Definition Pursued

I have been chasing some definition to my spiritual journey since I departed from a traditional organized church about one year ago. What is essential as I follow Christ? What truly transforms my faith walk and life as I follow him? How do I avoid religion? How do I avoid repeating my recent experience -- being sucked into being uber-busy at church, without being connected there or in my neighborhood? How do I avoid a staleness and a faith rut as I desire to age gracefully?

I was recently reading information from RockHarbor, Costa Mesa. I have found similar points of growth reflected at Westminster Chapel (Bellevue, WA -- my friend works there), and The Chapel (Akron, OH - my parents church and my church of origin). I really identified with some things stated there and the simplicity of the concepts, though complex and deep in opportunity. I'll share their ideas:

"What is the path to transformation? Celebration. Community. Service." [RockHarbor]

Celebration: RockHarbor wrote that weekends are the "celebration services – an expectant gathering to seek and respond to God through teaching, music, communion, giving, and prayer."

Community: "Life groups are simply groups of people who meet during the week to dive deeper into the weekend's message through the study of God's word, worship, and prayer. In addition to caring for one another, Life Groups also embrace the Biblical call to be Christ’s ambassadors by serving together within our own communities."

Service: (see below)

For me, this helped crystallize some parts of following Christ and how our house group fits. My view continues to evolve with new conversation and learning. Spiritual transformation is my heart's desire, and I agree that these broad components for me are essential. I am responsible to commit to these values and find opportunities to pursue them.

1. Celebration: For me at this time, this happens in two ways -
a. Participation in our house church monthly communion feasts
b. Attending gatherings on Saturday nights at Whittier Area Community Church. [I won't go into detail here about why I respect what's going on at WACC, and why it is a decent fit for me at this time. I still have BIG questions about what God desires from local traditional organized churches and my responsibility.]

2. Community: For me, this begins with the house church that I call "Milton House," which meets mid-week in a local home. I am deeply committed to the time and people in this small group, the church as modeled in the New Testament. I cannot grow without this connection to a small community focused on "mid-week gatherings for prayer, encouragement, and deeper study" of God's Word together.

3. Service: I agreed with what RockHarbor stated - "God is also shaping us and stretching us as we take steps together to serve. Whether serving 'inside' to help with the weekly operations of the church, or serving 'outside' to people in need, God is calling us out of our comfort zone. We are not spectators. We are called to get out of the stands and into the game, to serve Him and one another with love and grace."

To me, our house church group is distinctive from a Sunday service and from a regular Bible study. Here are the distinctions in my opinion:
A. Commitment to participate consistently and to share life, as we learn to love and care for one another as we truly get to know each other.
B. Digging in God's Word in conversation with others where tough questions are welcome.
C. Moving on to serve, as opposed to pew-sitting Sunday after Sunday. We are taking steps together to grow in serving and will continue to determine God's opportunities for us big and small, through giving, sharing, and action.

We seek to "find out what God is doing" and respond in asking "how can we get in on that."

What does house church mean to you? How does it serve as a key component as you follow Christ?