emerging church, emergent, simple church, house church, home church.
Monday, July 31
so you don't want to go to church anymore? (5) Download the book. More wisdom from Jakes story:
“Remember, equip people to live in him first; then you’ll see how he brings his body together. Don’t get me wrong. I love it when a group of people want to intentionally walk together as an expression of Christian community—listening to God together, sharing their lives and resources, encouraging and caring for each other and doing whatever else God might ask them to do. But you can’t organize that with people who aren’t ready. Remember discipleship always comes before community. When you learn to follow Jesus yourself and help some others to do the same, you’ll find body life springing up all around you.“
“But what does that look like?”
“It can look like anything. I know people who meet for hikes in the woods and breakfast under the trees. I know families that have moved to the same neighborhood together so they can enjoy greater proximity to each other. I know some really healthy house churches that live out a shared life together and those who meet in larger buildings. I know others who work on a team together to build houses for the poor, cook at a mission, or some other creative way to let the life of Jesus be known in their culture.
“It can look like a hundred different things because Father is so creative. Try to copy any of them and you’ll find it turns lifeless and empty after the initial excitement of starting something new fades away. The church thrives where people are focused on Jesus, not where they are focused on church."
“But can we do it on our own? Don’t we need some help?” Marsha asked.
“Who said you’re alone? Jesus is the way to the Father. As you learn to yield to his Spirit and depend on his power, you’ll discover how to live in the fullness of his life. Yes, he’ll often use other people to encourage or equip you in that process, but the people he uses won’t let you grow dependent on them. They wouldn’t dare crawl between you and the greatest joy of this family—a growing relationship with the Father himself.”
“That’s what I’d rather have talked about tonight. So many groups I’m with are continually trying to figure out the best way to do church. What if we spent all that time and energy focused on the Father’s love, what Jesus is doing in us, and how we can live more freely in his Spirit? Then we’d know how to love each other. We’d be honest and open and support each other on this journey. Our focus would be on him, not ourselves and our needs and some amazing things would happen."
...“What I’m trying to get you to consider is that body life is not something you can create. It is a gift that Father gives as people grow in his life. Body life isn’t rocket science. It is the easiest thing in the world when people are walking with him. You get within twenty feet of someone else on that journey and you’ll find fellowship easy and fruitful.”
“That’s what we’re looking for. We thought that when we got church right we’d all have the relationship with God we’re looking for,” Marvin broke in. John continued, “Just consider that you’ve gotten it backwards. No church model will produce God’s life in you. It works the other way around. Our life in God, shared together, expresses itself as the church. It is the overflow of his life in us. You can tinker with church principles forever and still miss out on what it means to live deeply in Father’s love and know how to share it with others.”
...“That’s where religion has done the most damage. By making people dependent on its leaders, it has made God’s people passive in their own spiritual growth. We wait for others to show us how, or even just follow them in hopes that they’re getting it right. Jesus wants this relationship with you and he wants you to be an active part in that process.”
“Jesus didn’t leave us with a system he left us with his Spirit. He gave us his Spirit as a guide instead of a map. Principles alone will not satisfy your hunger. That’s why systems always promise a future revival that never comes. They cannot produce community because they are designed to keep people apart.”
... It’s hard to maintain an illusion of body life when you don’t have planned activities that people can follow without much effort. But you do have the chance here to discover real community. That grows where we share our common lot as failed human beings and the journey of being transformed by Jesus working in us. It thrives where people are free to be exactly who they are—no more and no less. As they learn to rely on him, they won’t have to use others to meet their needs but rather find themselves laying down their lives to help others in the same way Jesus did.”
... Just keep in mind the simplest lesson that has been repeated countless times since Jesus was here: The more organization you bring to church life, the less life it will contain.”
simple church : the book
I am part way through writing a book following our own journey towards simple church and unpacking some of the lessons we have learnt along the way. If you would like to join me on that journey and maybe help shape the book as it evolves then sign up HERE to access it.
apologies + update
Apologies if you are having trouble loading this site. There is some problem with an "unresponsive script" which is causing browsers to hang and sometimes crash.
It's happening on at least 3 browsers I've tested and on different PC's. So if anyone has any ideas that might help resolve it let me know!
UPDATE Seems like the problem has disappeared now! Have tested it on 3 browsers and all seems back to normal. Very strange.
If anyone has any repeat problems when loading this site please let me know.
what should we do with the children?
More from Jake Colsen. This on children:
Jason started to get fussy in Diane’s lap and I could see people roll their eyes and noticed Diane had hardly eaten. John noticed too. He got up and asked if he could take Jason for a moment and returned to his chair with Jason cradled in his arms. “Do you all not have children, or was I supposed to get a sitter?” Diane asked. Laurie jumped in. “No, he’s fine. We have lots of kids around here, but we thought it would give us more freedom to talk if they weren’t distracting us.” “I’m sorry. I didn’t know.” “Please, don’t be concerned about it. We’re glad you’re here and glad Jason is too,” Marsha broke in.
Jason had settled into John’s arms and was mesmerized by the spoon John was using to entertain him. As I was trying to think of a segue into a more substantive discussion, John spoke, “I’m not sure it’s best to look at children as distractions. Jesus didn’t. They were drawn to him and he enjoyed it. When others tried to chase them away, he told them not to. If we’re not ready to receive the littlest ones in their weaknesses, we’re probably not ready to receive each other in ours.”
“So what should we do with children?” Ben asked. “That’s been a big issue around here.” “Did your family get together last Easter?”
“Yes. We had a huge bash here with our relatives, probably 50 or more.” “When you planned for that, did anyone ask what you should do with the kids?” “No,” Ben chuckled. “They’re just part of the family.” “Why is it any different in Father’s family?” Ben hesitated so Marsha jumped in, “Because we’re trying to have a meeting and the children get bored. I think we should provide something for them, as well.” “Then maybe you shouldn’t try so hard to have a meeting.” John said still playing with Jason. “Be a family and let them be a part just as you do at your family get-togethers. Include them where you can and let them be kids together at times, too, when you’re involved in things they may find less interesting.” “But there’s too many just to turn them loose. It’s hard to get people to go out with them when no one wants to miss the meeting.” “Who said anything about turning them loose? Love them. Include them as significant parts of the family however you can. Let me ask you a question. Do you usually eat together?” “We often do. We think it is part of sharing the Lord’s Table.” “Do you have a kid’s table when you do?” I sensed this wasn’t going to be good, but the other folks had no idea how differently John thinks. “Of course we do, doesn’t everyone?” “Well, actually no. Eating together is one of the simplest things a family does together. If you’re already dividing up by then, you’re missing something extraordinary. Mix it up, and don’t have families sitting together. Sit down with a child that is not your own and get to know what makes them tick. What do they enjoy? How is school going? Or grab some blocks and hit the floor with a two year old. “And if you have them with you for singing or sharing, don’t have your own child on your lap where you’ll struggle with them to make it look like they’re participating. Get someone else’s child on your lap and make it playful for them. Do you realize the most significant factor in helping a child thrive in the culture is for them to have caring relationships with adults who are not their relatives? The best gift you can give each other’s kids is the same gift you can give each other—the gift of friendship. And if the kids go out to enjoy some time together, don’t send people out to do childcare. Think of it as an opportunity for a couple of you to build relationships with a significant part of your group—whether they’re toddlers or teenagers.”
“But since they’re not in a Sunday school class, how will they get instruction?” Marsha asked. Before he could answer Laurie leaned across me and opened her arms offering to take Jason. “Haven’t you had that one long enough?” she asked pleading. With a kiss on Jason’s forehead and a smile he gave him up to Laurie and then picked up his fork. “How old are your children, Marsha?” “Ten, seven and three.” “If you have something you want to share with them, do it. But don’t think that is the best way they learn.” At that he grabbed a fork and held it up. “Do you remember teaching your children to use a fork?” “Not exactly….” “But they all use one, I assume. Did you send them to fork school, or have a Powerpoint presentation on the make-up and use of a fork?” People laughed. “It sounds silly, doesn’t it? But as long as we think of this life in Christ as knowledge to acquire instead of living in him, we’ll do all kinds of foolish things. Your children know how to use a fork, but that’s because they learned it in life. As they got old enough you probably put the fork in their hands, but held on so they wouldn’t poke their eye out. You helped them guide it to their mouth and when you grew confident they wouldn’t hurt themselves, you let them do it on their own. Embracing the life of Jesus is a lot more like learning to use that fork than it is sitting in meetings. Children will learn the truth as you help them learn to live it.”
I was surprised when Roary spoke up since he’s one of the quietest men in our group. “I love what you’re saying about the kids. I’ve never thought of them that way. But you’re talking about something bigger than that, aren’t you?” “You’re right, Roary. What I’m saying will also affect how you deal with each other. If you really want to learn how to share Jesus’ life together, it would be easier to think of that less as a meeting you attend and more as a family you love.”
amen! this reminds me of the piece in wolfgang simson's "houses." it is so about changing the way we (i) think, about living in Jesus rather than aquiring knowledge. i needed to be reminded of this, particularly this week. it's very encouraging. blessings.
thanks so much!! I will bookmark this one to share with our pastor / home church leaders, etc. Its what I want but can't explain how or why really... and I realize I want it with the perfect kids. (which aren't mine, by the way! lol)
swiss flowers Met up for a coffee with Florian Bärtsch a church planter from Switzerland who is currently living in High Wycombe improving his english and working with Dick Scoggins to explore ways of equipping and releasing an apostolic movement of pioneer church planters across europe.
As part of a team in Switzerland, Florian and his wife Anni have seen around 17 new home churches started, mainly amongst non-churched folks. How have they done this? By going to a new village and intentionally evangelising it. They invite people to a healing meeting which attracts new-age, esoteric types, minister through word of knowledge then share Jesus with them. The new believers are then formed into one or more home churches. Florian has found that power evangelism is the only way to break through the western european culture. All else they have tried has not been successful at winning previously non-churched people.
Three years is what it takes for real 'family' to form in these new churches and now they are starting to see this first generation beginning to reproduce and plant new churches which is very exciting. It has been slow and takes a lot of hard work but Florian has seen it work in a european context and has faith to see it grow and spread through the raising up of a movement of young apostolic pioneers.
The team have also had wide involvement in seeing many hundreds of churches planted in India, Russia and other nations. They have learnt many lessons the hard way and are ready and willing to pass on their knowledge to others.
neil cole interview Check out this interview (click on picture) with Neil Cole author of Organic Church. He tells some of his own story of how he moved from being a traditional church pastor who failed a church planters assessment to seeing hundreds of organic churches springing up all over America and several other countries!
so you don't want to go to church anymore? Following on from the Wayne Jacobsen links below, this is a fun read which you can download for free or buy a hard copy. It is the story of an IC pastor - Jake Colsen and his transition from a works-based religion to a grace-based relational christianity outside of traditional church structures. He is helped on this often painful journey by a mysterious character called John who has a knack of bumping into Jake at key moments.
There's some excellent stuff in it; it fleshes out the teaching you can hear on the Transitions teaching mentioned in the last post. Here's a bit when Jake excitedly tells John of his plans to start a home church and is brought up short when John doesn't seem quite so enthusiastic.
“A few days after we last talked I got in touch with Ben Hopkins. He used to be my assistant in a home group I led before I got railroaded out of City Center. He’s discovered something called house church and has found a lot of information about it on the Internet. He and I are going to start one this weekend.”
“You are?” He seemed markedly less excited about this than I thought he would.
“Yes. Isn’t that where it all began? The early believers met in each other’s homes. They didn’t build huge organizations. They didn’t have a clergy to run everything. They simply shared community as brothers and sisters together. That’s what I’ve been looking for since I became a believer. I’ve always thought our view of church seemed to present more problems than it solved. This is the only answer I’ve ever heard that got me this excited. It seems there are thousands of people all around the world who have given up on our traditional congregations and are trying to rediscover life like the early church experienced it. Many are calling it a last-day move of God to purify his church.”
“And that will happen just by meeting in a home, will it?”
His seeming cynicism surprised me. “You don’t think so?”
“Don’t get me wrong, Jake. Finding more relational ways to share life with other believers is a marvelous direction to head. But just moving the meeting into a home will not accomplish all that you hope for.”
...“If this is another place for you to find your identity and to bury your shame by thinking you’ve got a better way to do it than anyone else, then you’re sating the same thirst, just from a different fountain. That’s what I hear when you call it a great move of God. You’re still talking like you’re a competitor with other brothers and sisters. You can’t love what you’re competing against and if you’re keeping score you can be sure you’re competing.”
“So we shouldn’t do it?”
“I didn’t say that, Jake. What I hope you’ll do is simply let God connect you with those brothers and sisters he wants you to walk with for now. Think less about ‘starting’ something, than just learning to share your life in God with others on a similar journey. Don’t feed off your need to be more right than others, then you’ll know more clearly what he is doing in you.”
Something is happening across Britain today: a new kind of church is beginning to appear; increasing numbers of
christians (recent research suggests between 40 & 100,000) are starting to gather in homes, colleges and work places.
Living out a 24-7 faith, they are missionally focused with a 'go to them' dynamic instead of a 'come to us' invitation.
These communities are small, fluid, organic, reproducible and most of all simple; so simple that any believer would respond
by saying "I could do that!"
The aim of this site is to connect, report and resource these new groups.
If you'd like to know more check out the vision page.
Met up for a coffee with Florian Bärtsch a church planter from Switzerland who is currently living in High Wycombe improving his english and working with Dick Scoggins to explore ways of equipping and releasing an apostolic movement of pioneer church planters across europe.
Check out this interview (click on picture) with Neil Cole author of Organic Church. He tells some of his own story of how he moved from being a traditional church pastor who failed a church planters assessment to seeing hundreds of organic churches springing up all over America and several other countries!
Following on from the Wayne Jacobsen links below, this is a fun read which you can download for free or buy a hard copy. It is the story of an IC pastor - Jake Colsen and his transition from a works-based religion to a grace-based relational christianity outside of traditional church structures. He is helped on this often painful journey by a mysterious character called John who has a knack of bumping into Jake at key moments.
