New Simple Church in Western South Dakota
Hi, Everybody
Those of you who know me are aware that I've been praying for some other believers to join with (in addition to my family) in simple church. Hurray! God has put us together with two other couples in Rapid City and we all met together last weekend for a mini-retreat/conference. It was great! We spent the weekend getting to know one another and talking about our hopes for fellowshipping and lifting up Jesus as a body.
The first evening was mostly getting acquainted. It seemed so natural that we should be together that it would be easy to miss the remarkableness of this aspect of the meeting. I can't remember feeling so welcomed anywhere, though. It's not that people are generally unfriendly, I think. It's more that so many people are in their own little world and don't even notice when someone new walks in unless said person might be useful. Not so with this group. I don't think there was a single odd man out. At least I hope that no one was feeling that way. Everyone participated; everyone had stories to tell; everyone welcomed everyone else. That is a miracle, as far as I'm concerned.
The next morning was a little more purposeful in that we talked about our hopes and notions of what simple church might be about, prayed, listened to God, etc. One of the brothers kept getting the word, "Practice", and that led us to a sister's recollection of Jesus' remark that whoever would hear His words and put them into practice was His brother and sister and mother. Another brother happened to have pulled up Luke 10 (a partner site to Simple Church) on his laptop earlier. He looked at his screen and what did he see? The Seven Practices. Cool!
The seven practices, in case you're curious, are:
1. Listening to God
2. Listening to God with one or two others
3. Listening to God as a body
4. Asking the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest
5. Joining Jesus in birthing churches in houses of peace
6. Nurturing those new churches and especially their leaders
7. Actively networking with other church planters
You can read more about those at Luke 10--there's a link here to the right under "Our Partners".
So, God has given us some real direction here, and I'm excited. Please pray for us that we will keep attuned to the Holy Spirit and not go off anywhere on our own. Those of you who have already been praying for us; We thank God for you.
God bless, Cindy
Those of you who know me are aware that I've been praying for some other believers to join with (in addition to my family) in simple church. Hurray! God has put us together with two other couples in Rapid City and we all met together last weekend for a mini-retreat/conference. It was great! We spent the weekend getting to know one another and talking about our hopes for fellowshipping and lifting up Jesus as a body.
The first evening was mostly getting acquainted. It seemed so natural that we should be together that it would be easy to miss the remarkableness of this aspect of the meeting. I can't remember feeling so welcomed anywhere, though. It's not that people are generally unfriendly, I think. It's more that so many people are in their own little world and don't even notice when someone new walks in unless said person might be useful. Not so with this group. I don't think there was a single odd man out. At least I hope that no one was feeling that way. Everyone participated; everyone had stories to tell; everyone welcomed everyone else. That is a miracle, as far as I'm concerned.
The next morning was a little more purposeful in that we talked about our hopes and notions of what simple church might be about, prayed, listened to God, etc. One of the brothers kept getting the word, "Practice", and that led us to a sister's recollection of Jesus' remark that whoever would hear His words and put them into practice was His brother and sister and mother. Another brother happened to have pulled up Luke 10 (a partner site to Simple Church) on his laptop earlier. He looked at his screen and what did he see? The Seven Practices. Cool!
The seven practices, in case you're curious, are:
1. Listening to God
2. Listening to God with one or two others
3. Listening to God as a body
4. Asking the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest
5. Joining Jesus in birthing churches in houses of peace
6. Nurturing those new churches and especially their leaders
7. Actively networking with other church planters
You can read more about those at Luke 10--there's a link here to the right under "Our Partners".
So, God has given us some real direction here, and I'm excited. Please pray for us that we will keep attuned to the Holy Spirit and not go off anywhere on our own. Those of you who have already been praying for us; We thank God for you.
God bless, Cindy
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Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Annette Land on -
Cindy,
That is great news. Thanks for adding the 7 practices as well... good reminder of some basic steps.
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Permalink Reply by Clark Wade on -
Praise God Cindy,
I'm delighted to hear what our Lord is doing in S. Dakota. I love the idea of a "mini-retreat." I would be interested in hearing more detail on that regarding your activities together and what was planned ahead and what was spontaneous, if you know what I mean?
When I read your news here, it sparked something I had written a couple of years ago regarding some similiar thoughts. This is an excerpt of that writing:
Paul describes a church meeting—New Testament style—in his letter to the Corinthians:
“What then is the right course? When you meet together, EACH ONE OF YOU has a hymn, a teaching, a disclosure of special knowledge or information, an utterance in a strange tongue or its interpretation. But let everything be constructive and edifying and for the good of all.
I Corinthians 13:23-26
The Church as outlined here by the Apostle Paul met according to specific spiritual principles. Such meetings were defined by individual believers coming together to share their “portion” of Jesus Christ one with another. Their meetings were stamped by Mutuality: Mutual Edification, Mutual Accountability, Mutual Support, Mutual Encouragement, Mutual Confession of Sin, and Mutual Training in righteousness. And as they met this way, they “built up” the dwelling place of God:
For because of Him, the whole body, the Church in all its various parts closely jointed and firmly knit together by the joints and ligaments with which it is supplied, WHEN EACH PART IS WORKING PROPERLY IN ALL ITS FUNCTIONS, grows to full maturity, building itself up in love. Ephesians 4:15-16
The Church of Jesus Christ is defined by the gathering of “one another” under the Headship of Jesus Christ. The Church of Jesus Christ is a royal priesthood (1 Peter 2:9). This priesthood does not gather around a single orator or to watch a religious performance. There is no “one gift” that dominates the other gifts. There is no Protestant or Catholic life-killing liturgy that is followed week after week. Each member is responsible for contributing, as prompted by the Spirit, to the meeting. In this church, Jesus Christ, in all His complicated, many-sided wisdom, His infinite variety and innumerable aspects” is made public. In this church meeting
The saints are “equipped” and responsible for ministering toward building up of Christ’s body.” (Ephesians 4:7-16)
Each person helps to teach and admonish and train the others. (Col. 3:16)
The members are mutually dependent on one another. (Romans 12).
No one is excluded from “the rights of citizenship and share citizenship with all the saints.” (Ephesians 2:18-22).
Each person knows their own place and function. (I Cor. 12-24-27).
Each person ministers their gift to each another (I Pet.4:10) as each person cultivates and their spiritual endowments. (I Cor. 14:1)
All (not just one) can give testimony–prophesying and interpreting the divine will and purpose so that all may be stimulated and encouraged.. 1Cor. 14:27-31).
Jesus Christ is “assembled”: His hand, His arm, His ears, His feet, His eyes, His mouth, His heart. When all the members are equipped to function, we begin to see “a whole Jesus.” 1 Cor. 12
Not a Denominational Doctrine but Common Disciplines
It is a tragedy of the modern church that we have defined ourselves by “what we believe” rather than “what we practice.”
If you “believe” these things, blessed are you if you “practice” them. John 13:17
The Church of Jesus Christ is fragmented into a million pieces along doctrinal lines. If there is to be unity in the body of Christ, we must lay aside our peripheral points of doctrine that divide us and cultivate instead authentic encounter with Jesus Christ.
“In Him—and in fellowship with one another—you yourselves are being built up into this holy structure with the rest, to form a fixed abode, the dwelling place of God in, by and through the Spirit.” (Ephesians 2:18-22)
Nothing is said here about apportioning churches along denominational lines. We are one body, in Christ.
It is our spiritual union and fellowship with Jesus Christ, and not our denominational affiliation and beliefs, which is the cornerstone of our spiritual union and fellowship with each other. “Open your hearts to one another as Christ opened His heart to you, and God will be glorified. Romans 5:7
To that end, our “practice” is our “creed,” individually and corporately, as
We abide in Him (Practice His Presence) whose majestic indwelling has flooded our hearts. 2 Cor. 4:6
We cultivate intimate encounter with Jesus Christ, not as one who is far from us, but in the inner sanctuary of our hearts according to 1 Peter 3:15: “Simply concentrate on being completely devoted to Christ in your hearts.”
We know that our life is defined by listening—His by speaking: “Incline your ear and come to me; listen, so that you may live. Listen to me in silence and gain new strength.” Isaiah 55:3; 41:1. For this reason, we are not afraid of some silence in our meetings as we cultivate intentional listening to His voice in our hearts according to John 10:27: The sheep that are My own hear and are listening to My voice: and I know them, and they follow me and I give them eternal life.”
We practice the “spiritual disciplines” of prayer, solitude, silence, journaling, etc. as we “take the trouble to keep ourselves spiritually fit, which is essential both for the present life and the one to come.” 1 Timothy 4:7 To this end, we set aside special times just to be with Him. We cultivate our relationship with Him intentionally so that we share Christ out of our “over-flow” and not our “scarcity.”
We worship God by and in the Spirit, finding our joy in Jesus Christ, and putting no confidence in what we are in the flesh.” Philippians 3:3
We learn and practice various traditions of prayer (prayer of silence, prayer of contemplation, prayer of adoring love, prayer of petition, etc.) to stretch us spiritually according to Paul’s exhortation to pray at all times with “every kind of spiritual prayer.” Ephesians 16:18
We are acquainted with the great devotional classics that cross all denominational barriers by those who left us a “glowing testimony of their faith” Hebrews 12:40 in their transcendent and indwelling Lord. (Thomas Kelly, Madam Guyon, Michael Molinos, Andrew Murray, Teresa of Avila, A.W. Tozer, Fenelon, Julian of Norwich, etc.)
We celebrate and proclaim “the love of Christ that is beyond all comprehension until we are filled through our entire being with God himself.” Ephesians 3:19
We put into practice God’s instructions for church meetings according to I Cor. 12-14.
We serve one another with the gifts God has given us I Peter 4:10-11 as we seek to speak not from our flesh but as we are prompted by the Spirit so that everyone in the meeting is edified I Cor. 12:4-11
We allow the word of Christ to dwell in us richly as we teach, encourage and train one another Col. 3:16.
We ardently pursue “the best part,” the “one thing that is necessary” Luke 10:38-42. When we sit at His feet and gaze upon Him with the inner eyes of our heart, individually and corporately, we are “transformed in ever-increasing splendor into His own image, and the transformation comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.” 2 Corinthians 3: 18
In the Lamb,
Clark
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Permalink Reply by Cindy Skillman on -
Great teaching, Clark!
Thanks so much for adding this--it's well worth not only reading, but studying as well.
God bless, Cindy
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Permalink Reply by Julie Ross on -
Cindy, this sounds exciting. I'm on Julie's page but this is Bill writing. We are coming out to the Hills on Feb 14 and wondered about getting together sometime. We are coming back to the KSLT 25th Anniversary Celebration for Feb 17. Hope to get to meet you and hear your heart.
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Permalink Reply by Cindy Skillman on
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Hi, Bill
It's so great to hear from you! We'll look forward to seeing you then. Do you need a place to stay?
God bless, Cindy
Julie Ross said:Cindy, this sounds exciting. I'm on Julie's page but this is Bill writing. We are coming out to the Hills on Feb 14 and wondered about getting together sometime. We are coming back to the KSLT 25th Anniversary Celebration for Feb 17. Hope to get to meet you and hear your heart.
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Permalink Reply by Julie Ross on
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Thank you for sending this report, Cindy. This is great and Bill and I do rejoice with you all and look forward to being with you in person in a couple weeks. He is revealing Himself in our midst! YUM.
Julie
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Permalink Reply by Emily Wahl on -
Hi, Cindy. My name is Emily Wahl and my husband and I just moved back to Rapid City after living in Phoenix for three years. We are looking for a house church to be a part of. What you are doing sounds really interesting, would you mind emailing me more information about it? [email protected] Thank you so much!!!
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Permalink Reply by Darold Scott Tumlinson on -
Hi Cindy,
My name is Scott and I'm working up in Williston, ND at the moment with an oilfield service company. I'm from the Houston, TX area but I've been considering moving up to this region because this is where my work is and it takes me so long to drive up here. Right now, my wife and I meet with Terry & Nanci Stanley. Awesome group! Anyway, if you guys are getting together, let me know and maybe I can drop down on a weekend sometime.
Love Him dearly and keep Him close,
Scott
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Permalink Reply by Cindy Skillman on
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Hi, Scott
We'd love to get to know you and your group. I believe we'll be meeting at our house this weekend; usually Sunday 4:30, but that will likely change when school starts again. Maybe we could plan a get-together of our two ecclesiae (is that the right form?) ;) It would be wonderful to meet all of you. Drop me an e-mail at the site here, and I'll give you my contact info.
Love, Cindy
Darold Scott Tumlinson said:Hi Cindy,
My name is Scott and I'm working up in Williston, ND at the moment with an oilfield service company. I'm from the Houston, TX area but I've been considering moving up to this region because this is where my work is and it takes me so long to drive up here. Right now, my wife and I meet with Terry & Nanci Stanley. Awesome group! Anyway, if you guys are getting together, let me know and maybe I can drop down on a weekend sometime.
Love Him dearly and keep Him close,
Scott
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