Simply ChurchThe 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
Teachings from India (6) Luke 10:5-9 is all about the importance of creating relationship. When we have found a person of peace (who we recognize because they offer us hospitality), the first thing we do is to build a relationship. Church is all about relationships. This is what Jesus offers us in Revelation 3:20. (“Look!… Read More
Teachings from India (5). Spiritual warfare is much more obvious in an Indian village context, but the same principles apply in other places too. "Now go, and remember that I am sending you out as lambs among wolves. Don’t take any money with you, nor a traveler’s bag, nor an extra pair of sandals. And… Read More