가정교회 운동 33년이 되면서 가정교회 목회 현장에서 반복적으로 발생하는 수많은 문제를 해결할 수 있는 지혜를 발견하여 서로 공유하게 되었습니다. 그 중에 하나가 ‘가정교회 = 목장’이라는 등식을 깨야 건강한 가정교회 목회를 할 수 있다는 것입니다. 

가정교회 목회 현장에서 ‘가정교회 = 목장’이란 등식이 생기면 2가지 문제가 생긴다고 합니다.

첫째로, 가정교회를 쉽게 생각하거나 만만하게 생각하게 됩니다. 누구나 목자 목녀 서약서에 동의하면 목자목녀로 헌신하여 대행목자(목녀)가 될 수 있기에 성도들 입장에서 가정교회 목회를 쉽게 생각하고 만만하게 생각할 수 있습니다.

둘째로, 목장 사역이 어려워지면 누구든지 쉽게 가정교회를 포기하게 됩니다. 매주 모이는 목장모임을 평생해야 하는데 목장모임을 해야 하는 깊은 의미를 발견하지 못하면 목장식구들이나 뷔아이피들은 매너리즘에 빠져서 목장모임에 매주 참석할 이유를 발견하지 못하게 되고, 목자목녀들은 사역에 지치거나 탈진하게 됩니다. 그러다 보면 가정교회 목회를 더 할 수 없는 어려운 상황에 빠지게 됩니다. 결국 신약교회를 회복해가는 가정교회 목회보다 내 감정, 내 자존심이 더 중요하고, 내 가정이나 일터의 상황이 더 중요해지기 때문에 쉽게 목장을 포기하고 가정교회를 포기하게 되는 아이러니 현상이 생기게 되는 것입니다.

 

그러면 ‘가정교회= 목장'이 아니면 무엇일까요?  박종국 목사(울산다운공동체교회)는 ‘가정교회=문화'라고 볼 수 있어야 한다고 강조하며 주장합니다. 저도 18년동안 가정교회 현장에 있었기에 박목사님의 주장에 100% 동의가 되었습니다. 우리교회 목자목녀들이 영적 탈진을 이기고 어려운 환경에서 가정교회 목회를 계속할 수 있었던 이유가 우리 교회는 이미 가정교회 문화(성경대로, 섬기는 리더십, 3축 4기둥에 기초한 가정교회 세미나 주최)가 정착되었기 때문입니다. 그러므로 이제 우리는 ‘가정교회= 문화’ 라는 공식을 붙잡고 이것을 지속적으로 계승해 가야 합니다. 사역은 단순히 사람을 바꾸어 일을 반복하는 것이 아니라 ‘성경적 가치관이 공동체의 삶의 방식으로 자리 잡은 문화’를 다음 세대에 물려주는 것이 되어야 하기 때문입니다.

 

우리 시드니 새생명교회가 “아직 끝나지 않은 사역 이야기”를 써 내려가며 함께 계승해야 할 세 가지 문화를 나눕니다.  

첫째, 섬김의 리더십으로 사역하는 평신도 사역자입니다. 교회를 세우는 주인공은 목사가 아니라 섬김의 리더십을 가진 평신도들(목자목녀목부)입니다. 목회자의 지시를 따르는 수준을 넘어, 스스로 영혼을 품고 세우는 사역의 주체가 되는 리더십 문화가 우리 자녀들에게까지 이어져야 합니다.

둘째, 익숙한 울타리를 넘어 열방을 품는 목장입니다. 가족이나 지인이라는 편안한 관계를 넘어, 이 땅 시드니에 나그네로 와 있는 다민족 형제들(사마리아인)에게까지 복음의 손길을 뻗치는 전도 문화가 우리 공동체의 DNA가 되어야 합니다.

셋째, 성경적 세계관이 당연하게 여겨지는 공동체입니다. 세속적 가치관이 아니라 기도로 성령님의 인도를 받고, 하나님이 아니면 설명할 수 없는 기적을 날마다 경험하는 사도행전적 문화가 자리 잡아야 합니다. 그래야 세상 문화에 무방비로 노출된 우리 다음 세대를 지켜낼 수 있습니다.

계승(Succession)은 곧 지속(Sustainability)을 의미합니다. 단순히 목장 모임을 유지하는 것을 넘어, 우리가 지켜온 이 성경적인 교회를 세워가기 위한 거룩한 정신과 섬김의 리더십을 우리 자녀들의 삶 속에 ‘문화’로 심어주는 일에 우리 모두가 힘을 모아야 합니다.  

 

사랑하는 교우 여러분, 이 길은 분명 힘든 도전이 될 수 있을 것입니다. 그러나 10년, 20년 후 다음 세대를 생각할 때 이보다 더 가치 있는 투자는 없습니다. 우리 함께 이 아름다운 거룩한 하나님나라 문화를 세워가고 계승하는 영광스러운 여정을 지속해 나가길 소망해 봅니다.

 

 

2026년 3월 8일 주일 아침에,

여러분의 목사, 강승찬 드림

 

 

 

<Issue No. 26-10> “Is House Church = House Church Group (Mokjang)? No. House Church = Culture”

 

As the house church movement reaches its 33rd year, we have discovered wisdom that helps resolve many of the recurring issues encountered in house church ministry, and we have been sharing these insights with one another. One of these insights is that healthy house church ministry can only take place when we break the equation “House Church = House Church Group (Mokjang).” When the equation “House Church = Mokjang” becomes established in house church ministry settings, two problems tend to arise.

First, people begin to think of house church lightly or treat it as something easy. Since anyone who agrees to the shepherd (mokja/moknyeo) pledge can devote themselves and become a shepherd (or assistant shepherd), members of the congregation may begin to think that house church ministry is something simple or manageable.

Second, when the mokjang ministry becomes difficult, people can easily give up on the house church altogether. Mokjang groups meet every week for life, but if people do not discover the deeper meaning behind these gatherings, the members and VIPs (non-believing guests) can fall into spiritual routine or complacency and no longer see a reason to attend weekly meetings. Meanwhile, shepherds may become tired or burned out from ministry. Eventually, this can lead to a difficult situation where continuing house church ministry feels impossible.

As a result, rather than prioritising the restoration of the New Testament church through house church ministry, one’s personal emotions, pride, family situation, or work circumstances become more important, leading people to easily give up their mokjang and ultimately the house church itself. This ironic situation can occur. Then if “House Church ≠ mokjang,” what is it? Pastor Park Jong-guk (Ulsan Down Community Church) strongly emphasises that we must understand “House Church = Culture.” Having served in house church ministry for 18 years myself, I fully agree with Pastor Park’s perspective.

The reason our church’s shepherds were able to overcome spiritual exhaustion and continue house church ministry even in difficult circumstances is that a house church culture has already been firmly established in our church—a culture grounded in living according to Scripture, servant leadership, and the house church seminars based on the “Three Axes and Four Pillars.” Therefore, we must now firmly hold onto the principle that “House Church = Culture” and continue to pass it down. Ministry is not simply about changing people and repeating tasks. Rather, it is about passing on to the next generation a culture in which biblical values become the way of life for the community. As Sydney Mew Life Church continues writing the story of “a ministry that is not yet finished,” I would like to share three cultures that we must inherit together.

First, lay ministers who serve through servant leadership.

The main builders of the church are not the pastors but the lay leaders who practice servant leadership (shepherds and shepherdesses). Beyond simply following the pastor’s instructions, a culture of leadership must develop in which lay leaders personally embrace souls and become active agents of ministry. This leadership culture must continue even to our children.

Second, mokjang that embrace the nations beyond familiar boundaries.

Rather than remaining within comfortable relationships such as family or acquaintances, our evangelistic culture must extend the hand of the gospel to the multinational brothers and sisters (like Samaritans) who have come to Sydney as strangers. This must become part of our community’s DNA.

Third, a community where a biblical worldview is naturally embraced.

Instead of following secular values, we must pray and be guided by the Holy Spirit, experiencing daily the kind of miracles that cannot be explained apart from God—an Acts-like culture. Only then can we protect the next generation, who are constantly exposed to the influences of worldly culture. Succession also means sustainability. Beyond simply maintaining mokjang meetings, we must work together to plant within our children’s lives the holy spirit of building a biblical church and the leadership of servant-hearted ministry as a lasting culture.

Dear beloved church family, this path will certainly be a challenging one. However, when we think about the next generation 10 or 20 years from now, there is no investment more valuable than this. I hope that together we will continue this glorious journey of building and passing on the beautiful and holy culture of God’s Kingdom.

Sunday Morning, March 8, 2026

Your Pastor, Seung-chan Kang