Skip to content

Podcast

My conversation over at Pastor to Pioneer

Recently, I joined Britton Smith and the podcast over at Pastor to Pioneer. In short, Pastor to Pinoneer a ministry to pastors of legacy churches who find themselves longing to transition to a pioneering ministry that focuses on relational discipleship over programs, and on simple and organic expressions of church rather than the more traditional approach. We chatted about being a college mascot and making goofy music, but eventually we got into the story of Simple Church Alliance—and even how the arrival of our special needs daughter, Wylie, has played a role in reshaping my understanding of why I’m as passionate about simple church as ever. Perhaps you would enjoy this conversation and story. You can check out Episode 90 of the Pastor to Pioneer Podcas, entitled “Loving Others, Not Spiritually Managing Others” here: YouTube:… Read More »My conversation over at Pastor to Pioneer

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

A Conversation With Steve Simms

Today, Gavin has a conversation with Steve Simms from Nashville, Tennessee. Steve has been practicing simple forms of church for more than 40 years and shares some of his insights and principles of the Christian life he has learned along the way. Steve is the author of “Beyond Church: An Invitation to Experience the Lost World of the Bible.” Steve Simm https://hopethoughts.com Thanks for liking and subscribing and sharing Keep it Simple: A Simple Church Podcast! Comments also are always welcome! Also available in audio only: Spotify link: https://tinyurl.com/bdd8yf2t Apple Podcasts:https://tinyurl.com/45n9j3u5 Stitcher: https://tinyurl.com/5b4fnpy7 visit the podcasts website: www.keepitsimplepodcast.com More information on simple church here: www.SimpleChurchAlliance.com #housechurch #simplechurch #organicchurch #Christianity #deconstruction  

Your Marriage Is A Ministry – Keep it Simple Podcast #137

Reminder: This Sunday evening is our House Church Connect Dinner! RSVP today! 5-6:30pm! Details on our website! For those of you who are married, do you look at your life together as a ministry? Do you think about all the people you will influence during your lives? Today, Tom and Gavin talk about a little known, but very influential couple from the book of Acts named Priscilla and Aquila and the tremendous influence they had on Paul, Apollos, the Church then and Christianity today. Thanks for liking and subscribing and sharing! Comments also are always welcome! Also available in audio only: Spotify link: https://tinyurl.com/msmwe4n6Apple Podcasts: https://tinyurl.com/45n9j3u5 visit the podcasts website: www.keepitsimplepodcast.com More information on simple church and to this Sunday’s dinner here: www.SimpleChurchAlliance.com #housechurch #simplechurch #organicchurch#Christianity #marriage  

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 Podcasts: https://tinyurl.com/45n9j3u5 Website: www.keepitsimplepodcast.com More information on simple church here: www.SimpleChurchAlliance.com #housechurch #simplechurch #organicchurch #Christianity

Keep it Simple Podcast #134 Bart Scarborough (Part 2) – Simple Church Conversations

Check out round two with Bart Scarborough as we dive deeper into our conversation about what it means to walk with Jesus… and not run.  How the spiritual disciplines impact living in His love and help us to avoid religiosity.  UPDATE: We look forward to being with many of you this weekend at the Simple Church retreat!  We are welcoming so many new folks it’s going to be exciting to see how the Lord encourages us all!  Please let us know how we can serve and encourage you where you are as you seek to walk with the Jesus and his family outside the walls of the the traditional church!  Ruthless Elimination of Hurry by John Mark Comer on thriftbooks here.  Henri J.M. Nouwen In The Name of Jesus on thriftbooks here.  Check out the… Read More »Keep it Simple Podcast #134 Bart Scarborough (Part 2) – Simple Church Conversations

Keep it Simple Podcast #133 Bart Scarborough (Part 1) – Simple Church Conversations

Recently I was able to continue the “Simple Church Conversations” series by interviewing a good friend, Bart Scarborough. Bart is currently operating a spiritual retreat center in Georgia called The Ancient Way Farm. In this podcast we discuss the current unhealthy trend of frenetic ministry and encourage a more focused but slower, deliberate way of healthy ministry through reflection and relationship.  As you will hear me share in my introduction, the topics we cover in part 1 (and part 2 …coming soon) are very close to what I think God is up to in “simple” church.  I hope you enjoy and would love to hear your thoughts in person or in the comments below. Links referenced: Godspeed: https://simplechurchalliance.com/2020/04/17/godspeed-video/ To find out more about Ancient Way Farm, go here: https://ancientwayfarm.com/ Thanks for liking and subscribing and… Read More »Keep it Simple Podcast #133 Bart Scarborough (Part 1) – Simple Church Conversations

Back 2 Basics (Part 2) – Keep it Simple Podcast #129

What practically are the basics when it comes to functioning as simple church? How do we let Jesus truly be the leader of the church and our times together as a church family? In part two, Tom and Gavin discuss the practical implications associated with experiencing the church family as people following King Jesus together!  Help the algorithms like this podcast by liking, subscribing, commenting, and sharing this episode on platform of your choice.  Thanks!   YouTube Link: https://youtu.be/4akPPQ4ypNE Also available in audio only: Spotify link: https://open.spotify.com/show/6hIJbIDV340lDCXSAa1l10?si=03923399655a4de7 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/keep-it-simple-a-simple-church-podcast/id767718695?i=1000556808547 Visit the podcasts website: www.keepitsimplepodcast.com More information on simple church here: www.SimpleChurchAlliance.com

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 we are learning regarding simple church.   I hope these videos help you in your journey!  If so, please like and subscribe to us on YouTube, Spotify, ApplePodcast, etc and leave questions and comments on… Read More »Back 2 Basics (Part 1) – Keep It Simple Podcast #128

Deconstructing – Keep it Simple #127

Christians “deconstructing” their faith has garnered a lot of attention recently.  In this new episode of Keep it Simple: A Simple Church Podcast, Tom and Gavin this trend and ask several questions that are relevant to those in simple church…