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Since I am new to the House Church Movement and have only been apart of "simple church" or church for almost a year I arise with a question. The historical part of these questions arise from my history with Church. I grew up in church all of my life. I have always heard the pastoral messages where the pastor instills while the church sits still. However, I was asked to prepare a lesson one week for church and it did not go as well as I like it because I have always been apart of the mold of the "American church." My question is what is a proper way to prepare lessons for church and what lessons are applicable because i feel that the pastor/church mold is not proper nor needed. There has to be more, there must be more of the community aspect of lessons in church, and I get confused on what that looks like. I really understand that this is kind of a stupid or simple question but really I am seeking feedback on what "you" as the community of House churchs around the nation of America and around the world are doing to in your lessons, how you are structuring your time in church, and how things look from your perspective on your church. Thanks for your time and hope to hear feedback from everyone very soon!
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Nik P. on -
Our sharing starts with the question of, "What's God been doing with you since the last time?" If you haven't presented in a while, you might have mulled over quite a lot of stuff in your relationship with God. Whatever He moved in you is valuable to your community as well. It not only teaches them what you have learned but helps them catch up to what you need from them as your brothers and sisters in Christ. It is not like studying for a test and then performing well. It is more like training for an athletic event and then playing with your team.
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Permalink Reply by Chris Sterling on -
We are much the same as your guys, most of the time. What has Jesus been saying or how have you seen Jesus since we were together last. We talk about our relationship with Jesus like you would talk to a friend about a mutual friend. C
Chaplain Nik said:Our sharing starts with the question of, "What's God been doing with you since the last time?" If you haven't presented in a while, you might have mulled over quite a lot of stuff in your relationship with God. Whatever He moved in you is valuable to your community as well. It not only teaches them what you have learned but helps them catch up to what you need from them as your brothers and sisters in Christ. It is not like studying for a test and then performing well. It is more like training for an athletic event and then playing with your team.
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Permalink Reply by Tom LeCompte on -
Chuck,
Our church has a time during our worship when we discuss what Jesus has been teaching us. But we usually also put together an informal plan to study either a passage of scripture, or a biblical topic. Several of us take turns leading the study from week to week. When we do this, we don't plan the lesson as a sermon or a lecture, but rather a discussion that encourages everyone to contribute, comment or question. If you go to my page, you will see some chapters from a curriculum our church is putting together. Three of the chapters cover the techniques of Biblical Interpretation. Another chapter covers some suggestions for putting together a lesson. It might seem very structured compared to what others are posting, but check it out for what it's worth.
God Bless,
Tom
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Permalink Reply by Cindy Skillman on -
Hi Chuck
Just to throw a big monkey wrench into the mix, you might want to check out the post regarding 1 Corinthians 14. There's a lot of information there that applies to your question. It doesn't exactly simplify things, but I bet you'll find it interesting.
God bless,
Cindy
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Permalink Reply by HolyLamb on -
Chuck, my humble suggestion is to spend most of your preparation time thinking up really good questions. That seems to be what Jesus did a lot. And it offers the opportunity for the community to learn from each other. Looking forward to hearing other answers.
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Permalink Reply by Carolyn on -
Did you know that God likes to have fun? Altough He seems mysterious, sometimes it may be that things are hidden primarily for us, rather that from us. Just like a Dad who hides treasures at gift giving time, our heavenly Father reveals much to those who will spend some effort seeking. That is why the scripture is written..."Seek ye first the kingdom of God"...
With that in mind, a good study, asking and listening, and obtaining things to share with others is always fun to include in our home church. There always seems to be a topic that emerges, and we seem to always have God confirm what he showed us during the following week. Lively interaction with each and with the Lord of heaven is such fun!
Last week we asked the question about angels, since some had read some stories of evangelists who experienced angelic ministry. Scriptures which had come alive to those evangelists were shared, and experiences that others in the group had were also shared. Then we encouraged each other to watch for what God would confirm to us this week... well, there are some unusual good things happening, making us more aware that the kingdom of God is a little bigger and better than we had thought. Have fun... Carolyn
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Permalink Reply by Doug Hudson on -
We share food and over food peope tend to be more honest and less religious. We trust that the HS is there and has something for us and we expect the HS to move, reveal, bring insight, etc. We may share a song, a chorus, a passage of scripture that has come alive for one of us. We may share a gut wrenching problem and spend the meeting in praying. We may bring a question, an answer or a solution. We have just brought someone's name and asked for prophetic words for that person. Those have brought healing when delivered more than once. So, we do not have a prepared agenda, we share food and we expect God to have something for us. He always does.
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Permalink Reply by Connie on -
http://tinyurl.com/36qt32
There might be bits and pieces here that you could draw from for ideas. If so, you're welcome to any resources we might have. It must be difficult to feel the weight on your own shoulders. I imagine you feel responsible to teach the children in your community the gospel. If you don't no one will.
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Permalink Reply by Carolyn on
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Unless I am wrong about it, Simple Church sites and commentary are for groups and people that practise traditional and authentic Christianity whose focus is "Life in Christ". The website given above by Connie is an LDS site, otherwise known as the Mormon faith.
The meetings and activities Christians hold are to be guided by the Holy Spirit, and while they may seem similar on the surface to those of other faiths, God is to be at work in them. Therefore, posting info from a site that serves a different faith, may not be appropriate here. USE Caution.
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Permalink Reply by Connie on
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Thank-you for your concern Carolyn. I believe I suggested caution when I said to choose bits and pieces that would apply. But maybe none of them will, these are all the lesson manuals we have developed to teach our children and adults, even teens. Here is one lesson for the nursery, age 18months-3: http://www.lds.org/ldsorg/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=637e1b08f338c010Vgn...
Carolyn Spence said:Unless I am wrong about it, Simple Church sites and commentary are for groups and people that practise traditional and authentic Christianity whose focus is "Life in Christ". The website given above by Connie is an LDS site, otherwise known as the Mormon faith.
The meetings and activities Christians hold are to be guided by the Holy Spirit, and while they may seem similar on the surface to those of other faiths, God is to be at work in them. Therefore, posting info from a site that serves a different faith, may not be appropriate here. USE Caution.
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Permalink Reply by Ron Kellington on -
Remember why you're there... We're gathering for Him.... He is the Head of His Body, the Church, the fulness of Him who fills ALL and in ALL... We come together to proclaim Christ to one another and in so doing He is seen by rulers and powers in the heavenly places.. and if there are unbelievers when you gather, He will be seen by them too.
We're not there to get 'fed'.. we're not there to get "filled up".. We come to give Christ to one another, to express Him, ...to edify one another and build up His Body... all the time being led by Him and gathering for Him. We meet around the Person of Christ. In that manner of meeting we ourselves can't help but be blessed and filled when every member is functioning. You bring a teaching.. someone else brings something else.
We don't need to know about Him.. we need to know Him.. "to grow in knowledge of Christ"... not knowledge about Christ. Christianity is "inward".. The Kingdom of Heaven is in our hearts.... so, when you're preparing something for Him be sure it is Christ that is being presented... aim for the heart ...to glorify Him.
And remember that Christianity is not about an isolated individualistic lifestyle... Christ is corporate. Much of the NT was written to the corporate church and can only be understood properly when read it in that light. Keeping Him central and preeminent in all that we do is best.
Be sensitive to His voice. We have not because we ask not.
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Permalink Reply by Connie on
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I'm curious about your children in simple church. How do you teach them, and why would they stay and continue on when they get older?
Ron Kellington said:Remember why you're there... We're gathering for Him.... He is the Head of His Body, the Church, the fulness of Him who fills ALL and in ALL... We come together to proclaim Christ to one another and in so doing He is seen by rulers and powers in the heavenly places.. and if there are unbelievers when you gather, He will be seen by them too.
We're not there to get 'fed'.. we're not there to get "filled up".. We come to give Christ to one another, to express Him, ...to edify one another and build up His Body... all the time being led by Him and gathering for Him. We meet around the Person of Christ. In that manner of meeting we ourselves can't help but be blessed and filled when every member is functioning. You bring a teaching.. someone else brings something else.
We don't need to know about Him.. we need to know Him.. "to grow in knowledge of Christ"... not knowledge about Christ. Christianity is "inward".. The Kingdom of Heaven is in our hearts.... so, when you're preparing something for Him be sure it is Christ that is being presented... aim for the heart ...to glorify Him.
And remember that Christianity is not about an isolated individualistic lifestyle... Christ is corporate. Much of the NT was written to the corporate church and can only be understood properly when read it in that light. Keeping Him central and preeminent in all that we do is best.
Be sensitive to His voice. We have not because we ask not.
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