What it must have been like to be in his band of disciples. This man who “spoke with authority” and yet was as free as the wind was leading them through a myriad of adventures and challenges. One day the crowds loved him, the next the crowds hated him. He was venerated and vilified all at the same time. And all of the time your mind is grappling with the growing realization that this really is God in human form. What a journey!
I feel the same way about what we see God doing through so many different people and ministries. This is living now the excitement of looking to see what the Father is doing. It is one of the reasons that in these newsletters we do not only talk about what House2House is up to, but also frequently highlight other people and ministries. We should join the Lord wherever we see him at work. You will never go short because you promote others. Doesn’t Proverbs teach us, “Let another man praise you, and not your own lips.” (Prov. 27:2) So here are some situations that I count it a privilege to pass on to you:
- Roger Thoman is doing wonderful work through his blog (www.simplechurchjournal.com) and through the on-line courses that he runs (see http://simplechurchrevolution.
com/coursedescription.htm for information about the course and when it will next run.) - From time to time we mention David Shepherd and Heaven’s Family (see http://www.heavensfamily.org/) because I know of no better way for any house church group to involve in missions and caring for the poor and the needy. 2012 would be a great year to see your church regularly standing with these wonderful folk in the work they do around the world.
- If you want your faith stretched, why not join with this India church planter, who for the past two years has been praying for (AND actually seeing) one million people baptized within their network). Read his challenge to the body of Christ at this link. Is anyone in this country ready to take his challenge for 100,000 souls?
- Do you know the I Am Second movement? Awesome stories are coming out of this work with many multiplying house churches (not always called churches, but “a rose by any other name still smells as sweet”) springing up all over the country. If you have never checked out these folk or looked at some of the tools that they provide, you should seriously consider doing so!
- You all know that we love and respect what Neil Cole and his blog bring to the body of Christ. But by checking out this link you can not only check out other resources from CMA, but also listen to a podcast of Rad Zdero, a Canadian medical engineering inventor and house church leader, introducing people to what house church is all about!
- If you have never been overseas to see what the Lord is doing, then let me challenge you to consider contact Floyd and Sally McClung at [email protected] and consider going to S. Africa to work with them on a short term missions project. It will change your life and give you the privilege of seeing a little of what our Father is doing across Africa!
- Finally, or this list will go on forever, you must watch this YouTube video about Jon Zens book, “The Pastor Has No Clothes!” Understanding the Biblical position on The Pastor may be a big surprise to people who have never read this fascinating book. It is worth it for Neil Cole introduction even before you get into the book itself!!
We love what we see the Lord doing through others. But that doesn’t mean that we don’t also highly value the visibility and the resources that the Lord is making available through House2House! In a recent newsletter I shared that Ken Eastburn has recently become our new Executive Director. Most newsletters will now be written by him. David Underwood has assumed the leadership of the House2House board. (Actually, we believe that the Holy Spirit has always and continues to have that position, but for ease of use, I think you all know what I mean!) They are already helping to bring together resources of materials and people to be available to serve any of you in your work with the Lord. In this context I definitely want to mention that Katie Driver (see her blog here), another of our board members, does an incredible job in coaching folk who are leading house churches or are seeking to transform legacy churches into more of a house church network. Why not contact her to discuss how to re-ignite life within your church community.
Well, I know no one will read this if I go on any longer. It is a privilege being allowed to send this to you. I hope that you will find the links and information in this week’s newsletter really helpful.
Tony and Felicity Dale on behalf of the H2H team.
The Pastor Has No Clothes!
By Jon Zens
Protestantism carries on with the practice of making the “pastor” the focal point in church. In The Pastor Has No Clothes, Jon Zens demonstrates that putting all the ecclesiastical eggs in the pastor’s basket has no precedent in the New Testament. Using 1 Corinthians 12:14, Zens shows the usual way of doing church contradicts Paul’s self-evident remark that “the body indeed is not one part” and then goes on to unfold from that Epistle how the living church functions “with many parts.” Jon dismembers the traditional pastor doctrine from various angles by combining two new essays and a response to Eugene Peterson’s The Pastor: A Memoir, with three past articles and excerpts from his response to Dr. Ben Witherington’s review of Pagan Christianity.
Journeys to Significance: Charting a Leadership Course from the Life of Paul by Neil Cole
A powerful, biblically based model of leadership development based on the life of the Apostle Paul
All churches, denominations, and parachurch organizations are eager for new models of leadership development. Cole uses the life and leadership lessons of the Apostle Paul to show how to develop leaders who are skilled, dedicated, and always open to learning from experience.
- Cole, a trusted, innovative authority, uses the four journeys of Paul to shows how leaders can grow to be more influential.
- A publication from the acclaimed Leadership Network
- Paul, the original “church planter,” was very instrumental in the growth of Christianity—and a perfect model for today’s leaders.
Shows how Paul’s leadership developed over the course of his life to get better and better with time and maturity—and how they can do the same.
Small Is Big!: Unleashing the Big Impact of Intentionally Small Churches By Tony & Felicity Dale with George Barna
Church planters Tony and Felicity Dale and acclaimed researcher George Barna bring a big message to God’s church. How might we change the world if our Christian faith began multiplying at a rapid pace—through a way of life that is explosive and transformational? It happened once before, in the early days of the church; what will it take to bring us to that point of urgency and determination again? Small Is Big offers keys to 21st-century evangelism: leveraging the power of the small—and taking the gospel to where the people are and the pain is. And as God uses us to channel Jesus’ love into a hurting, desperate world, we’ll see his church grow beyond anything we could have imagined. Originally published as The Rabbit and the Elephant and now updated with new material.
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