Faith at Home » WhatIs

Who's it for?

Pastor Mark — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 17:14:30 +0000

Do you have a home? An apartment? A dorm room? Is your house full of kids? Are you newly married, single, or now living in an empty nest? Then Faith@Home is for you.

The home—your home, whatever it looks like—is where your faith wears shoe leather. To use a biblical term, it’s where faith becomes incarnate, literally where your faith becomes apparent “in meat.” When this happens, the home is where a faithful person becomes a fruitful person.
It’s obvious really. If we’re different people at home than we are at church on Sunday morning, people notice. On the other hand, if we live out the gracious, loving spirituality that makes a typical Sunday morning such a special time, then people will notice this even more. That’s why we say, “Faith begins at home, or not.”

Jesus said it best, “…let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5:16 ) The people who notice your light will likely be your kids, grand kids, friends, neighbors, and even your co-workers.

Consider that Faith@Home is one of the best strategies for fulfilling the great commission—to go and make disciples of all nations. And you can start doing it right in your own Home.

Why is it important?

Pastor Mark — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 17:22:35 +0000

Reason #1 – The Antidote to Hypocrisy

One of the primary reasons why people leave, or do not engage in, the Christian faith is hypocrisy. Many have grown up in or around Christians who act, dress and behave one way at church while they live a completely different way a part from church.
Faith@Home is critical for both churches and individuals today as it strikes at the core deterrent that is turning many people away from Christianity. Faith@Home is about helping people live a 24/7 Christian lifestyle not a one hour, at church only, Christianity.

Reason #2 – Top Influence

When Christian teenagers were asked to identify the things that influenced them to become and remain Christians the top two influences identified were mom and dad. In fact, mom and dad were two to three times more influential than any church program.
It is clear that what happens at home is more influential than what happens at church. While church programs are important they are secondary in impact to the influence that the home life has on faith development and nurture.

Reason #3 – Multi-Generational Impact

The choices and decisions we make today will not only impact us but it will impact our children and grandchildren as well.
The good news is that the decision we make today, to be a Faith@Home household and Faith@Home focused church, will not only impact us but it will impact future generations as well!

Where does it happen?

Pastor Mark — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 17:17:29 +0000

At home, of course. But that raises an obvious question: What about church? Shouldn’t it be the center of any good Christian’s spiritual life? Actually yes, but the role of the church is to be a life-long partner, not replacement or drop off center. In Deuteronomy 6:20 Moses writes, “In the future, when your son asks you, ”What is the meaning of the stipulations, decrees and laws the Lord our God has commanded you? Tell him…”
When your son or daughter asks you, “What does it mean to be a Christian?” What are you supposed to do? Are you supposed to take them to church and drop them off so the experts can explain it? NO! YOU are supposed to tell him/her.
And the role of the church is to be a place that will help you KNOW the story of Christ and what it means to be a Christian so you can TELL the story and BE the story in the context of your own home. What happens at church is an important reinforcement but it is not the primary process for Christian living.
Martin Luther once stated that we were called to be the Bishops, Apostles and Priests of our own homes. The church will train you, equip you, encourage you and support you in the role you have to be a “Bishop, Apostle, or Priest” in your own home yet we must never lose sight of the fact that what happens in the home is more important than what happens at church. That is where the rubber truly hits the road. That’s why we must be Faith@Home focused individuals living in a life-long partnership with Faith@Home focused churches.