Our Practices

We are a work in progress.

Built into our name is the idea of an unfinished and evolving work, and we embody that in our community and in our individual lives, especially as it relates to our relationship with God. We exist to be a community in which people can explore faith, ask questions, and wrestle with doubt, without having to do it on their own.

We meet regularly in small and large gatherings.

Individual communities meet at least weekly, with the anticipation of additional gatherings, with or without the whole of that community, for prayer, meals, service, etc. In those gatherings, there is communion, prayer, worship (including but not limited to singing and/or music), a discussion from scripture, and often a meal. Every other month, all of our communities gather together for a “family reunion” gathering to share what’s going on in our communities and enjoy each other’s company.

We read the Bible. All of it.

All of our communities are on the same daily Bible reading plan, which takes us through the entire Bible in three years. During our weekly gatherings, instead of a sermon, the leaders of our communities facilitate a conversation where every individual contributes from the insights they experienced in scripture that week.

We meet in homes.

Homes are where families meet, share, and live together. They’re where guests are invited in, and they’re where people go for shelter. Homes are where our people are, and our people are the church. Everyone is seen, known, and loved. By meeting in homes, we also have the potential for unlimited growth without the hindrance of costly overhead.

We expect everyone to be a student and a teacher.

Jesus used the word “disciple,” which means follower or student, and he tells us to be students and to teach others to follow. By meeting in smaller communities, everyone can be known and know everyone else and build deep relationships that can weather all of life together.

We include children.

Well-trained parents produce well-trained kids, with the rest of the church functioning as “aunties” and “uncles” for the children. Every group looks different in the way kids are incorporated, whether they’re with everyone the whole time, or in a separate space in the home. We also have regular activities for youth and parents to foster relationships and connections across communities.

We want everyone to use their gifts.

Jesus likened his followers to a body, with every part serving a unique and important purpose. Rather than elevating a few select gifts often highlighted in churches (e.g. speaking, singing), we want everyone to bring and use the gifts that God has given them and create space for those to grow and flourish for the benefit of everyone.

We practice radical generosity.

We have no rent, no staff, no programs, which means we have virtually no operating costs. This allows us to use the money we receive to love and serve our neighbors and those in need, near and far.

We expect to grow.

We expect people to grow in their faith and relationship with God, and we expect our churches to grow in number and multiply. Our groups have a target size of 10-20 adults, after which it is difficult for everyone to be known and utilize their gifts, which is why we regularly expect to multiply as God adds to our numbers. Our primary means of growth is through personal relationship and invitation.

We are for everyone, but we aren’t for everyone.

Our ultimate goal is to follow Jesus and his teachings, which may lead us toward or away from familiar traditions or what you might expect from a church and its people. We love the whole church, and we recognize that the way we think of church is different from what most people in the United States are used to. For that reason, we know that our communities may not be the best fit for everyone, and we are happy to recommend other churches in our area that we respect.

We would love to meet you.

If you are interested in visiting or joining one of our communities, the best way to get to know us is to email us at hello@workingtitle.church.