A STUDY ON THE HOUSE CHURCH REFLECTED IN LIFE AND THEOLOGY OF ROBERT BANKS

1. Reclaiming the Biblical Origins of "Church" Hong traces the word "church" back to its Hebrew roots - קָהָל (qahal) and עֵדָה (edah) - showing that the concept of a covenant assembly predates Pentecost by millennia. Through analysis of how these terms became ἐκκλησία and συναγωγή in the Septuagint, and how early English translators chose "church" over the more accurate "assembly," Hong reveals how translation choices have long obscured the organic, relational nature of God's people. 2. Robert Banks and the House Church Ideal The theological center of the dissertation is Robert Banks, whose writings Hong presents as the most faithful contemporary recovery of the New Testament church. Banks' vision - centered on community as lifestyle, participatory worship, collective leadership, and the sacredness of everyday vocation - stands as a compelling alternative to the hierarchical, program-driven models dominating modern church life. Hong reads Banks not as a radical innovator but as a faithful restorer of something ancient. He provides a detailed introduction to Dr. Chai, Young-gi's house church model, which originated in the United States and later spread throughout Korea and around the world. 3. Historical Corruption and the Call for Reformation From Constantine's institutionalization of the church through the medieval period, the partial corrections of the Reformation, and the mammonism of the contemporary megachurch, Hong traces a recurring drift away from the relational, Spirit-driven community of the first century. Just as Luther's Reformation was necessary 500 years ago, Hong argues a new reformation is required today - one grounded in the dynamics of the house church. 4. Missional Theology and Practical Application Integrating the missional frameworks of Charles Van Engen, Donald McGavran, and Ralph Winter, Hong argues that the house church's small size, relational depth, and lay-led flexibility make it uniquely suited for evangelism and discipleship. He further examines Dr. Chai Young G.'s house church model, which was developed in the United States and subsequently expanded worldwide. The dissertation concludes with a detailed real-world case study: a nine-month Natural Church Development implementation plan for a Korean-American congregation in Southern California, complete with leader training schedules, terminology transitions, and measurable attendance outcomes.