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What is God saying to your simple church?

I wanted to link this great post over at simplychurch.com.  Felicity Dale shares how her simple church community came together to sense God’s leading: Simple/organic churches can be inward looking. But when we seek Jesus, making him the center of everything that goes on and we ask him what is on his heart, we may find things change…   A few months ago, our simple/organic church spent time learning to listen to God. Each week we did different activities to hone those skills. One week, our activity was for everyone to spend 15 minutes alone asking the Lord the question, “What would you say to us as a group?”   When we came back together again, more than 50% of the group had heard the same message. The word came in various different ways: Read the… Read More »What is God saying to your simple church?

“Missional House Churches” with Dr. J.D. Payne – Nov. 11

Come and join us for this special simple church training as we welcome Southern Seminary professor and author of the book Missional House Churches, Dr. J.D. Payne.  Dr. Payne will come and share his research on house church communities across the US that are living out the Great Commission.  Please come and learn more about this fascinating movement that his happening all around us!  Feel free to and bring your questions and your kids!  Childcare provided as well as pizza for all.  The even is free.  Please RSVP by emailing us here or at our event page on “The City” (if not on “The City, you will need to be a Facebook user to RSVP there.)

Free E-Book: Discipleship In Church Planting

There is a great free resource available online from Dr. J.D. Payne (who will be leading our time together this Friday for our special Simple Church Training).  The 55 page e-book entitled Discipleship in Church Planting includes some great thought-provoking questions for anyone seeking to make disciples and see church communities birthed and multiplied. Click Here To Get The Book Free!

What is a Disciple and How Do We Make Them?

I would like to suggest that two of the most important questions followers of Jesus will need to answer along their Journey with Him are: 1) What is a disciple? 2) How is one to make them? Given that Jesus’ famous last words were to “go into all the world and make disciples,” these questions deserve our time and consideration. As I have thought about these questions and posed them to others, I’ve noticed more questions come like these:  Do we make disciples by “getting people to go to church?”  Do we make disciples by doing a bible study with someone?  By just living out our faith the best we can? Some wrestle, too, with the questions that come through being married.  How do we engage in this mission of making disciples together with our… Read More »What is a Disciple and How Do We Make Them?

Fall Cellebration November 6th!

Save the date and note that this will be our first time trying an evening celebration gathering.  We hope that you can come and celebrate all the God is doing in our city and beyond through simple church!  Chicken and beverages will be provided so please bring a desert or side dish and we’ll look forward to sharing this special time together! Simple Church Alliance Celebration Gathering @ First Alliance Gymnasium 2201 Old Higbee Mill Road, Lexington, KY            

Simply False: False Teaching In Simple Church

One of the most common questions I receive about simple church is,  “What happens if someone teaches something incorrect?”  It’s a good question with good news for an answer.  Simple church can allow for one of the most full-proof methods of discernment if we choose to use it. Often one or two people within Christian groups bear most of the responsibility to explain Scripture.  Usually these teachers/leaders remind hearers to compare the message with Scripture, but follow-up opportunities for questions, clarifications, or correction are rare especially if the message is given and received within the context of a large group.  In simple church, there is greater chance for everyone to share and correct.  We see this in 1 Corinthians 14:  29 Two or three prophets should speak, and the others should weigh carefully what is… Read More »Simply False: False Teaching In Simple Church

The Word of Christ

Colossians 3:16 Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. Does the word of Christ dwell richly in you?  This was the question I posed to those attending the Summer Celebration Gathering a few weeks ago.  For simple church to work, the bar for discipleship truly has to be raised.  We cannot simply lower the bar for having church gatherings.  Everyone has to be disciples and making disciples simultaneously.  I’ve thought about this a great deal and it is truly hard to imagine how the Word of Christ could dwell in someone richly apart from a steady diet of His word.  Without written copies of Christ’s words accessible,… Read More »The Word of Christ

Twelve Advantages to Simple Church

I am reading Wolfgang Simpson’s book The House Church Book: Rediscover the Dynamic, Organic, Relational, Viral Community Jesus Started.  In this book, he highlights twelve advantages to house church and I would like to share them with you.  From what I have read so far, I would also like to encourage anyone looking for a concise and clear understanding of the simple/house/organic church movement to pick up a copy of this book. 1.  Discipled Multiplication 2. Persecution-proof structure 3. Freedom from church growth barriers 4. More efficient involvement of a higher percentage of people 5. A break from the pastoral care dilemma 6. A place of life-transformation and accountability 7. A better place of growth for new Christians 8. A solution for the leadership crises 9. A way to eliminate the clergy-laity division 10. A… Read More »Twelve Advantages to Simple Church

Simple Church Music Ideas

Last week in our simple church gathering, several of us shared songs with the group that held a special meaning to us and our journey with Christ.  It was a simple and significant meeting idea that I’m sure we will repeat in the near future.  We sang some songs together while others were played for everyone to listen to.  Sharing songs in this way allowed us to deepen our friendships with one another as we learned how music has impacted our walk with Christ.  I shared this idea with our leaders and Elizabeth Harris replied to me with an idea of her own… I saw your idea for worship through song and thought I’d pass along something fun our group has done….Chris Phebus had a similar idea several weeks back, and he and Valerie ended… Read More »Simple Church Music Ideas

Curtain Call (Song)

In my last post I shared a song with you from my friend John Hatfield that dealt with “going.”  I find that the difficult part about going is leaving.  Last year, when I left my position with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes it was very difficult.  I love FCA and all the people that I worked with are in many ways like family.  While I continue to remain involved, there is no denying that “going” has changed my relationships a great deal with the people I served with.  This was the hardest part about going in a new direction that would see my much of my time and energy devoted to simple church multiplication.  It was at this time that my friend John released his new album “The Crowd Downstairs” (which I highly recommend).  The… Read More »Curtain Call (Song)