The Starfish Files
Posted by Bessie on October 3rd, 2008For the latest edition of “The Starfish Files” house church magazine by Rad Zdero (Canadian house church movement), go to -
www.housechurch.ca/resources2/89_Starfish_Fall_2008.pdf
God’s Recipe for Organic Church
Posted by Bessie on September 26th, 2008By Terry Somerville (published in ‘Open Heaven Digest’) - http://www.openheaven.com .
Eating organic food has become a big industry in recent years. For a while the word “organic” was used to trick the public into paying more with getting the real thing. Now there are government guidelines in labeling “organic’ food.
In the last few years there’s been much talk about returning to the “organic” church. But what does that mean? Many regular churches are using this term to attract members. Now (somewhat tongue in cheek) I’d like to suggest some guidelines to using the term “organic church”. Read the rest of this entry »
How to start a house church….
Posted by Bessie on September 26th, 2008From Mickey Mooney www.networkvine.org
We are such a formula society. It is amazing how many web searches there are for “How to Do House Church”. Most movers and shakers are trying to discourage the “how to” conversations in favor of “being”. But, just for fun, I put together the following recipe as a quick answer.
(RECIPE)
1) YOU NEED A HOUSE (this ingredient is optional…a coffee shop, park, creek bank, etc may be substituted based on availiability)
2) YOU NEED A CHURCH (2-3 persons will suffice - however more may be added daily as necessary)
3) YOU NEED THE HOLY SPIRIT (HE is the most important ingredient and should be in the #1 position - without Him the recipe will fail)
4) STIR TOGETHER (each ingredient has it’s own unique flavor paramount to the mix)
5) THIS RECIPE WILL EXPAND QUICKLY (take care to not let your container be too small - this recipe will produce enough “starters” to grow multiple new house churches if prepared properly)
Have a great day!
160 nations - one people…..
Posted by Bessie on September 25th, 2008Melbourne Conferences for Ethnic Evangelism Inc.
Saturday, October 4th 2008.
Click here for posters oct-4th-program-160-nations-1-people.pdf
Connecting the dots……
Posted by Bessie on September 25th, 2008From Mickey Mooney, www.networkvine.org
I often hear the comment that mega churches can do things that house churches can’t. (ie: large scale relief projects, building hospitals, building water systems in developing countries, etc) This may well be true in present tense but I believe it to be far from true in the design and intent of our Creator.
The problem, as I see it, is that many simple church expressions continue to be “lone rangers”. These expressions often sparsely dot the landscape making geography a hurdle to overcome. In our situation, here in rural Tennessee, we have to make a committed effort to have working relationships with organic communities 3-6 hours distant. I am convinced that those efforts are not in vain. I can see (partly in the natural, partly in the Spirit) God beginning to fill in the spaces (ie: all the small towns, communities that lie between those functional networks). Just today I was blessed by a email from Jeff that indicates they have discovered a new house church 10 minutes from where they live! God is continuing to “ekballo” those of His choosing into this stream of simple function.
Back to the problem. Simple churches must learn to value connection. We are infinitely stronger if we work together and support one another. Read the rest of this entry »
Conversation with Tony Jones….
Posted by Bessie on September 23rd, 2008Host: Postcards Emerging Missional Church Network
Informational Meeting:
Thursday, October 2, 2008, 7:00pm - 9:00pm
Location: Ashmore Uniting Church, Cotlew St, Gold Coast, Australia
Postcards Emerging Church Network is hosting a conversation with Tony Jones, the national coordinator of Emergent Village (www.emergentvillage.com) and a doctoral fellow in practical theology at Princeton Theological Seminary.
Tony is the author of many books, including Postmodern Youth Ministry, The Sacred Way, Soul Shaper, focusing on spiritual practices and everyday life. His most recent book, The New Christians, provides an introduction to the Emerging Church movement in the United States.
We’ll be discussing with Tony how Christianity is changing, the spiritual practices that are necessary for the journey, and how we might follow Jesus into our villages and suburbs for mission today.
Blessed to be a blessing….
Posted by Bessie on September 22nd, 2008From Justin Simspson, home church leader in Heathmont, Melbourne
The LORD had said to Abram, ‘…I will bless you… and you will be a blessing to others… All the families on the earth will be blessed through you.’ (Gen 12.1-3)
Deb and I often comment to each other how God is blessing us and how blessed we feel. God is blessing our marriage and our children and our home. He’s blessed us with families who love him and us, and with people who have invested time into our lives and discipled us. He’s blessing our Christian community. God’s blessing my work at the factory. God has blessed us by giving us challenges through which we’ve grown closer to him and more focussed on his purposes.
The thing is that as we’ve opened our lives, our family and home to our community and other friends, and shared God’s blessing with them, we’ve felt even more blessed. God has blessed us richly, so we can bless others. And as we’ve blessed others, we’ve experienced God’s blessing even more.
(Perhaps you react to the word ‘blessing’, because it conveys prosperity doctrine. What I think about when I use the word is God’s goodness in our lives and relationships - that includes his provision of our physical needs and even sometimes our wants - but it is more about our lives and communities.) Read the rest of this entry »
“Simple/House Church Revolution” Book Available For Free
Posted by Bessie on September 19th, 2008The book can be downloaded in its entirety here: www.simplechurchrevolution.com/index.html
Print copies are also available, at the above-mentioned website for a small donation. This is a not-for-profit venture, so please respect the request regarding distribution.
Comments are more than welcome as Roger will be revising this first version soon.
Roger Thoman, Simple Church Journal (see Home Church links to the right)
From Keith Ward’s Prayer Letter….
Posted by Bessie on September 14th, 2008(Keith and Elizabeth meet with others as church in Narooma, N.S.W.)
PRAISE….
For the stimulating, challenging, interactive, small, inspirational Wolfgang Simpson Conference 1-5/9/08. It was a privilege to hear from a Biblically literate, radical, passionate man for King Jesus’ church to reach the planet for Him. This learned man, who lives by faith and is so widely travelled to where the church is multiplying (which it needs to do to reach the planet), shares what he observes to inspire and then brings it back to God’s blueprint for His church, challenging people to get into King Jesus’ position for themselves in His Kingdom (which isn’t a democracy).
160 Nations - 1 People
Posted by Bessie on September 13th, 2008Melbourne Conferences for Ethnic Evangelism Inc.