As the simple/organic movement becomes more mainstream, and the financial trends force more and more traditional churches to cut back economically, then many churches are asking the question: should we transition our legacy church into a network of simple/organic churches? Photo credit: Dan4th (Creative Commons) Every church needs to hear from the Lord about their… Read More
Tag: house church
Does your simple/organic church have an impact beyond the gathering? There’s a simple tool to help with that. Photo Credit: Kalexanderson (Creative Commons) In the interactive Bible study pattern that we most frequently use and teach to others, four symbols help people share around the passage: A question mark: do you have any questions… Read More
When it comes to multiplying simple/organic churches, your pattern of multiplication will determine whether you multiply quickly or slowly. Photo credit: archer10 (Dennis) Busy (Creative Commons) Many people assume that the way to multiply a simple/organic church is to add new people to the church that meets in your home until it has outgrown your… Read More
Photo credit: Donna Grayson (Creative Commons) Simple/organic church has become mainstream here in the United States. According to the statistics, although the rate of growth is slowing down, 3-5% of the adult population of this country now finds their primary form of fellowship within a home or similar context. While at most levels this is very… Read More
One thing I’ve observed over recent years is that the Lord is blurring the distinctives between groups of Christians. Photo credit: Several seconds (Creative Commons) It used to be that charismatics and non-charismatics were divided by theology. They looked down on each other–the non-charismatics thought that charismatics were flaky, all froth and no substance. The… Read More
Photo credit: arted_light (Creative Commons) We know about the concept of "rice Christians"–people who "become Christians" because they think there is financial gain in it for them. They assume that the Westerners will support them or provide for them in other ways if they join them. I've come across some other disturbing stories recently: A… Read More
"The dirty little secret of missions is that we are sending missionaries all over the world who have not demonstrate the ability to make disciples who can make disciples. Most have not seen or participated in effective models of church-planting or discipleship at home, but we send them out in the hope that going cross-culturally… Read More
Categories
Missions: the bad!
Photo credit: Felix Krohn (Creative Commons) Tony and I were in Nepal training church planters: "What should simple/organic church should look like?" someone asked me. My answer surprised them: "It should look Nepalese!" I have a photo in my possession that epitomizes the problem with much of what is seen on the mission field today.… Read More
Photo credit Stijn Vogels (Creative Commons) Tony and I have been privileged to travel to various countries in all five continents and to see missions at work first hand. First the good: I was brought up, in a Christian sense, on the biographies of those on the mission field. I learned from Hudson Taylor… Read More
Photo credit: Abdallah (Creative Commons) For some time now, I have been pondering the question, "What does it look like for simple/organic churches to get involved in mission?" I'm referring here to the role of what is usually known as "the missionary"–one who is called to leave their own culture and live in another nation,… Read More