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Hospitality and Simple Church

Today, Tom and Gavin discuss hospitality and its impact on people. Hospitality – serving others – is not easy. It can be hard work and frankly, not many people know how to do it well. It seems to be a dying art in our modern culture. But if practiced consistently, hospitality can bring people closer to each other and to God. As followers of Christ, we would do well to rethink the importance of hospitality to our Christian witness. Thanks for liking and subscribing and sharing! Comments also are always welcome! Also available in audio only: Spotify link: https://tinyurl.com/msmwe4n6 Apple… Read More »Hospitality and Simple Church

Waiting and Watching In Ireland (By Sandra Haven)

‘Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ says the Lord (Zechariah 4:6) It was just one week earlier that I went to the retreat in Stanford for the Simple Church gathering of various house church leaders.  That was on September 10th.  I wasn’t really sure why I felt prompted to go, just to say goodbye to good friends I thought.  I don’t know when or if I will return to the States so I thought maybe God would speak to me there about my unknown future.  Just one week prior to the retreat my sister came from… Read More »Waiting and Watching In Ireland (By Sandra Haven)

Simple Church Retreat Recap

Recently, we concluded our annual Simple Church Retreat. We were blessed to welcome friends from Alabama, Ohio, Eastern Kentucky and Central Kentucky to The Stanford Inn at Wilderness Road.

This year our conversation centered around the idea of simple church as a way of life–not a “ministry” or “way of doing church.”

Hot Tub Baptisms

Recently we had the privilege of baptizing two of our children, Beau (12) and Neva (9). It was such a blessing for friends and family to join us for simple church and to celebrate this special occasion. It was wonderful to hear the verses they shared and the personal encouragements they passed along to our children as they publicly declared their desire to follow Jesus in their lives. How wonderful it is to celebrate the new birth that Christ has granted to all of us!  

Back 2 Basics (Part 1) – Keep It Simple Podcast #128

What do we mean when we talk about house church, organic church, or simple church?  I’m really excited to share these next two episodes with everyone as Tom and I discuss this foundational question!  Today, a lot of folks mean a lot of different things when they talk about “church” and specifically house church.  In fact, my understanding of church and the role the local house church plays within the Kingdom of God has changed over my 10+ year house church expedition.  In this two part series Tom and I will go “back to the basics” of what it exactly… Read More »Back 2 Basics (Part 1) – Keep It Simple Podcast #128

Mars Hill – Keep it Simple Podcast #136

The Rise and Fall of Mars Hill, a recent podcast produced by Christianity Today has generated a lot of discussion among those interested in the Church. In the most recent episode of Keep It Simple: A Simple Church Podcast, Tom and Gavin discuss this podcast and extract lessons for those of us in simple church. Please like and subscribe to our YouTube channel to make sure you get all the videos of the podcast as we reboot it on this platform. You can listen online at our website: http://www.keepitsimplepodcast.com  Listen and subscribe on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/3KxxijeLM1ZdhdiISYm2HQ?si=d468d1720f9d49f7 Listen and subscribe on Apple… Read More »Mars Hill – Keep it Simple Podcast #136

Network Gathering – Back 2 Basics Breakfast – Feb.19

Join simple church friends and family from the region for a Back2Basics Breakfast where we will enjoy food and a conversation about the basics of simple church. This is an excellent opportunity for anyone interested in the idea of simple church to meet others following Christ in simple/organic ways and have their questions answered. We encourage all who are a part of a simple church to join as well as your experience will certainly contribute to the discussion! We hope you will consider joining us. We do ask for RSVPs to be emailed to us here as we want to… Read More »Network Gathering – Back 2 Basics Breakfast – Feb.19

A Joyful Feast as an Act of War?- A liturgy for feasting with friends

This liturgy was shared by my wife Karla at our dinner table this past weekend and also with our church family in our home Sunday morning.  It’s found in a book series entitled Every Moment Holy and also available for download on their website www.everymomentholy.com.  The series focuses on liturgies for every day life.  A reading such as the one below can be a great exercise for a simple church community to share together.  In this “liturgy for feasting with friends,” a picture of what simple church gatherings can be is painted in the opening sentence–a picture that I think… Read More »A Joyful Feast as an Act of War?- A liturgy for feasting with friends

Network Christmas Gathering December 12th

Friends and family, December 12, 11AM – 1:30pm we will host a Network Christmas Gathering for all friends, family, of simple church!  We’d love to see longtime friends reunite as well if possible! We will enjoy Christmas music, fellowship, a meal, and encouragement. We will plan to meet at First Southern Bank in Lexington. RSVP required by DEC 6th in case we need to change venues. This will be a Potluck meal. Meat, drinks, and utensils will be provided. You can let us know what you would bring upon RSVP. Spread the word and please feel free to invite friends… Read More »Network Christmas Gathering December 12th

Retreat Wrap-up

On September 25th and 26th, we resumed our annual Simple Church Retreat. Having missed this yearly time of fellowship, gathering with other simple church leaders again at the Stanford Inn at Wilderness Road was so refreshing. We spent the weekend reading and reflecting on a great little book by Henry Nouwen entitled In the Name of Jesus. Almost prophetically, Nouwen describes the kind of leader the church will need in the 21st century–lessons he learned once moving as a priest to a home for adults with disabilities. Kaleb Phillips, a dear friend and fellow simple church leader in Nicholasville, recommended… Read More »Retreat Wrap-up