Missional Resource Teams

Change of location

2010-08-17T11:51:00.000-07:00

I'm no longer posting to this site. Please go to http://storiesfromtherevolution.blogspot.com/ and subscribe in the small box in the right column. Thanks!

John

10:2b Story (Part Three)

2010-08-12T13:28:00.000-07:00

*Note: we will discontinue this blog soon. To continue to receive exactly the same posts, go to "StoriesfromtheRevolution" and subscribe to the that blog (scroll down the right column and type your address in the subscription box).http://storiesfromtherevolution.blogspot.com/2010/08/102b-story-part-one.html

Great comment from Carolyn Spence (Clovis, NM) in response to Mike Deaton's interview in yesterday's post:

OK, agreed! We need the opportunity to see it practised. My mother (89 years young) cried to experience the very tiny taste of our gathering in Clovis with MRT members from Albuquerque and Colorado saying, "now I see what you mean"... If you are going to spread a virus, personal physical contact works best... Carolyn

Today, we have an interview with JoEtta Deaton. She tells a similar story. To paraphrase: "By visiting some of the house churches in Brighton (CO), I experienced a whole different paradigm of church. What I saw was church that flowed out of listening to Jesus. This was transformational and I want to begin to try this out when we go back to Virginia".

(JW: This is the third of seven LK10 Practices. Church = a spiritual family focused on listening to Jesus.)

Now, listen to JoEtta tell the story in her own words below. Share with us your response to what she has to say.

John

10:2b Story (Part Two)

2010-08-11T17:00:00.000-07:00

As Hobby and his apostolic partner, Robbie James, began praying the 10:2b Prayer (see yesterday's post) the Lord of the Harvest began arranging divine encounters. In the video below you will hear about one of those encounters with Mike Deaton, a professor at James Madison University in Virginia, and his wife JoEtta. (More from JoEtta tomorrow.)

Notice that Mike and JoEtta were already committed to planting house churches. But, two years of very limited success had made them hungry to learn. We have found this to be true for people who are answers to the 10:2b Prayer. In every situation, God has worked in their lives to prepare them. They have been "thrust out" by the Lord of the Harvest and are already motivated. You might say that "God does the heavy lifting" in preparing these church planters.

See what else you hear in Mike's story.

John

10:2b Story (Part One)

2010-08-10T16:41:00.000-07:00

*Note: we will discontinue this blog soon. To continue to receive exactly the same posts, go to "StoriesfromtheRevolution" and subscribe to the that blog (scroll down the right column and type your address in the subscription box). http://storiesfromtherevolution.blogspot.com/2010/08/102b-story-part-one.html

The DNA of our Luke Ten Community focuses on seven key practices. (To see all seven, go here: http://lk10.com/media/lk10_visionpaper_2_0.pdf )

The fourth practice is in obedience to Jesus' command in Luke 10, verse 2, part b. We sometimes call this the "10:2b Prayer". This was Jesus' solution to a specific problem. Namely, "the harvest is plentiful but the laborers are few". To Jesus the answer was obvious - ask the Harvest Master for more laborers.

So, what does a "10:2b answer" look like? In this three part series, you will see three examples of harvest laborers sent out by the Harvest Master.

First, in the video below (the first of three parts), you will see Hobby Chapin who was a "10:2b answer" here in Denver over a year ago. Hobby has become a good friend and a very effective church planter in Brighton (north of Denver). Tomorrow, you will see what happened as Hobby prayed the 10:2b Prayer.

John

City Networks and Listening

2010-08-09T17:00:00.000-07:00

We've talked about the idea that "church emerges out of listening". What this means is that we really believe that Jesus is the Head or Leader of each individual church and that, as we listen to Him, He brings the agenda for each meeting.

This same thing is true on the larger level. The house churches in Denver are connected in a relational network. Jesus is also the Head or Leader of this expression of church, and, as we listen to Him, He brings the agenda for the network as well. Church, at every level, emerges out of listening.

See below for two encouraging examples of what people in the Denver Network are hearing. One has to do with connecting women across the city. The other has to do with helping people, especially new believers, learn the Bible.

What a concept! Jesus really is the Head of His church on every level. And, He really is expert at building His church on every level (Mt. 16:18). Our job is not to do a great job of figuring it all out but to do a great job of listening to Him.

John

From Christal Haner: One of the amazing benefits of house church is the close community that we share within our own house churches. One of the more difficult areas of house church is the lack of that broader sense of connectivity within the body of Christ. For a couple years our network (ASPEN) has been putting together a semi-annual women's retreat. So far it has just been about 16 of the women from our network coming together to check in and worship together over a weekend. While I was praying about it for the Fall retreat, I felt a strong need to open up our women's retreat to the entire Denver house church network. So, we would like to invite all of the women in your house churches to be a part of our women's retreat this fall.

From Sean Hyatt: I am writing to ask for your help in praying and listening about a project/vision I feel the Lord has put on my heart. I've chosen to send this email to you specific guys & gals because I am close to you and I trust you to pray and truly listen to what the Lord might speak to you on this. Thank you ahead of time for reading this lengthy email :))

I would like to write, illustrate, and produce a new full-color home Bible study chart. We used to use these as an evangelism and soul-winning tool in the denomination I grew up in. They are designed so that you can teach an individual, family or group for about 12 weeks, an hour or two each week, in the comfort of their home or somewhere out in public in their territory. It is basically like Bible 101. Someone who is interested in learning more about the Bible (or who is simply hungry for God) can go thru this home Bible study with you and learn all about the Bible and all the major stories and themes in the Bible, including the gospel message. It is a powerful soul-winning tool for an individual or a group, and a powerful discipleship tool as well.

Before, when we taught weekly home Bible studies to seekers, at the end of the 12 or so weeks when the study was finished (since all we had to offer them was traditional church) we basically said, "Congratulations! Now that you're saved, you get to come to our church, sit on a cold pew, stare at the back of peoples heads, and marinate for a decade or so" :) ... but now that we understand organic church planting, once the study is done we can simply keep meeting weekly in their home (or the coffee shop or workplace or park or wherever), and a new church is planted with their oikos. A much better situation after the Bible study is done.

There was a time when I was a teenager and a young adult that I was teaching multiple ongoing weekly 'chart' Bible studies in multiple homes, and winning multiple sinners to Jesus...it was a very exciting and fulfilling time. Colorful chart Bible studies also are great for teaching children or teens or young adults (or anyone without a basic biblical foundation) all the basics about the Bible, Jesus, the gospel, and the kingdom of God.

Any and all feedback or ideas, positive or negative, are welcome (truly!). I just want to get some further direction from the Lord before proceeding...

What are you investing in?

2010-08-04T17:00:00.000-07:00

Dear LK10 Friends,

(In case you were wondering, this blog is part of the ministry of LK10.)

Most of us have left the traditional church and are no longer investing in church buildings or traditional programs. This should free up significant resources to help those in need both inside and outside of our house churches. I'm hearing lots of good stories where this really is happening.

Another highly valued investment in the New Testament church was that of church planting (see Paul's comments in 1 Cor. 9). Hopefully you have identified proven apostolic church planters in your area to help financially.

It's along this line of church planting that I would like to ask you to consider investing in LK10. Our mission is to connect and equip the growing number of men and women who are planting house churches. Over the last two years we've come through the start-up phase of our ministry on a "shoestring" budget. Our Board of Directors now feels that the Lord is calling us to significantly increase the scope of our work and has asked me to share this with everyone in the LK10 Community.

My request of you is simply that you read our LK10 Donor Report and ask the Lord if this is something He wants you to help with. You can find the Report here under the heading of "Support the work of Luke Ten" :

http://www.lk10resources.com/practice-6.html

If the Lord wants you to help, you have two options. The first is to use the Paypal "Donate" button on this blog. The second option is to send me an email and let me know that you would like the address where you can send a check. Send the email to DenverWH@aol.com

Whether you are directed to contribute or not, I appreciate you taking the time to read our Report.

John

Sarah Young (3)

2010-08-03T17:00:00.000-07:00

Here's an example of the devotional reading from August 3 in Jesus Calling. As you read it, you will see that it's something Sarah felt the Lord spoke personally to her.

This is valuable to those of us who are learning to hear God's voice because it gives us an example. It helps answer the question that I've heard many times, "So, what kind of things does God say to you when you listen to Him?" For those of us who were trained to believe that God only speaks today through Scripture, these examples are quite important.

Seems to me that this same sort of thing can happen in CO2s (churches of two) and in our simple churches. That is, we can help each other by sharing the kinds of things we are hearing from God.

Share with us your impressions about what Sarah wrote below.

John

From Jesus Calling on August 3...

Watch your words diligently. Words have such great power to bless or to wound. When you speak carelessly or negatively, you damaged others as well as yourself. This ability to verbalized is an awesome privilege, granted only to those I created in My image. You need help in wielding this mighty power responsibly.

Though the world applauds quick-witted retorts, My instructions about communication are quite different: "Be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry." (James 1:19). Ask My Spirit to help you whenever you speak. I have trained you to pray - "Help me, Holy Spirit" - before answering the phone, and you have seen the benefits of this discipline. Simply apply the same discipline to communicating with people around you. If they are silent, pray before speaking to them. If they are talking, pray before responding. These are split-second prayers, but they put you in touch with My Presence. In this way, your speaking comes under the control of My Spirit. As positive speech patterns replace your negative ones, the increase in your Joy will amaze you.

Sarah Young (2)

2010-08-02T17:00:00.001-07:00

Sarah Young continues describing a turning point in her spiritual journey. The year is 1993 and, although she had been a Jesus follower for many years, she now begins listening for God's voice.

My journaling had changed from monologue to dialogue. Soon, messages began to flow more freely, and I bought a special notebook, to record these words. This new way of communicating with God became the high point of my day. I know these writings were not inspired as Scripture is, but they were helping me grow closer to God.

...This practice of listening to God has increased my intimacy with Him more than any other spiritual discipline, so I want to share some of the messages I have received.

Sarah's daily devotional, "Jesus Calling", is simply 365 short examples of the messages she has received from the Lord. I'll include one of them tomorrow so you can see what it's like.

What I want to emphasize today is that this "practice of listening" is at the heart of our Luke Ten Community. This is a "community of practice" where we are...

*sharing what we are hearing as we listen as individuals

*sharing what we are hearing as we listen with one other person (CO2)

*sharing what we are hearing as we listen with our spiritual family (simple church)

The whole thing is pretty simple, isn't it.

John

Sarah Young (1)

2010-08-01T06:30:00.000-07:00

For the first time in a long time, I've begun reading a daily devotional book. I'll tell you about the author, Sarah Young, and you'll understand why.

Sarah writes that in 1993 her relationship with God changed dramatically...

I had been writing in prayer journals for years, but that was one-way communication: I did all the talking. I knew that God communicated with me through the bible, but I yearned for more. Increasingly, I wanted to hear what God had to say to me personally on a given day.

I decided to listen to God with pen in hand, writing down whatever I believed He was saying. I felt awkward the first time I tried this, but I received a message. It was short, biblical, and appropriate. It addressed topics that were current in my life: trust, fear, and closeness to God. I responded by writing in my prayer journal.

Many of us in the Luke Ten Community have been on a similar journey. Longing to hear what God might say to us personally on a given day. Feeling awkward when we first begin. But, being aware of "spontaneous thoughts" and writing them down. Finding that they are often both biblical and appropriate.

Take a minute and, in the comments below, share what this journey has been like for you.

More from Sarah tomorrow.

John

CO2 - The Hyatt Family (4)

2010-07-29T13:57:00.000-07:00

In response to the story about the Hyatt family doing CO2, Jared Looney, a church planter in NYC, posted this comment yesterday...

We recently did S.A.S.H.E.T. as a family. That is, my wife, my five year old daughter, and me. My wife and I had practiced this tool in various settings before, but doing it as a family with our 5 year old was pretty awesome.

Isn't that encouraging! Nothing excites me more than stories of children, even young children, responding to these simple ways of doing/being church.

Today, in the fourth and last part of this interview, Sean tells how his family has shared CO2 with other families and individuals. Notice again how natural and almost effortless this is. It creates a whole new picture for the term "church planting".

Also makes me think of the title of Roland Allen's famous book: The Spontaneous Expansion of the Church.

Your thoughts?

John

CO2 - The Hyatt Family (3)

2010-07-28T17:00:00.000-07:00

There's lots of talk these days about "the missional church". The thinking is that the church needs to stop being so inwardly focused and become concerned about the needs of the world. We are told that this is accomplished by exhorting believers to change their focus and become more concerned about the lost and needy.

In the short video below, Sean tells a story that illustrates the alternative approach that LK10 takes towards becoming missional. Being missional is certainly a good thing. But, how this comes about is the critical element.

We believe that Jesus followers become more missional not by focusing on mission and trying harder but rather by focusing on listening to God. In other words, mission is not the starting place but rather the by-product of hearing God's voice. This kind of mission is natural, spontaneous and joyful.

So, two questions to ponder as you watch the video...

1. Imagine if there were hundreds (or thousands) of households in your city who were doing what the Hyatts are doing. What kind of learning would be going on in the hearts and minds of the children in those families? Doesn't this kind of "Christian education" beat what goes on in most Sunday School classes?

2. And, imagine the cumulative effect of hundreds (or thousands) of small family-centered "mission projects". How would that impact your city or region?

Your thoughts?

John

CO2 - The Hyatt Family (2)

2010-07-27T17:00:00.000-07:00

In today's short video below (3 minutes), Sean explains two things that might seem impossible to those of us who have spent our entire lives in traditional church.

First, he explains how he has trained his two boys (aged 7 and 10) to facilitate the family's daily CO2 (CO5!) time.

(Observation: children and teens often "get" CO2 more easily and more quickly than adults who have been in the current religious "system" for years.)

Second, he tells a story that illustrates that worship flows spontaneously out of listening.

(Observation: Simple church (CO2) is built on the belief that Jesus is really present when we meet in His name and that He is a great "worship leader". Worship is no longer something that we have to "make happen". It emerges naturally out of listening to Jesus.)

Love to hear your comments about the video below.

John

CO2 - The Hyatt Family (1)

2010-07-26T09:19:00.000-07:00

A CO2 (church of two) is simple. Two people committed to two practices as close to daily as possible.

But, the CO2 concept is also highly adaptable. Sean Hyatt has applied it to his family. (Since he has a wife and three young children, it's now a CO5!) The result is a simple way that families can function as churches (think "church = vibrant family of Jesus".

Over the next four days, I'll be sharing an interview with Sean where he tells how this has worked out in his family. Today, Sean explains that this is a model that has been sustainable over time and that he loves what it has produced in his family.

Two things for you to think about. First, what would happen to the church in America (or wherever you live) if this practice became normative for every family? Second, is there anyone you need to pass this on to?

John

Please share your comments below.

House church article in USA Today

2010-07-24T17:00:00.000-07:00

Last week there was a positive article about house church on the front page of The Denver Post. See http://www.denverpost.com/ci_15547588?source=email

Now, comes a similar article in USA Today. What do you make of this? What encourages you about this? What potential problems do you see? Post your comments below.

John

'House churches' keep worship small, simple, friendly

Updated 1d 21h ago | Comments 116 | Recommend 11


Enlarge	By Karl Gehring, Denver Post, AP

Darren Boyer, center kneeling beside the couch, prays with, from right clockwise, Susan Dennison, Tasha Gustafson and Jolene Larson, asking for God's wisdom regarding an upcoming decision that Brent Tribble, left, will make about his life, during a non-denominational "house church" service at Boyer's Brighton, Colo. home. The number of these new, small, organic churches is growing, according to the Barna Group

DALLAS (AP) — To get to church on a recent Sunday morning, the Yeldell family walked no farther than their own living room to greet fellow worshippers.

The members of this "house church" are part of what experts say is a fundamental shift in the way U.S. Christians think about church. Skip the sermons, costly church buildings and large, faceless crowds, they say. House church is about relationships forged in small faith communities.

In general, house churches consist of 12 to 15 people who share what's going on in their lives, often turning to Scriptures for guidance. They rely on the Holy Spirit or spontaneity to lead the direction of their weekly gatherings.

"I think part of the appeal for some in the house church movement is the desire to return to a simpler expression of church," said Ed Stetzer, a seminary professor and president of Lifeway Research, which is affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention. "For many, church has become too much (like a) business while they just want to live like the Bible."

House church proponents claim their small groups are sort of a throwback to the early Christian church in that they have no clergy and everyone is expected to contribute to the teaching, singing and praying...

Read the entire article here: http://www.usatoday.com/news/religion/2010-07-22-housechurch21_ST_N.htm?csp=usat.me

Women in MRTs?

2010-07-23T17:00:00.000-07:00

Yesterday's post featured a video of one of the Denver MRTs sending greetings to a similar group in New Zealand. In the video, five men share some of what they appreciate about their team.

Carolyn Spencer (Clovis, NM) responded with an important question...

Hi, Are all the seven MRT's (in Denver) a group of guys only? Is connecting together this way something done more easily when its just a group of guys, or is it just as effective when its mixed company? Would this group be as comfortable if a female leader joined you at Sojourner's Coffee Shop? What is your take on including women in MRT? Carolyn

Carolyn,

Thank you for asking this question! Some of the MRTs in Denver do have women members. And, I believe my MRT would actually be more effective if there were women as a part of the team. I believe that female apostolic church planters are just as "called" and just as effective as men. I believe that it is preferable to have a MRT with both men an women.

As you know, we are coming out of a period when women were often limited in their leadership roles in the church. In the Luke Ten Community, we believe that church = family and, in that context, spiritual mothers are just as important as spiritual fathers for a healthy family. I want Luke Ten to be an environment where women are encouraged to function that way both in house churches and as apostolic church planters.

So, Carolyn, thanks for asking that question so that I could clarify our values! And, to both men and women readers, please send me stories where you see women functioning in this kind of leadership.

John

From Denver to New Zealand

2010-07-22T16:33:00.000-07:00

What if there were small groups of Jesus followers meeting weekly to connect with one another and to listen to God for their city or region. And, what if these groups were so simple that they could multiply rapidly?

That's what an MRT is. The initials stand for Missional Resource Team. MRTs form around two practices or rhythms that allow for structure without hierarchy. In addition to six groups in Denver, the concept has spread organically to many other locations.

In the video below, a Denver MRT shares what they are learning and sends greetings to a group in New Zealand.

John

Boss or Father?

2010-07-21T13:22:00.000-07:00

Learning to hear God's voice changes everything.

First, and most important, it changes our relationship with God. Here's how John Eldredge says it...

Whatever our situation in life - butcher, baker, candlestick maker - our deepest and most pressing need is to learn to walk with God. To hear his voice. To follow him intimately. It is the most essential turn of events that could every take place in the life of any human being, for it brings us back to the source of life. Everything else we long for can then flow forth from this union. Walking With God, xi.

A second thing that changes is how we approach ministry or mission. As with Jesus, mission flows from listening. See Jn. 5:19.

See the short video below for my interview with my friend, Hugh Brandt, on this subject of learning to hear God's voice.

Share with us your comments on what Hugh has to say.

John

Front page of the Denver Post

2010-07-19T18:17:00.000-07:00

I was very encouraged with this article on house churches that was on the front page of the Denver Post today.

John

DENVER AND THE WEST

Growing number of worshipers make themselves at home

By Electa Draper
The Denver Post

POSTED: 07/19/2010 01:00:00 AM MDT

UPDATED: 07/19/2010 11:59:53 AM MDT

Darren Boyer hosted a non-denominational House Church service at his Brighton home Thursday night, July 15, 2010. Those gathered prayed, discussed scriptures from the New Testament and served themselves Holy Communion. Boyer, left, cooked waffles and served them before the group moved to the living room for Bible study. At the table are Tasha Gustafson, in middle with whipped cream, Brent Tribble, Chris Dennison, and Jolene Larson, in pink. (Karl Gehring, The Denver Post)

Jolene Larson, one of the people who gathered Thursday at a Brighton home, reads a passage from the Bible. (Karl Gehring, The Denver Post)

Megachurch, meet microchurch.

Growing numbers of Coloradans believe the tiny house church, also called a simple church or an organic church, might be the mightier transformer of Christian lives.

A recliner becomes a pulpit. A sofa and some armchairs serve as pews.

Where two or more people are gathered in his name, Jesus said, there he is. House churches range in size from two people to a dozen or slightly more.

Some prefer the name "simple church" because there are congregations that meet at coffee shops, parks or other venues.

The key element is that the group is small enough for everyone to participate fully and to connect intimately. In this, the new followers believe, they are like the earliest Christians, who also met in small groups in homes.

A house church is not about one person standing up and talking for 45 minutes, says former Presbyterian pastor John White, a consultant who helped launch the house-church movement in Colorado 12 years ago.

Back then, he couldn't find anybody local doing it, and little was written about it. Now, the movement is flourishing.

"Traditional church works fine for a lot of people, but there's a growing number of people for whom it's not working," White said...

Read the full article here http://www.denverpost.com/ci_15547588?source=email

Trouble for Dan Bo Bo

2010-07-16T15:36:00.000-07:00

Dan (name withheld for security reasons) has been a house church guy for a long time. God has used him to train church planters in many countries around the world.

I sent him a copy of our new eBook. He graciously took time to read it and sent back some encouraging comments as well as some stories of his own experiences that illustrate some of our values. See below for a wonderful story about hearing God's voice.

John

China: In teaching the servant leaders "How to Hear God", I used my relationship with my wife as an illustration: One day while I was teaching these students, my wife called me in China from the States. My Chinese interpreter took the call and handed me the cell phone.

After I finished our conversation, I asked the students about what if I didn't recognize my wife's voice and were to have asked her, 'Who is this?" They didn't know much English but several students shouted back to me "Trouble for Dan Bo Bo!"(My Chinese name) Then I asked them about how our Heavenly Father must feel when we don't recognize and obey His voice and say to Him, "Who is this?" This illustration transformed their concept of hearing and obeying God.

Beta

2010-07-15T11:20:00.000-07:00

I continue to be encouraged at how our new eBook is being used. In some situations, husbands and wives are using it for 30 days. (See email from Mike below.) In others situations, it's two friends. (See email from Maree below.)

What I want to emphasize today is that this is a beta version. We need you to "field test" it and let us know what works and what needs improvement. As you can tell when you read the daily entries, this is a community project. Thanks for your help!

If you haven't gotten your copy yet, just let me know at DenverWH@aol.com

John

Mike in Virginia:

Thx for sending the CO2 e-book. It looks great. I'm hoping to use it with (my wife). Would you mind, John, if I forward this to a friend in KS with whom I spent about 2 weeks practicing CO2. He's hoping to start this with his wife.

Maree in Australia:

Just finished reading the e book, what a fantastic job you've done and what a thrill to find Sharon and I on the last 2 pages!! Even if our story doesn't make the final cut (it is a long one and feel free to edit ) I feel very humble and grateful that our story was considered part of the Co2 journey.

I have found such freedom in telling friends and clients about my listening journey. Where as before I was stuck in finding the words or conviction to invite them to church, now I know that they can have Jesus without all the baggage. And with a real 2 way relationship.

Just thought I'd share a few insights from my Co2 journey

My listening and journal time has become so precious, my journal entries have totally blown me away, it was almost overwhelming. The Lord told me to go back over all the promises he has given me and to Proclaim and Declare them. He said "Proclaiming them builds your faith, creates expectation and hope. It is an act of faith and obedience. Declaring lets the devil know we are in business. My word is creation. The powers of hell cannot stand against my word. Go back and Proclaim and Declare the promises I have given you"

One day when questioning the Lord about sharing 'everything' with Sharon I wrote "You are in a covenant with Sharon, Co2 is a covenant relationship. You are free to share with Sharon unless I say no"

And on another day "Co2 is like a crash course in prophetic, because you believe you will hear from me and you are expectant I can speak knowing I have your attention.You share it, speak it out which builds your faith.You come again expectant for more. I am delighted to give. I have so much to give."

I thought I had lost my journal the other day and it occurred to me that it is my most treasured and precious possession.

Thanks for the great blog and insights I look forward to reading it each day.

Checking in as sad

2010-07-14T17:00:00.000-07:00

I'm checking in today as sad.

I've had two different conversations this week with Christians who have been in church for a long time. They are good people who love Jesus. In many ways, they are very mature and have a deep desire to serve God. They know Scripture and are diligently seeking to live it out. So, what's missing?

In both cases, these dear folks have almost no idea how to hear God's voice. It makes me sad that people could spend so much time in churches that haven't helped them with what surely is at the heart of a "personal relationship with Jesus". By definition, friends carry on conversations. They talk to each other. They listen to each other. They dialogue.

How is it that we have invited people into a "personal relationship" with Someone that never personally speaks to us??? "My sheep listen to my voice" (Jn. 10:3, 4, 16, 37)

I'm also happy. Because it was so much fun to share with these two people how to hear His voice. And, to tell stories about what we've heard. As individuals. And, as churches. In fact, once a person understands listening, church planting is easy. As we noted a few days ago, Mary is our model. Mary "who sat at the Lord's feet listening to what he said." (Lk. 10:39)

I'm also happy that we can offer people the new eBook which is designed as a 30 day journey for two people who want to deepen their ability to listen to God. The stories are already beginning to come in about the eBook.

John Parker (Merced, CA) is passing the eBook along to the church planters he is training. Here's an email dialogue with one of those people.

John: Attached find an eBook you and your wife can start using today. It is a 30 day action book for CO2. My friend John White who wrote it just sent it to me yesterday. It’s brand new! I think you’ll like it. Another “A God Nod” !! J

Mike: Yes, you're right I like this very much, I have just begun to get into it but what I have seen so far is great. Yup, its a God nod I think. I will start the 30 day exercise tomorrow because today I'm going through all the links and watching the videos. You can thank your friend John for me too the next time you chat with him. I really appreciate what you're both doing!! Praise the Lord!!!!

The eBook: "It's really good!"

2010-07-13T17:00:00.000-07:00

See below for an encouraging email from Roger Bullard to the leader of a ministry in Colorado Springs explaining the CO2 process and the new eBook. We would love to hear your comments about the eBook also.

If don't have a copy of the CO2 eBook yet, just shoot me an email and I'll send you a free copy.

John at DenverWH@aol.com

I can see how this process (ie, CO2) could be used in with (your ministry).... It's (the eBook) is really good and I would encourage you to click on the link and watch the video on page 4, for sure. John White is the leader that I have talked about in earlier emails.

A little crotchety and impatient at 72 last year, I failed to give Virkler and SASHET the value deserved in this process. After tennis and over a meal at Mom’s in Fountain, my friend Richard convinced me of the value it has, even in a marriage relationship. Joyce and I are now doing SASHET and really seeing its value.

...SASHET is a way to go to the heart in a beautiful way and Virkler is the principles of hearing God’s voice... Small groups with everyone participating, is likely the best discipling process and tool for leadership development. Starting as small as two (CO2), we have a building block that will multiply. Periodically, those doing CO2 can come together over a meal, some worship and share their testimonies.

It is fascinating to me how it is portrayed in Luke 19 that the last stop, just before Jesus was entering Jerusalem, that He does CO2 with Zacheus and salvation came to his whole household (v. 9). Then Jesus gives that memorable parable of the talents and the value He puts on multiplication.

Guinea pigs needed

2010-07-12T14:21:00.000-07:00

Dear Friends,

As many of you know, the "church of two" (CO2) concept is spreading rapidly. We are hearing stories of wonderful transformation through this simple tool from many places. In a desire to help people understand how to get maximum benefit from a CO2, Tim Pynes and I have created an eBook called "The Church of Two: The Overlooked Principle at the Heart of Jesus' Ministry that Can Change Lives and Transform Communities". (How's that for a title!) This online book is designed to be a practical, 30 day journey that two people would go on together.

We are at the stage now where we need some feedback from other people to produce the final edition. Currently, the eBook is 38 pages long. Each page is a few comments and sometimes a short video about one aspect of the "church of two". We want each page to be something that could be read/watched in around 5 minutes or less. We want to get down to 30 pages - one page a day for a month. So, we want feedback on which pages are most effective and which are least effective and could be eliminated. And, any other ways that the eBook could be improved.

So, my question is - would you be willing to review the eBook and give us your comments. What works? What could be improved? What could be eliminated?

I can see two ways you might do this.

The first is that you could just read through the whole thing in probably less than an hour and tell us what you think.

The second, which would be even better, is that you would use the book as it is designed to be used and go through it with another person for 30 days. The very best would be going through it with a person new to the concept. And, then, tell us what you think. Either one day at a time or all at once.

Also, please forward this request to anyone in your circle of friends who you think might be willing to help.

To find the book, go here http://regionalrevolutionaries.blogspot.com/ Then, look in the right column under "Read the CO2 Book". Click on "Two Are Better Than One".

So, let me know if this is something you could help with. And, please let me know if you have any questions or comments about this.

Thanks!

John

DenverWH@aol.com

Man/woman of peace (7): The listening church

2010-07-10T17:00:00.000-07:00

Sixth insight: Listening is the center point of church.

As I've been living in this passage (Lk. 10:38-42) this week, what has emerged is another important adjective to place before the word "church". Maybe it's the most important adjective. We have "house" church, "organic" church, "simple" church. All of these are good. Each one conveys an important aspect of what God is doing.

I now want to add "listening" church.

Seeing the Martha and Mary story as a church planting story (i.e., connected to Jesus' teaching in the first part of the chapter) sheds new light on the meaning of a "person of peace". On one level, Martha is that person because she "opened her home to him" (10:38). This is what Jesus described in 10:8. "When you enter a town and are welcomed..."

However, at a much deeper level, Mary is the true "person of peace" because she "sat at the Lord's feet listening to what he said." (10:39) And, of course, Jesus encourages Martha to join Mary at this deeper place.

Seeing this as a story about church planting leads us to paraphrase and expand the dialogue this way...

Martha, you don't yet understand the true nature of church. You are anxious about all kinds of good things but they are keeping you from the best thing. You are anxious about preparing food and taking care of the children. You are anxious about Bible study and good doctrine. You are anxious about singing and worship. You are anxious about being missional - taking care of the poor and reaching the lost. All of these are good but sometimes the good is the enemy of the best.

I want you to put them all aside and come over here and sit at my feet and give your full attention to listening to Me. When you do that, church begins for you. When you do that, you and Mary become a "church of two". Trust me when I tell you that all of the things you are anxious about will get taken care of if you give your full attention to simply listening to me. This is the true nature and activity of church. Two (or more) people seeking first an intimate conversational relationship with Me. Everything else will flow from that.

The churches that Jesus planted functioned the same way He did. (Jn. 5:19) They did nothing on their own initiative. They focused on listening to Jesus and only doing what He directed. They were...

Listening churches.

Your thoughts?

John

Man/woman of peace (6): More about women!

2010-07-09T17:00:00.000-07:00

Fifth insight: Telling an alternate story changes the culture

I'm suggesting again that the placement of the Martha and Mary story is significant. In the first part of Luke 10, Jesus explains the principles of church planting. Then, in v. 38-42, those principles come to life. And, in this real-life example, the "man of peace" is a woman/women.

The Martha and Mary story also sets the tone for what will follow in the growth of the early church. The role of women as "people of peace" and even house church leaders is one of the major themes woven throughout the account of Luke, the historian (see Lk. 1:1-4).

Keep Lk. 10:38-42 (and the picture above) in mind as you read these observations from Roger Gehring about the story of Lydia in Acts 16.

Luke also portrays Lydia as the first Christian in Macedonia. Can we elevate her to leader of the church in her house on this basis alone? It is a very real possibility... we need to recognized that with his report Luke also wants to say that, in spite of his Jewish training, Paul is willing to establish a church with a group of women. By implying that, in contrast to the synagogue, women alone were allowed to found a Christian church, Luke indirectly points to a difference in the status of women in the two religious groups at that time. House Church and Mission, p. 212

So, in giving the account of Martha and Mary and later, Lydia and others*, Luke is his changing culture by telling an alternate story/stories. Perhaps this is a key for changing our culture as well. Your thoughts on this?

John

*Approximately one-fourth of the coworkers mentioned in the Pauline Epistles are women. If we add Nympha, mentioned in Colossians, and Lydia, in Acts there are a total of twelve women: Eudodia, Julia, Junia, Lydia, Mary, Nympha, Persis, Phoebe, Prisca, Syntyche, Tryphaena, and Tryphosa. Gehring, p. 211.

Man/woman of peace (5): Women!

2010-07-08T17:00:00.000-07:00

Fourth insight: The "man" of peace can be a woman.

Once again, I contend that the placement of these four verses (Lk 10:38-42) by Luke is highly significant. In the first part of Lk 10, Jesus teaches the essence of His church planting strategy. At the heart of this strategy is identifying a person called a "man of peace" (10:6). (As we have said before, if you have a "man of peace", planting a church is almost effortless. If you don't have a "man of peace", planting a church is almost impossible.)

Following this teaching, Luke gives us a story about Jesus implementing the very principles that he just taught. In these four verses, we have church planting "in living color". And, what must have stood out to the original readers was that, in this story, the "man of peace" was actually a woman! (Or, in this case, two women.)

The placement of the Martha and Mary story at this point is not an accident. I believe it is totally intentional and is designed to communicate a powerful truth about the role of women in Jesus' kingdom and in the planting of churches.

And, this is consistent with what we know of this Luke. "Luke shows more clearly, and gives more particulars regarding, the redeeming and uplifting work which Jesus accomplished among women." The New Bible Dictionary, p. 758.

More tomorrow about how the Martha and Mary story lays the groundwork for the role of women in the rest of the New Testament. For today, spend a few moments again looking at the picture above. Focus your attention on Martha and Mary. What do you imagine that they, as women, were thinking and feeling in that moment?

John

Man/woman of peace (4): The church is planted in a home

2010-07-07T17:00:00.000-07:00

Third insight: Jesus always planted churches in homes. (And taught His disciples to do the same.)

Of course, this follows from our definition of church as "a new family of God". The natural physical "center point" for a family is always their home.

Now, there is much talk these days about "churches" in other places. Office buildings, Starbucks, parks, etc. While I'm for gatherings of Christians in any location, I'm not at all sure that Jesus would want to call these gatherings "churches". In the New Testament, every ekklesia (church) was birthed and functioned in the context of an oikos (household). In God's economy, there seems to be some essential link between churches and households.

Roger Gehring in House Church and Mission quotes various New Testament scholars on this point.

*J. H. Elliott: "Of fundamental importance is Elliott's insight that "households thus constituted the focus, locus and nucleus of the ministry and mission of the Christian movement." " p. 6

*D. C. Verner: "For Verner this concept of church as the "household of God" incorporates two aspects: (a) the house or family is the fundamental unit of the church, and (b) the church is a social structure patterned after the household." p. 7

Take another look at the picture above. This time notice the room in which this church is being birthed. What else went on in this living space? Why is it significant that Jesus planted churches in places like this? What are the implications for the home I live in?

Anyone you need to forward this post to?

John

Man/woman of peace (3): Jesus models what He teaches

2010-07-06T05:41:00.000-07:00

Second Insight: Jesus models what He teaches.

Consider the placement of this story of Martha and Mary by Luke. It follows closely on Jesus' instructions to the 42 teams (Lk. 10:1-23) about how to plant churches ("new families of God").

Jesus' teaching on how to plant churches: Whatever town or village you enter, search for some worthy person there and stay at his house until you leave. Mt. 10:11.

Jesus' teaching on how to plant churches: When you enter a town and are welcomed, eat what is set before you. Lk. 10:8.

Jesus' practice of planting churches: As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. Lk. 10:38.

The point? Luke is giving us a real life example of the very thing Jesus has just taught His disciples. Jesus teaches a pattern of behavior with his words. Then, he teaches that same pattern of behavior with his actions. Roger Gehring says it this way, "These instructions (of Jesus for house-to-house outreach) correspond almost entirely to what we have just discovered regarding Jesus' own approach... a master functions as an example for his pupils." House Church and Mission, p. 48.

Let me say it again. Jesus is a church planter. And, he trains His disciples to be church planters. Birthing "vibrant families of God" is at the heart of His strategy for the expansion of His kingdom.

Take another look at the picture above. This is a picture of a church being born. Focus this time on the disciples watching Jesus. What do you imagine they are thinking about? What are they learning?

John

Man/woman of peace (2)

2010-07-05T17:00:00.000-07:00

First insight: Jesus is the church planter.

By meditating this week on Lk. 10:38-42, we are, I believe, living in a "house of peace". Spend a few moments looking at the picture above and imagining what it must have been like to be in that home in that moment.

The first insight that comes to me is that Jesus is functioning as a church planter here. For a long time, I never thought of Him in that role. Church planting was something that His disciples began to do in the book of Acts but it wasn't something that He did. It just didn't occur to me that they were doing exactly what they had seen Him do. ("... everyone who is fully trained will be like his teacher." Lk. 6:40)

One reason that I hadn't thought of Jesus as a church planter was that the word "church" isn't used in passages like this one in Lk. 10. It doesn't say, "And, Jesus planted a church in Martha's home." But, as I began to think more deeply about the essential nature of "church", I came to a different conclusion. Speaking of Peter's home, Roger Gehring says, "...this house appears not only as the house of Peter and the home of Jesus but as the house of the new family of God as well." (House Church and Mission, p. 47.)

So, if church = a new family of God, then Jesus is certainly a church planter. And, He was doing the same thing in Martha's home that He did in Peter's home.

Jesus is the first church planter. He is the first apostle (Heb. 3:1). As you look at the picture above, you are seeing a church planter at work.

And, when we plant churches, we are simply following His example.

Your thoughts?

John

Man/woman of peace (1)

2010-07-03T17:00:00.000-07:00

This concept of a "man/woman of peace" is so critical to planting healthy house churches. If you have one of these people, starting a new church is almost effortless. On the other hand, if you don't have one of these people, starting a new church is almost impossible.

So, if God has called us join Him in planting churches, we must be clear about what a "person of peace" is. What do they look like? How do you know when you have one (or a whole house full of them)? What do you do with them when you find them?

In order to get clearer about this vital concept, I want to invite you to join me in living in a "house of peace" for the next week. What I mean is that I want you to dwell with me in the home of Martha and Mary (Lk. 10:38-41) every day for a week. Let's look around this house and this story and see what we can learn about people of peace and how Jesus relates to them.

Are you "in"?

John

Great conference call last night!

2010-07-02T17:00:00.000-07:00

Most of us know how to function in a traditional (spider) organization.

On the other hand, we are all new to this idea of a starfish organization. This is an organism that is decentralized but is held together by a common DNA. One connecting point is this blog. Last night we experienced another way of connecting through a conference call.

There were seven of us on the call. We represented MRTs in Colorado, New Mexico, California and (would you believe!) New Zealand. We had a great time sharing what we see God doing, what we are learning and video resources we have discovered about house churches. See below for some of the comments.

We're planning another call in a month. If you want to be notified about it, let me know.

John

Peg Batcheller (New Mexico).Thanks John, for the call last night. As I reflect on the call, I see this as a type of extra-regional MRT that could really be helpful to me, and hopefully to others. The stories from others were very helpful. Thanks. Hope to be able to talk again next month or so.

Noah Cremisino (The Denver Network sent Noah and Kate to New Zealand about 3 months ago). SOoooo good to hear your voice and join in on the conversation today!!!! I miss you as well. I'm so encouraged by what God is doing with us and what He's planning!! (Jesus Movement 2.0?)

John Parker (California). I loved the call!!! Thank you John White!!!

Here are 16 of the many great ideas we shared!

1. Laying pipe! God is building the infrastructure in prep for the great move coming!

2. Gestation = invisible growth (see #1)

3. Structure… tomato plant lattice…then the plant can climb! (see #1)

4. Knitting and Netting!

5. Story telling without perfection! Just get them published however you do and can!

6. Mistakes count as done. So do mistakes and leave ‘em with the Lord! J

7. Fullness of time 1. Jesus’ Day: Roman Roads, Greek Language, Jewish monotheism 2. Now: internet, phone conferencing, travel, Google.com/voice

8. Ross Rohde JesusVirus.org new blog

9. People coming out of traditional church we help them come into simple church!

10. How to start a meeting: Just ask for their spiritual journey story….

11. Wear God out! LOL! (importunity prayer of Luke 18) mix with Luke 10:2b (tend-to-be J) CO² prayer!

12. Spiritual moms and dads!

13. K.I.S.Saint!

14. grover@christianbody.com for communication resources.

15. Longest distance winner! Noah in New Zealand!

16. John W. noted an increasing percentage of women on the calls from 10 years ago@ PTL

17. Meet again in a month! Yahoo!

Starting CO2s under the Chuppah

2010-07-01T13:33:00.000-07:00

Wonderful insights below from Noah Cremisino (New Zealand) on the parallels between marriage and church. Properly understood, the return to the church in the home is really a return to the Jewish roots of our faith. A great resource on this is Marvin Wilson's book Our Father Abraham: The Jewish Roots of the Christian Faith.

John

I love how all of this marriage and church stuff has such parallels. Coincidence? I think not.

In Jewish wedding tradition, a marriage ceremony takes place under what's called a Chuppah. While we see a new union or marriage starting during the ceremony, beneath the chuppah the Jews actually saw a new "home" being established.

The "specs", if you will, of this home would be as follows:

1. Hospitality - the chuppah is open on all 4 sides just as the tent of Abraham and must remain open to all guests with warmth. It communicates a service oriented, servant-hearted feel.

2. Empty - the chuppah contained nothing other than the bride and groom themselves, communicating that PEOPLE are the important factor here and are the actual HOME (not the many things inside). This also communicates intimacy, and that the home/family is a place where everything is sacred and nothing is gossip.

3. Covering - the chuppah also had a thin cloth covering - this represented the glory of God presiding over the new couple/home/covenant - and also served as a reminder that the whole process was originated by God and therefore it is holy.

I think these 3 ideas can also be applied to CO2/Home Church in many ways...

Thoughts?

More on chuppah: http://www.reference.com/browse/chuppah

More on CO2 and marriage

2010-06-30T17:00:00.000-07:00

I've continued to think about Tim and Brittani's wedding. I am realizing that, for me, it represented something new and important that needs to be marked.

The clear message to the congregation from Tim and Brittani was "You are actually witnessing two things. The beginning of a new marriage. And, also the beginning of a new church." I wonder if that message has ever been communicated before in a wedding in the history of the world. Ok. That may be a little strong but you get the idea.

I've often thought that if this one idea ever began to spread, we could start a million house churches in a month. Hmm... Maybe it is beginning to spread!

See below for an "amen" to all of this from Wade Adams in Central Texas. Wade has recently started a MRT in the Kileen (TX) area.

John

"Dorothy and I have been using the CO2 to spark our conversation and to become more intentional in our partnership with the Lord. These two simple practices have been great for us."

Re-posting

2010-06-29T17:00:00.000-07:00

Sometime God speaks to you about a particular blog post and you know the message will encourage others as well. Sending that post along to others is a simple but powerful way to "spread the word". Peg Batcheller is on a regular conference call to a group of women leaders. Recently, she re-posted the message below to her friends.

John

Ladies,

A few months ago John White invited me to join his interactive blog for Regional Leaders... http://regionalrevolutionaries.blogspot.com/ This is more than for those who lead a house church, but for those whose vision is much larger, for cities, regions, states, etc. As we talked last night, not only did he need to initiate the invitation, but I needed to respond, and to commit myself to work alongside him and others. I believe this has been a great example of Deborah and Barak, and the inspiration it gives to many of the other men (and few women) who interact with this site. I just wanted to share with you this mutual encouragement that transpires here.

Thanks for the call last night. I was very motivated and encouraged, and God is using these calls to define and clarify my thinking about what God is doing in our midst.

Blessings to you all,

Peg

Wednesday, June 23, 2010

Prevenience in Albuquerque

The email below from Peg Batcheller illustrates prevenience - God motivating this woman to call Peg.

This lady believed that if their house church "leader" left that the church could no longer function. (Sounds like traditional church thinking!) I love that Peg and Richard have been captured by a whole different way of thinking and are teaching it to many. The new paradigm is that every believer is truly a priest and that every household is a church. And, from those households, the Kingdom begins to flow into every neighborhood.

Way to go, Peg! We pray that the Lord will motivate many more calls just like this one.

Tell us your story of God taking the initiative.

John

I received a call from a woman who has been in a house church setting with a few others for the past few years. Their "leader" had to move out of town, so they were wondering if there were other HCs they could 'join' to continue receiving teaching. When I shared my heart about each household becoming a 'vital family of Jesus within close access of each neighborhood', she came alive again with a refreshed hope of revitalizing her group of friends. We'll be getting together soon, and I'm sure God will do a new and refreshing work in their circle of friends. Coincidentally, my ex-husband & I attended their house church gathering about 6 years ago, and she remembers me. It will be interesting to see how God has worked in my life over the years, and to see how God has been preparing them as well.

CO2, MRT and Weddings

2010-06-28T17:00:00.000-07:00

Tamela and I just got back last night from Ohio where I officiated at the wedding of Tim and Brittani (Flory) Morris. (They sat right behind us on the plane coming back to Denver. See photo!)

I had the privilege of teaching CO2 to both Tim and Brittani and then they taught it to several people over the past year who ended up being in their wedding party. To hear Tim's story, go here: http://storiesfromtherevolution.blogspot.com/2010/04/c02-potential-for-inner-healing.html

They also wrote their own vows incorporating the understanding that this wedding was not just the beginning of a new marriage but also the beginning of a new church (CO2). Part of their commitment to each other was to regular times of listening to God together.

Very encouraging to see how CO2 reshapes both weddings and marriages. Tim and Brittani are also starting a MRT in Sedalia, CO (just south of Denver).

John

Prevenience in Albuquerque

2010-06-23T17:00:00.000-07:00

The email below from Peg Batcheller illustrates prevenience - God motivating this woman to call Peg.

Way to go, Peg! We pray that the Lord will motivate many more calls just like this one.

Tell us your story of God taking the initiative.

John

Prevenience in New Zealand

2010-06-22T17:00:00.000-07:00

The Lord's prevenience is revealed in many areas. Preparing people of peace who are receptive to the message before we are aware of them. Providing the resources we need before we know we need them. See below for a story from Noah Cremisino of God moving to assemble a church planting team in surprising and unexpected ways before Noah even knew there was a need.

Tell us a story of how you are seeing God work preveniently in your location. And, take a minute to beseech the Lord of the Harvest to thrust out more harvest workers in ChristChurch, NZ.

John

This may be a story of a pre-prevenience given the context of the question, but I think it applies.

As my wife and I prepared to move from Denver to NZ to join the Father in what He's already doing here (with simple church in mind) we felt that God did not intend to send us alone. A team of wonderful people had come together around us (2 different couples) and it seemed as though God had orchestrated things quite nicely.

As time went by, however, it became clear to us and both of the couples that they weren't actually meant to come along - at least not at this point in the journey. And, thus, in a matter of a few months, we were back to being "teamless".

This was not meant to be a deterrent, we didn't sense that it was, but it definitely left us asking God why he'd given us the sense that we were not to go alone.

Skipping along.

To keep it short and sweet - we arrived in NZ in March and within 2 months God answered our questions and fulfilled His promise (about us not going alone). Through the often mind-boggling web of connections we ended up meeting a young couple (same as us) who God had brought to the exact same city as us with almost identical visions of planting house churches and joining the Father in His prevenient plans for the city.

This couple came from South Africa as "tent-making missionaries" to New Zealand, just a year and a half before we did. The "coincidences" are too many to list here - but it's obvious that God has been planning His work here in Christchurch for much longer than any of us could comprehend.

It's an absolute JOY to be on mission with the Father. I can't, for the life of me, understand why anyone would want to do it any other way. He leads and He fulfills. We just obey and watch incredible things take shape all around us.

Prevenience and church planting

2010-06-21T17:00:00.000-07:00

Prevenience applies to every area of our lives and that includes church planting which is the focus of the Luke Ten Community and the MRT Experiment.

How freeing this is! Our God is an apostolic God. He is always in the process of birthing new "vibrant families of Jesus" before (which is the meaning of the word "prevenient") we show up. Our job is not to "make it happen" when it comes to church planting. Rather, we get to join Him in this wonderful process of new birth!

No where is more clear than in Acts 10. On one level, we could say that Peter planted a church in the home of Cornelius. However, on a deeper level, we see that God was working preveniently before Peter ever thinks about planting a church. No doubt God has been at work in the life of this military officer for some time as he is described as a "God fearer". Then, God sends an angel to tell him to send for Peter. Then, the Spirit speaks to Peter in the middle of a vision and tells him to go with the men sent from Cornelius. Talk about God taking the initiative!

So, where have you seen God's prevenience in planting churches in your region? It may not be as dramatic as with Cornelius but where are you seeing God take the initiative? Where are "divine connections" occurring? Where are you discovering "people of peace"? Where do you see God at work planting churches?

John

Tim Pynes on coaching

2010-06-18T17:00:00.000-07:00

I wanted you to hear from my friend, Tim Pynes, directly about coaching. He is one of the best I've experienced and I encourage you to email him to schedule a free session.

Tim's address: timpynes@gmail.com

John

Prevenience and coaching (3)

2010-06-17T14:20:00.000-07:00

So, how do we actually implement the "prevenience principle" in our lives and ministries?

A great starting place is learning to ask "the prevenience questions".

Make-it-happen questions are: "What do we do? How can we get things going again."

Prevenience questions are: "What has God been doing here? What traces of grace can I discern in this life? What history of love can I read in the group? What has God set in motion that I can get in on?" Peterson, The Contemplative Pastor, p. 70.

The prevenience questions are at the core of an MRT. An MRT is simply two or more people with a heart for church planting in a particular region. They meet together once a week to listen to God to see what He is setting in motion. And, to see how they can get in on that.

The prevenience questions are also at the core of coaching. Coaching is simply one person helping another to pay close attention to what God is saying and doing in the life of that person.

Have you seen any evidence of God's prevenience this week?

John

PS. To read more about how an understanding of prevenience shapes how we do house church, go to http://www.lk10resources.com/uploads/1/4/3/5/1435936/prevenience_gods_initiative.pdf

Prevenience and coaching (2)

2010-06-16T17:00:00.000-07:00

More from Eugene Peterson on the concept of prevenience:

(An understanding of this important word leads to) "... a disciplined, determined conviction that everything (and I mean, precisely, everything) we do is a response to God's first work, his initiating act. We learn to be attentive to the divine action already in process so that the previously unheard word of God is heard, the previously unattended act of God is noticed. The Contemplative Pastor, p. 69

Some implications...

1. Attention to prevenience is learned. It's a whole way of seeing life that is different from much of what I learned early on in church and seminary. This kind of attention is learned (like everything else) through practice and repetition.

2. Coaching is a great aid in learning this kind of attentiveness. A coach is someone who comes along side of me to help me listen. They help me, not by telling me things, but by asking questions that I might not have thought of and by helping me stay present in the listening process. (There are times for "telling" or "mentoring" but there are also times for just "asking" and "listening".) (BTW, have you emailed Tim Pynes yet to schedule a session with him?)

3. Prevenience is central to church planting. Birthing new house churches is not something that we initiate. God is the one who is already at work in creating a "house of peace" (Lk. 10:5-6). Our part is to be attentive to His prevenient work. This totally changes how we think about church planting. As my friend, Kenny, says, "God does the heavy lifting." I like that!

Other implications that you see?

John

Prevenience and coaching (1)

2010-06-15T17:00:00.000-07:00

Prevenience is a word that changed my life and ministry.

Much of my early training centered around what I now call "make it happen ministry". See the need. Set a goal. Develop a plan. Implement the plan. Make it happen. Evaluate. Repeat.

Eugene Peterson in The Contemplative Pastor introduced me to a whole different way of thinking and living and ministering. Talk about a paradigm shift! Here's what he wrote...

In running the church, I seize the initiative. I take charge. I take responsibility for motivation and recruitment, for showing the way, for getting things started. If I don't, things drift. I am aware of the tendency to apathy, the human susceptibility to indolence, and I use my leadership position to counter it. (JW: Sounds like "make it happen ministry" to me!)

(The alternative) is a cultivated awareness that God has already seized the initiative. The traditional doctrine defining this truth is prevenience: God everywhere and always seizing the initiative. He gets things going. He had and continues to have the first word. Prevenience is the conviction that God has been working diligently, redemptively, and strategically before I appeared on the scene, before I was aware there was something here for me to do. (p. 69)

Prevenience. It changes everything.

And, it is the starting point for our discussion of coaching. More tomorrow about this.

John

PS Know any "make it happen ministry" people, who might be ready to hear about "prevenience"? Anyone you need to forward this post to?

Sign up for coaching

2010-06-14T17:00:00.000-07:00

We've talked a lot about "vibrant families of Jesus".

But, how exactly does that kind of house church come about? How does a group become "vibrant"? Full of the life of the Spirit?

Clearly this is something God has to do. But, there are ways that we can join Him in this process. And, help others join Him. One of the most powerful skills we can learn that will help others on this journey is the skill or tool of coaching.

That's the reason we have made coaching one of the things we'll focus on this summer. Talking about it is one way to learn but it's even more important to experience it. That's why I'm encouraging you to sign up for a coaching session with my friend, Tim Pynes. Tim is an excellent coach with lots of training and experience. So, I feel sure you will find this to be a valuable experience.

Next step: email Tim and ask him to send you possible times when you can schedule a session. The session can be on the phone (or Skype) or in person if you are in Denver. The coaching can be around any issue that seems important to you - personal or ministry.

So email Tim today at and get on his calendar.

John

Daily Check in on First Five

2010-06-12T17:00:00.000-07:00

As you know, we have two cohorts of MRTs this summer. I facilitate one and Hobby Chapin facilitates the other. One of the benefits of this is that each cohort can learn from the other. Hobby posted the following proposal to his cohort and I want to suggest that we also do what he is suggesting.

We want to propose a modification in the expectation of daily check ins on the blog posts. What we have proposed is that you spend your first five minutes on-line each day reading the post and interacting with the content and one another in the comment page. I realize that may be tough for some of you.

Our modified proposal is that you read daily. Continue to step into the practice of the first five. The modification is that you simply post, "I'm in." That way we feel one another's presence. If you have a comment, you are welcome to leave it. Then, we will ask that toward the end of the week you take time to reflect on the topic of the week by sharing a story or a question or an insight pertaining to our weeks posts. By the end of the week you will have checked in 5 times or so and hopefully commented once or twice.

So, let's practice. For this post, please do not comment more than these two words--but no less than these two words--"I'm in."

Can you be in more than one MRT? (2)

2010-06-10T13:54:00.000-07:00

Further reflections on Peg Batcheller helping to start four MRTs in New Mexico (see yesterday's post)

Sending. The reality is that the Lord of the Harvest is answering the Lk 10:2b prayer and sending out a multitude of apostolic church planters. The problem is that many of these people aren't what we expected apostles to look like. Most of them haven't been to seminary and haven't been approved by some mission agency. A growing number of these people are women. And, many of these folks didn't even know that they were apostles.

Seeing. But, there is also another side to the 10:2b prayer. One side is that the Lord of the harvest is sending an increasing number of these harvest workers. The other side is that, as I pray this prayer day after day, my "eyesight" changes. With every person I meet, I find myself asking the question, "I wonder if he/she is an apostle?"

Which leads to this question: How do we know they are apostles? Consider this definition for an apostle: A man or woman called and gifted by God to plant multiple churches. So, what I look for is someone who has something in their heart that longs to see these "vibrant families of Jesus" multiply across their city or region.

To see a "vibrant family of Jesus" within easy reach of everyone will require dozens of MRTs in Denver and thousands across the US (how about your country?). I believe that's exactly what we are beginning to see.

Your thoughts?

John

Can you be in more than one MRT?

2010-06-10T13:42:00.000-07:00

Can you be in more than one MRT?

Peg Batcheller's comments below illustrates the answer to that question quite well. I'm pretty sure Peg didn't set out to start four MRTs. What she did was pay attention to what God was doing around her. (Did anyone know that New Mexico was going to be a hot bed of apostolic activity?!!)

I'm going to have more to say about this tomorrow. But, today I want you to enjoy what Peg has written below and share your observations with us in the comments.

John

It seems God has put me in a position of having or starting multiple MRTs that all look differently.

1. Richard (Hijar) & I pray, SASHET, and discuss our regions of New Mexico and SE Colorado various times through out the week, but are deciding to be more 'intentional' about it the next 3 months. We mostly 'meet' over the phone. (JW: Peg and Richard are planning to be married this fall. So, this might be an example of apostolic dating!)

2. Carolyn (Spence) lives in Clovis, NM, about 4 hours away. She is new to MRT, but has such a burning desire to see new churches started in her region, that it will be difficult to NOT meet with her. We will skype, pray, and listen to the Lord regularly, when she gets back to town. She has friends who are well equipped to start 3 new house churches, but didn't know how to do that until we recently sat together and asked God to put things into place.

3. There are about 7 of us throughout New Mexico and SE Colorado who have started audio skype calls on the weekends. We all represent different towns or cities, even a Wycliffe Translator from Finland who has recently joined us. Our times of prayer and discussion have been great, and God is refreshing our hearts with a larger vision for the state of NM, and beyond. There are about 30 of us leaders meeting in Ruidoso, NM, this weekend to meet each other face to face, pray together, and ask the Lord what His plan is for the state. We plan to have a joint retreat later in the fall when we can invite simple churches to gather all in one place. We sense a real "knitting and netting" of believers that will change the culture here in the SW. I would never have imagined it would look like this, but God is going before us, showing us what HE wants. We're praying that as we grow, the harvest will have a place to find a healthy spiritual home in any part of the state.

4. Nick & Ramona & I will meet spontaneously and regularly to pray for Albuquerque and God's heart for our city. Nick has already demonstrated his heart in helping others start simple churches, and is planning to meet with various ones in the city to encourage and strengthen the body. He is a great gift to me in the work here.

I appreciate partnering with all of you in MRT. John, I'm glad you mentioned that they will all look a bit different, but I know God has the same end result in mind.... that we send laborers into the harvest, to reap and bring in the harvest. What exciting times we live in!

What does your MRT look like?

2010-06-09T17:00:00.000-07:00

I'm thrilled that we will have MRTs in 15-20 different locations in two cohorts this summer! Each MRT is committed to the same core practices for three months but how they work out those practices will look different in each situation.

The MRT that I'm a part of here in Denver meets every Thursday from 9 to 11:30 am at the Sojourners' Coffee Shop. Each week, we check in with SASHET and talk about what God is saying about church planting in Denver. See the video below.

Other MRTs might connect via Skype. Or, they might meet in a home. It would help the rest of us if you could give us a picture of your MRT this summer. Who is in it? Where do you meet? What is your mission field? What's a sample of what you are learning?

You can write your description as a comment below. Or, you can send photos. Or, you can make a short video like we did. This is a community of practice and it's very helpful to see how each group is "practicing".

John

PS. In the video below, you will see that we had we had visitors on that morning. Kent Smith, representing the Abilene MRT, was with us. Also, Chadd Schroeder, representing the MRT in Guadalajara (and, a new by-faith MRT in Texas). To me this is a fore taste of the day when there are a thousand MRTs and you can visit one in any city in the world. How's that for faith!?

The dangers of legalism

2010-06-08T17:00:00.000-07:00

Kent Smith (Abilene, TX) posted a great comment on our discussion about "rhythms, routines and practices".

The call for specific practices may suggest to some of us the dangers of legalism. This is understandable enough--I've certainly been wounded in that ditch.

On the other hand, playing it safe by agreeing to values without specific practices is like saying yes to "breakfast" as a principle but refusing to commit to pancakes or eggs. It's a pathway to starvation.

Between these ditches is a road that includes commitment to practice the truths we are learning, and with openness to continue learning and refining our practice as we go.

I'm glad to be on the journey with this community of practice!

Our MRT practices are a way of inviting people to say "yes" to eggs (and pancakes!) for breakfast.

Your thoughts on how we stay on the road and keep out of the ditches on either side of the road?

John

Rhythms, routines and practices (3)

2010-06-07T17:00:00.000-07:00

One more post on this topic of spiritual practices. Why? Because this is a key concept for the Luke Ten Community and the MRT Experiments. We don't invite people to be committed merely to values. Rather we invite them to be committed to concrete practices that embody our values.

Alan Hirsch in The Forgotten Ways captures this way of thinking as he talked about his church in Australia. (p. 46-48)

We would not develop a philosophy of ministry per se, but rather a covenant and some core practices. Behind this thinking was the belief that when we talk about core values, the appeal is (only) to the head... What we wanted was to covenant ourselves to a set of practices that embodied the core value and demonstrated it. (Hirsch describes these practices as the DNA of the movement.)

Each group had to be engaged in a healthy diet of spiritual disciplines - the only way to grow in Christlikeness that we were aware of.

...the only other requirement to belong to the movement is that each group is covenanted to multiply itself as soon as it is organically feasible and possible. This ensures healthy multiplication and embeds and ongoing sense of mission.

This is exactly what the MRT 2.0 Experiment is about. A group of people committed to certain core practices for three months who share what they learn along the way. Thanks for being part of this community of practice!

Your thoughts on calling people to core practices?

John

Rhythms, routines and practices (2)

2010-06-06T17:00:00.000-07:00

Today, I would like you to watch the short (4 minutes) video below. But, as you watch it, I would like you to think about Paul's words in 1 Tim. 4:7-8.

Train yourself for the purpose of godliness. Physical training has some value but godliness is profitable for all things (in all directions), since it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come.

The imperative "train yourself" in the Greek is gymnaze from which we get the word "gymnastics". No doubt Paul had in mind the rigorous training that a gymnast commits to when he exhorted Timothy to train himself for godliness. At the heart of this sort of training are specific routines and disciplines that the athlete engages in.

An MRT is two or more people (a team) who have God's heart for the expansion of His kingdom in a city or region. They are committed to spiritual training with a specific set of spiritual disciplines (see the MRT 2.0 Invitation).

*Intentionally paying attention to my heart and your heart daily is a spiritual discipline (see SASHET)

*Writing out my dialogue with God each day and sharing it with you is a spiritual discipline (see VIRKLER)

*Meeting each week with my MRT to listen to the Lord of the Harvest about church planting in my city is a spiritual discipline

*Reading this blog each day and responding is a spiritual discipline

*Investing financially in church planting is a spiritual discipline

What do you see in the video below that relates to spiritual disciplines?

John

Rhythms, routines and practices (1)

2010-06-05T17:00:00.000-07:00

John Grisham's goal: to write a page every day.

The best-selling novelist began this routine while he was still practicing law and writing at the same time. "The alarm clock would go off at five, and I would jump in the shower. My office was five minutes away. And I had to be at my desk, at my office, with the first cup of coffee, a legal pad, and write the first word at 5:30, five days a week." Sometimes that one page would take ten minutes, sometimes an hour; often he would write for two hours before he had to turn to his job a lawyer, which he never especially enjoyed.

Sticking to a schedule and maintaining loyalty to ideas is hard. Execution is rarely comfortable or convenient... Developing a consistent daily regimen for execution can help us make ideas happen." Belsky, Making Ideas Happen, p. 98 -102.

In simplest terms, an MRT is

two or more people
with a passion to help birth vibrant families of Jesus
in a particular city or region
who are relentlessly seeking to live into a specific set of spiritual practices
and who are in community with other MRTs committed to the same practices

(The MRT practices for the summer of 2010 are spelled out in the MRT Invitation. Let me know if you need another copy.)

In the area of writing, my practice or regimen is to post to this blog post five days a week. How about for you? Do you have any practices in the area of writing you could share with us?

John

John Eldredge and CO2s

2010-06-04T17:00:00.000-07:00

As far as I know, John Eldredge has never advocated the "church of two" idea. However, this wonderful quote from the book Love and War by John and Stasi describes perfectly how a CO2 functions in marriage.

Making decisions is probably the number one source of stress, tension, anxiety, pouting, manipulation, and arguments in a marriage. Isn't it true? Well, okay - there is money, and your family, and his parents. But you have to make decisions about money and family and parents, so I still argue that decision making is the mother of all marital strife. As soon as Stasi says, "Honey we need to decide..., " anxiety leaps from within. Aooogha, aooogha. All hands on deck. We have just entered mine-filled waters.

So, we want to offer you what might be the single most helpful thing anyone has ever offered you when it comes to your marriage. Drumroll, please. Aren't you just waiting to hear what it is?

Learning to hear the voice of God, together.

Yes. It is the simplest, most helpful, least practiced treasure and it will literally rescue the two of you in countless ways.

The secret of the Christian life - and the Christian marriage - is that you don't have to figure it out. You don't have to figure life out, you don't have to figure each other out, you don't have to figure parenting out, or money or family. You have a counselor, you have a guide - you have God. What a relief that we don't have to figure it all out! We get to walk with God. That is the beauty of Christian spirituality. This is not about mastering principles; it's about an actual relationship with and actual person who happens to be the wisest, kindest, and, okay, wildest person you will every know.

If every household made this practice - learning to listen to God's voice together - their number one goal, I believe our country (and your country) would be well on the way to transformation. And that's the goal of our MRTs - a vibrant family of Jesus on every block of every city of every country in the world.

Your thoughts on this?

John

Are you "in"?

2010-06-02T17:00:00.000-07:00

Are you "in"?

Click on "comments" below and let the rest of us know if you are planning to be part of our community of practice (MRT 2.0) this summer. Also, let us know which cohort you will be with - John's or Hobby's.

John

Are you "in"?

2010-06-02T09:27:00.001-07:00

Spiritual research (2)

2010-06-01T17:00:00.000-07:00

Spiritual research (1)

2010-05-31T17:00:00.000-07:00

Carolyn Spence (Clovis, NM) sent me an email this week that embodies the spirit of the MRT Experiments that we will be undertaking this summer. Here's the first part of what she said with a few of my comments...

I was going back over the mail on MRT's to read what I may have missed. Now I have a question. It may be that there are things yet to be discovered and implemented among CO2 and CO 12s and simple church groups, that would make a difference, but there seems to be something missing in the message.

Right on, Carolyn! There are things "yet to be discovered and implemented". That's the premise of the MRT Experiments - we have a lot to learn and we have a Father who delights in us trying things out. And, we often learn best in the context of community - a "community of practice"!

When Jesus announced that the kingdom of God was among them, the message was either preceded or followed by a demonstration of the presence of God, and the rulership of God as found in his kingdom, shown by something, and event or occurrence, that superseded natural expectations. As we become "families of Jesus", it would seem right to expect that the same principle of the evidence of the kingdom of God should be seen among them. This should be "normal" for families of Jesus.

I agree with you. That's what Jesus said in Lk. 10:9. "Heal the sick and say to them, "The kingdom of God has come near to you." " Paul says much the same thing in 1 Cor. 2:4. "...my message and my preaching were not in persuasive words of wisdom, but in demonstrations of the Spirit and of power..."

Carolyn, thanks for raising the issue! At the heart of spiritual research is the practice of relentlessly asking questions. More tomorrow on this.

John

Hobby Chapin on 1 Cor. 9:11

2010-05-24T17:00:00.000-07:00

In the past few videos we've been talking about a new (actually old) model for financing church planters based on 1 Cor. 9:1-14 with a special emphasis on verse 11. Paul says: "If we've invested in you spiritually, isn't it appropriate for you to invest in us financially?" Implied answer: "Of course."

Hobby Chapin, a church planter in Brighton, CO tells his story of how he has implemented this new way of thinking.

John

Financing apostles (3)

2010-05-23T10:30:00.000-07:00

In the video below, I introduce a new model or new way of thinking about financing "an army of church planters". Actually, it's an old model because it represents what the church valued before she became enamored with buildings.

In addition to the video there are two other resources that I want you to take a look at.

1. This is a commentary that I wrote on 1 Corinthians 9:1-14 which is a central passage for this discussion. Understanding these verses created my conviction that these New Testament practices must be restored in our day. http://www.lk10resources.com/uploads/1/4/3/5/1435936/financing_apostles.pdf

2. Here, Roger Thoman, a very effective trainer of church planters around the world, tells his own story of financial support. http://www.lk10resources.com/uploads/1/4/3/5/1435936/finances__roger_thoman.pdf

Our goal in all of this? To return church culture to the normative NT model. We'll be experimenting with this concept this summer in MRT 2.0. Love to hear your comments below.

John

Financing apostles (2)

2010-05-20T18:29:00.000-07:00

The church in America today invests billions in buildings and programs. What did the early church invest in? And, how do we return to those values? Take a look at the video below and comment.

John

Financing apostles (1)

2010-05-19T20:49:00.000-07:00

The third innovation this summer has to do with financing apostolic church planters. Here's a starting place in thinking about this topic.

John

Coaching (3)

2010-05-17T17:00:00.000-07:00

My good friend and fellow "mad scientist", Kent Smith, illustrates below a tool of effective coaching called "future perfect". One of the things this does is to put our summer MRT 2.0 Experiment into perspective. What if this is an important next step in seeing "effective Missional Resource Teams anywhere in the world"?

John

Future Perfect: How Would We Know?

As we are considering next steps in our MRT experiment, I’m wondering if it might be helpful to step back and take a look at the big picture of what God is up to, and our part in that.

Here is one way to describe this. “We believe this chapter in universal history will only draw to a close when people of God have gathered from every tribe, tongue, people and nation (that is to say, God’s complete image, as displayed in the bride of Christ, see, for example, Matt. 24:14, Eph. 1:23, Rev. 7:9).

So—we are devoted to playing the part we have been given—no more and no less—in seeing a vibrant family of Jesus in close reach of every person on the planet.”

If this is what we passionately desire, our friends in the Solution Focus world have a wonderful clarifying question that helps us think about our next steps. It is this: “Suppose a miracle has occurred in the middle of the night and this desire has come to pass. How will you know? What evidence will show you it has happened?”

If you can, pause for a minute here. Envision the scene: you wake up one morning and a vibrant family of Jesus is in close reach—culturally and geographically—of every person on the planet. What would let you know it has happened? In my first brainstorming I came up with these. See what you think:

· We could discover fresh evidence everywhere of God’s beautiful, good, and endlessly creative in-breaking Kingdom.

· We could find an effective Missional Resource Team anywhere in the world.

· We could get local Church of Two (CO2), Vibrant Family (CO12) and Missional Resource Team (MRT) training anywhere.

· We could identify a network of trainers and training centers that have facilitated this process.

· We could find clear descriptions of the core theology, practice and process of training for CO2, VFJ, and MRTs.

Caveat: I’m using language here that we understand—others would need translation to make sense of this. Two questions, then: 1) For our purposes, have we accurately described the story in which we live? 2) How would you refine these answers to the question, “How would we know?”

Coaching (2)

2010-05-16T17:00:00.000-07:00

So, what will coaching look like in MRT 2.0?

This is where we will do some experimenting. We'll try some things and see what works. Here's some of what we're thinking. (We would love to hear your ideas about this!)

1. Being coached is optional. No one in MRT 2.0 is required to be coached but it will be part of our conversation on the blog this summer. We encourage you to give it a try.

2. Experience one coaching appointment with Tim Pynes. Tim is part of the Luke Ten Leadership Team and is a trained coach. He will make himself available to those who sign up for MRT 2.0 so that you can at least experience what this is like. In most cases, this would be via phone or Skype.

3. I will set aside several hours each week for coaching those in my cohort. First come first serve.

4. Tim and I will schedule three conference calls this summer where we will work on coaching for everyone who is interested.

5. Hobby will determine how to integrate coaching into his cohort.

6. We are considering a weekend gathering in Denver (probably in July) for training. The added benefit would be face to face time with other MRT people.

As you can tell, these are preliminary ideas. One of our objectives is to learn what can realistically be done with a cohort of twelve teams. Your thoughts about all of this?

John

Coaching (1)

2010-05-15T17:00:00.000-07:00

The second innovation we'll be adding to MRT 2.0 this summer is coaching.

In making disciples, there are many parallels with good parenting. Early in both processes there is a need for some "telling". "Tie your shoes this way." But, as soon as possible it's important to begin doing some "asking". "Would you like to wear your coat today or carry it with you?" The older the child, the less you tell and the more you ask questions.

Why? Because in both parenting and in training leaders, the goal is to help them to do good thinking on their own. Remember the old saying - "Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach him to fish and you feed him for a life time."

Coaching is a name we give to the process of asking really good questions. It's what highly effective parents do. And, it's what highly effective spiritual parents do. It's a central part of teaching your disciples to "fish for themselves". Coaching will be part of the conversations in MRT 2.0 this summer. More tomorrow.

What kind of training have you had in coaching? Formal training? Informal? Have you experienced being coached? What was it like? Click on "comments" below and weight in on this.

John

PS. At the top of my list of good coaching books is the one below by Tony Stoltzfus. You might consider working through it this summer if you are going to be part of MRT 2.0.

Mad Scientists

2010-05-14T17:00:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow I'll introduce the second of three innovations we will be working on this summer in our MRT Experiment (2.0). But, today I felt led to say a word about the mindset necessary to be a part of these Experiments. (There's a reason I call them Experiments!)

The Luke Ten Community in general and the MRT Experiments in particular are about innovation. They aren't for everyone. This is a place for curious people. For risk takers. For passionate dreamers. (Mad scientists?!) For people who have a feeling in their gut that God must have more in mind for the Church (His Bride!) than we have often experienced in traditional church. For people who want to hang out with and learn from (and teach) others on a similar journey.

This is a place for people who see God as a wise Father who encourages His kids to try things out, to explore, to experiment. And, to pay close attention to what they learn in the process. A Father who doesn't freak out at failure. In fact, who believes you sometimes learn more from your failures than from your successes. A Father who is easy to please but hard to satisfy. (Thank you, C. S. Lewis!)

Some examples of hypotheses we are experimenting with...

*Listening to God results in more and better mission than trying to be missional

*The marriage (and then the family) is the first and most foundational expression of church

*A house church comprised of multiple CO2s is more vibrant than one that isn't

*Doing SASHET with an individual or a group over time leads to deep, heart level connections

*CO2s and MRTs are viral and will multiply spontaneously

*CO2s are an effective discipleship tool to at least four generations

*It is desirable and possible to plant a million new vibrant families of Jesus in the US (fill in your country)

Any hypotheses you would like to suggest?

So, that's the kind of people we're looking for. Apostolic pioneers. Students of transformation and multiplication. Passionate practitioners. Mad scientists. Interested?

John

Cohorts (2)

2010-05-13T17:00:00.000-07:00

We are continuing to think about three new elements that we are planning to add to the MRT Experiment (2.0). We introduced the first one yesterday - the idea of two cohorts this summer with the possibility of more this fall.

I loved Sean's comment on his associations with the word "cohort". "I now have visions of groups of wild "christian" warriors running down hills to ransack and plunder (this may not be a bad thing)." Of course, we're using a slightly different definition of the word!

Notice in the graphic above that there are six cohorts all connected through the circle in the middle. Of course, I picture Jesus as standing in that circle because He is the one who connects all of us. But, the MRT community is also connected by a common DNA. We choose to express this DNA through specific practices or rhythms that we all commit to. (One example of this would be the CO2 or church of two.) I'll send out a description of the common practices for the summer MRT (2.0) in a week or two.

Love to hear any further thoughts or comments you have about the idea of "cohorts". Click on "comments" below.

John

First new element: Cohort(s)

2010-05-12T17:00:00.000-07:00

A big "thank you" to all of you for your comments about the "bright spots" from our MRT Experiment (1.0)!

Our sense is that the Lord is directing us to do an MRT Experiment (2.0) this summer. In addition to the specific practices that were a part of MRT (1.0), there are three new elements that we will experiment with this summer. I want to introduce them to you one at a time and get your comments.

First new element: cohorts. co·hort (kō'hôrt') n. 1. A group or band of people.

There are a growing number of people who are interested in being part of an MRT Experiment. That's a good thing! However, as the numbers increase, it becomes increasingly difficult for there to be a sense of community - there are just too many people to relate to.

So, this summer we are going to experiment with two cohorts. Each cohort will be limited to no more than 12 regional teams (MRTs). Twelve groups who are willing to commit to the spiritual practices of the MRT Community for three months. I will lead one cohort and everyone who has been part of MRT 1.0 will be invited to join (before we invite new people - if there is room). Hobby Chapin will lead the second cohort which will mostly be made up of other church planters that he is already coaching (although anyone from MRT (1.0) can also join Hobby).

Depending on how this summer Experiment goes, we see the possibility some of you leading cohorts in the fall if it's something you feel led to. (Let me know if this is something you are interested in.) This is a way that the movement can continue to expand in a viral manner.

So, let's take a couple of days on the idea of cohorts. What's your initial response? What questions come to mind? Click on "comments" below and share your perspective.

John

"How can we do more of it?" (2)

2010-05-09T17:00:00.000-07:00

I know yesterday's post was really long. I thank you for your patience on this.

However, what you were reading was the Community speaking. And, I think that's important to pay attention to. So, what are you hearing as the Community speaks? What's your sense of what the Lord is saying to us through this?

Click on "comments" below and share your thoughts.

Thanks for taking time on this.

John

"How can we do more of it?"

2010-05-08T17:00:00.000-07:00

Responding to this post will take a little longer. So, give me 5 minutes today and 5 tomorrow.

Remember the quote from the book a couple of days ago? (I recommend the book, by the way: Switch: How to Change Things When Change is Hard)

Here's the quote: Find the Bright Spots! To pursue bright spots is to ask the question "What's working, and how can we do more of it?"

Our variation of that might be - What do we see God doing and how does He wants to build on that?

So, below I've compiled and arranged the bright spots you all identified with our MRT Experiment. Today, I would just like you to read over the list. See what the Lord says to you about it and tomorrow give us your comments.

So, just read today.

John

Bright Spots from the MRT Experiment

Mission from listening. It (MRT) has helped me to focus together with another local person (Sean) on how we can best take mission forward in our area. There's a tendency to 'drift' in life - manana! But meeting weekly helps to avoid this. Listening together and sharing what we hear is very valuable. It informs our thinking and our conversations with others.  -Chris UK)

A bright spot for me as a part of the Denver MRT has been to listen to God together for the whole city. I feel like I am a part of a band of brothers with a common vision. All of us care deeply about Denver desire to see transformation occur through vibrant families of Jesus within easy access of everyone. –Hugh (Denver)

Both Jorge and I were drawn more toward our community of practice's common baseline - intimacy with God, listening to him and each other, and having that be the step that moves us into mission. It translates a way of seeing into practice. We are "sasheting" all the time now, checking the heart, intentionally watching our lives to ask and notice what God is doing. –James (Mexico City)

Hi John just quick note to let you know Chris and I discussed the experiment last night. I am sure Chris' notes will be better but our general consensus was that hearing the stories helped us to connect and be encouraged. There was confirmation that what we had been doing with CO2 , specifically listening to God, draws towards mission. It has facilitated us to focus our thoughts towards mission by bringing us together for this purpose so we meet up twice a week now with the second meeting with mission specifically in mind (at least that's the intention). We agree that we should continue this beyond the experiment unless we are lead in a different direction, we believe strongly that we must continuously be listening and not to continue out of habit. –Sean (UK)

Community (“I’m not alone). 2 - It has been wonderfully encouraging to have this blog available. Every time I have visited I have read, seen, and heard good stuff from the rest of you. I think that every single one who has commented has helped me in one way or another. You have been inspirational companions on the journey. Thank you all!  I echo Peg's comment recently. Even if the experiment ends (and I hope it won't) Sean and I are likely to continue with the weekly sessions.  -Chris (UK)

I like knowing there are many others in the same boat I am as far as working with and training other church planters. I enjoy the challenge of hearing your stories, and pressing into God on things I need to do here. I'm one of the few church planters here in NM with a vision for the 'bigger picture' of the region, so the conversations I see hear are a great encouragement. –Peg (Albuquerque)

(Local MRT) Because we connected at the heart level, I've really appreciated the deep fellowship we share. We're intimately connected with each other, praying for one another, and have a feeling of being "in it together" like the missionary pairs and teams in scripture. –Marty (Denver)

(Local MRT) Second, these people have become friends through whom I can hear God speak to me and all of us. Corporate listening is a miracle I can't stop marveling over. –Hugh (Denver)

(Local MRT) Hugh, I really like your point about corporate listening. Thanks for making it. I agree, listening together is special - much, much better than listening alone. –Chris (UK)

(Local MRT) I think the MRT Experiment has been fantastic. The best part of it is daily walking with brothers and sisters in Christ to listen and obey the Spirit. One of the things we must combat in our culture is compartmentalizing our lives. We have found the CO2’s to be a great way of crossing this barrier and helping people stay connected with each other and their King. This is something we were lacking by only meeting together a couple times a week for simple church or LTG’s. We still encourage reading lots of scripture reading and have noticed that our CO2’s spend a good amount of time talking through the scriptures being read from the LTGs. Lee (Colorado – Western Slope)

I liked that this community of practice was happening worldwide - sharing insights, connecting pockets of experience/expertise, and connecting maybe somewhat isolated practioners.  -James (Mexico City)

Helped my local MRT. This MRT Community has played an exemplary role to MRTs in which I participate. It is easy to replicate striving groups. –EEM (Houston, then Russia)

The bright spots for me have been hearing the stories of other MRT's and what type of things have come out of their time together - what kind of things they have been hearing together and what actions have resulted. These things help our MRT to know whether we are on the right track or not and to learn (even indirectly) how to better do it ourselves. –Artman (Denver)

Viral. So where next with MRT? Well, we'll see! I hope it will grow and spread rather as CO2 is doing. In fact I think there's evidence that's already happening. It wasn't too hard for John to find a few extra MRTs along the way. –Chris (UK)

the biggest bright spot for me is: simplicity. basing mrts around the same principles that we base co2s on: 1. connecting on a heart level 2. listening to the Lord  if we are going to see a movement of transformation it has to start small and spread and with these two simple principles we can see new believers learn to hear their own hearts, each other's hearts and the Lord and then get a heart for a city and develop into leaders in a region who ask the Lord what He has to say to them about their cities as well. i guess what i'm saying is: co2s can birth both organic churches and mrts that help resource and provide leadership and empowerment for whole regions while all being based on 2 simple principles. now that sounds like something that can spread virally. –Desi (Denver)

I agree with most everything else that has been said here. I think a bright spot has been noticing how simple and transferable this posture and these practices are. I love that our participation with God doesn't have to be complicated! -Chadd (Guadalajara)

(I wrote to EEM saying that I was looking forward to seeing how the MRT concept might work in Russia.) His response…. Truly, what you and others have done with MRT experiment here makes its implementation in other places much easier.

Training/learning. Not everyone knows what leadership based on listening to God looks like…. The MRT Experiment has been extremely valuable to me as an alternative form of leadership. For me, it is a clear example of ministry flowing out of listening to God… Most valuable was input from more mature people and questions from fellow MRTers… Every post had valuable information in it. Among most recent ones, the post about the nature of CO2 was very helpful. –EEM (Houston, then Russia)

It's also a place I can bring my questions and concerns to others for their suggestions. –Peg (Albuquerque)

I'm finding the things I've learned in the MRT context are CRITICAL to true and lasting regional networking. (Contrasts with “man-oriented networking”) MRT is about putting GOD in the center and regional workers, who are already in relationship, gather around and LISTEN to HIM and share their HEARTS (not their accomplishments). … By employing disciplines that get us out of OUR heads and into GODS heart, we can triumph over all of the things that divide us and focus on our common desire to see God glorified and His Kingdom spread throughout the planet!  I believe this is KEY to the forward motion of the gospel in our world. Noah (New Zealand)

Thanks to listening to Jesus, mission has flowed from that. We've heard from God several times on exactly where we're supposed to go to find good soil, share the gospel, and even reap a harvest at times. It's been a real paradigm shift to listen and do rather than strategize. –Marty

I stay on the run, and my blackberry doesn't allow me to post comments, so sorry, but I read each post, and discussed our learning each week with Jorge in our weekly MRT. 1. The intentional and systematic shared learning is significant. As community practitioners (each one of us) and operational team members (in many different contexts), we created learning loops. In other words, what I was reading and learning from you, I shared with others in my circle of influence. This intentional knowledge/experience sharing and listening was something that is very helpful - I think it will carry over into how we are moving in mission. (I think someone said the other day that it is like we are sharing a community journal).

Should this continue? Even if the experiment ends (and I hope it won't) Sean and I are likely to continue with the weekly sessions.  -Chris (UK)

I do not see this experiment ending any time soon. –EEM (Houston, then Russia)

Hopefully this will continue. –Peg (Albuquerque)

We have not added the weekly/bi-weekly MRT meetings to this point. We have monthly network leadership meetings that function somewhat like this, but not in the purest form of what you have recommended. I would be willing to try this if you do another MRT experiment. –Lee (Western Slope of Colorado)

What is a MRT?

2010-05-06T14:22:00.000-07:00

Great responses on "bright spots"! Thank you.

Next question.

The name that we have used for these small groups of church planters is MRT (Missional Resource Team). We're thinking about a 2.0 Experiment this summer. Is MRT the name we want to stick with? Some have commented that MRT is confusing and doesn't inspire people to ask questions about it. What do you think?

Is there a better name?

One suggestion is a Regional Apostolic Team. "Regional" and "apostolic" seem to be good descriptors and "apostle" is right out of Scripture. But, I know some are squeamish about anything with "apostle" in it. Do we try and recapture the term or avoid it all together? (And, of course, this leads to the acronym RAT!)

Here's another possibility... Strategic Listening Team. This focuses on what we actually do. We listen and God provides the strategy. However, it doesn't put the focus on church planting.

Other ideas?

No doubt every term has pluses and minuses but I wanted to hear your thoughts on this. Hit "comments" below and weigh in on this if you have a strong opinion.

John

Bright Spots (2)

2010-05-05T17:00:00.000-07:00

Let's stay on this topic of "bright spots" from our MRT Experiment. (See yesterday's post) We need to hear from as many of you as possible. Our goal is to be able to identify what is "working" and build on that.

If you haven't commented yet on this, please do so.

If you have commented, take a look at the other comments and see if that sparks any new thoughts.

Thanks!

John

What are the "bright spots"?

2010-05-04T17:00:00.001-07:00

Find the Bright Spots

That's the title of a chapter from the book Switch: How to Change Things When Change is Hard. Here's a quote from that chapter:

To pursue bright spots is to ask the question "What's working, and how can we do more of it?"

As we think together about where we go from here with our MRT Experiment, that's the question I would like you to comment on. What have been the "bright spots" for you? What has been helpful to you as a church planter? What's "working" for you in the MRT Experiment?

Click on "Comments" below and give us your response.

John

Guadalajara MRT

2010-05-03T17:00:00.000-07:00

As an apostolic "Community of Practice", we can learn a lot from other MRTs. Below is Chadd Schroeder's description of one of their recent meetings. What seems important to you in this picture?

We had our Guadalajara MRT gathering this past Tuesday morning; we try to do this every two weeks. Gerardo, Nancy and I met around our table. Tim and Kim Rush joined us through a Skype connection on my laptop computer (they are on furlough for a couple of months more in Tulsa). Cory was traveling that day and unable to join us. As usual, we began checking in with each other allowing each to describe the state of our heart that morning. Then, the rest of our time was used to pray and listen together around our common translocal mission to those in our region.

These times seem to be really good for us! At least two important things regularly happen. We connect with each other’s heart and have an outlet to describe what is really happening there knowing we are being heard by people who care about what is there and who can handle hearing it. And, we intentionally listen to God together—are getting more precious experience in doing this together.

I’ve been taking notes of the themes that God seems to be raising in the conversation, but I think God is nudging me (us) to be more intentional in taking this one step further and to perhaps explicitly name what we think God is saying each time. I desire to notice the direction of this ongoing conversation as well—to at least give God an opportunity to build on what is being said over time.

I also like that we are discovering a way to stay connected with God and one another this way even at a time when we are separated geographically. I believe the long term fruit of this practice will be huge!

Go to "Comments" below and post your observations on Chadd's email.

John