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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

Simple Church Retreat (Sept. 25-26) Registration Deadline Friday!

“In total there are currently (mid 2021) at least 22.6 million house churches worldwide with a total of around 300 million members. They are, considering all internal and contextual factors, by far the most viral, adaptable and multipliable segment of Christ‐followers globally. If their number continues to grow at a very realistic rate of 20% per year, they will reach a membership of more than 4 billion people within the next 30 years – while most traditional church systems are in overall decline.” – Wolfgang Simson You Are Invited! Karla and I would like to invite you to join us and others from simple… Read More »Simple Church Retreat (Sept. 25-26) Registration Deadline Friday!

2021 Simple Church Retreat (September 25-26)

Karla and I would like to invite you to join us and others from simple church communities across the region this September 25-26, at the Stanford Inn at Wilderness Road.  My prayer is that this time will serve to refresh and encourage you as we seek clarity about what Jesus is up to in our day.  In the spirit of simple church, there will not be long presentations to sit through, but rather conversations to explore and relationships to discover and develop with others whose pursuit of Christ has led them (or may be leading them) outside the religious institutions that… Read More »2021 Simple Church Retreat (September 25-26)

Spring Network Gathering – April 10

UPDATE: We are good Saturday… Rain or Shine!  If rain, we will be in the large “tabernacle” on there grounds with plenty of space to spread out to your comfort level.  Plus putt putt will be indoors too!   Simple Church Friends, The Saturday after Easter (April 10th) we will host a Spring Network Gathering at Adventure Serve in Wilmore, KY!  We will be outside in their amphitheater and enjoy music, prayer, and and time of encouragement.  Also, Adventure Serve was the recipient of a portable Putt-Putt golf course and since it’s Masters Tournament weekend, I thought we’d have a golf… Read More »Spring Network Gathering – April 10

Simple Church Illustrated (Video)

In my last article, I shared my thoughts on the Great Commandment and why the new commandment Jesus left with his followers prior to going to the cross is a better foundation for the Church.  Today I would like to share with you a short video that explains simple church visually in light of this new commandment foundation.  Hopefully this visual can be a tool you can replicate on a napkin or piece of paper when sharing the idea of simple church with friends and family. Click To Watch If you enjoyed this video, please subscribe like and comment on… Read More »Simple Church Illustrated (Video)

Rethinking The Great Commandment

Simple church has led me to some unexpected places in my faith. Most recently, I have found myself reconsidering the Greatest Commandment quoted by church leaders across the globe (even here on this site) as a foundational pillar of the Church’s mission. I have encountered compelling arguments that have persuaded me that we are misguided when we hold up the Greatest Commandment as the focus of our faith.   Have you actually been able to live out this command? Have you been able to love God with ALL of your heart, soul, and mind?  Have you crafted more laws to… Read More »Rethinking The Great Commandment

“Going To Church” By Dana Vogel

We all know it’s important to meet together often as believers for our mutual encouragement. This is true and good. What’s not necessarily true and good, is that many of us equate this with Sunday worship service.