Simply ChurchThe question I have been asking since we came home from the House Church Summit in India is, "Which of the factors that have produced the incredible results in India are transferable to a Western culture?" Perhaps the biggest contrast I saw between what happens there and the typical church (whether legacy or simple church)… Read More
India is seeing a remarkable move of God. We met several people from India at the World House Church Summit who have more than 100,000 new believers in their networks. I interviewed a middle-aged housewife who is responsible for seeing more than 6,000 churches. I know that numbers are the world's way of judging success,… Read More
The following are some thought-provoking one liners from the pre-conference sessions at the World House Church Conference in India. They are from talks given by the leader of a church planting movement that baptized more than 300,000 on the Day of Pentecost in 2009. Worth taking note! Jesus never said, "Be baptized." He said,… Read More
Teachings from India (13) Matthew 16:18 is a declaration of war: "Upon this rock I will build my church, and all the powers of hell will not conquer it." Building the church is a declaration of war because it involves a transfer of power. The responsibility for this transfer of power belongs to the church,… Read More
Teachings from India (12) There are four statements in the New Testament that specifically describe why Jesus came. John 10:10 The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly. Luke 4:18-19 The Spirit of… Read More
Teaching from India (11) Jesus Christ changed the system: From a temple of stones to a living temple From a Levitical priesthood to a royal priesthood–the church is an assembly of royal priests where the sacrifice acceptable to God is a broken and contrite heart From a Sabbath day to every day From incense to… Read More
Teachings from India (10) Every Christian has an inheritance from the Father. God gave Adam the Garden of Eden for his inheritance, but he lost it all for one piece of fruit from the tree of knowledge of good and evil. Esau sold his inheritance as firstborn son for a bowl of lentils. We sell… Read More
Teachings from India (9) In the Old Testament, worship was always accompanied by sacrifice. Solomon once offered 22 thousand bulls and 120 thousand sheep and goats (2 Chron 7:5). The temple was primarily a place of sacrifice (2 Chron 7:12). When a person in the Old Testament sinned, he confessed his sin and took a… Read More
Teachings from India (8) House churches should be neither independent, nor permanent. If they are they will not multiply, but will only have shifted people from the pew to the sofa. Instead, they should be an interdependent network. Each house church is a debriefing center and a sending center that sends people out. A starfish… Read More
Teachings from India (7). For an official report on the World House Church Summit, see http://bit.ly/6I8PAq  God chose new leadership for Israel after Saul failed. Psalm 79:70-72 says: He chose his servant David, calling him from the sheep pens. 71 He took David from tending the ewes and lambs and made him the shepherd of Jacob’s descendants— God’s own… Read More