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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

June 4 – Network Worship By The Creek

Please join friends of simple church for an awesome evening on Hickman Creek as we enjoy a time of worship and fellowship with our extended friends and family!   TIME: Sunday, June 4, 6-9 pm Music: We are inviting simple churches from the region to lead us in a set of worship songs.  If you or you simple church is interested, please let us know! RSVP: If you help lead a simple church, then please RSVP for the total number of folks coming with your group.  If you are not connected to a simple church community, then just RSVP for you, your family and friends.   CLICK HERE TO RSVP WHAT TO BRING: Each person or family will be responsible to bring their own picnic dinner (including beverages).  You will also want to bring a blanket and/or… Read More »June 4 – Network Worship By The Creek

Pancake Sundays

Pancake Sundays I saw this commercial for HomeGoods just now and I thought it would be great to share! Two of the most common questions I get are, “How can we get started with simple church?” and “How are children involved in simple church?” I thought the commercial illustrates potential answers to both!

WeAreChurch.com – Francis Chan

Recently a new friend asked if I knew about what Francis Chan was doing in California.  My friend thought that our work here sounded similar to “We Are Church,” The ministry Francis Chan started a few years ago.  So I visited their website and this is how they describe their “structure.”  What do you think? Now it’s one thing to identify these four values, but it’s certainly another thing to be part of a body that actually exhibits these qualities. In truth, these biblical values aren’t new at all, and many contemporary churches claim to pursue these values, but both the Bible and experience have shown that these qualities don’t just come about by accident. We pray that, by the Holy Spirit, God would guide the intentionality behind our church structure. Our structure isn’t perfect, and being… Read More »WeAreChurch.com – Francis Chan

Spring Cleaning (by Kristy Wheeler)

Spring Cleaning by Kristy Wheeler Friends, while spring cleaning this week I found a jar full of thoughts & prayers from our group many years ago. I figured it would be encouraging to share these since no names are attached and since quite a bit of time has passed. –God expects us to gather like we do. We will not grow as He intends if we avoid deep fellowship. When life gets tough, we tend to avoid getting with the church. Iron sharpens iron. –We need to make space in our lives to serve others. –Jesus chooses who to heal on earth, but He heals His children completely forever. –God will always heal. His way may not be our own, but trusting and having faith that He knows best is an ongoing process. –God wants… Read More »Spring Cleaning (by Kristy Wheeler)