SimpleChurch Journal aka House Church Blog

Small Is Beautiful

I have been raised in a world that, in many ways, worships things that are big: big concerts, big events, big hypes, big companies, big shopping malls, etc., etc.

Even in the church world, the watchword of the 90s was: mega-church. The bigger, the better!

But after two small house church gatherings this weekend, I have been thinking of the beauty of small: flowers are small, babies are small, meaningful moments are often intimate and involving a small number of people, desserts are small, tears are small, hugs and kisses are small gestures (though large in meaning), diamonds are small, keepsakes are small, hearts are small...

I have had to re-learn my own church traditions and background in order to grasp it: small church gatherings are incredibly beautiful. In fact, this past weekend I had the privilege of enjoying so many of these small beautiful things: hugs, kisses, tears, desserts, babies, flowers, and meaningful moments.

I am so glad that I am learning to enjoy "small."

House Church Networks vs. The Cell / Small-Group Church

It is vital to understand that house church networks are not the same thing, in any way, as churches with small groups (even if those small groups are called “house churches.”

The cell church (I will adopt the term “cell” church to refer to all types of small-group-based churches) has been a strong movement in North America over the past 30 years while the house church network is only just beginning to emerge.

Nevertheless, in order to evaluate what God is doing in both of these streams it is very useful to recognize the differences:

1. Within the house church network, each house church is fully, and completely real church. The attitude of the member comes out of an awareness that “I am the church.”

The cell church is an extension of a larger church. It is a smaller piece, a ministry of, the larger, real church. The cell member tends to regard himself as one who “belongs to” the small group and is a “member of” the larger church.

2. House churches do not ever need to build buildings. They can reproduce and multiply without ever requiring a building project.

Cell churches are dependent on building structures to house the corporate church that meets weekly for celebration services.

3. In the house church the small, weekly, home service is the priority. The extended family and the relationships that develop within the small home service are the most important part of church life. The larger celebration service with the entire house church network takes place less often and is, therefore, a lower priority.

In the cell church the larger, weekly celebration service is the priority. If the church has to choose between the bigger all-church service or its cell groups, the big service wins.

4. House church models a way of life and a set of values that is unique to its structure. Larry Kreider says that because church takes place entirely “outside of the mentality of religious meetings” it causes people to become “involved in a lifestyle of everyday community” in which people live their lives “in an extended spiritual family as they focus on reaching the lost.”

The cell church tends to be an event (a good event) or a program that people attend. It certainly, vitally adds to the person’s life but would not normally lead to a “lifestyle of everyday community.”

5. House churches and house church networks can multiply rapidly.

Cells within the cell church tend to grow as a result of the corporate church itself growing (if it does).

6. House churches are guided by spiritual “fathers” but are free to follow the agenda of Jesus in their midst.

Cell churches are also often free to allow Jesus to shape the meeting and direction of the group, but they are also, just as often, set up with the agendas of the leaders of the corporate church.

7. House church networks have a “flat” leadership structure. This means that as leaders are developed and churches planted, the leadership goes sideways and remains flat. In essence, churches and church leaders are continually sent out.

Cell churches are designed with a hierarchical structure and administration so that leaders of cells are overseen by leaders of zones, who are overseen by pastoral staff, etc.

8. House churches consume less resources on facilities and administration which frees up more resources for missions and Christian charities.

Cell churches tend to consume most of the resources that come into the church on facilities and administrative needs.

9. House churches develop elders, shepherds, ministers, and church planters. It quickly raises up and encourages these kinds of ministries. Every gift is equally valued as every person sees his or her gift used and valued within the context of real church.

Cell churches develop home group leaders and encourage members to develop their gifts mostly for use within the small group. Often, these highly gifted people do not see themselves as ministering on the same level as the staff ministers in their church.

10. The house church can meet anywhere and is encouraging the church to change from being a Come-structure to a Go-structure. It stops trying to bring people “into the church” and brings the church to people.

The cell church is usually (not always) part of the larger church’s Come-structure, seeking to bring people into church and into small groups.

Experts, Superstars, and Children

We have a sad, sad tendency. All of us. We like to know who the experts are. We want to know who knows what we want to know so that we can learn from them and then we will know it. We want to identify the gurus and the superstars... even in the house church "movement."

Let me just say it as clearly as I can... As soon as we even begin thinking this way... we have lost it.

The whole point is that nobody really knows what God is up to... but God. Our only approach can be one of total and utter dependency on Him (become like little children). He builds His church... period. He orchestrates His church... period. He directs His church... period. He is the head of His church... period. If we no longer stand before Him in utter and complete naked dependency, then we have begun substituting human ingenuity for divine revelation. How tempting this is.

Does that mean that we don't learn from one another? Of course not. The whole point of this blog is to create a place where we can brainstorm, share ideas, and learn from each other. But let's watch that we don't start identifying the latest craze, the coolest fad, the way that "they" do it, or what so-and-so has to say about it. Let's make sure we remain utterly, fearlessly, passionately, devoted to a dependency on the One We Follow. He leads. Otherwise, don't follow!

Corporate Structure, Tax Exemptions, Insurance, Ordination

I receive many questions regarding the logistical issues of corporate structure, tax-exemptions, insurance, and ordination.  The following downloadable document addresses some of these issues:

Download corp_structure_exempt_ins.doc

A Way To Do Life--Not A Way To Do Church

I'm concerned that we are trying to re-structure church instead of re-learning what it is to live the Christian life.

House churches, simple churches, organic churches can easily become just the "new way" to do church, the next-wave model of churchianity. It's easy for us, if we have been doing church for years, to want to simply come up with a "better way to do church." But that really misses the whole point.

Instead, we need to be talking about the way to live our Christian life. We are privileged to have been given a whole new life: a lifestyle. We have the privilege of living passionately for God. We have the privilege and calling of living Kingdom lives: we journey with God, walk with Him, experience Him, know Him and express Him wherever we go. We have the joy of having a purpose and mission that comes out of the heart of the eternal Father. We get to live in His love, surrounded by His love, empowered by His love, and motivated by His love. Our life lived with a wondrous God is awesome!

This is vital because the Christian life becomes somehow confused with the concepts of "going to church" and "being involved in church." While those may be very wonderful things to do, they are not, in and of themselves, the equivalent of living life in Christ. Yes, when we live the Christian life full on, we do gather with others. But that's a result, an outcome of living all out for God. The "gathering with Christians" is not "the life"-- it's just a part of it. It's one piece of what we do while we are living all out for God.

Let me suggest an analogy.

I love to ski. I am passionate about skiing. I enjoy skiing anywhere there is a slope and some snow. I may be involved in a ski club, I may go to a ski school, I may have skied at many different places. But none of this replaces what it's all about: just skiing. If I tell people that I ski here or there, or that I'm part of this or that club, it's not because I'm enamored with the club, the school, or even the ski resort. These are all peripherals to the real experience that I love, what it's all about: skiing.

In the same way, none of our churches, nor "how we do church", should be equated to living the Christian life. They are peripherals to the Christian life. Church gatherings support us in living the Christian life. But they are not "the life" itself. It's great to gather and be part of, but let's get skiing! It's living for and with God that we are excited about, that we are talking to others about, that grips us with passion and excitement, that we are focused on. Just living full on for God. Just doing it. Going after it. Faithing it. Loving it. Losing ourselves in it and Him.

Aren't churches and gatherings important? Yes, but let me be repetitive, they are peripherals to the Christian life. The church will always gather in a variety of ways. But imagine when the church gatherings are made up of a group of Christians whose primary focus is living full on for God. Imagine what church is like, whether we gather in a home or in a stadium, when all the full-on-passionate-alive-people-for-God gather together. Yeah, that's church!

I admit, I like to gather in a house. I like it simple. I like it participatory. I like house church. It helps me remember that life with God is life with God and not an institution or event. But that's just me. Where we gather is really very, very secondary. The central issue is, let's live the Christian life... full on... with all that we have. Then when we gather... it will be good!

Blog: How To

If you are new to blogging you may want a little info.
The word "blog" is short for "web log." The basic definition is this:

A blog is basically a journal that is available on the web. The activity of updating a blog is "blogging" and someone who keeps a blog is a "blogger."

One of the unique aspects of a blog is its interactive nature. Any reader is free to post a comment. The comments not only add to the discussion but shape future blog posts by raising questions and new issues. To some extent, everyone that participates in a blog takes part in the direction that it goes.

Note at the bottom of this blog is the word "comment." By clicking on that word you can see comments posted by others and you can post a comment as well.

You can keep track of blogs that you read by adding them to you favorites list. But if you read more than one and/or if you like to follow newsfeeds (current news that is regularly updated), then you may want to look at inexpensive programs, such as feed demon, or websites, such as bloglines.com which is free. These allow your blogsites to be read as "feeds." Current info, or blog updates, that you haven't yet read are automatically highlighted for you and you can see short excerpts of each. It's amazing the amount of information that can be scanned this way. Some believe that this will change the way people surf the web.

Also, in the case of this House Church Blog, you can request to be placed on my email list and I will notify you every time this blog is updated:

House2House E-Newsletter

House2House continues to publish excellent resources for house churches. Check out their website by clicking here.

If you wish to receive their regular e-newsletters, you can subscribe by clicking here.

Love vs. Control in Worship

Went to two house churches this weekend and came away realizing that I am still very much in transition from institutional-thinking to just plain caring about the people around me. I still find myself wanting our worship time to be a certain way. I still fight with the idea that "I know how to do it" (that old "leadership" mentality) and that it's my job to help others "do it" better.

The fact is, this is one hundred percent not true! I don't know anything about how others are meant to worship the awesome, creative, infinite God. Each person's expression of worship, no matter how quiet, different, or out of the ordinary, is incredible and beautiful to God. It's His job to orchestrate the hearts and expressions of His people.

But I have been trained well by a system in which a few people define what is "powerful" worship for the rest of the worshipping masses. I have learned to look for certain "evidences" of worship movement that are about my background and training. I begin to feel like I'm the "expert" (old tapes): the one who can "lead" others into a richer worship experience. In doing this, I am setting myself above others, seeking to take control away from God, and failing to love the unique worshippers as well as honor their unique worship expressions. This is control, not love.

Love is something completely different. It starts with realizing that I am just one of the gang and that each person has more to offer me than I could ever give to them. Love means to honor what the Holy Spirit is doing in each, appreciate what He is doing, bless what He is doing, and enjoy the way every heart expresses worship. Love is wanting others to be who they are. Love is enjoying how God created each of His children, and how much delight He gets from every expression of their heart toward Him.

It's amazing what happens as I, and those around me, are grasping this. People are beginning to find their own worship voice rather than try to imitate someone else's. Worship is becoming a wonderful, diverse mosaic of the hearts of God's people reaching for Him in an infinite variety of expressions. Not something I would orchestrate. No, I would never come up with what I saw happen this weekend. It didn't fit into my old pre-conceptions of "powerful worship." But it was, in fact, something far more incredible. It was something God was orchestrating!!!! Something more than "powerful." Something awesome. Something... of God.

The FEELING of House Church

I love the way Andrew Jones describes the feeling of what he calls "real church":

"This morning i walked through the Walthamstow market and saw famers selling the organic produce they have been growing themselves. There is something freeing and simple, even rebellious, in buying produce directly from the people who grew it. I feel good buying it. He feels good selling it. Our transaction bypasses quite a few levels of marketing people and middlemen, and it is quite deconstructive in displacing those heirarchies. But it is also empowering to us, and it just feels good. I get the same feeling when i experience church - real church - i have also felt it in homeschooling, unschooling, downloading info from the web, the immediate self-publishing of blogging, punk music, shopping at Home Depot to fix my own house. It feels empowering, never complex, bare and naked, totally human, focused, and God's pleasure is one of those feelings mixed into it."

How does "real" church feel to you????

A Forum For Practical Ideas: the Big Risk

This is a forum for, among other things, getting practical. Sharing real ideas from real people, all over the world, who are seeking to be the church and live out simple church expressions. I want to be able to talk about some of the down and dirty, real-life stuff. I want to talk about how to do a gathering, how does leadership actually function, how is spiritual transformation taking place, how is the church taking the Good News out into the world. I want to be able to brainstorm together.

Now, before I go any further, I know that this is dangerous. If we start talking about the "how-tos" of this stuff, we could lose the organic, the spontaneous, the unique things that God is doing through each church and gathering. And I acknowledge that this is a risk. We have a disturbing tendency to want to mimic what others are doing rather than seek God and let Him mold our unique expressions. Just consider the way that churches across the country copy the patterns of Hybel, Warren, and others. This human weakness keeps us from discovering our creative design in God. But, there is also a risk if we do not exchange practical ideas with one another and continually brainstorm together. We may miss out on the type of interdependency and learning-from-one-another that will strengthen what we are seeking to do.

The fact is, in the end, we have to take what God is doing inside of us and work it out in real, in-your-face life. Even though "gatherings" are not what church is, still, at some point, we do gather. So what does this look like for you; what does it look like for me? What do I want it to look like? Leadership functions, at some level, any time two or more or gathered. It's inevitable and human. It may be formal or informal, controlling or serving. But it's there. So let's not run from leadership, rather let's talk about it in practical ways. How can we do it so it truly reflects Christ? Structures do develop and structures are necessary. We need them to be simple, transformable, able to die when necessary. But they exist. How can we structure better? Tell me about the ways that our churches are incarnating God's love into the world and how is it going? How can we do it better? Let's discuss the problem areas and the problem people... if only to remind ourselves that we can't control it all. Let's acknowledge that nobody really knows what they are doing, and that's the glory and mystery of God; but let's also acknowledge that, together, we may be able to shed some light on each other's paths.

I want an exchange of real ideas about house church, simple church, organic church, and wherever God is taking His church today. I don't want to develop any "how to" templates for all churches everywhere. But I do want to be enriched by the exhange of all of the infinite possibilities. I want a place where we can ask questions, hard questions, real questions, and talk about what is really not working. I want a place where people who are new to house church concepts can come in and find an open forum for learning.
Mostly, I just want a place that will facilitate the Spirit speaking to each of us!