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Francis Chan

Francis Chan – God’s Beloved

I saw this podcast making the rounds on social media and had a few friends mention it to me before I finally had a chance to listen. I’ve written here before about how I’ve felt a connection to Francis Chan and his journey with house church as it was about a year after we started Simple Church Alliance that he left his megachurch to eventually begin house churches in California. What’s so wild to me is that while the conversation is promoted as primarily about house church (he does discuss the story of moving to a house church approach in this conversation), the content ends up landing right where I’ve found myself. I’ve written and spoken at length about how, since our daughter Wylie’s birth, God has been taking me on an adventure of discovering… Read More »Francis Chan – God’s Beloved

Francis Chan: Chuck E. Cheese Church?

In a recent Charisma magazine article, Francis Chan shared more on his journey from megachurch pastor to simple church planter. Chan doesn’t think the standard church model is wrong.  But he does think it’s often distracted from what matters.  He compares it to throwing a birthday party for his son.  He could invite a few friends over to celebrate his song and give him gifts.  He could also rent out Chuck E. Cheese and give everyone all the tokens they could want.  Undoubtedly more kids would come to the second party.  But it’s no longer a celebration for his son: “At some point, all the other stuff distracts us from quality interaction with the person himself.” Chan finds that offensive.  “I just think we need to return to people who love getting together to break… Read More »Francis Chan: Chuck E. Cheese Church?

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)

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

“Exponential Conference” Live Blog (Day 1)

Well sort of a live blog… I’m going to attempt to post insights I gather from the conference below. I’m not completely sure if this will work so hang with me. 11:24AM – heading out from hotel.  Looking forward to the day and all the the Lord is going to teach us.  Marylin Walker just arrived and we got our entire crew together now!  A couple of websites to take note of on the conference and on Exponential in general: http://www.exponential.org http://www.exponentialconference.org 8:54PM – Well the whole “live blog” thing really didn’t work very well.  Couldn’t figure out how to update blog effectively via iphone.  If you have any ideas please pass them along.  Meanwhile, let me recap some of my notes from the day…. Main Session 1: “All our ecclesiological eggs are in one… Read More »“Exponential Conference” Live Blog (Day 1)

“Have you heard about what is going on with Francis Chan?”

What’s Next for Francis Chan? A Conversation with Mark Driscoll and Joshua Harris.  (click to watch video) This past Sunday I had a conversation with a lady who, after hearing about the vision for the new work God has placed in me, asked me if I “had heard about what was going on with Francis Chan?”  I once listened to a message that Francis Chan preached and I am familiar with his “Just Stop and Think” video but I have not read his book “Crazy Love” or any other book of his for that matter.  I was intrigued by the question, however, because I did recently read Neil Cole’s “Church 3.0” and Francis Chan wrote the forward to it.  I found it interesting that a mega church pastor would be encouraging others to consider Neil’s… Read More »“Have you heard about what is going on with Francis Chan?”