Start a simple church with your loved ones and/or friends
It’s possible for you to start a simple church with your loved ones and/or friends. Yes, YOU! You don’t have to go bible school or seminary. Just be yourself and invite others to join you. A simple church is simply a group of friends (or loved ones) who commit themselves in the Lord to help each other learn how to live, love, and lead like Jesus. The focus is on Jesus. He will lead your simple church through the power of the Holy Spirit. He will teach you through His word. He will reveal His word to you primarily through the Scriptures (the Bible) but He can also use other means to get His word into your heart. As a simple church, you will journey together in learning from Him everyday.
As you learn, you will grow as His disciples. There are only three things you must focus on as a simple church. This will be your DNA.
- Discipleship
- Nurturing relationships
- Apostolic mission
Discipleship
By discipleship I mean that each of you must learn to follow and learn from Jesus. You will help each other, but each one must be responsible. The apostle Paul said,
2 Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. 3 If anyone thinks they are something when they are not, they deceive themselves. 4 Each one should test their own actions. Then they can take pride in themselves alone, without comparing themselves to someone else, 5 for each one should carry their own load. 6 Nevertheless, the one who receives instruction in the word should share all good things with their instructor. (Galatians 6:2-6)
You must meet regularly. Whenever you meet, you need to do three things:
- Eat together
- Share with each other
- Pray for each other
It’s that simple.
Nurturing relationships
The early church prioritized relationships over programs. In fact, they didn’t have programs. They just had community. Listen as Luke describes the early church.
42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43 Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. 44 All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45 They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. 46 Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47 praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved. (Acts 2:42-47)
You must learn to trust each other and to conduct crucial conversations with each other. This is how you can help each other. To do that, remember the following:
- Notice the crucial moment
- Start with the right motives
- Create safety
- Be aware of your mental stories
- State your path toward mutual understanding
- Acknowledge the other party’s path
- Move toward helpful decisions and actions
Apostolic Mission
The purpose of discipleship and nurturing relationships is to get each of you ready for your apostolic mission. Your apostolic mission is simple and direct.
19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations,baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matthew 28:19-20)
In other words, you are to…
- Go to the lost
- Bring seekers to Christ
- Join believers to simple churches
- Counsel believers toward spiritual health
- Build believers into faithful and fruitful disciples
- Spot potential workers in the harvest field
- Train potential workers in the harvest field
- Unleash potential workers in the harvest field
Conclusion
You can start a simple church among your loved ones and/or friends. All you need is faith. God does the rest. We can assist you in this process. Just let us know if you’re interested. Contact us.
To know more, click this to view an interactive Prezi presentation entitled “Principles and Practices of Communityship.”
