COTTAGE MEETINGS

Christians arrange a meeting in their private homes. It is simply a private gathering of neighbors, relatives, and friends. In the background of a birthday, a wedding anniversary, a memorial day, or a thanksgiving for God's faithfulness and grace in their life, etc.

Such gatherings are a blessing because they allow us to reach out to and teach new seekers in their natural setting. It includes believers, neighbors, friends, relatives, associates, community leaders, and so forth. It is a scriptural pattern and has a successful aspiration of bringing the Word of God to people and bringing people to God.

Cottage meetings are an excellent opportunity for brothers and sisters in Christ to get to know each other and praise God together from house to house (Acts 2:46-47). And the advantages are:

• A private home is a more friendly place than a church hall to introduce new seekers to the gospel and local Christians.
• The meeting can be tailored to suit the special needs of contacts. This is a way of "making the most of the opportunity" (Colossians 4:5).
• Cottage meetings can supplement the teaching and feeding of the church and may concentrate on the needs of individual members. (Ephesians 4:15-16).
• Very effective cottage meetings can consist of simple prayers, Bible readings, and songs (2 Timothy 3:16-17, Philippians 4:6, Ephesians 5:19-20).

Peter the Apostle was invited by Cornelius to speak at a famous "cottage meeting" (Acts 10:22-24).