Home
Help us with a short survey and receive a Free Book
It is hard to believe that our website has been in existence for four years. During that time we have posted almost two hundred different articles. More importantly, through the website, we have been able to get to know many of you personally and we have been able to help one another in our walk with God and in the ministry that He has called us to. We are particularly amazed and blessed by the number of people across the Russian-speaking world that have contacted us and let us know that the principles discussed on this website are close to their heart and are a reality in their ministry.
There is no real way to measure the influence and impact of this website, but as we hear stories of changed lives, new disciples, and new churches, we realize that God has had a plan to use this website as at least a small instrument in the building of His kingdom.
Letters to Nicolay Part 4
Dear Nicolay,It has been a long time since I heard from you. I know that spring is such a busy time in Ukraine. I remember fondly driving through all of Ukraine and watching the people planting their gardens. I would often say, “Ukraine is one big garden”.
In one of your last emails you asked if we in America also faced similar problems as you do in Ukraine.
Forgot your password?
Did you forget your password? Good news-you are not the only one.
On the home page of the site, just click on the words " lost password ".
You will be taken to a page where you can enter your e-mail address, and the program will automatically send you the new password.
After you receive the authorization, there will be a new menu which you can use for changing your information (login name and password).
Did you forget your login name?
Contact with SimpleChurch website AdministratorHow to Prepare for Simple Church
By contrast, the churches described in the Bible engaged in Participatory Church. This kind of church requires preparation on the part of all of it's members. This is new. We haven't been taught how to do this.
Simple Church Basics - Part 1: What Is Church?
Our first challenge in grasping what God intends church to be, is to stop looking at it through the lens of our background and through the lens of 2,000 years of "church" as a formal institution.
Combating Heresy in the Organic Church Movement
When teaching about the organic church, a question I am asked more than any other is how we handle the threat of heresy. I understand this concern and want to address it in an intelligent and articulate manner because it is very important. The organic church movement is not going to last if we simply ignore the challenges it faces. But I also believe that the issues that are raised in response to our movement can find solutions that are not only satisfactory but even better alternatives to the way the church has addressed these issues in the past. If the organic church movement is not a move forward toward better health and wholeness, then it is not worth pursuing at all.
Listening to God as a Church- Making Jesus the Head
In Alcoholics Anonymous, The 12 Steps are read out loud at every meeting.
For those of us who are still in detox from programmatic Christianity, there is value in repeating what we have said before: the simple church revolution (reformation?) is not about doing conventional church in a home. It's not "Honey, I shrunk the church!" It's not 20 minutes of singing, 30 minutes of Bible study, 10 minutes of prayer and then refreshments. (Or, any other prepackaged way of meeting.)
"OK. If it's not about that, what is it about?"
Simple Church Networks vs. The Cell / Small-Group Church
It is vital to understand that house (or simple) church networks are not the same thing, in any way, as churches with small groups (even if those small groups are called "house churches."
The cell church (I will adopt the term "cell" church to refer to all types of small-group-based churches) has been a strong movement in North America over the past 30 years while the house (or simple) church network is only just beginning to emerge.
Discovering Participatory Church Meetings
Fifteen Theses towards a Re-Incarnation of Church
Editors Note: God is doing some fresh things in His church around the world. He is speaking to many people in similar ways. Due to our varied gifting, levels of of maturity, and even personalities, not all of us will see and understand these things in the same way. Not even the handful of us who manage the site see all the articles presented here the same way. Our heart is simply to encourage those to whom God is speaking about simple churches. We want to let you know how God is speaking to others around the world. This article is an example of some of things that believers are thinking about and discussing in regards to the church. We found these statements by a German brother to parallel some of the things that God has been speaking to us. These thoughts are challenging, and there may be something here you don't agree with. We, however, believe it is helpful to prayefully consider such statements and to allow God to speak to us as He would want to.
May our goal be fully aligned with God's goal-to see Christ exalted and for all men to be drawn to Him.
About the Site
All across the world, people are gathering in small groups to serve and worship God, be family, and encourage and affect each others lives. These gatherings are called by many names including simple church, organic church, and house church. Whatever you call it, the people involved value incarnational ministry to the lost, living radically for Jesus and each other, and are willing to get rid of anything that gets in the way of being fully devoted followers of Christ.
Detailed...