SimpleChurch Journal

Simplifying Discipleship

(This was first posted in 2010. But, as I am traveling in Africa I am reminded that these simple discipleship principles have led to movements throughout East Africa that we have had the privilege of being involved in. David Watson is often credited for these principles that help make discipleship both simple and reproducible.)

At the heart of simple/organic church life is the lifestyle of discipleship (following Jesus) and discipling others.

The difficulty is that we often make discipleship far too difficult.  When we see discipleship as primarily about imparting knowledge from one to another, then we need an expert (knowledgeable) who also excels at communicating knowledge to another (teaching gift).  Many people do not see themselves as qualified enough (not enough knowledge as compared to professionals or those who have attended seminary) and not gifted enough (again, comparing themselves to those with excellent teaching gifts).

The result is that we have turned discipleship over to the professional teachers (pulpiteers and well-known author/teachers) and the programs that these same people develop.  In the process we exclude 90% of the Body of Christ from being active disciplers which is exactly what Jesus asked each of us to do.

Fortunately, simple/organic church planters, and those who have studied or experienced church planting movements, have re-discovered the keys to discipleship and have given those keys back to every-day-believers where they belong.

Here are two of those keys:

1. Discipleship can and should be discovery-based.  This means that new believers can actually discover what they need to know about God by opening the Word of God themselves while the Spirit leads and teaches them.  In this case, I do not need to be highly knowledgeable nor an effective teacher to come alongside someone who is going directly to the Word to learn from God and to encounter God.

We have put far too much effort into spoon-feeding new Christians by providing milk for them to drink through our pre-digested sermons, notes, teachings, and pre-packaged lessons.  The result is that believers do not learn the basics of understanding the Word for themselves, listening to the voice of the Spirit through the Word, and applying it.  This latter is the meaning of a disciple: one who hears Jesus speak and follows him.

While teachers can play a helpful supportive role, scripture is abundantly clear that the Holy Spirit is to become the primary teacher in a believer’s life (1 John 2:27).  This takes the pressure off of the discipler if we are willing to take on a support role in a disciple’s life rather than the main role.

2. The second key is often called “obedience-based discipleship.”  However, since the word “obedience” often conjures up images of legalistic adherence to rules (which is not the same as simply obeying Jesus), I sometimes prefer the term: “active-surrender-based discipleship.”  In using this term I will quote Thomas Merton who said: “we must know the truth, we must love the truth we know and we must act according to the measure of our love.  Truth is God himself who cannot be known apart from love and cannot be loved apart from surrender to his will.”

Okay, so maybe that’s just a way to say that the way to experientially know and encounter God is to love and obey him.

But, here’s the point.  A disciple is one who loves and obeys.  Period.  Therefore obedience-based discipleship (or surrender-based discipleship) focuses on becoming one who follows, one who walks out what God has shown, one who consistently steps into the place of “your will not my will be done.”  Why does this matter?  Because, again, knowledge is not the focus here.  A new disciple will gain the knowledge that he/she needs over time if he is applying what he is hearing through obedience.

Therefore, again, an expert is not needed (nor a great teacher) in order to show the way.  Rather, simply a fellow-Jesus-follower is all that is necessary to come alongside other disciples and point the way (through his/her own walk) to an abundant, Spirit-filled, life-filled, adventure-filled, personally-transforming, world-impacting, miracle-walking, Jesus-following lifestyle.

The bottom line here is that a disciple is one who is coming to know God himself through personal experience (followership) NOT merely a bunch of knowledge ABOUT God.  The former comes through self-discovery of who God is and walking with him. 

To disciple someone, then, is nothing more than:

1. Bringing them to the Scriptures to feed.
2. Asking how God is speaking to and leading them (through the Scriptures and the Spirit).
3. Asking how they are walking out what God is speaking (obedience out of love).
4. Helping them to do the same with others.

It really IS that simple.

Underground Revolutionaries

There are challenges in the organic/simple church movement:

• Believers seeking the latest fad rather than a deeper lifestyle of faith and sacrifice. 
• Churches that are simply smaller versions of institutional ones. 
• People attending house churches to see if this model can meet ‘their needs.’

But there is another side that is sometimes less visible: a growing swell of simple folk who just want to live like salt and light in a broken world.  The same way Jesus did.

These are people who are making friends with no strings attached—just out of love for others.  They genuinely care about the people around them and others are surprised by this brand of ‘Christianity’ that is both compassionate and deeply personal.

These are people who are starting simple gatherings around food, or videos, or a Bible study in their neighborhoods, or in their work place, or local coffee shop.  They are not counting numbers or marking their success by how many meetings they start.  Yet, they are passionate that others encounter Jesus.

These are people who are finding new ways to use their God-given gifts and passions to help others and in the process see Jesus glorified.  They are starting simple ministries, or opening their doors to neighbors, or visiting jails, or preparing for careers where their gifts can be fully invested for the Kingdom within their society, or pioneering non-profits.

These are people who are scheming ways to reach out and touch the deepest needs of their communities without seeking credit for their efforts.

These are people who build authentic relationships that draw others out and that make room for deep connections leading to changed lives.

These are people who are working among some of the less-acceptable people in our society: the mentally ill, the sexually addicted, the repeat offenders.

These are people who are selling their homes and moving to Tanzania because God has spoken to them about a group of people there who are broken and oppressed but who have never heard the name of Jesus.

These are people who are simply learning to live their lives naturally, yet supernaturally, in whatever way God has made him/her, enjoying life while being a genuine God-lover in a world that is becoming more and more love-less.

These are people who will not be writing books or blog posts about what they are doing.  Their ‘results’ may not make the traditional church world stand up and applaud.  In fact, many of their closest Christian friends may not think much of them.

These are people who will never make headlines.  They may never have something that could be labeled a ‘ministry’ or recognized as a ‘movement.’  They are motivated, instead, by the longing to just follow Jesus.

These are people who are seeking to live their lives fully around their love for Jesus and their desire to hear and follow His voice alone.  Their follower-lifestyle invites others to do the same.

These are people who would not think of themselves as revolutionaries.  But they are.  They are part of the quiet, underground swell of simple folk who want to do nothing more than love God and love others—simply, organically, authentically, and purposefully.

I meet these people every day.  This gives me great encouragement that the true revolutionary wave is growing.

Join up!

Strategic Words in Facilitating Movements

Since I am currently in Africa working with phenomenally fruitful leaders, I thought it would be good to share a few “key words” on church planting movements.  These words are adapted from Galen Currah who adapted them originally from David Watson.  Each “word” listed here has so much meaning and power when walked out.

1. Prayer: Prayer is the starting point for all ministries. Know the mind of God and join Him in His work. Deep intimacy with God is the foundation for everything else!

2. Scripture: Scripture is foundational and the source of all teaching and preaching. Scripture → Principle → Practice

3. Disciples: Make Disciples, not converts. Converts focus on religion. Disciples focus on Jesus and obedience to His teachings.

4. Obedience: Teach Obedience to the Word, not doctrine. Doctrine is our church’s teaching from the Bible. It may be highly interpretive, and may not consider the full counsel of the Bible.

5. Churches: Communities of Believers. Form new believers into minimal bible practice groups that will become Communities of Believers (churches) who transform families and communities.

6. Authority: Authority of Scripture and the Holy Spirit are all that is needed to start. Church Planting is an act of God through His Spirit and His people who are obedient to the Word and the Spirit.

7. Persecution: Persecution is part of being a Christian. In pioneer work it is expected and response is trained.

8. Warfare: In areas where the Gospel has never been preached, or in areas where traditional religions have reigned for a significant amount of time, it is not unusual to find those engaging in CPM activities confronted by Spiritual Conflicts that range from annoying to life-threatening.

9. Plan: Act Intentionally: Plan your work & work your plan. Organic does not mean the same things as “accidental.”  Crops are grown through intentional sowing with wisdom.

10. Peace: Start with the Man of Peace or an existing relationship that will permit a Discovery Bible Study or Witness.

11. Household: Focus on households or families, not on individuals. Households include non-related individual living and relating together as family.

12. Evangelise: Evangelism is an intentional calling to a family to study the Word of God in order to move from not knowing God to falling in Love with Him through Jesus.

13. Reproduce: Reproducing disciples, leaders, groups and churches become a part of the group DNA.

14. Culture (Embrace the Local Culture): Do not import external culture, but redeem local culture by embracing all you biblically can in a culture and transforming or redeeming the rest.

Hearing from God: Key to Great Gatherings

(This was first posted in 2014, but I wanted to share again because of its importance).

I have found that the key to our gatherings is to learn to listen to the Holy Spirit-- all of us.

In my past life, as a pastor of a traditional church, I felt the responsibility to hear what God is saying and to pass that word along to "the people."  Of course, God's word is always God's word and it will always bear fruit.  But how much more fruit is available when every Christian discovers his/her gifts and his/her ability to hear the "rhema"-- the living Word through the written word-- and to be able to share those gifts and His word with one another.

The  shifts the responsibility for hearing from God to each person-- to everyone-- and that takes some getting used to. But what an explosion can take place as the church worships and listens. Jack Deere (Suprised by the Voice of God) shares this:

The New Testament church was not only the dwelling place for the presence of God, it was also a learning center for the language of the Holy Spirit. People not only worshipped God in church, but they were equipped to hear him, and after hearing God, they were able to give something to someone that would build them up.

In preparation for this, Jack challenges us to consider why we gather as a church. It's not about tickling our spiritual ears or getting a little spiritual lift (though these may well happen), rather he suggests that we gather for four reasons: 1. To hear Jesus and be healed by Him, 2. To worship God together, 3. To be equipped to do the work of ministry, and 4. To be built up in Christ. He contends that all of this can take place only as every person gest involved-- bringing something edifying to share, learning to hear what the Holy Spirit is saying, and ministering to one another.

If you lived in the New Testament times, you prepared your heart to come to church, you prepared your heart to worship, you came expecting to be equipped for ministry, and you asked God to give you a gift to bring with you so that you might be used to strengthen someone else. This was the New Testament way of going to church.

Missional Rhythm

There are many different ways for individuals and simple church communities to express missional impact in the world. But, both mission and community-life are important and there is an intentional rhythm to both.

Recently I was talking to a friend who shared his own experience in living out a regular rhythm for himself and for his community. He meets with seekers and non-believer-friends weekly for food and friendship. They eat together with his family in their home, share stories about their lives, and deepen connection. Out of this, he has found that many people want to discover more about what it means to be a follower of Jesus. At the same time, he meets once or more times a week with those who already are Jesus-followers. At these simple-church gatherings they make time for Acts 2:34 — breaking bread, fellowship, prayer, and the word.

We all have different ways of expressing the mission of Jesus in the world. There is no one-size-fits-all. But I love the way my friend is intentionally balancing between times of mission and times of community shared life.

What does your rhythm look like?

Francis Chan - Letters to the Church

Francis Chan, always an engaging writer, provides a current and fresh look at God’s design for what we commonly call “church.” Rather than comment myself, let me share several quotes and just encourage you to make this a must read!

God designed the Church to be much more than what the majority of us experience in America. There are many of us who believe this and want change. The good news is that God wants this change even more than we do.

The early church didn’t need the energetic music, great videos, attractive leaders, or elaborate lighting to be excited about being a part of God’s body. The pure gospel was enough to put them in a place of awe.

If you think that sitting back and letting the church staff feed you will bring you the most fulfillment, you are so wrong. God promised that those who give will be most blessed (Acts 20:35).

When the Bible describes the power available to you, doesn’t it sound like hyperbole? It seems so extreme, yet we see so little of this in our own lives and in the Church. The discrepancy could challenge your faith in the Scriptures—how can the Bible promise things we never experience in real life? But are you willing to consider that the Bible is accurate and the Church has domesticated us to the point where we doubt our power?

Church, the answer is not to build bigger and nicer cages. Nor is it to renovate the cages so they look more like the wild. It’s time to open the cages, remind the animals of their God-given instincts and capabilities, and release them into the wild.

Alan Hirsch said, “In so many churches the mission of the church has actually become the maintenance of the institution itself.”

It’s time to train people to live in the wild again.

There are elements of modern churches that on the surface seem like good ideas, but they can actually keep us from the biblical vision of unity, true fellowship, mutual love, and pursuit of the mission. Too many look at these elements and insist you can’t have a church without them.

I believe God is leading a movement in this country toward simple, smaller gatherings, and I long to see this movement gain greater traction. I get so excited when I dream about the Church spreading in small, invigorating expressions that look and feel like the early church. My goal is to get you dreaming about this as well.

My hope is simply to convince you that there are compelling ways of living as the Church that look nothing like our traditional models. My goal is to get you dreaming, to keep you from settling, to affirm that nagging sense you can’t shake that God wants something more for His Church than what you’re experiencing.

Simple Church Online Course: Register Now

You can now register for the upcoming “Simple/House Church Revolution Online Course.”

Beginning date is January 22.

NOTE, you can register immediately as there are only 12 spaces remaining on a first come, first served basis!

The goal of this course is for participants to discover more fully God's story and the nature of His church in a way that fully celebrates the freedom of the Gospel and the simplicity, reproducibility, and joy of simple, participatory, 24/7 church life.

• It’s interactive with lots of opportunity to share and hear from others who are on a similar journey.
• It provides a lot of great material that challenges our perspectives and paradigms in order to help us shape our own non-traditional journey.
• It can be life-changing as it sets our course as pursuers of Jesus in the context of simple church life.

Who is this course for?  It’s ideal for those who are newly exploring simple/house churches or who are in the process of starting simple/house churches or networks of simple/house churches.

This course helps move us from head knowledge to the practice of principles that can release the DNA of living, reproductive, Jesus-led, simple-house churches that are making disciples who make disciples.  

We continue to offer this course when possible because of the feedback we have received from people who have participated in the past:

"A unique and extremely insightful collection of resources, experiences, and other people who will finally let you know that you are not crazy for hoping that there is more of Jesus to be known and shared in a way that is actually simple."

Read more of the description and register here.  Look forward to this journey together!

What's Worth Dying For?

I have been thinking that my longing to see unreached people continues to be a driving passion in my own life—especially those who have never had the opportunity to really hear and understand the Good News that Jesus has for them!

But I have been asking myself… Is it worth dying for and am I willing?

Why am I thinking about this?

Maybe it’s the recent story of the 26-year-old American missionary who was killed by a remote Indian tribe. He had planned the trip for two years knowing that his own death was highly likely. His friends didn't stop him because 'that’s what God is calling him to do.’

Or maybe it’s our recent trip to Africa where good friends are now routinely going into dangerous situations:

• Our friends from Rwanda are now making their third trip into a remote area of South Sudan. If someone there had not taken on the role of their personal bodyguard, they likely would have been killed the first time in.
• Our friends from Kenya are routinely going into areas of Turkana and Pokot (remote north) where children carry guns and deadly cattle rustling is the norm.

So, this has brought me to some measure of self-examination. Do I still truly and fully believe deeply that the unreached and the mission that Jesus initiated is worth dying for… and worth giving up my life for?

I hope to say, ‘yes!’ I think back to oh so many years ago, when I was lost. I mean really lost. 19 years old and alone. And confused. And terribly misguided. Headed for more and more trouble. Without purpose or direction or hope. When Jesus sought me out, reached in, and poured grace and forgiveness and unimaginable love. And I went from lost to confidently saved, from pauper to prince, from prisoner to free indeed, from orphan to adopted by Father. From death to life everlasting. How can I not still want this for others with the willingness to pay any price!

But then the follow up question is, ‘so what does that mean?’

For now, I suppose it means that I do not want my focus and passion for the lost to diminish. This is a blog about ‘church’ in the sense of desiring to see expressions of church that reflect life without institutional trappings. But, at the end of the day, none of this matters if my heart is not reflecting that which Jesus himself died for: those who do not know Him including those who are currently beyond the reach of the Gospel.

Maybe this season of Advent is a good time to reflect and renew my own heart in the focus that led to Jesus’ own coming and how I want my coming year to walk out as a result.

Something worth dying for gives life a passion and focus that makes life worth living for!

(Readers, forgive me if I add one more thing on a ministry note. I rarely mention our work and efforts through Appleseed Ministry on this blog, but we have a special year-end focus related to unreached areas and helping the Gospel go to where it is NOT. These funds go 100% directly to field work, not to us, not to our organization, and not to administration. Your partnership here--as well as many other wonderful efforts around the world--can impact directly those who have not heard.)

The Art of Risk

No matter what stage of my walk with Jesus I am in, I find myself frequently challenged to 'take courage' and step out of the boat when Jesus calls.

Have we lost the art of risk when it comes to our faith?  Are we settling for play-it-safe, cookie-cutter religion that has no life, teeth, focus, or power to it?

I know risk and faith can be used by irresponsible people to do irresponsible things. But not risking can be used by overly responsible people to avoid the adventure God has called them to. I can fall, all too often, in this latter category!

It’s almost impossible to see God-things happen while we are playing it safe.

Most churches are playing it safe.  Many Christians are playing it safe.  Yes, risk can sometimes bring with it the element of danger.  But, then again, not risking when faith calls us forward could be even more dangerous!

So, today might be a great day to pray about getting out of the boat, burning that play-it-safe bridge, starting that new God-venture or God-inspired adventure, going after that dream even though the stakes are high.  Really, what do you have to lose?  Really?  And, really, what might you have to gain?

God Might Be Preparing You For Global Impact

As we travel in Africa this month, I am reminded that God is doing something special through those who find themselves seeking and living simple/organic expressions of church life. In fact, you might be key to the army God is preparing for needed global impact.

Though progress is being made, some estimate there are still over 6,000 unreached people groups (out of 11,700 total people groups) in which less than 2% are believers.  To live within such an unreached group means that it is highly likely you will live and die never hearing the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

So, why might simple/organic church folk be the very army that God is preparing for global impact?

1. Training is needed throughout the world in disciplemaking movements that lead to church planting movements so that these large groups of unreached people can be reached with the Gospel.  While business/institutional models of church hinder these movements, simple/organic church folk understand the type of church gatherings that can help facilitate and release such movements.  This understanding is needed throughout the world.

2. Simple/organic church folk understand that money is not needed for the church to grow and reproduce making it much easier for the Gospel to go forward.  Furthermore, much money can be freed up from the west, through simple/organic church expressions to flow into unreached parts of the world. 

3. Simple/organic church folk understand that the life of a Jesus follower is a 24/7 lifestyle rather than the passive attendance of church services.  This means more vibrant, impactful disciples are made.

4. Simple/organic church folk are committed to hearing and following the voice of Jesus and none other.  As we continue to tune our ears more and more to him, it is likely that his heart for ‘all peoples’ will motivate more and more people to reach beyond the comfort of their own people group and extend themselves to reach others.

5. Simple/organic church folk understand that the church is a going organism, not a come-and-sit event.  Our mentality is to be involved with Jesus in his mission throughout the world.  We live with a readiness to go where he sends!