Teachings
Posts linking to teachings from the simple church alliance or other encouraging sources.
The Telephone Game and the Reliability of the Gospels
Are we crazy for believing the stories in the Bible? Are we to be pitied more than all men (as the Bible itself suggests we are if the stories are not true)? Is it more reasonable to believe that, like in the telephone game, the story we have down on paper is nothing like what really happened in the beginning? In a recent conversation with a friend about the reliability of the Bible, the telephone game argument came up. I really appreciated the honesty of my friend in sharing his doubts. The truth is that he simply was articulating a doubt that I think haunts many believers. In the telephone game a person whispers a message to a friend, it’s passed around...
Read MoreExplain Simple Church In 2 Minutes On A Napkin
In our “Introduction” section we have included a few of our favorite videos that explain what simple church is, how it functions, and why we feel it’s important to encourage in the region. I recently added the video below to the list. Perhaps it can help you to better understand what simple church is all about and serve as a tool for you when sharing the idea with friends and family?
Read MoreThe Flipped Church – Insights From the Khan Academy
The Flipped Church – (insights from the Khan Academy) I have recently become intrigued with Khan Academy. For those who may not be familiar, the Khan Academy began when Salman Khan started long distance tutoring his niece in math by creating short YouTube videos on various math subjects. Fast forward several years and the Khan Academy has grown to include numerous subjects and is being used across the globe by everyone from adults wanting to brush up on their skills to children within the context of their public school classes. If you listen to Khan talk about education or perhaps read his book The One World Schoolhouse: Education Reimagined, then you will hear about...
Read MoreWhy Start Simple Churches? (Video Part 3)
This is part three of Erik’s video series on simple church. Here he addresses the question, “Why start Simple Churches?” I appreciate the simplicity in which Erik explains “church” as a natural result of disciples making disciples–which God desire to do through every follower of his. It is simple and natural to see groups of disciples coming together to follow Jesus in community with each other.
Read MoreKeep It Simple Podcast Now Available!
Tom Lecompte and I have started a new free podcast. It is live now on iTunes at the links below. Our hope is that we can encourage those searching for life with Christ outside traditional church structures through this audio format. We are starting with some of the basic questions and sharing our stories about the journey God has us on. If you are an audio person, perhaps it will be a blessing to you as you work out what it means to follow Jesus and be apart of His family in our day. Please email us any feedback or questions you would like addressed. We will look to update the podcast ever couple of weeks. Tom Lecompte is a leader in the New Covenant House...
Read MoreLecrae on Engaging Culture (Video & Free Album)
Check out the video below and hear Lecrae echo our plea to end the sacred/secular divide and truly embrace the “priesthood of all believers” (I have actually used the “JV” analogy he uses in the talk many times to address this issue. It is always amazing to see how God puts the same ideas, even same words, in the hearts of people from different places and different backgrounds.) and call believers to live as missionaries within their given cultural context. I am convinced that the number one challenge for existing simple/house/organic churches is to continue heeding this call. Failure to do so will result in ingrown groups of Christians...
Read More2013 Simple Church Conference Audio Available!
Hello friends! I’m still pumped from the 2013 Simple Church Conference and our first ever local church leaders breakfast! It was really wonderful to have Neil Cole with us and I can’t say enough how much I appreciate his example of genuine servant leadership and teaching about Jesus. If you missed the conference then we have good news! Below is a link to our conference page and we have uploaded all the talks and testimonies as well as a few of the video illustrations that he used. You can stream or download the entire conference! http://simplechurchalliance.faclex.com/simplechurchconference2013/ Also, the second Wednesday of October (9th), you are...
Read MoreBaptizing The Imagination
When talking with Rich Jirak during a simple church gathering several months ago, the subject of “imagination” came up. Rich had recently stumbled upon talks online from a conference by the Edward Institute that dealt with the idea of “baptizing the imagination” and the role of the imagination in the life of a Christian. Rich passed these talks along to me as he thought I would find them interesting. He was right! I’m not sure if they will mean as much to you as they have me, but I thought I would link them here. It seems that they continue to come up in my day-to-day conversations and the Lord continues to use many of the truths...
Read MoreFree Online “Soul Care” Class with Dr. Larry Crabb
Do you ever feel paralyzed when a friend or acquaintance shares a personal struggle with you? Do you find yourself feeling unsure of how to respond to hurts and wounds that are exposed in your simple church community? I wanted to point out a free online course, Soul Care 101, for anyone desiring to invest some time in becoming a better listener, counselor, and friend to those in our lives who share struggles with us. Dr. Larry Crabb says that “Soul Care” is something that every Christian needs to be able to give. Personally, I see “soul care” as another way of thinking about discipleship. While I have not finished this course, I continue...
Read MoreAudio: Mindset of A Conquerer
Click the link below to listen to/download a message shared on having the “Mindset of a Conqueror” at First Alliance Church on Father’s Day. First Alliance is the congregation that helped support and give birth to The Simple Church Alliance. I am grateful for the relationship that those of us involved in simple church continue to share with the people at FAC. How can someone avoid becoming content with losing certain spiritual battles and truly believe that they are “more than a conqueror?” This is the question addressed in this talk. I’m grateful for the truth’s shared in this message and for Coach Jason Seamands who...
Read MoreKeep It Simple Podcast!
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