H2hbasics's Weblog

Pinstripes to Leather

h2hbasics — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 15:36:38 +0000

Two and half years ago, I was doing church in a pinstripe suit with all the traditional trappings. Just a few months ago, when the weather was colder, I wore leather and rode a motorcycle to a new expression of church — with a number of “bikers” who have a heart after God. Meeting in a small cafe with people who have hungry hearts is a real joy. We’ve been able to minister to a homeless man who has begun to grow. Another has come to Christ! The regulars have grown in an atmosphere of openness, sharing, and honest discovery! Here are some questions we’ve sought answers for.
1. Can we really trust the Holy Spirit to lead
us?
2. Can people be trusted to be real and open?
3. Can people learn from the Bible, without
an “authority” being the teacher?
4. Can we see what we “learn” translated into
a new lifestyle through our daily lives?
5. Can a “non-professional” really hear from
God?

The answer to each question is “ABSOLUTELY”! Would love to hear thoughts from others on these questions!

David Havice will be helping to lead the basics track at the conference.

John White writes:

h2hbasics — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 04:26:27 +0000

I’m delighted to be working with Felicity to help facilitate this Track. I agree with her that we want this to be interactive and we want to focus on the questions and concerns that you have. Here are the questions I hope you will write on in this blog…

1. How did God draw you to the house church model? Where are you in the journey?

2. What resources or people have been most helpful so far? And, what are you clear about at this point?

3. What are the most important questions or issues that you are wresting with regarding house church right now? What do you need help with?

I’ll post my own answers to these questions in a few days.

Simple Church Basics

h2hbasics — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 01:52:12 +0000

Welcome to the simple church basics track blog. This year the House2House conference is dividing down into four basic tracks and this one, covering the basic principles of simple church, is aimed at those who are investigating simple church, or those who are just getting started on the journey and have questions they would like answered by those with a little more experience.

We would like to scratch where it itches, and so it would help us if any of you who plan to be part of the simple church basics track could let us know what questions you have and what kind of topics you would like to see covered.

Our plan is for this track to be very interactive and participatory. The last thing we want is talking heads! Perhaps the most important skill for a simple church to have is that of hearing God so that we can do what He says. This will be the foundation for what we do together–and as Jesus leads and guides us during our sessions together, so we will learn from Him.

The sort of questions that we anticipate covering include the following:

What do we do when we come together as an organic church? We don’t want to do what we have always done within the four walls of a building.

Can you transition an existing “legacy” church? If so, how?

How do you start a church with unbelievers?

So give us some feedback. Let us know what you would like to learn about.