Starting a House Church? Don’t Worry—You Don’t Need to Know Everything

Christian House Church Mission of Washington Blog Edition for This Week

When starting a house church, one of the most common feelings is anxiety.

“I don’t know the Bible well enough…”

“I don’t know how to explain it to my children or spouse…”

You’re not alone. This is something nearly everyone feels at the beginning of their journey.

The Bible—when we look at the full New and Old Testaments—is about 930 pages long and includes over 800,000 words (Old Testament 620,000 words, New Testament 180,000 words). Just that number alone can feel overwhelming.

But here's the good news:

What matters most is Jesus' words—and knowing what is necessary for salvation.

To begin a life of faith, or to lead worship at home, you don’t need to memorize the whole Bible. You don’t even need to understand every book fully right away. What you do need is a clear focus on what Jesus taught us about salvation—and those words are fewer and simpler than you may think.

The Words of Jesus: Surprisingly Few, Eternally Powerful

The actual spoken words of Jesus recorded in the New Testament total about 20,000 –31,000 words, depending on the translation (roughly 10% of the entire Bible). But within those, only a small number directly teach what we must do to be saved.

Here are a few examples:

• Matthew 21:31 – “Truly I tell you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God ahead of you.”

• John 5:24 – “Whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life.”

• John 6:28-29 – “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.”

• John 6:40 – “For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life.”

• Luke 7:50 – “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”
  

Not hundreds of commandments. Not complicated theology.

Just a few verses… but enough to unlock Heaven.

Salvation Is Not Complicated—It’s a Gift

Jesus came to bring salvation to the weary, the burdened, the broken-hearted—not to confuse or discourage us with complexity. His message was full of grace, and His invitation was open to all, especially those who felt unworthy or uninformed.

This is why starting a house church doesn’t require a seminary degree. It simply begins with a heart that says: “Jesus, I believe. Please stay with us.”

Let the Peace of Christ Guard Your Heart

As Paul reminds us in Philippians 4:6-7:

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

That promise wasn’t just for pastors or scholars.

It was for you.

It was for your family.

It was for right now.

So let’s keep going—one step, one prayer, one small home gathering at a time.

You don’t need to know everything.

You just need to know Jesus.