Simple Church Journal

Over lunch, at the recent House Church Conference, I found myself asking a couple of “more experienced” brothers if they could look at where we were at as a house church network, point out areas to work on, and make any suggestions.

They were, kindly, very affirming at the progress we had made. Sometimes it seems that we are moving in slow motion because you are dealing with the growth of relationships, community, and hearts–all of which takes time.

I realize that there is, in time, an exponential type growth that can take place, like yeast multiplying through leaven, but if something grows organically it starts slow and begins with just tiny glimmers of progress.

I like what Alan Creech writes about this:

Lay your time tables down. This crap takes a looong time. When I first started Vine & Branches I had a much quicker time frame for the growth of new “branches.” Uhhh, that didn’t happen. Here’s the question I had to ask – is that because I wasn’t “working” it properly? I asked it, tried this and that, etc. – nope. Oh, you mean “it wasn’t God.” No, it was Him – still is. It’s — just — taking — a — long — time. It’s about the long-haul commitment of a community to life together on a journey – and as they go along, being transformed, living their normal lives in the world, they infect others with the Life that is in them, and eventually they start walking the journey as well. Yes there are degrees of intentionality in this thing. But I have found that you can’t count on “goals” and time tables about when and how your church will “grow.” These are false notions of growth and should not be the goal of a faith community. Long, slow, transformational growth and natural, “walk with me as I walk the journey” evangelism – that’s where we’re at.

If you are not familiar with the website, magazine, and conferences that are all part of House2House ministries then be sure to look over all that they offer.

Tony & Felicity Dale, the founders of House 2 House, have been involved in house churches since the 1970s in England. Many years ago, finding themselves relocated to Austin, Texas they began planting house churches and supporting this movement everywhere they can. They host seminars and conferences and publish a magazine as often as funds allow.

Take a look and be sure to sign up for their e-newsletter.

Robert Fitts shared on his house church adventures having become interested in 1990. At that time he knew of no one involved in this other than in China. Nevertheless, he saw the potential and began planting.

After some time he felt that house churches would be stronger if they also developed a training component. He first called these “Home Bible College” but has since termed them Ephesians 4 Training Schools. These “schools” are simple and reproducible. He likes to see them planted alongside of house churches.

So… how does it work? The training school meets weekly and then includes assignments along with it. In short, when the school gathers, the students work through the Life of Christ in a discussion format, worship together, minister to one another, and eat and fellowship. In addition, the students read through the remainder of the New Testament on their own.

There is a bit more to it, but rather than go into detail I recommend that you take a look at Robert’s website where you can read quite a bit of information about it.

Robert is also developing quite an extensive, informal “network” of house church coordinators to provide communication and resources to house churches within each region of the United States and then spreading out to encompass the world. Again, more info can be found at www.RobertFitts.com.

Mike Steel, of DAWN, shared his model for simple church gatherings. He uses the acronym BELLS to describe the components, not the “order”, of his gathering of believers:

B is for Blessing one another, both formally and informally through times of interaction and fellowship.

E is for Eating, a key component for people sharing their lives with each other.

L is for Listening so that Jesus is constantly recognized as the Master of Ceremonies.

L is for Learning which includes the Word of God but is also about paying attention to what God is teaching as lives connect and interact with one anothers.

S is for Signs and Wonders. Allowing God to reveal His mystery and power any way He chooses.

Mike made a particularly strong case for the necessity of Listening as a core concept for His gatherings. He emphasizes that God brings the agenda and our job is to listen to him. “What does he want me to contribute this week? When do I make my contribution? How does he want me to strengthen others? Lord, what else do you want to do this day/night while has are gathered as your family?”

Good reminders of where the focus needs to be!

Thought I would begin downloading some of the good material presented at the regional western house church conference.

Paul Kaak gave an excellent presentation that focused on one key reality: we are not called to plant churches, we are called to plant the Kingdom of God. Churches are natural expressions that take place if the Kingdom is planted.

Paul also cautioned about the danger if house church becomes “trendy” which is a real possibility. This could easily destroy the organic nature of the movement and cause it to become just one more packaged alternative.

Felicity Dale is always inspiring as she teaches on the Luke 10 and recounts her own stories of planting house churches. Luke 10 suggests a missional approach that begins with prayer (for the Lord to send workers), then moves to the house of a receptive person, then follows with food and fellowship, then food and more fellowship. Next step is “healing the sick”, i.e. looking for needs and ministering to those needs in God’s power. Finally, after all of this takes place, the Good News is spoken–within the context of relationship and within the context of God having already shown up by touching people’s lives.

Excellent stuff.

Got to run out the door to a neighbor’s neighborhood party! More later!

Will be spending today and tomorrow at the House 2 House regional conference. Looking forward! Will fill you in when I return.

Spent the evening with a friend who was involved in a tragic car accident. He escaped with little injury but one of the occupants of the other vehicle was killed. What’s worse, my friend may have been responsible for the accident.

It was, in fact, an accident but a mistake may have been made. A moment of carelessness that is now being paid for with an incredibly large load of guilt and what-ifs.

What do you say? All words sound like cliches and meaningless talk.

He’s feeling things that he is going to have to feel as he wades through the shock, the denial, the pain, the guilt, and hopefully a healing. Words seem so useless. I was there for him. I will continue to be there for him. I want to fix him, but it’s not in my power. I can only walk alongside him and try to be a support. I can do my best to hold him up whenever he starts to teeter into the chasms of hopelessness, self-destructiveness, or overbearing shame.

Please don’t tell me how God will use all of these things for good. Not today. He doesn’t want to hear about it today. It will do him no good today (maybe later). Therefore I don’t want to hear it today. Sometimes all we can do for someone is to stand with them in their very real and very painful reality.