More Law Than Love?
Is it possible that I could be unintentionally presenting God more as law than love, and if so, could I be a stumbling block to to others hearing and receiving the Good News?
Gavin Duerson
husband. dad. simple church alliance. inside joke music.
Am I Willing To Be Misunderstood?
“Am I willing to be misunderstood?” I saw the title of a recent substack article from my friend, singer songwriter, and poet Zach Winters and it mediately cut to my heart. I thought about you here at this site. What a question! I can so easily fail to step out in faith and ever say anything of substance because I am afraid that others will misunderstand me. I want to share things and ask questions here that I haven’t. I have been misunderstood before and it can be debilitating. I’ve attempted to share things on this very site that others have misunderstood and walked away from the conversation after months of an exhausting back and forth which leaves me wishing I hadn’t even tried to express what I was thinking and feeling in the first… Read More »Am I Willing To Be Misunderstood?
Merry Christmas From Simple Church Alliance!
It was wonderful seeing so many of you at this year’s Christmas Gathering! Those unable to come were missed! We pray that all are able to enter into His rest and joy this Christmas and that in the coming year you will experience the reality and depth of His love more than ever before! We hope to see you soon! I leave you with a poem the Richard Jirak shared (via Malcolm Guite) at our Christmas Celebration and some photos from our time together. Kenosis by Lucie Shaw In sleep his infant mouth works in and out. He is so new, his silk skin has not yet been roughed by plane and wooden beam nor, so far, has he had to deal with human doubt. He is in a dream of nipple found, of blue-white… Read More »Merry Christmas From Simple Church Alliance!
Christmas Network Gathering Dec 17
We will host a network Christmas gathering for all friends of Simple Church Alliance on Sunday, December 17 at 10am. This will be a potluck meal and time of encouragement and Christmas music. We hope that this can be a great way for us all to connect over the busy Christmas season. We do ask that everyone please RSVP and let me know if you would like to bring a side dish or dessert by Sunday Dec. 10. We will provide meat and beverages. If you are a part of a simple church community and would like to rsvp for your whole group that would be great. If not, then just let me know directly. Thanks and we look forward to seeing you all! Location: 3060 Harrodsburg Road, Lexington KY. 40503 Please park in the… Read More »Christmas Network Gathering Dec 17
Part 5: Cross Cultural Opportunities
In the last of my five part series, I want to share how my recent trip to visit simple church leaders and house church leaders in Kazakhstan and Italy highlighted the opportunities we have here for cross-cultural relational ministry. Cross Cultural Partnership for House Churches I previously mentioned the wedding we hosted in Italy. At this wedding, one Muslim man approached John wondering why they had done this. John explained that they are Christians, that the mother of the bride was a part of their community, and they were trying to help. The inquirer replied that he wanted to meet and learn more. Christian freedom and hospitality are especially appealing to Muslim immigrants. I learned that many immigrants, contrary to what we may think, are not coming to import their religion. Many are disenchanted with… Read More »Part 5: Cross Cultural Opportunities
Part 4: Intentional Discipleship
Today is part four of a series on my recent trip to meet Kazakhstani and Italian house and simple church leaders. In my last post I shared how the trip re-emphasized to me the importance of seeing church primarily as a “way of life.” Today I reflect on how the importance of intentional discipleship as a characteristic of this way of life was highlighted during my travels. Intentional Discipleship I was really encouraged that many people we encountered emphasized discipleship. Cru and other ministries are making relational investments in many people by focusing on intentional discipleship. David reminded me and others (as he has done as long as I’ve known him): Jesus didn’t call us to start churches but to make disciples. In Kazakhstan, this is happening because disciples are intentionally inviting others into their… Read More »Part 4: Intentional Discipleship
Part 3: Church As A Way Of Life
Over the last two posts, I have shared some of my experiences on my recent trip to meet Kazakhstani and Italian house and simple church leaders. Over the next few posts, I would like to some take-a-ways that I hope will continue to impact my life and those of us here at home. Church As a “Way of Life” On this trip, I was affirmed and encouraged by a key truth that I often repeat: being the Church is a way of life, not a meeting or a service. In my humble opinion, decentralization will be a common feature of the Church in the years to come. This cannot happen quickly enough in Kazakhstan where it seems that “house church” often can still be dependent on professional ministers and programs for training. We know that… Read More »Part 3: Church As A Way Of Life
Part 2: Italy
This is part 2 of a multi-part series on my recent trip overseas to visit with ministry leaders and specifically house/simple church leaders in Kazakhstan and Italy. You can read part 1 about Kazakhstan here. In he next several days I will be sharing some take-a-ways from this experience. But for today… Italy I was greeted in Italy by John (Juan Carlos) and Betsy. I met them through a common friend Ed Magnum during the pandemic. Over the past several years, we have had many conversations online about simple church and they have been excited to be a part of the Simple Church Alliance. I was excited to meet them for the first time in-person. John and Betsy and their two children moved to Osimo, Italy after a visit and their subsequent burden from the… Read More »Part 2: Italy
Overseas Trip: Part 1: Kazakhstan
It’s extremely difficult to put into words what I experienced recently on a trip to visit leaders in the church and specifically house churches in Kazakhstan and Italy. In many ways these destinations provided a polar opposite experience. Yet many of my take-a-ways from meeting the believers in each place were the same and may have direct lessons for us here in America. In the next few days, I’m going to share about these experiences. Today is part 1: Kazakhstan. Tomorrow I’ll share about my time in Italy and then a few posts on my take-a-ways from the experience. I hope you are encouraged from this series! Kazakhstan The purpose of my trip here was first and foremost to accompany my good friend David Toth. David is a leader of a simple church in Ohio… Read More »Overseas Trip: Part 1: Kazakhstan
Church Is Simple! (An encouraging letter from a friend)
Karla and I recently were able to host two longtime friends who helped lead a simple church here in Lexington several years ago. While their jobs have led them out of state, they have remained an important part of our extended family of faith. I was so encouraged by a follow up email I received from Joy that I asked if she would consider editing it to sharing here on this site! May it encourage you as well… We had a wonderful time with Gavin and Karla and their kids on Sunday and are so grateful for the connections God forged for us in Lexington KY. We’ll be part of the same family for all eternity! We had a blessed, divine appointment on Monday morning, and it began with memories of our simple church meeting… Read More »Church Is Simple! (An encouraging letter from a friend)