YOU CAN DO THIS!

You and your household... 

The Simplest Church Model!

Many years ago, as the Assistant Pastor of an Institutional Church (IC), I began to recognize and entertain the Biblical truths regarding what The Church IS and what it is NOT.

Frankly, these thoughts were radical and they frightened me. I wasn’t seeing them practiced anywhere so I opted to see “House Church” as little more than another bolt-on program for our own congregation. 

I wasn’t about to shout from the steeple that what our church group was doing was wrong; nobody sets out TRYING to get ostracized. In time, through many conversations, I grew to believe the Holy Spirit was moving within me just as He was within the hearts of vast multitudes of people. Eventually, after a divorce, my kids and I began “doing church” at home or at the park. Services were as short as their attention spans but, somehow, I knew these simple gatherings “counted” as church in God’s eyes. Little did I realize, God wasn’t looking for services; He wants hearts.

Over a decade later, in 2006, I attended the annual House2House Conference in Denver, Colorado and have attended three more in Dallas, Texas since then, even teaching workshops at two of these events. In addition, I have written many articles on the subject and have spoken to groups meeting in homes and others considering starting a church.

Though the phrase “house church” is the predominant term used by many, two others seem to better define this “New Thing” God is doing upon the earth these days: Organic Church (OC) and, my personal fave, Simple Church (SC). An OC pops up and thrives out of nowhere while SC refers to two or more gathering anywhere at any time who actually started more organically.

Unfortunately, with so much of the IC’s practices coursing through our veins, what I’ve observed is that we just can’t seem to get away from church-as-usual. I’ve been asked to speak to a Church of Christ House Church, an Assembly of God House Church,  several Baptist House Churches and several "non-denominational forms-of-godliness-but-no-power-to-speak-of" groups. I’ve witnessed many groups who haven’t got a clue regarding the importance of the apostolic ministry and far too many groups who are doing little more than mini-church.

It’s always the same. It’s in our DNA.

Still the same questions come my way: What about the role of the women? What do we do with our kids? Who are our elders? Do we have to tithe? 

In several instances, I’ve met with groups whose goal was to meet in homes while setting aside their money so they could build a permanent facility later. On quite a few occasions, I have come across those who were really enjoying House Church but, for reasons even they couldn’t pinpoint, wound up eventually joining another IC, even while admitting they weren’t enjoying the experience and missed “doing house church.” 

I know why SC’s fail. Same reason the 1st Century churches failed: in EVERY instance it’s because they had to get “churchy” and revert to manmade methods. I was actually told by a friend who was invited to a Lutheran house group how they were seated in rows complete with bulletins.

See what I mean?

There are MANY wonderful aspects to Simple Church, among them the development of Spiritual Gifts, Leaders, the depth of Relationships, and the amount of MONEY these groups often accumulate - that is, when they are trained properly regarding reaping and sowing. With no Pastor or staff salary, no overhead, the SC can often do things the IC can only dream about.

As a Workplace Chaplain, I must admit, the very BEST example of SC I’ve seen have been the ones established in Break Rooms and Conference Rooms by individuals of various denominations in the workforce, everyone agreeing to check their church background at the door. Though multiplication is a core principle of the SC, that is if they have any intention of impacting their communities and - as was said of the early church, “turning them upside down” - these workplace groups cannot multiply UNTIL a Member is transferred, terminated, or resigns. Even then, that individual is free to start another group at their next workplace, or even in their own home, based upon experiential knowledge attained at one of these SC gatherings in the marketplace.

Let’s face it, we spend up to 70% of our lives in the workplace. If we are truly The  Church, always The Church and never NOT The Church, doesn’t it stand to reason that we are The Church at Work as well as in the pews, the dining room or a restaurant? 

The workplace is a terrific training ground for Simple Church affiliates to get a NEW church experience based on Prayer and Unity!

So, where does one begin? At home, with your family, your spouse, or even a roommate. BE the Simple Church there. It doesn’t start with rituals or rules. It starts by recognizing the fact that you ARE The Church. 

Yes, BE The Church. “Church” is not something you DO; it’s something you ARE. How do we GO to something we ARE? 

SO, BE The Church!

What exactly does THAT mean? The Church, in Greek, was called The Ekklesia (the called out ones). The word never referred to a denomination or a building. No, it simply referred to a group of people, even referring to the unruly mob Paul encountered in Acts 19. 

I’ve been accused of being anti-church or having enmity against the local church. Actually, you may have never met anyone who’s more PRO-church in your life. On many occasions, whether in-person or online, I’ve met people who WERE quite anti-IC wanting little to do with “them” - those in the IC.  With the Spirit moving as He is these days, how can we be sure there aren’t many in the community who are dying to learn about what we’ve discovered? How dare we keep this treasure to ourselves! BESIDES, there’s only ONE Body of Christ; it’s not “us vs them.” There’s only US!

So, BE a group of people...even TWO people... all, or both, with the intention of following the teachings and example of your mutual King, Jesus of Nazareth.

NEED HELP? We have assisted Simple Church groups in-person, by eMail, and by phone. 

Help IS available. Just ask!

Every blessing,

Michael Tummillo

Founder, The Church @ Work (TCAW)

miketummillo@me.com