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Teachings

Posts linking to teachings from the simple church alliance or other encouraging sources.

Moving from Solitude to Community to Ministry

“By community, I don’t mean formal communities. I mean families, friends, parishes, twelve-step programs, prayer groups. Community is not an organization; community is a way of living: you gather  around you people with whom you want to proclaim the truth that we are the beloved sons and daughters of God.” – Henri Nouwen One unique aspect of our simple church is that we have two small children in our community with the rare genetic disorder—Trisomy 18. As we have learned to be parents to our daughter Wylie and witnessed God reveal Himself through her amazing life, we have continually been… Read More »Moving from Solitude to Community to Ministry

Thy Kingdom Come: Living in Light of Heaven’s Reality

Introduction: A Future Hope That Shapes Our Present When we pray the Lord’s Prayer, we say the words, “Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” But have we ever stopped to consider what that truly means? How does our understanding of God’s kingdom shape the way we live today? For many of us, the concept of a kingdom can feel foreign. We live in a democratic society where the idea of a king is often associated with oppression. But Jesus is a different kind of King—one who is loving, all-knowing, and self-sacrificing. He… Read More »Thy Kingdom Come: Living in Light of Heaven’s Reality

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?

Back 2 Basics (Part 2) – Keep it Simple Podcast #129

What practically are the basics when it comes to functioning as simple church? How do we let Jesus truly be the leader of the church and our times together as a church family? In part two, Tom and Gavin discuss the practical implications associated with experiencing the church family as people following King Jesus together!  Help the algorithms like this podcast by liking, subscribing, commenting, and sharing this episode on platform of your choice.  Thanks!   YouTube Link: https://youtu.be/4akPPQ4ypNE Also available in audio only: Spotify link: https://open.spotify.com/show/6hIJbIDV340lDCXSAa1l10?si=03923399655a4de7 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/keep-it-simple-a-simple-church-podcast/id767718695?i=1000556808547 Visit the podcasts website: www.keepitsimplepodcast.com More information on simple church… Read More »Back 2 Basics (Part 2) – Keep it Simple Podcast #129

Back 2 Basics (Part 1) – Keep It Simple Podcast #128

What do we mean when we talk about house church, organic church, or simple church?  I’m really excited to share these next two episodes with everyone as Tom and I discuss this foundational question!  Today, a lot of folks mean a lot of different things when they talk about “church” and specifically house church.  In fact, my understanding of church and the role the local house church plays within the Kingdom of God has changed over my 10+ year house church expedition.  In this two part series Tom and I will go “back to the basics” of what it exactly… Read More »Back 2 Basics (Part 1) – Keep It Simple Podcast #128

Invitation to Rest (by Karla Duerson)

It started like the sunrise–warm, gentle, faithful, quiet and full of beauty. You know how God works: He strings along a message like a strand of pearls–unmistakable and full of grace and glory. I think it began with rereading The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry in which John Mark Cromer encourages the reader to slow to the pace of Jesus. He poses a question, “What has happened to the personal quiet time?” He wonders if the QT was abandoned as a legalistic relic of the late 1990s. “Let’s bring it back.” He concludes. I felt a nudge in my heart like… Read More »Invitation to Rest (by Karla Duerson)

Discovery Bible Study in Simple Church

From my experience, a major obstacle standing in the way of many Christians engaging in discipleship, leading Bible Study, or helping start a simple church is the perception that they are an unqualified Bible scholar.  While deepening knowledge and understanding of Scripture is to be desired, the lie that we are not qualified is major tool of the enemy in keeping Christians from helping friends and family understand God’s Word and grow in their faith. However, for centuries missionaries have  helped new believers in places where no such qualified teachers exists to quickly and simply learn and teach others the… Read More »Discovery Bible Study in Simple Church

Godspeed (Video)

What can we learn about discipleship and the way that Jesus changed the world by living at the pace Jesus lived?

Maybe it’s a bigger deal than we think?

I am generally not someone who leads with the idea that simple church is the “most biblical” way to do church. For me, the idea that the New Testament church seemed to primarily gather in homes is helpful when explaining to folks why it’s normal for the church to primarily ebb and flow through homes, but It’s not my main motivation for advocating simple/house/organic church. For me primarily, simple church is just what makes the most sense given what I know about Jesus, how He has worked in my life, and how I have witnessed His Kingdom operate. However, this… Read More »Maybe it’s a bigger deal than we think?