Tonight we engaged in a grand time of fellowship and fun. A Friday night with everyone eating, playing games, laughing, and being entertained. It so reminds me of the verse below...
1Ths. 2:8 (NIV) "We loved you so much that we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well, because you had become so dear to us."
Becoming dear to each other requires sharing. Sharing life is critical, sharing laughter is critical, sharing your joys, and sharing your tears is critical. We must not only give each other the gospel message/Biblical information, but we must share our lives as well.
Share your life with your gathering of believers. Connect on a "fun" level. Learning to laugh together will prepare you for the challenging times.
Blessings... Lord may we learn to laugh together along this journey.
Friday, March 18
Wednesday, March 16
Some Gripes about House Church...
Click here and read some great thoughts about House Church Movement gripes. Click here
Friday, March 11
Sick People Need Directions and Maybe a Ride to the Doctor
I am dedicating my blog for the next couple of weeks to discuss how to graciously encourage believers to grow in their relationship with Jesus Christ and their reliance on the power & presence of the Holy Spirit. I am not a perfect human by any means. I struggle with all the craziness of this earthly flesh. When I do not live in the power and presence of the Spirit of God, no good thing comes from me nor do I see spiritual fruit for the harvest. May we think through how to take up our cross daily and at the same time encourage others to follow Jesus Christ. As one theologian said, "It's not the healthy that need a doctor but the sick, and boy oh boy am I sick and tired."
Some Questions to Ponder and Discuss in the Future... (Matt. 9:9-13; Luke 5:31,32)
• What do the "sick" look like today?
• Where do we find the "sick" who need the Doctor?
• How do we encourage the "sick" to seek the Doctor?
• When do we encourage the "sick" to tell others about the Doctor?
• Who has the time to help the "sick" get well?
• To what extent do we get involved with the "sick"?
• Why don't we pay someone else to handle the "sick"?
• Do the "sick" get better overnight?
• What are some signs of health in a "sick" person?
Prayer:
God, so many times my best intentions are mere rags. I get out ahead of you and I fail. My pride becomes a stumbling block to others. My frustration bears no spiritual fruit. May I learn to live in the shadow of your grace and learn to seek your presence throughout my day. May I be a peacemaker. Help me be a healer of wounds! Help me along this path. May I be so compelled by your love that I walk uprightly and in the process guide others along this journey. May I be gracious in my speech to all. May I learn your wisdom and walk in your ways. I love to get out of the boat and walk, however Lord, I need to keep my eyes on you during this journey. Teach me to not look to my left or right, but stick to the task before me. Help me not get distracted with things that distract my focus from my journey towards eternity with you.
Some Questions to Ponder and Discuss in the Future... (Matt. 9:9-13; Luke 5:31,32)
• What do the "sick" look like today?
• Where do we find the "sick" who need the Doctor?
• How do we encourage the "sick" to seek the Doctor?
• When do we encourage the "sick" to tell others about the Doctor?
• Who has the time to help the "sick" get well?
• To what extent do we get involved with the "sick"?
• Why don't we pay someone else to handle the "sick"?
• Do the "sick" get better overnight?
• What are some signs of health in a "sick" person?
Prayer:
God, so many times my best intentions are mere rags. I get out ahead of you and I fail. My pride becomes a stumbling block to others. My frustration bears no spiritual fruit. May I learn to live in the shadow of your grace and learn to seek your presence throughout my day. May I be a peacemaker. Help me be a healer of wounds! Help me along this path. May I be so compelled by your love that I walk uprightly and in the process guide others along this journey. May I be gracious in my speech to all. May I learn your wisdom and walk in your ways. I love to get out of the boat and walk, however Lord, I need to keep my eyes on you during this journey. Teach me to not look to my left or right, but stick to the task before me. Help me not get distracted with things that distract my focus from my journey towards eternity with you.
Undershepherds who Grow People not Programs
I have a dear friend who shared with me some thoughts on being a gracious leaders/ overseers of our home fellowships (simple churches, redemptive fellowships, etc.) . This is most timely for me, as I am struggling with a situation in which I feel a brother is being dealt with too harshly. We must learn the art of leading by example and leading with grace and mercy. Always focused on their potential in Jesus Christ and never dependent on us/others for their growth but rather immersing them in the love of God, His truth that we find in the Bible and His Holy Spirits ever leading voice. The love of God is what compels us away from sin and pain. The love of God is what sanctifies us. His truth permeates us so deeply, that it invades even the private parts of our souls.
I have never met any believer or unchurched person who has taken great strides in their walk towards God under the the weight of condemnation or shame brought about by other believers or leaders. I have found it to be the opposite. We must learn to be redemptive leaders that oversee people with a hand of mercy and grace. A gracious gentle voice of encouragement that guides them to the lover of their souls, Jesus Christ the High Priest. The one who has gone before us and will never leave us or forsake us.
May we understand this type of leadership. May we live in community with those are willing to bring others along. Jesus Christ paid the price for my sin. The shame and guilt was felt at the cross by my replacement, Jesus Christ. Why do we continue to leave heavy burdens on the back of those seeking God? I do not know? The lie of Satan is to continue to lead people by bondage and fear rather than love. The love of God is freedom and joy, not shame and guilt.
The below thoughts are from Harold Behr, an apostolic figure who God has graciously brought into my life to help guide me to the lover of my soul, Jesus Christ. Praise God for the Barnabass's in our lives. I hope you find this thought provoking and an encouragement to what you may already be doing.
___
Thursday, March 10, 2005 11:41 AM
undershepherds@googlegroups.com
1 Peter 5:2-3 (MsgB)
[2] Here's my concern: that you care for God's flock with all the diligence of a shepherd. Not because you have to, but because you want to please God. Not calculating what you can get out of it, but acting spontaneously. [3] Not bossily telling others what to do, but tenderly showing them the way.
Have you ever wondered how Jesus could gather such a Church of 12 with their questionable and unscrupled pasts? Picture how quickly they would head for the back door in most of our "Churches" in the west today. We can't honestly say that their jealousy, carnality or self serving interests vanished after Jesus called them, for the Scriptures are full examples to the contrary.
No, I want to suggest that that small band of disciples wanted to be around Jesus, and were drawn by the Truth he lived and taught. Even more important then that for you and I to grasp was the "Climate" he cultivated. A Climate of tender hearted Mercy. And so, as undershepherds in his Church today, perhaps we need to reflect upon what kind of climate we create. The natural tendency and practice of church planters (myself included on times past) was to create a conditional atmosphere of mercy. That is, as long as we sense we are maintaining control and people are responding to our direction we'll be gentle and kind. But I have in the past so loudly blew the clarion call of Vision, that I injured some along the way. Consider this;
"Fr. M.A. Couturier (the Dominican apostle of sacred art, not the ecumenist) declared with perfect truth that many Christians "are enclosed in their Church and in their faith as others are enclosed in their Party. They aspire to a totalitarian state: and none of this has anything to do with the Gospel."
In fact, the climate of totalism, which as we know to our own cost can very easily become that of religion itself, is a climate of security purchased by servile resignation under human power: obedience to the authority of might rather than freedom in the climate of life-giving love and mercy.
This, of course, raises a most difficult, not to say most urgent, problem of authority in the visible structure of the Church. There must obviously be some visible authority and there must be some form of law in any institutional structure. This authority and law must be justified, as also the sacraments and the Sabbath are, by being propter hominess. They must serve only to protect and preserve the climate of mercy, or life-giving forgiveness and reconciliation. Hence, authority and power become abusive when they become ends in themselves to which the good of persons becomes subservient: when, in other words, souls for whom Christ died are allowed to be destroyed in order that power may be preserved intact.
The climate of mercy, which is the climate of the new creation, depends on the realization that all men are acceptable before God since the Word was made man, dwelt among us, died on the Cross for us, rose from the dead, and is enthroned in our flesh, our humanity, and in the glory of God. Hence, all that is required for a man to be acceptable before God, and a recipient of mercy, is for him to be a man and a sinner. (I did not come to call the just, but sinners . . . Matthew 9:13; Romans 5:8).
We ourselves are not entitled to be more demanding than God. Whoever is acceptable to Him is, therefore,
acceptable to us, and this is the test of our faith and of our obedience to Him (John 15:12, 17; 12:34-35), that we become to some extent able to be merciful to others as He has been merciful to us, knowing that this mercy is the cohesive power that establishes and manifests the father's love in the living and unified Mystical Body of the Son (John 17:11-12, 21-22)." (This is part of a tribute to Albert Schweitzer written by an obscure monk, aptly titled "The Climate of Mercy)
So it's the totalitarian rule of leadership that destroys souls as it excludes and precludes and functions as a mediator between God and man that cannot be tolerated amongst the simple church undershepherd's approach to oversight.
Rather, all we do as Christ followers, should permeate and be led by the gracious Spirit of Christ. In the end we we will find our fellowships to be "mercy ships".Such is the eschatological climate of the new creation, in which pardon replaces sacrifice,(Math. 9:13) and the whole world is filled with the mercy of God as the waters cover the sea. Note; This starts towards ourselves, our families then the missional fellowship etc etc.
___
I would encourage you to get in on the discussion at undershepherds@googlegroups.com or visit www.simplechurches.net Just request to be part of the group discussion.
Blessings and may we all strive to be gracious overseers of those who God brings into our sphere of influence. It must first begin with our relationship with God, then at home, and then move out from there.
I have never met any believer or unchurched person who has taken great strides in their walk towards God under the the weight of condemnation or shame brought about by other believers or leaders. I have found it to be the opposite. We must learn to be redemptive leaders that oversee people with a hand of mercy and grace. A gracious gentle voice of encouragement that guides them to the lover of their souls, Jesus Christ the High Priest. The one who has gone before us and will never leave us or forsake us.
May we understand this type of leadership. May we live in community with those are willing to bring others along. Jesus Christ paid the price for my sin. The shame and guilt was felt at the cross by my replacement, Jesus Christ. Why do we continue to leave heavy burdens on the back of those seeking God? I do not know? The lie of Satan is to continue to lead people by bondage and fear rather than love. The love of God is freedom and joy, not shame and guilt.
The below thoughts are from Harold Behr, an apostolic figure who God has graciously brought into my life to help guide me to the lover of my soul, Jesus Christ. Praise God for the Barnabass's in our lives. I hope you find this thought provoking and an encouragement to what you may already be doing.
___
Thursday, March 10, 2005 11:41 AM
undershepherds@googlegroups.com
1 Peter 5:2-3 (MsgB)
[2] Here's my concern: that you care for God's flock with all the diligence of a shepherd. Not because you have to, but because you want to please God. Not calculating what you can get out of it, but acting spontaneously. [3] Not bossily telling others what to do, but tenderly showing them the way.
Have you ever wondered how Jesus could gather such a Church of 12 with their questionable and unscrupled pasts? Picture how quickly they would head for the back door in most of our "Churches" in the west today. We can't honestly say that their jealousy, carnality or self serving interests vanished after Jesus called them, for the Scriptures are full examples to the contrary.
No, I want to suggest that that small band of disciples wanted to be around Jesus, and were drawn by the Truth he lived and taught. Even more important then that for you and I to grasp was the "Climate" he cultivated. A Climate of tender hearted Mercy. And so, as undershepherds in his Church today, perhaps we need to reflect upon what kind of climate we create. The natural tendency and practice of church planters (myself included on times past) was to create a conditional atmosphere of mercy. That is, as long as we sense we are maintaining control and people are responding to our direction we'll be gentle and kind. But I have in the past so loudly blew the clarion call of Vision, that I injured some along the way. Consider this;
"Fr. M.A. Couturier (the Dominican apostle of sacred art, not the ecumenist) declared with perfect truth that many Christians "are enclosed in their Church and in their faith as others are enclosed in their Party. They aspire to a totalitarian state: and none of this has anything to do with the Gospel."
In fact, the climate of totalism, which as we know to our own cost can very easily become that of religion itself, is a climate of security purchased by servile resignation under human power: obedience to the authority of might rather than freedom in the climate of life-giving love and mercy.
This, of course, raises a most difficult, not to say most urgent, problem of authority in the visible structure of the Church. There must obviously be some visible authority and there must be some form of law in any institutional structure. This authority and law must be justified, as also the sacraments and the Sabbath are, by being propter hominess. They must serve only to protect and preserve the climate of mercy, or life-giving forgiveness and reconciliation. Hence, authority and power become abusive when they become ends in themselves to which the good of persons becomes subservient: when, in other words, souls for whom Christ died are allowed to be destroyed in order that power may be preserved intact.
The climate of mercy, which is the climate of the new creation, depends on the realization that all men are acceptable before God since the Word was made man, dwelt among us, died on the Cross for us, rose from the dead, and is enthroned in our flesh, our humanity, and in the glory of God. Hence, all that is required for a man to be acceptable before God, and a recipient of mercy, is for him to be a man and a sinner. (I did not come to call the just, but sinners . . . Matthew 9:13; Romans 5:8).
We ourselves are not entitled to be more demanding than God. Whoever is acceptable to Him is, therefore,
acceptable to us, and this is the test of our faith and of our obedience to Him (John 15:12, 17; 12:34-35), that we become to some extent able to be merciful to others as He has been merciful to us, knowing that this mercy is the cohesive power that establishes and manifests the father's love in the living and unified Mystical Body of the Son (John 17:11-12, 21-22)." (This is part of a tribute to Albert Schweitzer written by an obscure monk, aptly titled "The Climate of Mercy)
So it's the totalitarian rule of leadership that destroys souls as it excludes and precludes and functions as a mediator between God and man that cannot be tolerated amongst the simple church undershepherd's approach to oversight.
Rather, all we do as Christ followers, should permeate and be led by the gracious Spirit of Christ. In the end we we will find our fellowships to be "mercy ships".Such is the eschatological climate of the new creation, in which pardon replaces sacrifice,(Math. 9:13) and the whole world is filled with the mercy of God as the waters cover the sea. Note; This starts towards ourselves, our families then the missional fellowship etc etc.
___
I would encourage you to get in on the discussion at undershepherds@googlegroups.com or visit www.simplechurches.net Just request to be part of the group discussion.
Blessings and may we all strive to be gracious overseers of those who God brings into our sphere of influence. It must first begin with our relationship with God, then at home, and then move out from there.
Tuesday, March 8
Abba Father...
Tonight was a great meeting! As a varied group of believers, we began studying the role of the Holy Spirit in our lives and what role leadership plays in the simple church model. We ended up the last two weeks discussing the origins of the laying on of hands. This discussion has not been just a run through the Bible of verses, but rather a meaningful look at the historical and cultural meaning of "laying hands on" someone or something. Tonight we tried to get into a discussion of healing and how that works within the church.
We ended up talking about the role of faith in our lives. This seems to be the normal route we go. We dive into one thing and the Lord at times leads us to discuss other items. Tonight was no different. What role does faith have when you pray over someone that is sick? We went from there to our own personal stories of how God increased our faith through lifes crazy events.
We ended up talking about how our prayers are important and that we do have something to do with the events here on earth. Our prayers matter because we are talking to a relational being, God. God desires to relate to His creation. He created us for His enjoyment and His delight. Therefore, God desires to relate and intervene in our circumstances and our endeavors.
One comment was that we can "work" God like a child works his parents. We all laughed but I began to think about the truth of that statement. Yes, we can "work" God or maybe a better way to say it is that we can "talk things over" with God in a open and transparent way. Because God is real and He does care about His creation. I am created by God therefore He does care about even the little things in my life.
God you are real, I confess that I do not always "talk things over" with you. Your truth is not only in scripture but through your interactions with your creation. God, I think I am going to "work you over" on a couple of things this next week! :-)
We ended up talking about the role of faith in our lives. This seems to be the normal route we go. We dive into one thing and the Lord at times leads us to discuss other items. Tonight was no different. What role does faith have when you pray over someone that is sick? We went from there to our own personal stories of how God increased our faith through lifes crazy events.
We ended up talking about how our prayers are important and that we do have something to do with the events here on earth. Our prayers matter because we are talking to a relational being, God. God desires to relate to His creation. He created us for His enjoyment and His delight. Therefore, God desires to relate and intervene in our circumstances and our endeavors.
One comment was that we can "work" God like a child works his parents. We all laughed but I began to think about the truth of that statement. Yes, we can "work" God or maybe a better way to say it is that we can "talk things over" with God in a open and transparent way. Because God is real and He does care about His creation. I am created by God therefore He does care about even the little things in my life.
God you are real, I confess that I do not always "talk things over" with you. Your truth is not only in scripture but through your interactions with your creation. God, I think I am going to "work you over" on a couple of things this next week! :-)
Sunday, March 6
Faith Walk...
Check out the link below to view some thoughts on Faith and God's Promises. This is from the Simple Church Blog of Harold Behr.
You can read the entire text here if you wish.
This is a quote from the blog...
My thoughts on the faith walk...
The foundation of faith is critical in the development of any God given vision. Faith is nothing less than taking God at His word and puting action to your belief in His provision for your future. I am humbled constantly by the reminder to "Humble ourselves before the Lord and He will lift us up in due time." It is a humbling thing to walk by faith. Family, friends and church could disown you, however the walk of faith requires forward motion in spite of our circumstance or what others think of us or our direction. Yes, faith in action requires a future walking rather than a future thinking! We can walk our way into faithful thinking much faster than we can think our way into faithful walking. Figure that one out! :-) Wow... get moving for the Lord! My brain hurts! Time for Bed!
You can read the entire text here if you wish.
This is a quote from the blog...
"We need to recognize whether it’s remembering the past or in this case the future, there is no tangible substance within the thought process. Faith is hanging our body and actions upon the promises written upon our heart. Grasping and appropriating the future is part of our forward march of faith! Faith is the currency of heaven, and it’s how we enter the gates, and how we experience the "Ancient-Future" Church here and now."
My thoughts on the faith walk...
The foundation of faith is critical in the development of any God given vision. Faith is nothing less than taking God at His word and puting action to your belief in His provision for your future. I am humbled constantly by the reminder to "Humble ourselves before the Lord and He will lift us up in due time." It is a humbling thing to walk by faith. Family, friends and church could disown you, however the walk of faith requires forward motion in spite of our circumstance or what others think of us or our direction. Yes, faith in action requires a future walking rather than a future thinking! We can walk our way into faithful thinking much faster than we can think our way into faithful walking. Figure that one out! :-) Wow... get moving for the Lord! My brain hurts! Time for Bed!
Leadership:Questions of Authority (House Church Blog)
This comes from a friends House Church Blog , Roger Thoman. You might find this interesting. I believe that spiritual authority is built upon a strong godly relationship with each other.
The Question of Authority in House Church
Tony Dale has written out his responses to someone asking about house church and the question of authority. You can read the entire text here if you wish. Here are some excerpts:
How do other house churches deal with the issue of being under authority?
[Tony] This varies widely between house churches. Most that we find ourselves associated with recognize who the people were who helped them come into being. As Paul stated to the Corinthians: "For even if you had ten thousand others to teach you about Christ, you have only one spiritual father. For I became your father in Christ Jesus when I preached the Good News to you. So I ask you to follow my example and do as I do" (1 Cor 4:15-16). Clearly Paul expected, like any parent, that his children would recognize him, not because of some office that he held, but because of the relationships that had been built.
Is authority that big of an issue (with denominations it certainly is)?
[Tony] Another great question. My answer would be a resounding, "No." It really is not a big issue. It is the natural outflow of relationship. If authority is not based on relationship, but on postition, then we have moved into that which Jesus forbid! See Matthew 20:24-27.
We believe in multiple leadership -- having at least two leaders for each house church... and we are considering setting up an advisory/accountability board. This would be a group of godly men we would be accountable to.
[Tony] I think that you are probably still thinking in rather traditional ways. Leadership in churches is always a plurality, but this is probably expressed best within a network of churches, say in a region or town. Most house churches are more like family. You know who the parents are in a family. You don't have to delegate this type of relationship. For example, in the network of home churches around here there is usually a couple or a couple of singles who will take responsibilty to help facilitate the group. But the authority here is not that of being the "leader" but rather of the parent who is helping by serving the group. Between the local network of house churches, the "leaders" or facilitators would together constitute a team leadership of the network. But even there we keep things very fluid, and encourage anyone that they are welcome to come to any of the "leadership" times that they want to come to. We also encourage input from outside from apostolic and prophetic folk (see Eph. 2:20) that we love and respect. But that does not give those people "authority over" us, but rather lets us draw on their wisdom and respond to their maturity.
(Just a wee side note: Tony will be one of the presenters at the California Regional House Church Conference in May--HouseChurchLife.com
Posted by roger on March 06, 2005 at 04:28 PM | Permalink
You can link to Rogers Blog above...
Saturday, March 5
Leadership in the Simple Church
This is a blog from Simple Church leader Harold Behr. I find it encouraging and sobering at the same time.
Responsible Commissioning 1 Timothy 5:22
I believe one of the darker truths about Simple Church Development these days is the almost cavalier disregard for what the Apostle Paul learned and wrote Timothy as found in 1 Tim. 5:22 (MsgB) Don't appoint people to church leadership positions too hastily. If a person is involved in some serious sins, you don't want to become an unwitting accomplice.---." History teaches this mistake resulting in shipwrecked lives in the midst of most "moves" of God over the centuries and yet-----here we go again.
This was brought home to me again recently when a all around very popular & gifted younger SC leader candidate that we launched (with probation) then within removed from leadership shortly later because of some serious personal daliences with sin (non repentant), (with much questioning from onlookers). This was a few years ago and admittedly there was significant second "guessing" and doubt as whether "Did we do the right thing", until yesterday when this brother was arrested for, and confessed to sexual abuse with a live in child. After the sadness passed and was replaced with sobriety I realized the approach God led us towards exhasustive Assessment in northwest and southwest Friends (myself) are requiring for any SC leaders we commission for the SC Network we undershepherd is in the spirit of what Paul is referring to in this passage. Immediately some of you might say "there they go again" that is,adding restrictions that stifle the spontaneous expansion of the Church.
The Truth is just the opposite. Apostolic Oversight in the Spirit of Ephesians 4:11 speaks explicitly to the contrary. At times I believe in our zeal to see a "movement" emerge we are being deceived, substituting simplistic perspective and naievity for the simple truths of church multiplication. Let's be responsive to the Spirit of discernment and be careful to "build carefully" in accordance to Paul's word in 1 Cor. 3. Because the work of disciplemaking in the SC world is that of "impartation" rather then transference of information---we want leaders in place that are pursuing Christ and the holiness He imparts. Harold here saying let's not repeat the mistakes of past revivals! We want to join Paul in having SC overseers be able to say with clear conscience "Follow Christ as you see me do".
posted by Harold Behr
Responsible Commissioning 1 Timothy 5:22
I believe one of the darker truths about Simple Church Development these days is the almost cavalier disregard for what the Apostle Paul learned and wrote Timothy as found in 1 Tim. 5:22 (MsgB) Don't appoint people to church leadership positions too hastily. If a person is involved in some serious sins, you don't want to become an unwitting accomplice.---." History teaches this mistake resulting in shipwrecked lives in the midst of most "moves" of God over the centuries and yet-----here we go again.
This was brought home to me again recently when a all around very popular & gifted younger SC leader candidate that we launched (with probation) then within removed from leadership shortly later because of some serious personal daliences with sin (non repentant), (with much questioning from onlookers). This was a few years ago and admittedly there was significant second "guessing" and doubt as whether "Did we do the right thing", until yesterday when this brother was arrested for, and confessed to sexual abuse with a live in child. After the sadness passed and was replaced with sobriety I realized the approach God led us towards exhasustive Assessment in northwest and southwest Friends (myself) are requiring for any SC leaders we commission for the SC Network we undershepherd is in the spirit of what Paul is referring to in this passage. Immediately some of you might say "there they go again" that is,adding restrictions that stifle the spontaneous expansion of the Church.
The Truth is just the opposite. Apostolic Oversight in the Spirit of Ephesians 4:11 speaks explicitly to the contrary. At times I believe in our zeal to see a "movement" emerge we are being deceived, substituting simplistic perspective and naievity for the simple truths of church multiplication. Let's be responsive to the Spirit of discernment and be careful to "build carefully" in accordance to Paul's word in 1 Cor. 3. Because the work of disciplemaking in the SC world is that of "impartation" rather then transference of information---we want leaders in place that are pursuing Christ and the holiness He imparts. Harold here saying let's not repeat the mistakes of past revivals! We want to join Paul in having SC overseers be able to say with clear conscience "Follow Christ as you see me do".
posted by Harold Behr
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