10:2b Story (Part Two)

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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)

*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

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...

CO2 - The Hyatt Family (4)

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

Checking in as sad

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!!!!

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

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!

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!

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

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

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)

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)

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

Starting CO2s under the Chuppah

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

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."

Prevenience in New Zealand

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

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