Simple Church Values When we say "simple church", we're talking about a set of values and about who we are as communities of believers. By 'simple church,' we mean a way of being and doing church that is so simple that any believer would respond by saying, "I can do that!" By 'simple church,' we mean the kind of church that is described in the New Testament, not constrained by structure but by the needs of the extended family (oikos), and a desire to extend the kingdom. By 'simple church,' we mean a church that listens to God, follows His leading and obeys His commands. By 'simple church,' we mean spiritual parents raising spiritual sons and daughters to establish their own families (oikos).
(from Dawn Ministries of North America)
Operational Theology of Simple Church NetworkAlthough not confident in the sufficiency or completeness of human summaries of biblical teaching in the form of creeds or doctrinal statements, SCN stands in continuity with beliefs emphasized in several streams of historic Christianity as identified by Richard Foster . From the Evangelical Tradition: We read, seek to do and have our thinking transformed by the Bible as it has been given, kept and passed down through Jewish and Christian communities over the centuries as part of God’s self revelation. From the Charismatic Tradition: The Holy Spirit gives life, indwells and gifts every believer for serving the purposes of God, especially expressing the passion and supernatural power of Jesus on earth in ways that acknowledge the immediacy of God’s voice and presence among us.From the Contemplative Tradition: We rest, listen and talk to God in prayer and meditation because we have been called into spiritual intimacy through invitations to be still and know God is God, to know peace with God through Jesus Christ.
From the Social Justice Tradition: As those who have chosen to live by the rule of God’s kingdom (loving God and loving others), we do good and bless those around us because we exercise compassion and justice as the body of Christ on earth today. From the Incarnational Tradition: Because God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit is worthy of our full attention, we worship God by expressing our praise and thanksgiving in meaningful and creative practices, seeking to make the invisible spiritual realm visible when we meet in community and in our daily living, honoring God's presence with us in creation. From the Holiness Tradition: We strive in the power of the Holy Spirit to follow the way of Jesus by practicing obedience to God's revealed will, seeking and encouraging righteousness and avoiding evil in our relationships,moral decisions and behavior. In it's most simple form, what we believe ia found in the words, works, heart, promises, commands, person, birth, death and resurrection of Jesus as the revelation of God on earth. We celebrate this by practicing the Lord's Supper in various forms, always in rememberance of him.
Additional Simple Church Values: (from Organic Church by Neil Cole)
Many lists of simple church values exist, but the following seem to arise most often in the healthiest expressions of simple church. Healthy simple churches value: Simplicity. Intimacy with God and one another. Intimacy with God is foundational for everything else! Community. Family. The church is family and healthy families are the church. 24/7 Christian walk. Most people are in simple churches because of a sincere desire to be truly devoted followers of Jesus all the time, everywhere. Spontaneity. Supernatural lifestyle. We have found simple church folks to be remarkably open to the supernatural and keenly aware of the need to live naturally supernatural lives in today's troubled and broken world. Missional praying (e.g. praying the Luke 10:2b prayer for more workers for the harvest.) Participation for everyone. Everyone has something to contribute. Listening to Jesus, doing what He says and encouraging others to do the same. Leadership by example. Discovery learning and modeling as the preferred means of teaching and training.
During our gatherings, we pray together, study and discuss the Bible, sing, share our victories and struggles, share the Lord's Supper and often have a meal together. We take seriously the idea that, "when you come together, everyone has a hymn, or a word of instruction, a revelation, a tongue or an interpretation," so we encourage people to come ready to participate. We have no set liturgy, no spectators, no distinctions between laity and clergy. In fact, from group to group our gatherings are really very different, seasoned with the cultural flavor and experiences of the people who come. Even with all these differences, all our churches have this common DNA:D - Divine Truth: They draw their direction and inspiration from God's truth as revealed in the Word and in their lives. N - Nurturing Relationships: They invest their lives in others by loving and being loved so that everyone can grow healthfully. A - Apostolic Mission: Apostle means "one sent." Just as Jesus sent the first Twelve to impact the world, he commissioned them to send all those they had reached with the Good News, including every member of our churches.
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Simple Church Values 
