SIMPLE CHURCH BASICS

Simple Church Practices (intended practices within our network)

NO WALLS

• Our ministries are not primarily based around buildings. The money, energy, and personnel required to keep a church building "running" (along with the purchase of property) is not the wisest stewardship for this particular church network. Others may feel God leading them in a different direction, and we do not sit in judgment of them (rather we appreciate their contribution to the community).

EVERY MEMBER FUNCTIONING (Participatory Model)

• In the movie Patch Adams, the main character (played by the late Robin Williams), declares his belief that every person is both a doctor and a patient. Likewise, we believe every person is a teacher and a learner. Based on the "priesthood of believers" philosophy presented in the New Testament, we feel it is appropriate to expect each follower of Christ to be both giving and receiving ministry. In our network of churches, we desire to focus on a participatory model that involves and engages everyone (all ages included) as much as possible. This may differ significantly from some people's perception of "church" if it has been shaped by an experience of an identified clergy (pastor, priest, worship leader, etc.) preaching to a mostly passive audience during a church service. In our opinion, all parts of the "body" are needed to contribute for healthy growth and true service to occur. There are no spectators. (Keep in mind that levels of participation will naturally vary for any number of factors just like they would in any family activities. The point here is not that every person is equally active in every meeting at all times, but that the structure itself is not meant for a hierarchical system where one person leading the group is the norm.)

SOCIAL JUSTICE

• Traditional churches tend to have "growth barriers" (aspects that keep attendance limited) that they work to break through to reach more people and get them involved with their church programs or services. Ministry in simple churches tends to gauge spiritual health more by "impact barriers", attempting to break down obstacles to ministering to more people in our communities and cities (outside of our group). An emphasis is on identifying ways to serve our "neighbors" by "choosing what is right, and changing what isn't." (See "Sending Capacity vs. Seating Capacity" in the section below.)

CREATIVE OVERFLOW

• We celebrate and encourage diverse expressions of praise and worship to flow from within the body. There are numerous ways that followers of Jesus of any age can demonstrate their love for God. Participants can create songs, poems, art, stories, dramatic interpretations, interpretive dances, objects, prayers, acts of service, and more right in the middle of a gathering, spontaneously or planned. Due to the creative nature of God and how people express different spiritual gifts, no two meetings will probably ever be exactly the same, and still the principles of simplicity and reproducibility (and D.N.A.) will be consistently present.

FAMILY FAITH

• An area of emphasis is passing on a vibrant faith to the next generation. (See Children under the About Us tab.) We do not feel that children who love Jesus receive a "junior sized" Holy Spirit or a "watered down" faith, but that God indwells them powerfully and significantly. In fact, sometimes it appears that God reveals some things only to children. Therefore, while still recognizing age-appropriate development issues, we try to incorporate children directly into as much of what we do as possible.

Simple Church Illustrations (in New Testament)

• Body (Romans 12, 1 Corinthians 12)

  • "We need to recover and practice the biblical meaning of membership. The church is a body, not a building; an organism, not an organization." ~Rick Warren, The Purpose-Driven Life

• Family

  • "...church is not something we go to, rather it's something we belong to -- a family of God's people. It's more that an organization, more than an institution, even more than a group of like-minded people." ~Better Together (40 Days of Community workbook)

• Field/Garden (Mark 4)

• Examples of definitions of church based on the Bible

  • "empowered people on mission"

  • "Jesus among His people"

  • "The church is a people unified around Jesus, sent by Jesus, and committed to live the ways of Jesus with each other and among the lost." -Jason Dukes

  • "The presence of Jesus among His people called out as a spiritual family to pursue His mission." -Nazarene Organic Church Course (lesson 2)

Simple Gospel Presentations

• 2 Corinthians 3:16 (Nutshell: If people look to Jesus as Lord, then they can see life more clearly and others can see God in them.)