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simple church

Upside-Down Leadership (Video)

Yesterday in our network gathering we watched the video below and had a lively discussion about all that is addressed.  If you are involved with us or interested in simple church (or leadership in general), then I would highly recommend that you watch this video.  I’m very grateful to the people at House2House for putting this together as it does an excellent job explaining what leadership in “simple church” is all about.  Indeed, your leadership is truly a gift to the body of Christ!

Trying To Play “Son House”

This past weekend I finally sat down to watch a documentary I have been eying ever since it arrived in theaters in 2008.   It Might Get Loud is a documentary on the electric guitar and three legendary guitarists: The Edge (U2), Jimmy Page (Led Zeppelin), and Jack White (The White Stripes). In the clip I’ve p0sted below, Jack White explains how the song, “Grinnin’ in Your Face” by Son House, affected him and the direction of his musical career.  Later in the film, he recounts that when forming The White Stripes, a band that featured only drums and a guitar… Read More »Trying To Play “Son House”

Meeting Ideas (part 2)

I mentioned yesterday in our network gathering at FAC that we had access to several small group lessons on DVD.  Here is a list of the videos that should be arriving soon.  Feel free to let me know if your group would like to check out one.  Again, we wouldn’t want the video or discussion guide to replace trusting the Holy Spirit and having an open forum, but perhaps this could be a great way for your group to focus on a particular subject for a few weeks and possibly even a way to invite guests to join you for… Read More »Meeting Ideas (part 2)

What Are Missional Communities?

A short great explanation of what missional community is all about.  As we are in the beginning stages of this new work, I have a growing sense that a missional mindset (see core values blog post) must be present from the beginning.  I continue to pray that each person individually and each simple church collectively would have a “focus on the harvest.” [vimeo http://vimeo.com/18406971]

Letter to First Alliance Members

Hello First Alliance! Thank you for allowing me to brief you on the “church plant.”  By God’s grace and leading, and the blessing and encouragement of Steve Elliot and the entire FAC staff, a team from our church is planting a network of simple churches.  In a simple church network, the “front door” of the church is the home or other places where people live.  A simple church gathering involves eating, worship, teaching, prayer, missions, and accountability to one another. Larger gatherings for all the simple churches (what we call Celebration Gatherings) still occur, but are not the primary emphasis… Read More »Letter to First Alliance Members

What is Simple Church?

This would be a great place to start if you have come to this blog in an attempt to figure out what in the world is going on at First Alliance with regards to the formation of a “simple church network.”

Neil Cole: Short Audio Teachings

I would encourage you to take a listen to some of these short audio teachings from Neil Cole.  You can listen to them on your computer or download them to your ipod, etc.  I think you will especially find the entry on “Starting Awakening Chapels” (4:50) to be of interest in light of the journey we are on here. VISIT AUDIO PAGE AT CMA RESOURCES HERE

On similar paths

Often I get the question, “Are there any other churches doing this?” when explaining the idea of a “simple church network.”  While we know that many Christians outside of North America experience church differently than our traditional Sunday service-centered church, consider the following findings of the Barna Group that may be surprising: The most prolific response (in nationwide studies concerning house church involvement) comes when adults are asked if they have “experienced God or expressed (their) faith in God in a house church or simple church meeting in the past month,” regardless of whether it is affiliated with some other… Read More »On similar paths