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Teachings

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

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… 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… Read More »Two Churches at The Same Time

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… Read More »Francis Chan – Rethinking Church (Video)

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… Read More »Evaluating Your Simple Church (Part 2)

How Zúme Training Works

We have been talking a lot about the Zúme Project and the free online discipleship and simple church training it provides.  Now that the project is officially launched over at www.zumeprject.com, you might be wondering how the training tool can best be used for you, your family, and friends.  We will have a lot more thoughts about this in the coming days so make sure to subscribe to this site in the right hand column if you have not done so.  For now, check out this short video that will give you a better sense of how you can use… Read More »How Zúme Training Works

Watch The Star of Bethlehem Online

Friends, Several years ago a friend involved in a simple church hosted a viewing of The Star of Bethlehem movie.  Since watching it, I find myself thinking about it and bringing it up in conversation most every Christmas.  I wanted to let everyone know that this movie is now available on YouTube and I’m linking below a version that can be watch in HD (You may need to adjust the settings to watch it in HD.  You can do that by clicking the gear). Perhaps you will not agree with everything suggested in this video/Bible study, but it is a… Read More »Watch The Star of Bethlehem Online

A Simple Church Gathering Format

If there is one thing I am not a fan of, it is trying to come up with a formula for “church.”  Simple Church at its core is about following Jesus and allowing him to lead us as individuals and as a local church.  There is great opportunity to experience Christ this way in the context of simple church.  When you are simple in form and not tied to meeting times and agendas, you can experience a lot of freedom in what you do when you get together for “church.” That being said, I think that it could be a… Read More »A Simple Church Gathering Format