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Free Music: A Simple Church Christmas Vol. 2

I wanted to pass along this free download to A Simple Church Christmas Vol. 2! Every year we invite simple church communities and their friends to come together and celebrate Christ’s birth. In addition to enjoying fellowship and food, we have enjoyed sharing the story of Christmas through song. Several years ago we released volume one of these recordings and now I have for you volume two featuring recordings from our past two Christmas Celebrations! As we get ready for Christmas and our this year’s Simple Church Christmas Celebration on December 17th I wanted to edit and make these available!  We hope you enjoy them and these recordings become a wonderful soundtrack to your Christmas season!  We hope you can join us when we come together again on December 17! To Listen or Download 1. Click… Read More »Free Music: A Simple Church Christmas Vol. 2

Is God Counting?

What if God is not counting our sins against us? This seems like a silly question, because if you are reading this, there is a good chance you are a Christian, and you would know to say to me, “Of course He is not counting our sins against us!”  However, if an adulterer was sitting in front of you, would you say, “Good news!  God does not count your sins against you!”  Perhaps you may not be so sure that He is not counting in such a situation?  He is only not counting the sins of those who have first showed some sign of sadness for their sins, right?  Only then does God stop counting, right? I have certainly thought I believed that He is not counting, but I have acted as though He is (i.e. not really believed… Read More »Is God Counting?

Two Churches at The Same Time

One of the take-a-ways from my time with Lee Wood at our simple church conference was the simple concept of “two churches at the same time.” One of the biggest challenges for simple churches is grasping how we can be a committed and intimate community of believers that also grows into multiple simple churches.  Growing together and outward can seem at odds.  Often, our minds are bent toward the “splitting” (grow the group and then split it in half when it gets too big).  Others envision sending folks out of the group to start new groups as opportunities arise.  Because we perceive that both of these options neccesitate saying goodbye to those we love and enjoy, we can be consciously or subconsciously averse to both. This is where being in two churches at the same… Read More »Two Churches at The Same Time

Simple Church Conference – Retreat 2017

Connect with and learn alongside simple/house/organic church practitioners from around the region at this year’s simple church conference/retreat. This year, we welcome Lee and Stacy Wood from Tampa, FL. Lee and Stacy have seen God birth over a hundred house churches throughout the Tampa area in the last several years as Jesus’s followers have been empowered and encouraged to be the Church in their neighborhoods, workplaces and areas of influence. We encourage you to bring the whole family this year and enjoy a time together of refreshment and encouragement around the campfire, on a hike through the Jessamine Gorge, and in times of worship and story-telling together. During our “gathering” times, school age children will be able to participate in separate leadership activities if parents desire. Meals will be provided on site.   Lee and… Read More »Simple Church Conference – Retreat 2017

A Story of Real Multiplication In Tampa, Florida

Below is a link to a podcast that features the story of Lee Wood.  I met Lee last year when in Tampa meeting with other simple church leaders involved with the Zume Project.  He considered my song “Mega House Church” a genius work of art, so of course we hit it off! Lee’s story will encourage anyone who has lost faith in the church in the US or who has a hard time imagining how His church and Kingdom can expand without the buildings, budgets, programs and professional Christians we have grown accustomed to.  Lee is a genuinely humble guy, as you will hear.  His tears are real.  His story is real.  The multiplication he is talking about is real. Often times we hear talk about “multiplication” of disciples and churches, but when we dig… Read More »A Story of Real Multiplication In Tampa, Florida

Francis Chan – Rethinking Church (Video)

I’d like to thank my friend Brian for sharing this short video of Francis Chan “rethinking church.”  Francis Chan left his mega church about the same time we started down the simple church road and . observing his journey from mega church to multiplying house or simple churches has been encouraging!  Due to his prominent voice in the American church, he is also helping others who share his convictions find courage to explore church outside the box. In this video, he gives is a great 10 minute explanation of simple church and what we are trying to encourage here!  In recent posts we have discussed evaluating our churches.  Does your church family look like this?  What changes would have to be made in your life to help your church family function more like what Francis… Read More »Francis Chan – Rethinking Church (Video)

“Church At The Place” Testimony

The following is a story from Kaleb and Kate’s most recent update. Their group started calling their simple church “Church At The Place.”  You can read the entire newsletter, hear about some amazing things God is up to, as well as know how to pray for and support their simple church’s outreach to local young adults and youth here.  You can also see videos of recent baptisms on Kaleb’s Facebook page here.  ————- JP is a young man who has come to our Wednesday night simple church several times over the past two years, but last month he showed up after being invited every Wednesday by one of our young believers. God had already been working in JP’s life when he showed up that night. We had a big crowd of young people and JP was kind… Read More »“Church At The Place” Testimony

Evaluating Your Simple Church (Part 2)

In my last post, I discussed the importance of evaluating your simple church.  Today, I would like to suggest a guideline to help simple or house churches evaluate their communities.  Once again, the attitude and heart behind any evaluation is the most important part.  If not done with humility, love, and a desire to become all that Jesus desires for your community to be, attempts at evaluation can easily slide into a discouraging time where harsh judgment and legalistic remedies prevail.  Nonetheless, just as it would be important for a couple to communicate about ways they can improve their marriage and family, the same is true for the people who are the simple church. We can evaluate our simple church by examining the Church in the New Testament.  A passage that paints a picture of… Read More »Evaluating Your Simple Church (Part 2)

Evaluating Your Simple Church (Part 1)

Evaluating Your Simple Church (Part 1) By Gavin Duerson How do we evaluate our simple church community?  We may shy away from examining ourselves because we can be afraid of what we will find.  However, when handled properly, taking time to assess your simple church can help your community grow into all that God desires for it to be. Jesus encouraged personal reflection and evaluation (Luke 10) as did the early disciples (1 Cor. 11).  Many of the letters we read in the New Testament include evaluations of the church’s activity.  Because God loves us and wants us to grow closer to Him, we should not fear asking Him to lead us in a time of honest reflection and evaluation.  In the same way that failing to have our health evaluated regularly is a mistake, I believe failing to have regular spiritual… Read More »Evaluating Your Simple Church (Part 1)

Changes for Monthly Leadership Training This Summer

Friends, As many of you know, we will approach “training” differently this summer.  Rather than the usual “3rd wednesday of the month” evenings at the Bank, I am encouraging simple church leaders to utilize the Zume Training tool over the next several weeks. My prayer is that several Zume training groups may emerge and meet in homes over the course of the summer.  Therefore, there will be no training this month, in June or July at the bank.  We will resume in August at the bank.  (We will host other summer network opportunites as posted here). How Do I Participate? New? If you are new to simple church and are interested in becoming a more effective disciple-maker or in how to participate in a simple church, then please contact me.  I will be leading a Zume group and we will start soon.… Read More »Changes for Monthly Leadership Training This Summer