Comments on: House Church Conversation via Scot McKnight http://www.alanhartung.com/2007/07/house-church-conversation-via-scot-mcknight/ Faith, Art, Politics, and the Emerging Church Thu, 08 Sep 2011 03:27:21 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: Ross Rohde http://www.alanhartung.com/2007/07/house-church-conversation-via-scot-mcknight/comment-page-1/#comment-8610 Ross Rohde Sun, 22 Jul 2007 01:28:04 +0000 http://www.alanhartung.com/blog/index.php/2007/07/03/house-church-conversation-via-scot-mcknight/#comment-8610 Hi Alan, I'm a house church planter and church planting coach. I've done this in Spain and am currently doing it in the Bay Area of California. I too prefer the term simple church, but realize that there is no perfect term; organic, house, simple all refer to different aspects of the same thing. My biggest concern for what I am now seeing in US simple churches is that they tend to group Christians and are not particularly missional. This leads to wonderful fellowship but doesn't accomplish much of what Jesus wants for and from his bride. Jesus has an agenda and he has been very frank about it. Christendom hasn't taken reaching the lost seriously and we have brought that cancer into our lovely warm fellowships. Frankly, I've never seen a simple church that started with a core of Christians be effective in reaching the lost. At best they can be attractional, which, by definition, isn't effective. We need to recapture Jesus' love for his lost world, and move from the me centered "meanity" of Christendom to a Christ centered biblical Christianity. If we really love Jesus we will love his agenda and long to allow him to call us into it. Your Brother, Ross Hi Alan,

I’m a house church planter and church planting coach. I’ve done this in Spain and am currently doing it in the Bay Area of California. I too prefer the term simple church, but realize that there is no perfect term; organic, house, simple all refer to different aspects of the same thing.

My biggest concern for what I am now seeing in US simple churches is that they tend to group Christians and are not particularly missional. This leads to wonderful fellowship but doesn’t accomplish much of what Jesus wants for and from his bride. Jesus has an agenda and he has been very frank about it. Christendom hasn’t taken reaching the lost seriously and we have brought that cancer into our lovely warm fellowships.

Frankly, I’ve never seen a simple church that started with a core of Christians be effective in reaching the lost. At best they can be attractional, which, by definition, isn’t effective. We need to recapture Jesus’ love for his lost world, and move from the me centered “meanity” of Christendom to a Christ centered biblical Christianity. If we really love Jesus we will love his agenda and long to allow him to call us into it.

Your Brother,

Ross

]]> By: William Hager http://www.alanhartung.com/2007/07/house-church-conversation-via-scot-mcknight/comment-page-1/#comment-8480 William Hager Sun, 08 Jul 2007 14:47:18 +0000 http://www.alanhartung.com/blog/index.php/2007/07/03/house-church-conversation-via-scot-mcknight/#comment-8480 Hi Alan, and bless you there with theofframp. other great reads on this subject are (Rethinking the Wineskin: the Practice of the New Testament Church). this is Frank Viola's classic book on the first-century church. it demonstrates beyond dispute that the modern institutional church has no scriptural right to exist! also, Who is Your Covering? A Fresh Look at Leadership, Authority and Accountability. this book explores the issues of church leadership and spiritual authority in much more depth than Wineskin. and one more, Straight Talk to Elders. this book could have just as easily been titled Straight Talk to Pastors. a thorough survey from Matthew to Revelation on the role and function of first-century elders (pastors). there is much more material on this subject by Frank Viola. Bless You Hi Alan,
and bless you there with theofframp. other great reads on this subject are (Rethinking the Wineskin: the Practice of the New Testament Church). this is Frank Viola’s classic book on the first-century church. it demonstrates beyond dispute that the modern institutional church has no scriptural right to exist!
also, Who is Your Covering? A Fresh Look at Leadership, Authority and Accountability. this book explores the issues of church leadership and spiritual authority in much more depth than Wineskin. and one more, Straight Talk to Elders. this book could have just as easily been titled Straight Talk to Pastors. a thorough survey from Matthew to Revelation on the role and function of first-century elders (pastors). there is much more material on this subject by Frank Viola. Bless You

]]> By: Are Karlsen http://www.alanhartung.com/2007/07/house-church-conversation-via-scot-mcknight/comment-page-1/#comment-8454 Are Karlsen Wed, 04 Jul 2007 21:44:39 +0000 http://www.alanhartung.com/blog/index.php/2007/07/03/house-church-conversation-via-scot-mcknight/#comment-8454 I love the concept of house churches. I am really excited of the endless possibilities and potential. God bless you! I love the concept of house churches. I am really excited of the endless possibilities and potential.

God bless you!

]]> By: zane anderson http://www.alanhartung.com/2007/07/house-church-conversation-via-scot-mcknight/comment-page-1/#comment-8446 zane anderson Tue, 03 Jul 2007 21:01:27 +0000 http://www.alanhartung.com/blog/index.php/2007/07/03/house-church-conversation-via-scot-mcknight/#comment-8446 The intimacy thing which attracts many to home gatherings later repels them. Think of dating and marriage. Intimacy is a double-edge sword, as they say. Can't think of any other disadvantages at the moment. The intimacy thing which attracts many to home gatherings later repels them. Think of dating and marriage. Intimacy is a double-edge sword, as they say.

Can’t think of any other disadvantages at the moment.

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