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Listening To God (Download Free Book!)

If a person states that God speaks to them on a regular basis they are considered a bit kooky in many Christian circles.  With our wider cultural context in mind, imagine the firestorm that would stem from one of our presidential candidates declaring that he frequently hears God speak. Yet, Jesus tells us: My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. – John 10:27 The idea that God communicates in an understandable way to His disciples is not only foundational to the Bible and the Christian faith, but possibly at the core of discipleship–being one of His sheep.  Over the past year, this truth has dramatically shifted my understanding of what it means to “grow” in my faith. For much of my life with Jesus, growing closer to Him has… Read More »Listening To God (Download Free Book!)

Registration Deadline: September 1st

Join us as we welcome Tony and Felicity Dale to Kentucky for our first Simple Church Conference, September 15-16.  This is an excellent opportunity to get away and consider how the Lord can use you to become and active participant in the Great Commission through simple church planting and multiplication. Tony and Felicity Dale were trained as physicians at Barts Hospital in London, where they pioneered simple church concepts while in medical school and later in the East End of London. Now living in the United States, they are actively engaged in church planting. They founded House2House magazine and have authored several books, including Small Is Big (previously The Rabbit and The Elephant), Renewing the Mind, Simply Church, and the Getting Started manual on planting house churches. The Dales speak regularly at conferences throughout the… Read More »Registration Deadline: September 1st

End of Summer Celebration – Aug. 19

This is a time for fellowship, worship, encouragement, and sharing a meal with others on a similar path. We hope that you can join us as we come together and remind one another that not alone in the journey with Christ outside what many would consider the traditional church route.

How Do I Help Develop A New Simple Church Leader?

How does a simple church leader help develop a new simple church leader? This was the question posed to those leading simple churches in our area at a recent training. Here is a list of what the groups came up with: * Identify and encourage leadership qualities in others * Spend time with potential leader * Pray for potential leader * Give opportunities to lead * Champion their calling–as a leader/disciple maker * Lead/Watch – Lead/Help – Help/Lead – Watch/Lead * Learn along side of potential leader * Continually point leader to Christ (not to us) * Listen and Obey the Spirit as He leads us * Be fully committed to the paradigm of simple church (It is difficult to help others become leaders if you are not convinced internally that simple church is a… Read More »How Do I Help Develop A New Simple Church Leader?

Guest Blog: A Transition To Simple Church

By Nate Smith Church has always been a part of my life. I have a ton of relatives that are ordained and it goes back generations. Personally, I have found the aspect of going to church very frustrating. I am a bit of a nomad. I have moved every year for the past 4-5 years. I have made good friends in the places I have lived, however, church has been… disappointing. First, I am not a morning person. Maybe, I should be excited to go to church at 10 am and awkwardly greet the person in the pew next to me as I accidentally yawn while trying to introduce myself. It is slightly embarrassing. Second, how does an introvert like myself fit into this kind of a setting? I sometimes shut down when there is… Read More »Guest Blog: A Transition To Simple Church

Simple Church Alliance Summer Picnic

Join simple church communities from around Central Kentucky as we come together for a summer picnic!  Sunday June 24, 5pm @ Shilito Park Shelter #1.  We’ll enjoy music via an “open mic,” Cornhole Tournament, Fellowship, Food, and a crazy fancy head-wear/hat contest. Details on the event page HERE See this even on facebook HERE

Why Simple Churches Do Not Work

Over the past year and a half, I have observed simple church “not working” for a variety of reasons.  Just this morning before I hit the “publish” button on this very post, I spoke with a gentleman on the phone who was wondering aloud about his family’s future in simple church.  It is certainly not uncommon to question if simple church is going to work out for you–especially when the Christian culture offers many other church options that seemingly offers a path of least resistance.  Perhaps this is where you are now?  As with any conflict, I always find it helpful to really plead with the Lord to show you what He desires to do in you through your confusion and discontent.  In addition, I always find it helpful to seek counsel from those who… Read More »Why Simple Churches Do Not Work

An India-Sized Vision

I know that India is a big place but how can I keep running into her in Kentucky?  My new office is next to a fabulous ministry called “Fishhook International” which does work in India, a medical student who recently visited our simple church just returned from India, another couple I’ve recently met recently shared with me about their travels to India, and I recently learned that two other young men involved in simple church desire to travel to India in the coming years.  Then yesterday I receive this email that originated from a couple working with others to plant simple churches in Northern India: I am writing to you from the eastern reaches of the state of Uttar Pradesh, north India. The mercury topped 110 degrees today and, even though it’s late in the… Read More »An India-Sized Vision

Discipleship Tool: Life Transformation Groups

How do I make a disciple? Make no mistake: there is no formula or ten-step process for making disciples. However, when Jesus told His disciples to “go and make disciples of all nations,” I believe they understood what He meant. After all, they had been discipled by Jesus and had observed firsthand the way He made them His disciples. When it comes to making disciples, we can look to how Jesus discipled the apostles and how they replicated His methods as they discipled others. I addressed seven key principles here, but the first overarching principle I see in disciple-making is this: we seek to help others learn to depend on Jesus—not us—above all. Neil Cole helped me see a tangible context for applying Jesus’ way of discipleship today. Life Transformation Groups (LTGs) are simple, reproducible,… Read More »Discipleship Tool: Life Transformation Groups