One of the defining turning points in my mind when I think of the history of the twelve tribes of Israel was a point of decision. God had, with a mighty hand, led them out of slavery in Egypt, through the mighty red sea, and now into the desert where he would prepare them for their promised land. The whole nation was encamped near a mountain and God had told them to draw near so he could talk to them from the mountain. He desperately desired fellowship and open communication with His people.

The people purified themselves and drew near to the mountain, which was now enveloped in loud thunder, flashes of lightning, great quaking, and a roaring fire: a display of the awesome glory of God. The people were afraid – and their fearful desire for self-preservation was greater than their desire for fellowship with their creator – so they told Moses, “You speak with us, and we will hear: but let not God speak with us, lest we die.” (Ex. 19:12 – 20:21) So the people withdrew from the bottom of the mountain to stand afar off and watch.

I can only imagine God’s disappointment when he saw the people back away. He had done so much for them and all He expected in return was an open line of communication. He did not want to start a religion, He wanted to start a relationship with His people. He wanted to talk to each of them, and only one was willing to do it face to face. Only one was hungry enough to know God that they were willing to risk hair and hide to find do it. Only one.

The unfortunate dilemma in many church systems today is very similar. Churches have been set up using Old Testament hierarchies when the Old Testament has passed away. The church in the first century was so wonderfully free from religion that there were no heads or tails among the people. No pulpits and pews in their meeting rooms. No clergy and laity. Rather all were kings and priests to God, and for the most part they acted like it. They all ministered in different ways, all were used in differing gifts of the Spirit, all took part in building up the whole body. As a result, all layed hands on the sick, all visited the infirmed or imprisoned, all baptized new believers, and all were charged with being prayer warriors and soul winners.

The average church group today looks very different. They have a Moses, and they have told him, “You go for us.” Without realizing it, they have rejected God as their King and heaped to themselves a mediator. Someone who will talk to God on their behalf and deliver His messages for them. A leader they can call their own and who will represent them to the world and to God. This setup hinders the forward movement of the body of Christ in at least two key ways. The leader becomes overworked and born down with way too much responsibility, and the saints under their ministry become fat and lazy and carnal – I say this with great respect for the motives and efforts of every church group today, because I used to be on both sides of that coin.

What is most unfortunate is that most saints prefer it this way!

How often to pray for other believers? What do we pray for other believers?

For a long while now, I have felt somewhat inadequate in my prayers for my brothers and sisters in Christ. I want the family of God to be blessed and strengthened and helped… but what should I actually be asking God for when praying for them? I end up asking God to “bless them” and “help them,” especially when I don’t have any other specific needs I know about for these individuals whom God has placed in my sphere of influence. Of course there is great truth in “The Holy Spirit making intercession for (through) us, with groanings that cannot be uttered,” however, Jesus also instructed his followers to ask, and ask specifically.

I have also noticed this deficiency when praying together with my two young boys for a variety of other children (we take turns praying for the different children we know) – and that has proved the most challenging. How can I teach my own boys how to properly pray for others when I myself lack the right words? As it turns out, the scriptures have more than enough information on this subject within the epistles alone to give the believer the right direction they need when praying for the saints…

First of all, the most common greeting and prayer that the New Testament writers made known to their audience is that “grace and peace” would be given to them continually. Grace from God to help them at all times. Peace to keep their hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. This request is mentioned so often and so consistently, that listing these verses would be pointless and repetitive. May the reader understand that this prayer, being so consistent in the epistles, might be the most important and most potent prayer we can pray for others in the body of Christ. Grace and peace continually.

Having that said, I have broken down the following scriptures into two categories:

1. Prayers for the Saints Everywhere

2. Prayers for the Apostolic Church Planters

The meat of this study is simply listing these excerpts below for the parousal of the reader. From simply reading through these verses from the epistles, a clear pattern becomes evident in their prayer requests for the saints. All excerpts below are from the NLT version of the Bible for simplicity of theme in this study. I have underlined what I have noticed are some common themes in these passages especially worth noticing.

Prayers for the Saints Everywhere:

Romans – So I pray that God, who gives you hope, will keep you happy and full of peace as you believe in him. May you overflow with hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.

Ephesians 1 - Do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers:

Asking God, the glorious Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, to give you spiritual wisdom and understanding, so that you might grow in your knowledge of God.

I pray that your hearts will be flooded with light so that you can understand the wonderful future he has promised to those he called. I want you to realize what a rich and glorious inheritance he has given to his people.

I pray that you will begin to understand the incredible greatness of his power for us who believe him.

Colossians 1 – We always pray for you, and we give thanks to God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, we have continued praying for you ever since we first heard about you.

We ask God to give you a complete understanding of what he wants to do in your lives, We ask him to make you wise with spiritual wisdom. Then the way you live will always honor and please the Lord, and you will continually do good, kind things for others. All the while, you will learn to know God better and better.

We also pray that you will be strengthened with his glorious power so that you will have all the patience and endurance you need.

Epaphras, from your city, a servant of Christ Jesus, sends you his greetings. He always prays earnestly for you, asking God to make you strong and perfect, fully confident of the whole will of God. I can assure you that he has agonized for you and also for the Christians in Laodicea and Hierapolis.

Galatians 1 – Every time I think of you, I give thanks to my God. I always pray for you, and I make my requests with a heart full of joy

I pray that your love for each other will overflow more and more, and that you will keep on growing in your knowledge and understanding. For I want you to understand what really matters, so that you may live pure and blameless lives until Christ returns.

1 Corinthians – I can never stop thanking God for all the generous gifts he has given you, now that you belong to Christ Jesus.

1 Thessalonians – We always thank God for all of you and pray for you constantly.

As we talk to our God and Father about you, we think of your faithful work, your loving deeds, and your continual anticipation of the return of our Lord Jesus Christ.

May the God of peace make you holy in every way, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless until that day when our Lord Jesus Christ comes again.

2 Thessalonians – We keep on praying for you, that our God will make you worthy of the life to which he called you.

And we pray that God, by his power, will fulfill all your good intentions and faithful deeds.

May the Lord bring you into an ever deeper understanding of the love of God and the endurance that comes from Christ.

Prayers for the Apostolic Church Planters:

Romans – Join me in my struggle by praying to God for me. Do this because of your love for me, given to you by the Holy Spirit. Pray that I will be rescued from those in Judea who refuse to obey God. Pray also that the Christians there will be willing to accept the donation I am bringing them. Then, by the will of God, I will be able to come to you with a happy heart, and we will be an encouragement to each other.

2 Thessalonians – I ask you to pray for us. Pray first that the Lord’s message will spread rapidly and be honored wherever it goes, just as when it came to you. Pray, too, that we will be saved from wicked and evil people, for not everyone believes in the Lord.

One brief observation to start, before summarizing a few of the main themes in these passages. It is telling to note that all the prayer requests the writers mentioned were for the spiritual well being of the saints. No prayer requests are mentioned in any of these passages for the physical or material blessing of the saints. This is not to suggest that they never prayed for these things, or that these things were unimportant in the lives of the saints – however one thing seems certain notwithstanding: if the material well-being of the saints was not mentioned once in any of the prayers listed in these passages, then it probably should not be the primary focus of our prayers for God’s people today, and it is not the main purpose of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Jesus taught about money and material possessions of course, but with the common theme of how unimportant these carnal concerns were in the light of God’s everlasting kingdom they were entering. The cry of the New Testament writers was solely for the spiritual health and growth of the saints of God everywhere.

Unceasing prayers offered: On the question of how often the New Testament leaders fathers prayed for the saints, it is clear that the writers strove unceasingly in prayer for the saints and churches they knew of. This they specifically stated in at least 5 different letters. Therefore first and foremost, consistent and continual prayers were offered up for the saints of God. This, it seems, was a foundational part of the apostles ministry to the churches. As they labored for the sake of the many churches they had planted, teaching and admonishing them to continue in the Lord, it was from a solid foundation of countless tears and prayers for them.

Giving thanks for the saints: It also is worth noting that thanking God for the wonderful work he had done and was doing in the churches and the saints is consistently recorded. Even when the writer had no immediate hand in planting a church, it is stated that he gave continual thanks to God for them when he heard about them.

That God would give them understanding: This is the most often repeated theme among all the verses listed above.

Prayers were that they would understand:

- the wonderful future he has promised to those he called & what a rich and glorious inheritance he has given to his people.

- the incredible greatness of his power for us who believe him

- what God wanted to do in their lives – the love of God and the endurance that comes from Christ.

- what really matters

The end result of understanding these different truths is also mentioned:

- so that they might grow in their knowledge of God

- so that the way they lived would always honor and please the Lord, and they would continually do good, kind things for others. All the while, they would learn to know God better and better

- so that they would then live pure and blameless lives

For me, this verifies the idea that all that Christ has provided for His saints is fully at their disposal from the moment of their new birth into the kingdom of God. Unlimited power, wisdom, grace, peace, help from the Father – all these things and a host of others had been given to the believer from day one. The growing and maturing process in the Lord subsequent to initial faith in Christ consisted primarily in understanding more and more what they already possessed! We as believers today already have the powers and wisdom and character of the world to come, but only in the very modest measures that we can understand and handle. It would seem that the work of the enemy then, would be primarily focused on hindering our understanding of the great kingdom power and life we have in Christ.

This could be compared to the son of a great king. If he has no understanding of the royal blood flowing through his veins, then he might be found living as a pauper in the ghettos of the city. However, when he realizes who he is – what royal bloodline flows through his veins, what royal seal hangs upon his finger, the great authority in the name he bears – he will soon move into the castle with the king, begin exercising his royal authority, begin seeking justice for the weak and powerless with confidence, and begin driving out the enemy from his lands without fear.

What would happen if we truly understood what we have at our disposal! If only we would understand the reality of the eternal life we have been given! If only we would truly grasp the unlimited power we have through the Holy Spirit! If only we would begin to understand what God’s ultimate maturing work is aimed at – in each of our lives and hearts. We would begin exercising our God-given authority with confidence and soundness of mind, and resting at all times in the patient work He is doing in us.

Make them holy & complete: Another common theme was the perfection (completeness) of the saints. That God would make them worthy of the wonderful life he’d given them, make them holy in every way, that they would live pure and blameless lives, that the way they would live would always honor and please the Lord, and that they would do good kind things for others. The maturity of character (holiness) and a completeness of good works (love) of each saint seems to be the major end purpose of the gospel of God for his people while they are on this earth – and the NT writers seemed to verify this, always praying that the churches and the saints would eventually become complete in all that they were lacking, as they grew in grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ.

Other specific prayers are mentioned in these passages which may be just as important to take note of when praying for the saints, but for now I have only taken the time to cover the major patterns in these verses. I pray that this brief study may give the saints of God everywhere the right tools for what to pray and how to pray for other brothers and sisters! May the people of God labor in prayer for all people, especially for the saints of God everywhere!

—With a lot of love, Sean Hyatt (Aurora)

THE QUESTION:How does your house church deal with (or avoid) the issue of finances?
Leave a comment, we want to hear what you have to say

Money matters. We all know this. For those of us who are part of the movement to return to the simple roots of the New Testament Church, we have also recognized there is something quite wrong about how the “traditional church” in America has dealt with finances. Neil Cole, a simple church thought leader, says that nothing slows down organic church multiplication like Buildings, Budgets, and Bigshots. I would say we have alot of all three. One might even look at the American church and surmise that church and finances are like oil and water…they just don’t mix.

Many house churches have sought to eliminate the resource draining “three B’s,” but in their place is a vacuum. I have been apart of, and read about, a multitude of church networks. Almost without exception, there is a lack of clarity around the issues of finances. I have felt prompted by the Spirit to begin revisiting what the Scripture has to say about finances, and hear what other spiritual families are learning. Also, since I have a full time job in web design, I can ask these questions without some of the awkwardness that others might feel who raise support.

So I would love to hear from you…How does your house church deal with (or avoid) the issue of finances?

Here are some questions I am exploring.

• What does the Bible say about how we are to use our finances to further the kingdom of God?
• Can we, or should we, prioritize how we use our money? Potential areas of usage are the poor, brothers & sisters in Christ, apostles (overseers of larger church networks), etc.
• We are the richest nation in the world, and yet we as a nation and individual people are increasingly in debt. What are the consequences of this as a body of Christ? How can we show a “different way?”
• Who are the people in our church networks that should be freed up, or kept free, to lead the church without the potential distraction of outside employment? Are we supporting them? If not, do they feel free to ask for support?
• The issue of finances can raise such confusion and fear. I know as a pastor’s kid, I saw how money could divide in church politics. How can we approach this differently, organically, simply?
• Jesus was far more concerned about questions than answers, he almost never directly answered a question. So, what are the QUESTIONS Jesus wants us to be asking about money, what questions DID he ask about money? How will joining with him in that dialogue enrich our spiritual families?

What are your thoughts?
What are your questions?

The season leading up to Christmas, which has already begun for this year, is an opportunity to celebrate, ponder and engage a little-talked-about Truth. In our dash toward Christmas, we race right on by a power-full rest stop – one that is good for our entire life. This is the Truth of the Incarnation!

IN-CAR-NA-TION: (noun) “assuming human form or nature”

As Followers of The Way, we do not accept just any “incarnation.” A careful reading of the key teachings of other worldly religions reveals an awareness of “incarnation,” often under the idea of “reincarnation.” In fact, not long ago, because of the power of incarnation to move people, the Chinese government passed a law that no one can be re-incarnated without their permission! Tibetan Buddhists acknowledge incarnation. You’ve probably heard that various factions of Islam are also awaiting yet another “incarnation” of one of their great teachers.

As Jesus-followers, we believe The Incarnation. This is the teaching, or doctrine, that the second Person of the Holy Trinity assumed human form in the person of Jesus of Nazareth. He is the God and man – fully God and fully human – a Divine Person intimately and permanently united to a human nature with a human body. And, he needed no one’s permission to be so!

For years, I have quietly pondered the Nicene Creed’s confession: “Who for us men and for our salvation, came down from heaven and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the Virgin Mary and was made man.” Too bad we read this so quickly thinking we have confessed this transforming Truth. Here, we believe The Incarnation is for the purpose of our salvation – rescue.

The Incarnation of the LORD causes me to pause for it speaks of the condescending nature of our God: “he came down from heaven.” So many want a God who is larger, bigger, stronger, above it all, what we call “transcendent.” Yet, in The Incarnation, He comes to us! He enters into the world he made! He takes on the human form designed to bear the Image of God! He becomes the servant among us … living as we live … speaking as we speak … learning as we learn … working as we work … laughing as we laugh … crying as we cry! In a specific place and within time, God the Son empties himself, submitting to all things and everything human – being tested in every way as we are – even to death. Too many people still overlook this mystery of Grace; this God-coming to us as we are – and for our benefit!

What could happen today if Christians believed The Incarnation? I know, many read the Nicene Creed and claim to agree with what it says. Others will take the less-than-thoughtful position “the Bible teaches it; I believe it; that settles it.” Still others will say “I’ve been to pastor’s bible study on incarnation and I believe what he taught” or “I’ve read the textbooks on the topic.” My question is “So?”

What this exposes is a faulty understanding of “believe.” To “believe” something – like The Incarnation, let’s say – is not so much being able to agree with the doctrine, studying it, intellectually assenting to the teaching or even accepting it as true for those who believe it. When I listen the conversations many “believers” have nowadays, I regularly hear “belief” is what I can agree with, understand. Too many overlook this mystery of Grace because they think they “believe” it.

Here is where it is helpful to move beyond the Hellenized world of our culture and enter into the Hebraic world of the Incarnate One. Jesus did not live in a world where to “believe” something primarily meant you agreed with it. He served in a world where “to believe” meant you drew strength from what you “believed.” Since words tell stories, the Scriptural words for “believe” tell the story of “one who is weak drawing on and from the strength of one who is strong.” In other words, what you “believe” is fully relational and life transforming!

Consider the man whose son is healed and blurts out “I believe, help my unbelief.” This grieving father’s confession rarely impacts our lives. Most of us think the man was saying to Jesus “I agree with what you’re saying/doing, please help me to overcome my ignorance.” That, to me, would seem an odd way of hearing what this father was crying out for. Consider the alternative: “I have drawn strength for living from you, but I still need your help in drawing strength further so that I can continue to live.” I like that a lot better!

OK, so you say “I believe in the Incarnation.” My question is “really?” Do you mentally assent to the doctrine or do you draw strength for daily living from this even-now Reality? Do you claim to know what this means or do you recognize the Life-Changing Truth offered to you? Just imagine, if we “believed” The Incarnation, how this transforms everything about the world in which we each live. The Living God has honored my human nature, my human body, my human vocation, my human living of life! And, “Faith” is not so much agreeing with the teaching of such-and-such or so-and-so, but is the daily drawing of breath and strength, vitality and hope from the One who knows – really knows – what it is to live in this world!

So, back to my question, what could happen if Jesus-followers “drew strength for living” from the Incarnation? While I suspect there is likely a multi-faceted response to this question, let me suggest at least one opportunity: Jesus-followers would themselves be “incarnational.”

IN-CAR-NA-TION-AL: (adjective) “the act of assuming the form or nature of a local neighborhood.”

I so appreciate the paraphrase of John 1:15 from The Message: “The Word became flesh and moved into the neighborhood.” That Jesus – the fully Incarnated Son of the Living God – “moved into the neighborhood” is a pretty good understanding of what the Spirit moved John to record for our learning. The original text says that The Logos came to “tabernacle” among us. He was the mobile Presence of the Living God! This highlights that Jesus lived the human life as we do, that he used human language, that he developed human relationships, that he learned to speak, read and write as we learn, that he faced temptations as we do, being as we are. To meet Jesus is to meet the Living LORD!

This short verse unites the reality of the Incarnation (the Word became flesh) with the life-focus of being incarnational (moved into the neighborhood). As I suggest, to “believe” the Incarnation leads to incarnational living. We draw from Jesus the pace and direction of our lives as his apprentices.

Jesus-followers are like a van load of people on tour observing him in the local culture while learning to live as he says is best. We “move into the neighborhoods,” placing our lives alongside the mission of Jesus to the people of the world in the places where they live, work and play. This is certainly a multi-faceted, life-on-a-mission approach. Using our sanctified imagination, engaging our creative gifts with a life toward loving God and our neighbor, the incarnational life opens many possibilities for Jesus-following in the local places of life where he is already active.

Consider: “as the Father has sent me (Incarnation), so I am sending you (incarnational).” Suddenly, Immanuel – God with us – is real! Being incarnational is stepping out of our safe places and engaging people and neighborhoods around us as Good News. Francis of Assisi reminds us: “preach Christ often, sometimes use words.”

“Drawing strength” from The Incarnation makes possible the life that is Incarnational. Not automatically, however. Sure, you can agree with the doctrine of Incarnation, you can even know what “incarnational living” might look like in your community. There is no end to the conversations that could be had if all you do is talk about what Jesus says is best. What must take place at some point in your journey with Jesus is choosing to become an “incarnationalist.” And, as part of your choice, you must take action – “you” being plural!

IN-CAR-NA-TION-AL-IST: (noun) “one living an incarnational life”

Frankly, I’m not even sure if that is a word regularly used by Jesus-apprentices, but it does seem to capture one aspect of our privilege in life today. Being an incarnationalist asks that we move from our understanding of Incarnation and beyond our agreement with incarnational living to the actual, everyday being with Christ and living along the relational contours He offers. Up to this point, learning to live as Jesus says is best keeps us in the house with our buddies doing the necessary study to make sure we’ve got it right. Becoming an incarnationalist moves us from being a living-room learner to one who lives what we believe (remember what “believe” means?) in the places where people live, work and play – where Jesus already is.

As I consider this call upon our lives, I realize the unique way each of you will bear witness to the Incarnate One. It is within this marvelous diversity of living that the “nations” (local cultures) of our world can be shown a glimpse of the Life our Lord gave his life for us to have. My dream is for this “glimpse” to become an “apprentice” of our Master, and a community without walls.

Enjoy your time with family and friends, with your local church as you are equipped, graciously living with gratitude “for you and for your salvation.” Then, quietly ask for guidance as you’all “draw strength” to live as an incarnationalist in the coming … If we can help, let us know.

Craig W. Henningfield, M.Div., D.Min.
Missionary – Coach
The Church Without Walls
craig(AT)thechurchwithoutwalls.info
303-725-6760

This is a brief note that Michael Tummillo sent to all the folks on his mailing list and it is very simple yet very powerful, so I thought I would share it:

Last Saturday, I drove 3 hours to a small Texas town where a man had asked me to come and explain the Simple Church/House Church concept to him and some others at his home. We had a wonderful 2 hour meeting and I left by laying hands upon them and releasing them into this new ministry.

Yesterday, that same man wrote with the questions: “How do we begin the meeting? What atmosphere do we try to create?”

As I responded I wondered how many others might have similar concerns. So, I am sending the response I sent him to you, too!

Here it is:

1 Cor 14:26 says, “What then shall we say, brothers? When you come together, everyone has a hymn, or a word of instruction, a revelation, a tongue or an interpretation. All of these must be done for the strengthening of the church.”

I’ve stopped inviting people to “church” or even “Home Church,” “House Church” or “Simple Church.” This whole thing is to happen organically. Since everyone we know EATS, I simply invite people to dinner! During the course of the evening, we may wind up counseling, praying for people the way I prayed for you guys on Saturday. We have even piled in the van and gone places to minister to others. At times, we’ve wound up playing games. The #1 goal: become a family! Think “family reunion.” We share our lives, not merely an hour. Someone with a guitar may lead us in a few songs but it’s not something we do every time. Worship, after all, is a lifestyle. Even our work is actually a form of worship. Before anybody leaves, we ALWAYS ask if we can pray for them. Most times, that winds up with laying on hands, anointing with oil, tears and even deliverance!

At the proper time, you will be given the opportunity to share that this IS as much church as anything we Christians do on Sundays in a building. The BEST part of House Church is the meetings AFTER the meetings…the lunches, the movies, the phone calls and emails, the walks in the park with people who feel loved enough to open up and seek counsel and prayer.

Resist the urge to get “churchy” and just be brothers in Christ. Don’t argue doctrine. Don’t preach. If teaching is done, try and teach the Doctrine of Christ (just ask and Ill give you my “Jesus Said It” study). Focus on the many “One another” verses in Scripture. People are lonely, hurting, feel unaccepted, judged…people listened to Jesus because He sounded different among the religious voices of the day. So, love them, accept them, make them feel special and remind them of their worthiness before God.

Does that help?

In time, you’ll get to know more people who are into meeting this way and you’ll fellowship with them. On occasion, a traveling minister will pass through town and you will all gather your church families and eat and love and laugh and listen as The Church did when Paul was in Troas. I’ll keep you abreast of regional things you can tap into.

Some of your people may still wish to attend traditional church. Fine! They’re family, too! Let your people know that it’s Ok. The most important thing is to be led by the Spirit and do as He says.

October 20th is the date for the upcoming Denver Gathering of house churches! For this first gathering we will be joining a network of house churches in Golden, CO who have been holding these types of gatherings for many moons now. We have perhaps a dozen different house churches in different locations around Denver (and along the front range) who are planning on representing that we know of (probably many more than that).

The meeting is for networking, worship, sharing, and fellowship among all the house churches who would like to participate. Please invite ANY and ALL who would like to join us there!! A few details about the upcoming evening:

-Childcare will be provided for young children

-Anyone who can is invited to bring a dessert to share (desserts only this time to keep it simple, so eat dinner before you come)

-ANYONE who would like to help with worship during the gathering (if you play an instrument, or sing, or just like to pretend to do either one please come early at 4:30pm to practice. Anyone welcome!

-The forum will be a time of fellowshipping, a time of worshipping together, a time of sharing (different folks will be sharing their stories, or their visions for what God wants to do in Colorado)…

-WHERE will it be? *** Hillside Community Church, 103 N Ford St, Golden, CO, @6:00PM ***

I am convinced that this gathering will be a huge blessing to all in attendance, so please join us in prayer that the Lord’s will be done!

***********************************************************

Years of sitting in traditional church has not prepared us to do church in the manner described in the New Testament. We have been taught to come. To sit. To watch and listen to what others have prepared. (Someone described it as “sit, soak and sour”.) This is Spectator Church. And it is no way to train believers to be priests!

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 training in this.

Some retraining is in order. One of the best passages to help us do this is Heb. 10:24-25:

“And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another– and all the more as you see the Day approaching.”(NIV)

Here are a few notes to help understand the passage:

1. “Consider”: from katanoeo. noeo = to think + kata = an intensifier. To think deeply about, consider, contemplate, observe. Jesus uses the same word when he says, “Consider the ravens…consider the lillies.” (Lk. 12:24-27) This is work that we must do ahead of time. This is preparation done in prayer before we meet.

2. NIV says “Let us consider how …”. The Greek really says “Let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works.” We are to be observing and thinking deeply about the others in our Simple Church in order to be able to effectively “stir them up to love and good works”. Each one is unique. What works for one may not work for another. I must “think deeply” about each one.

3. “Let us consider how we may spur one another on“. “Spur on” comes from a root word that means “to make sharp” as with a sword. (Prov. 27:17 “As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.”) Means “to stir up, incite, provoke, motivate”. Again, what motivates one will not motivate another. Every parent and every coach know this.

4. “Let us consider how we may spur one another on to love and good deeds” How do we know if our meeting has accomplished what God wanted? We know if people leave being highly motivated and spurred on to love (God and others) and to express that love in good works throughout the week. If this doesn’t happen then we have fallen short. This helps us understand 1 Cor. 14:26 – “Let everything be done for the strengthening (edification) of the church.”

Church prepares us for the rest of the week (24/7). And the rest of the week (24/7) is where we prepare for church.

I can describe my version of Simple Church in two words: eating and blessing. Both activities are designed to “spur one another to love and good deeds”. Both are designed to “strengthen/edify/encourage” the church.

1. Eating. The Lord’s Supper. Dinner with Jesus. “They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad (implies “exuberant joy”) and sincere (implies an “uncluttered simplicity”) hearts.” (Acts 2:46). Church takes place around the dinner table. The meal is the time to talk about what God is doing in your life. It’s the time to remember Jesus. (1 Cor. 11:24)

*Tell how He blessed you in the last week.
*Tell what you are learning from His word.
*Tell how He used a brother or sister to encourage you.
*Tell about God sightings.
*Tell Holy Ghost stories.

*”Forget none of his benefits” Ps. 103:1-2

This is participatory church. This requires preparation. Thought and prayer ahead of time. This kind of sharing is what “spurs the church on to love and good deeds”. “And they overcame him (the accuser of the brethern) by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony…” Rev. 12:11

2. Blessing. After dinner (or during dinner) spend time blessing one another. Speak to one another about their God given identity (who they are) and their destiny (what God has made them to do). Share how you see Jesus in their life. Strengthen one another.

*Husbands to wives. (In front of God and everyone!)
*Wives to husbands.
*Parents to children.
*Every believer to every other believer.

*Use passages of Scripture. (Col. 3:16)
*Use prayer.
*Use song. (Eph. 5:19)
*Use prophecy. (1 Cor. 14:3)
*Use the laying on of hands.

*All at the direction of the Spirit.

The goal? To spur/motivate one another to love and good deeds.

This requires preparation. katanoeo. Thinking deeply about each other. Listening to God on their behalf in order to bless/edify/encourage them. This is the stated New Testament purpose of church!

Very different from Spectator Church. We haven’t done it this way before! Retraining is in order. Leaders/parents: take the lead. Model how this is done week after week. Be patient with those who are learning a new way to do church. And when someone gets it right. When they actually prepare for church and come with a blessing from God or a blessing for another, then CELEBRATE! Make sure they know what it means to you and to your church.

And know that the Lord is delighted that you are doing church the way He intended it to be done. A family that blesses Him and each other.

John White
House Church Coach
Denver, CO

Every Christian a church planter.
Every home/family a church.
Every church building a training center.

October 20th, 6:00PM – Hillside Community Church, 103 N. Ford St. Golden, Colorado, 80403

Join us for a night of worship, celebration, sharing our journeys, and vision casting for the future! We believe that “house churches” and alike are some of the most relevant expressions of God’s Church today, but we do not limit ourselves from understanding that God is going to use many expressions of His Body to reach people for His Kingdom!

Come let us seek God together for our cities and communities realizing we are a part of something much bigger than ourselves!!!

For more information: Call Dan Thoemke at 720-373-9605 or email at dan@hc3.org Sponsored by Community Faith in Action “Unifying our faith based community around a common purpose, serving together to experience God in our daily lives.”