SimpleChurch Journal aka House Church Blog

Friend Reaching

I've been working my way through Jim Petersen's book, "The Insider." Actually, I ordered the workbook by mistake so I don't actually have my hands on the book yet. But even the workbook has me intrigued.

Petersen suggests that we are all "insiders" to families, neighborhoods, workplaces, and social networks. As insiders, our ministry is right in front of us. In fact, Petersen laments that so few of us realize both the importance and the legitimacy of learning how to minister to those who are in our immediate spheres of influence.

He quotes Rodney Stark's book "The Rise of Christianity":

The primary means of its [Christianity's] growth was through the united and motivated efforts of the growing number of Christian believers who invited their friends, relatives, and neighbors to share the "good news."

The problem, over the past 1700 years of church history, is that ministry has become the domain of clergy and, therefore, this circle of ministry that surrounds each and every Christian remains largely untouched.

Petersen doesn't offer formulas for "reaching our neighbors," rather he challenges us that:

Being authentically and meaningfully involved with unbelievers takes time and commitment. It means growing in love and compassion. For some it means developing new understandings that will redefine ministry.

I hope this has sparked some interest. I intend to continue reading the workbook and even the book once I get my hands on it.

Vision Process

I like the "Vision" concepts shared by Justin Baeder at Radical Congruency. Take a look...

Church Planting Thoughts

We are continuing the process of starting a third church in our network and have discovered the value of taking it sloooow! We have two great couples who are launching out with a Friday night gathering... and we don't even want to introduce the term "church" too soon lest it give off the wrong impression before people even come.

We call this a "pre-church" stage... not because it's not "church" but because we don't want people to bring traditional "church" thinking to it. These couples want people to just gather, enjoy each other, and have some conversation around "God-stuff." An excellent starting point.

We strongly believe in the concept of "prevenience" put forth by John White. This means, simply, that Jesus is the one who gathers and plants communities. At the most, all we can do is take note where He is working and go there... cooperating with Him the best we can. We don't want to control the process, just let it take shape.

So we have an initial process that looks something like this:

1. Determine the group to be reached. It seems to us that it's important to begin with a missional view by asking the question, "Who has God asked us to reach?" I like the way that Ed Stetzer remarks on this:

What would you would hope church planters in the United States would missiologically wrestle with in particular?

I would say that first and foremost, they need to wrestle through who God has called them to reach. They don’t need to come with a model-specific vision, such as, “I want to plant a mega-church” or “I want to plant a house-church.” They need to abandon a model-specific vision and bring the gospel into a context, a place, asking the question, “What cultural containers-church, worship style, small group ministry-will be most effective in this context?”

2. Begin to articulate a vision of a gathering so that you have something to say when you talk to your identified group. This is not some "presentation," rather it's simply being able to share your heart with those that you want to connect with.

3. Gather people. Take your time. Keep it simple. Get to know people. People is what it's all about. God is the one, ultimately, who will begin to draw people to you.

4. Look at, listen to, and get to know those who are gathering.

This would be our "pre-church" starting point. The process, of course, continues beyond this, but we don't want to rush it. Let God draw and begin to shape, organically, what He is doing.

Core Values & DNA

As a house church network, we have worked to clarify the core values and DNA that we believe leads to the kind of healthy communities we seek to plant:

1. Participatory-- 1 Cor. 14:26
Jesus in the midst of His church through everyone involved
Leadership facilitates
The Holy Spirit leads the church gatherings; the church listens and responds

2. Love is the core value—1 Cor. 13
Acceptance
All are important. Every person’s contribution is valued
“One anothers” lived out in real community

3. Consensus—“take it to the church”
Family meeting decision-making (submit to one another)

4. Authenticity, openness, honesty in relationships
Necessary for relational growth and conflict resolution

5. Every church reaches out and reproduces
“Seek and save the lost” – the missional nature of church
We want everyone to know Jesus; inclusive not exclusive
Intentional ministry to the poor and needy

6. Shared responsibility in finances, time, and other concerns (i.e. children)
Otherwise you will develop a caretaking/enabling system.
Generosity is the fruit of loving God: “Give and it will be given…”

7. Spiritual formation through relational mentoring
Healthy churches are the result of healthy Christians who are the result of more mature Christians relationally discipling (mentoring the spiritual formation of) others who will relationally disciple others

8. Shepherds undergird, support, mentor, love, facilitate, communicate, disciple, counsel, and nurture other people and families with the intention of seeing others become all that they are meant to be. People are to be cared for!
This is the primary leadership paradigm: the “gardener”; the “equipper”; the “flight instructor”

9. Connect with larger Christian community
Network with cluster of house churches
Connect with city church leaders
Invite in Five-fold ministers

10. Prayer
The power generator for God’s work

It Takes Time

Over lunch, at the recent House Church Conference, I found myself asking a couple of "more experienced" brothers if they could look at where we were at as a house church network, point out areas to work on, and make any suggestions.

They were, kindly, very affirming at the progress we had made. Sometimes it seems that we are moving in slow motion because you are dealing with the growth of relationships, community, and hearts--all of which takes time.

I realize that there is, in time, an exponential type growth that can take place, like yeast multiplying through leaven, but if something grows organically it starts slow and begins with just tiny glimmers of progress.

I like what Alan Creech writes about this:

Lay your time tables down. This crap takes a looong time. When I first started Vine & Branches I had a much quicker time frame for the growth of new "branches." Uhhh, that didn't happen. Here's the question I had to ask - is that because I wasn't "working" it properly? I asked it, tried this and that, etc. - nope. Oh, you mean "it wasn't God." No, it was Him - still is. It's -- just -- taking -- a -- long -- time. It's about the long-haul commitment of a community to life together on a journey - and as they go along, being transformed, living their normal lives in the world, they infect others with the Life that is in them, and eventually they start walking the journey as well. Yes there are degrees of intentionality in this thing. But I have found that you can't count on "goals" and time tables about when and how your church will "grow." These are false notions of growth and should not be the goal of a faith community. Long, slow, transformational growth and natural, "walk with me as I walk the journey" evangelism - that's where we're at.

House 2 House

If you are not familiar with the website, magazine, and conferences that are all part of House2House ministries then be sure to look over all that they offer.

Tony & Felicity Dale, the founders of House 2 House, have been involved in house churches since the 1970s in England. Many years ago, finding themselves relocated to Austin, Texas they began planting house churches and supporting this movement everywhere they can. They host seminars and conferences and publish a magazine as often as funds allow.

Take a look and be sure to sign up for their e-newsletter.

Still More on the House Church Conference

Robert Fitts shared on his house church adventures having become interested in 1990. At that time he knew of no one involved in this other than in China. Nevertheless, he saw the potential and began planting.

After some time he felt that house churches would be stronger if they also developed a training component. He first called these "Home Bible College" but has since termed them Ephesians 4 Training Schools. These "schools" are simple and reproducible. He likes to see them planted alongside of house churches.

So... how does it work? The training school meets weekly and then includes assignments along with it. In short, when the school gathers, the students work through the Life of Christ in a discussion format, worship together, minister to one another, and eat and fellowship. In addition, the students read through the remainder of the New Testament on their own.

There is a bit more to it, but rather than go into detail I recommend that you take a look at Robert's website where you can read quite a bit of information about it.

Robert is also developing quite an extensive, informal "network" of house church coordinators to provide communication and resources to house churches within each region of the United States and then spreading out to encompass the world. Again, more info can be found at www.RobertFitts.com.

More On the House Church Conference

Mike Steel, of DAWN, shared his model for simple church gatherings. He uses the acronym BELLS to describe the components, not the "order", of his gathering of believers:

B is for Blessing one another, both formally and informally through times of interaction and fellowship.

E is for Eating, a key component for people sharing their lives with each other.

L is for Listening so that Jesus is constantly recognized as the Master of Ceremonies.

L is for Learning which includes the Word of God but is also about paying attention to what God is teaching as lives connect and interact with one anothers.

S is for Signs and Wonders. Allowing God to reveal His mystery and power any way He chooses.

Mike made a particularly strong case for the necessity of Listening as a core concept for His gatherings. He emphasizes that God brings the agenda and our job is to listen to him. "What does he want me to contribute this week? When do I make my contribution? How does he want me to strengthen others? Lord, what else do you want to do this day/night while has are gathered as your family?"

Good reminders of where the focus needs to be!

House Church Conference

Thought I would begin downloading some of the good material presented at the regional western house church conference.

Paul Kaak gave an excellent presentation that focused on one key reality: we are not called to plant churches, we are called to plant the Kingdom of God. Churches are natural expressions that take place if the Kingdom is planted.

Paul also cautioned about the danger if house church becomes "trendy" which is a real possibility. This could easily destroy the organic nature of the movement and cause it to become just one more packaged alternative.

Felicity Dale is always inspiring as she teaches on the Luke 10 and recounts her own stories of planting house churches. Luke 10 suggests a missional approach that begins with prayer (for the Lord to send workers), then moves to the house of a receptive person, then follows with food and fellowship, then food and more fellowship. Next step is "healing the sick", i.e. looking for needs and ministering to those needs in God's power. Finally, after all of this takes place, the Good News is spoken--within the context of relationship and within the context of God having already shown up by touching people's lives.

Excellent stuff.

Got to run out the door to a neighbor's neighborhood party! More later!

Going to Conference

Will be spending today and tomorrow at the House 2 House regional conference. Looking forward! Will fill you in when I return.