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Where Will YOU Go? (song)

I’ve probably thought more about “going” and the words spoken by Jesus in the Great Commission more in the past two years than my entire life combined. Going may mean that we actually physically leave our residence and make an address change. Often, however, the call to “go” is more about leaving behind a state of comfort and moving to a place of deeper trust in Christ. For a follower of Jesus, it’s impossible to stay where you are and go on mission with Him. He will continually call us all to new places. My good friend John Hatfield wrote a song about “going” several years ago and I would like to share it with you. This song has encouraged me and inspired me a great deal over the past several years. I pray it… Read More »Where Will YOU Go? (song)

Lessons From The Fields

Neil Cole recently posted an excerpt from the book Organic Church describing what he would do differently if he planted a church today knowing now all that he has learned over the years.  Since in simple church we urge everyone to think of themselves as a potential church planter, I thought that it would be good to point you to these very important lessons. Read the entire article with explanations HERE 1. Begin in the Harvest and Start Small. 2. Allow God to Build Around Others 3. Empower Others from the Start 4. Let Scripture Lead Not Your Assumptions 5. Rethink Leadership 6. Immediate Obedience in Baptism 7. Settle “Your” Ownership Issues

Our Role and God’s Role

Can you cause a person to grow spiritually?  When it comes to disciple making, what is our responsibility?  At a recent Greenhouse Training event hosted by CMA Resources, we examined the following text from Mark 4: 26 He also said, “This is what the kingdom of God is like. A man scatters seed on the ground. 27 Night and day, whether he sleeps or gets up, the seed sprouts and grows, though he does not know how. 28 All by itself the soil produces grain—first the stalk, then the head, then the full kernel in the head. 29 As soon as the grain is ripe, he puts the sickle to it, because the harvest has come.” From the text, we see that a farmer can cultivate the ground and plant seeds, and even put the… Read More »Our Role and God’s Role

Summer Celebration – August 28

We are looking forward to getting the entire network of simple churches together for a Summer Celebration Gathering!  We don’t do it often, so when we do it is truly a special occasion!  We hope that you will make plans to join us–even if you are not presently a part of simple church and are simply wishing to get a glimpse into what simple church is about. Where:  First Alliance Gym When: Sunday August 28th Time:  9:00AM Potluck Breakfast, 9:45 Celebration Gathering You can RSVP on The City or with you Facebook Account Here:  http://bit.ly/nTQTEj Please bring a breakfast dish (fruit, pastry, casserole, etc.) and we will make sure to supply plenty of beverages.  We encourage children to attend the celebration gathering with their family.

A.B. Simpson and Simple Church?

I recently attended an introductory meeting for new workers with the Christian and Missionary Alliance.  The more I continue to learn about A.B. Simpson the more I’m convinced that he would be all about simple church if he were with us today.  The Alliance originated because of Simpson’s conviction that “Jesus Only” was all we needed.  He broke away from the traditional established church of his day because of the extra biblical mandates that had excluded Italians he led to Christ from worship.  He realized that the “noble people” in the pews were interested in a “conventional parish for respectable Christians.”  He wanted “a multitude of publicans and sinners.” In the early days of the Alliance, my understanding is that it was not a denomination but a “nerve center” for missions and helping people experience… Read More »A.B. Simpson and Simple Church?

Divided? (Video)

Have you ever received an email about a someone’s favorite cause and includes the line, “If you really love Jesus then send this on to 10 people.”  Such emails drive me nuts!  I love Jesus and I happily trash those emails. With that being said, I realize that the message in the video below could come across in a similar fashion.  It could end up sounding to some like I am trying to say, “If you love Jesus then you will not send your kids to youth group, Sunday School, etc.”  To be clear, this is not my intent.  In fact, I do not prescribe 100% to their arguments and at times I don’t find the tone of the documentary be helpful to their case.  In the end, I do believe that the argument being… Read More »Divided? (Video)

What Do We Mean By “Simple Church?”

I would like to share with you a simple answer to this question from the good folks at House2House.com.  House2House is a great site with lots of great resources for simple church folks and it also provides a national directory of simple chruches.  You might enjoy reading the quote below directly from their website. (from House2House.com) What do we mean by ‘simple church?’ Some call them house churches. Some call them organic churches. Some call them simple churches. We prefer to just call them churches. They are rapidly multiplying, simple communities of believers, meeting in homes, offices, campuses, wherever God is moving. This is the pattern common to many parts of the globe, and is now becoming more and more common in the U.S. as well. Where two or more are gathered in His name,… Read More »What Do We Mean By “Simple Church?”

Core Values Lived Out – The Kind Of Leader We Hope To Be

What does it look like for a simple church leader to live out the core values identified by the Simple Church Alliance?  Here are some thoughts (WARNING:  Think of the picture painted below as a picture of who God is calling us to be as leaders–not a picture of where we are now or where you need to be to start leading a simple church.  I’m not sure I know anyone who fits this description perfectly) Community – When a simple church leaders think of their “church family” they think of their simple church community.  They focus on a few in order to have a large impact–much in the same way Jesus did.  They are vulnerable and transparent with those in their simple church community.  They pray and care for those in their community out… Read More »Core Values Lived Out – The Kind Of Leader We Hope To Be

Ozymandias by Shelley

Matt Wheeler (one of the simple church leaders) and I had a great conversation about this poem recently and I thought it would be great to post here.  Thanks Matt for sharing this with me!  I had never read it before. Ozymandias By Percy Bysshe Shelley I met a traveller from an antique land Who said: “Two vast and trunkless legs of stone Stand in the desert. Near them on the sand, Half sunk, a shattered visage lies, whose frown And wrinkled lip and sneer of cold command Tell that its sculptor well those passions read Which yet survive, stamped on these lifeless things, The hand that mocked them and the heart that fed. And on the pedestal these words appear: `My name is Ozymandias, King of Kings: Look on my works, ye mighty, and… Read More »Ozymandias by Shelley

The Difference Between A Missional Community and A Simple Church

In the last few years I have been exposed to all types of new terms related to churches and small groups.  One such term is “missional community.”  There seems to be a push in the western church to think of small group ministry not as bible studies, fellowship groups, “life” groups, etc. but as missional communities.  As I have read literature and spoken with those involved in the missional community movement, I have wondered what the difference is between a missional community and a simple church.  It seems that a simple church should be a missional community.  However it also seems that a missional community may not be a simple church as many understand simple church. It seems that many missional communities remain connected to traditional church structures in ways that simple churches often do… Read More »The Difference Between A Missional Community and A Simple Church