 100:1, 2; Ro 12:1; Eph 5:19, 20; 1Th 5:16-18; Heb13; Jas 5:16;)

3. THE FAMILY AND BIBLICAL AUTHORITY:

We want to honor God by obeying his commands for establishing healthy families. We will encourage husbands and fathers to be servant leaders in their homes, loving their wives, and taking the responsibility for training up their children. We will encourage wives and mothers to be a nurturing influence in their homes, practicing hospitality and supporting their husbands as helpers. We believe that children are a gift from God entrusted to our care. We will strive to raise them on biblical principles, encouraging them to live in contented obedience under the authority of God and of their parents. We believe in the principle that “as the family goes, so goes the nation.” Training our children to pass on their faith to their children is our foremost ministry before the Lord. We will therefore strive to instruct our own children in godliness. (see Dt 6:5-9; Jos 24 14, 15; 1Sa 3:12, 13; Ps 127:3-5; Pr 13:24; Pr 22:6; Pr 22:15; Pr 23:13, 14; Mal 2:15; Mt 19:4-6; Ac 16:30, 31; Eph 5:22-27; Eph 6:1-4; 1Ti 3:12; Tit 1:6; Heb 13:17)

4. THE CARE AND FELLOWSHIP OF THE BODY:

We want to live in loving community with other believers in a way that shows God’s love operating in and among us through regular meetings. We desire Christ-centered relationships in our own families, within the small group, and within the larger church body, where accountability, acceptance, encouragement, caring and sharing take place. We desire an atmosphere of joyful fellowship, where family bonds can be strengthened and lasting friendships can be developed. (see Ro 12:10; Ro 12:13; Ro 15:5; ICor 12:22-25; Eph 4:2, 3; Heb 10:24, 25; Heb 13:1; Jas 1:27)

5. SPIRITUAL MATURITY AND MAKING DISCIPLES:

We want to be a positive influence in our culture, yet not be corrupted by it. With a vision of family unity and multi-generational faith, we will abide in Christ and disciple our children toward spiritual maturity and preparation for ministry and marriage. We believe that healthy, god-honoring families are a key evangelistic witness to the world. We also wish to participate in the Great Commission to proclaim the gospel and make disciples of all nations, teaching them what Christ has commanded. We view our households as embassies for Christ, as places for spiritual gifts to be expressed through the ministry of edifying, evangelistic hospitality. (see Pr 27:17; Mt 6:24; Mt 28:19; Ro 12:2; 2Co 10:4, 5; Eph 2:10; Eph 4:11; Eph 5:15-17; Eph 6:10; 1Ti 4:2; 1Pe 3:15; 1Jn 1:15, 16)

DISTINCTIVE FEATURES

Family Integrated – We believe children benefit from being with their parents during worship, prayer, fellowship and study, both in their own homes and when the home group meets. We therefore plan our structured time together to include their participation.
Shared Teaching - We believe men are called to spiritual leadership. We therefore encourage fathers to develop the ability to lead and teach from God’s Word, both on a daily basis in their homes and on a rotating basis in the home group. New believers are encouraged to share what God is doing to transform their lives.
Shared Hosting – We believe God calls believers to practice hospitality. We therefore encourage families to open up their homes to host home group meetings on a rotating basis so that even our houses are used as embassies for ministry.
Discipleship – We encourage the fathers in the home group to meet together periodically for edification, accountability and for planning to more effectively lead their families and direct the group. Many members in our home group have chosen to home educate their children in order to maximize their ability to effectively disciple them in all areas of life, including academics.