SimpleChurch Journal

Simple Steps of Obedience

“It’s not hard to obey when we love the one we obey.” Ignatius of Loyola

“We learn more in one year of obedience to Jesus than in one hundred years of studying theology.”

In my last post, It’s Not About BIG Anymore, I suggested that walking in partnership with Jesus from a position of humility was the true mark of the upside-down Jesus-follower. But humility, though a vital foundation, is just a beginning.

The next step, perhaps, is to recognize that Jesus is the one who builds his church and he does it his way. Our part is to learn the lifestyle of loving him, listening to him, and surrendering our self to the simple steps of obedience he calls us to. It is the collective obedience of his disciples that results in the “big” kingdom outcomes that transform people, nations, and even the world.

It is the collective obedience of his disciples that results in the “big” kingdom outcomes that transform people, nations, and even the world.

Now, this certainly sounds simple… but it is not easy. In my own soul is an abundance of self-seeking, self-will, and an automatic careening after self-interests many of which mascarade as good things. The process of weeding out the weeds on a daily basis (taking up the cross) is an ongoing one that starts and stalls and starts again. But I desire to keep moving ahead because the call of the surrendered, obedient life is the call to a life of purpose, freedom, and joy. And it is the only pathway I know of for Jesus to build his kingdom-people into the kind of expression of himself that truly impacts others.

So...

He speaks.

I love him.

I listen and surrender to his leading and direction.

God accomplishes God-purposes.

Daily.

Maybe we need not wait for the next big thing to come along in the world of church and churchdom. Rather, maybe God is waiting for his church, his ekklesia, his people, to learn the simple steps of growing up into a lifestyle of simple love-motivated obedience thus expressing him more fully in the world.

“The church is Christ’s body, in which he speaks and acts, by which he fills everything with his presence.” Eph 1:23 The Message

It's Not About BIG Anymore

America is often known for being big: big land, big houses, big cars, big companies, big drinks that come with free refills…

And we learned to measure our churches by the same standard: big buildings, big programs, big organizations, big influence numerically… even big sales of books and music. Whether leaders or not, our egos have enjoyed being part of that which is bigger and/or better in the world of church-dom. Let’s be honest.

The challenge is that Jesus was just the opposite. His was a small band of disciples, whose feet he washed like a household servant, that would eventually turn the world on its head.

He demonstrated absolute humility coupled with a deep investment into that which the world would naturally see as inconsequential.

Are we ready to follow this example? Are we willing to let go of our own fascination with any type of recognition and or ‘bigness’ in order to invest in the least, or the lost, or the most forgotten, or the overlooked? Are we passionate about the one person in front of us? Are we willing to give our lives for obscurity and pour ourselves into others no matter how small or big, recognized or hidden? In short, do we have the humility to walk in partnership with Jesus and leave the results to Him? This may be the true mark of the upside-down, simple, organic, Jesus-first revolution that the ‘church’ (ekklesia) is being transformed into. May God help us, strengthen us, encourage us… and may we embrace the humility to be transformed and used His way!

Comments?

Prayer

Prayer opens doors!

• What is your vision of the abundant life that God has promised you? Pray on it!
• Where are you stuck, frustrated, broken down, or discouraged? Pray it through - wrestle it out with God.
• What is the purpose God has given you that He wants to work out through you? Pray until it begins to become reality and then pray on it ongoing.
• What is the next step for _________ part of your life? Pray until you know!
• Trying to sort out your church life? House church? Simple church? Traditional church? Missional church? Pray until God reveals His next step for you!

I am just back from Africa where the leaders reminded me that the heart of their disciple-making movements is finding persons of peace who will reach others and disciple others who will do the same. AND, the key to finding persons of peace is a simple one: PRAYER. “God prepares these people of peace. Through prayer, we find them!” In their experience, prayer opens the doors for movements to happen!

Yes, prayer opens doors…

AND prayer is the doorway to a deep relationship with God.

Remember that Jesus prayed for us that we would enter into an abiding fellowship with the Father as the way in which the world (and us) would be transformed. John 17. This is why He continually calls us into prayer! He wants to fellowship with us!

Prayer is both the experience of time with God (Jesus was all night in prayer) and a lifestyle (abide in me).

Prayer is both the result of our organic relationship with the living Christ, and it develops that relationship further.

Prayer is opening our heart, pouring out our needs and wants, and prayer is also waiting and listening and opening ourselves to what Jesus’ will is. I like the way The Passion Translation expresses Revelation 3:20:

Behold, I’m standing at the door, knocking. If your heart is open to hear my voice and you open the door within, I will come in to you and feast with you, and you will feast with me.

When prayer develops, it becomes a feast.

Somehow we have to find our way past just the religious approach to dutiful prayer. Though we most often start at that point. Pray is a dynamic interchange between mortal and immortal that takes us beyond ourselves and connects us relationally to the eternal, majestic God. May we find a way to touch on that reality as prayer becomes the foundation of a life lived in the presence and miracle-working power of God. In this way, it moves from duty to delight and from heavy lifting to feasting.

And, in this way, we discover a life lived in feasting-style prayer is a life lived by the impetus, motivation, and power of God.

Prayer opens doors and is the doorway to deep intimacy with our God.

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!