Exploring the New Testament concept of "house church" as a possible agent for discipleship and faith formation amongst emerging adults in a globalised South Africa

Abstract

Especially in the South, Christianity is experiencing tremendous growth, but there is also a rising global trend which sees young adults abandoning their faith and South Africa is not exempt. The volatility of emerging adulthood alongside other factors such as disillusionment with religious structures has had a negative impact on religiosity and church attendance. Young adults leave the church because it no longer caters for their needs. They are dissatisfied with the same old church programmes and are disappointed with church hypocrisy. Faith formation plans and practices meant to instil Godly character in a person through discipleship seem inadequate at equipping young believers to live as disciples of Christ. Discipleship is often a learned pattern of behaviour associated with observation rather than mere head knowledge. Through mentorship, believers are thought to replicate the life and activities of Jesus. House churches provide the ideal setting through which discipleship and faith formation can occur.