House church in our time

Dear Church Family,

Today, because of the inclement weather, we gathered not in our church building but in our homes, worshiping together through our RockSpring online service. During the COVID-19 pandemic a few years ago, I found myself in a similar place. I am not really a tech-savvy person and I had to teach myself how to use my phone to record messages, edit files, and distribute them to the congregation completely alone. I had no assistance, no sound system, no media team, and certainly no formal training from seminary for this kind of ministry. Yet in that unexpected season, God called me to trust Him and continue releasing His Word, even under imperfect conditions. Through that experience, I learned two important spiritual truths. First, God never wastes anything. Even our limitations, struggles, and moments of isolation are gathered by Him and used in His perfect timing for His glory. Second, worship in our homes gives us a meaningful opportunity to rediscover what the Church truly is—not a building or a fancy production, but the gathered people of God, united in Christ, wherever they may be.

The early church, as we see in the New Testament, did not worship in large buildings with elaborate lighting or sound systems. They met in homes. Scripture tells us, “Day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts” (Acts 2:46, ESV). The church was not defined by a structure, but by a people gathered around Christ. History also reminds us how deeply God’s people have treasured His Word. Jewish communities, especially after the destruction of the Temple in AD 70, devoted themselves to memorizing Scripture. Many Jewish children were taught to commit large portions of the Torah, the Psalms, and the Prophets to memory. We call this "Internalizing the Torah or Torah she-be‘al peh – תּוֹרָה שֶׁבְּעַל־פֶּה meaning, Oral Torah" This was not merely an academic exercise, but a spiritual discipline born out of necessity—if scrolls were lost or destroyed, the Word of God would still live in the hearts of the people (cf. Deuteronomy 6:6–9; Psalm 119:11). I believe this is an area where we as Christians need to be challenged and awakened.

While we may not face persecution today in the same way the early Christians did under the Roman Empire, many scholars and church leaders agree that we are entering a time of increasing spiritual conflict. Faithfulness to Christ may become more costly, more countercultural, and more difficult to sustain in public spaces. Jesus Himself warned His disciples, “In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world” (John 16:33). This is why worship in the church building is vitally important—but it is not sufficient on its own. Our homes must also become worshiping communities. When families pray together, read Scripture together, sing together, and center their lives on Christ, the church becomes resilient. If a day comes when gathering freely is restricted, God’s people will still be able to worship wherever they are—just as Paul and Silas did in prison (Acts 16:25).

The church has always grown strongest not merely in sanctuaries, but around tables, in living rooms, and in the quiet faithfulness of daily life. Let us therefore use moments like today not as interruptions, but as reminders. Christ is present wherever His people call upon His name. “For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them”(Matthew 18:20). May our homes become sacred sanctuaries, our families living testimonies, and our hearts dwelling places for the Word of God. I missed you all today. Looking forward to seeing you soon in person.

Grace and peace to you all,

Rev. Won D. Kim

The Lead Pastor of RockSpring Church