Report from Organic/Simple/House Church in UK & Ireland

In 2011 Mission Britain sent out a survey to people involved in simple/organic/house/missional churches in the UK and Ireland. We wanted to see where things were at and what is happening on the ground through these forms of Churches. We have examined the statistics and put together a Report which you can download for free. Please feel free to pass this report onto people who you feel might be interested.


 Simple Church

Over recent years the Church of Jesus Christ in the UK and Ireland has been in rapid decline and retreat. Church attendance figures have decreased dramatically leaving dwindling congregations and empty church buildings. It is now common to see old ‘Church buildings’ transformed into carpet warehouses, MOT garages or Sikh temples.

At the same time, over the past 40 years or so (a biblical generation), the work of the enemy has increased rapidly through the introduction of lawless ‘Laws’, and the eroding of Biblical values in the main spheres of society including family life, education, government, economics, media and arts. Our society is becoming increasingly hostile to ‘Christianity’. Visible signs of this are seen through media articles concerning the banning of Bibles in hospitals and B+B’s and the removing of crosses and ‘Christian symbols’ in public spaces.

Vast swathes of people are also leaving the ‘institutional church’ (whether they be traditional or more ‘modern’ churches)…

>>Click here to download and read the rest of the report:

Simple/Organic/House/Missional Church in the UK and Ireland (2011 PDF)

The report was carried out by Mission Britain and Ireland


See also:

Arranging our lives so as to admit the truth of Christianity without being embarrassed…

“Many of us Christians have become extremely skillful in arranging our lives so as to admit the truth of Christianity without being embarrassed by its implications. We arrange things so that we can get on well enough without Divine aid, while at the same time ostensibly seeking it. We boast in the Lord but watch carefully that we never get caught depending on Him . . . . Pseudo faith always arranges a way out to serve in case God fails it. Real faith knows only one way and gladly allows itself to be stripped of any second way or makeshift substitutes. For true faith, it is either God or total collapse.”
-A.W. Tozer, “Root of the Righteous”
(thanks Maurice Smith & J. Guy Muse from their Facebook pages)

Prisoners coming to Christ through Life Change Groups

12/30/2011

Just wanted to give you a quick update on what God is doing at the Wynne Unit in Huntsville, Texas:

The training of missionaries who will be serving as a catalyst in starting house churches officially starts on Feb. 1, 2012.

Life Change GroupWarden Pittman has taken some of these men (those that will be trained as missionaries) and has begun using them to do a one-on-one Life Change Group among offenders in Administrative Segregation (Ad Seg). The offenders that are housed in Ad Seg are either the most violent and disruptive offenders or belong to certain gangs that are the most dangerous to both the offender population and security staff, and thus, are housed in Ad Seg for safety reasons. Some of the men (missionaries) that you have met in your tour of the Wynne Unit are being used by Warden Pittman to bring about transformation in Ad Seg.

REMEMBER that because of security, there are no religious programs offered to Ad Seg offenders other than one on one ministry done by select religious volunteers. This is the darkest area of all of the prison system. A bright light is shining in the darkness. In the last several weeks, two Ad Seg offenders have accepted Christ and been baptized. A third accepted Christ this past week. Over one hundred men in Ad Seg have requested to be part of this Life Change Group process. Leadership from TDCJ (Texas Department of Criminal Justice) witness the last baptism and was literally blown away in regard to the process and the transformation. Recently, because of what God is doing, the Vice Chair of the Texas Board of Criminal Justice visited the Wynne Unit. I’ve been asked to give a report to this board in February.

I want to thank you for your prayers and support. God Bless!

David Valentine
Covenant Fellowship
Huntsville, Texas

P.S. One of our volunteers, Eddie Harmon just called to inform me that they are baptizing the third Ad Seg offender along with twenty-four other offenders (non-Ad Seg) next week. One of the twenty-four is a muslim at the Wynne Unit. This will be the second muslim that we will have baptized because of Life Change Groups.

Session 6 – The Trinity: Part 2

The Trinity – The Triune Godhead – Part 2

Topic:      We talked about it last week, but let’s take another look at one of the most perplexing things – our God is one and yet He is three—the Triune Godhead.

Verses to Consider:     Genesis 1:1 &1:26; Deuteronomy 6:4; Matthew 3:16-17; 28:19-20; 2 Corinthians 13:14; Galatians 3:20; 1 Timothy 2:5

Articles:  
  Part 1 – Basic Overview with Key verses. http://www.gotquestions.org/Trinity-Bible.html

  Part 2 – There’s not a ‘Trinity verse’ — and that’s a good thing  http://magazine.biola.edu/article/11-winter/think-bigger/    

              – The Study of God  http://ichthys.com/1Theo.htm                
              – The Trinity (Triunity) of God  http://bible.org/article/trinity-triunity-god

Key Questions:

  • Theologians often describe God as one essence and three persons.  Can you explain that?  

  • Is this “trinity concept” a logical contradiction and therefore is not believable?

  • This is from the Los Altos Grace Brethren Church in Statement of Faith:
    We believe:  THE ONE TRUE GOD:  existing eternally as three persons – the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit (Luke 3:22; Matthew 29:19; 2 Corinthians 13:14).

Do you agree? Why or why not?

  • Who do you pray to: the Father, the Son, the Holy Spirit?

Application:

Divine Truth:
            What are some old beliefs that I need to lay aside and new beliefs I need to adopt:

            What are some old behaviors I need to lay aside and new behaviors I need to adopt:
Nurturing Relationships:
    How does this truth affect relationships…
                        …with my spouse (if appropriate):
                        …with my child/parent:
                        …with my employer/employee:
                        …with my friends:
                        …with my brother/sister:
                        …with those in authority:

Apostolic Mission:   
     How does this truth help me in overcoming the enemy’s schemes?

     How does this truth help me in pursuing the mission I have in God’s kingdom?

What’s One Thing I will Do this Week because of What I’ve Learned?

1. 

Session 5 – The Trinity

The Trinity – The Triune Godhead

Topic: ​One of the most perplexing things is that our God is one and yet He is three—the Triune Godhead.

Verses to Consider:     ​Genesis 1:1 &1:26; 
Deuteronomy 6:4; 
Matthew 3:16-17; 28:19-20; 
2 Corinthians 13:14;
Galatians 3:20; 

1 Timothy 2:5

Article: ​http://www.gotquestions.org/Trinity-Bible.html 
<http://www.gotquestions.org/Trinity-Bible.html>

Key Questions:

• Who are the three persons of the Godhead and how do they relate to one another?

• What are the roles or tasks of the three persons of the Godhead—how are they different in what each does?

• What are key passages to talk about the unity/oneness of God?  What are key passages to explain the three persons of the Godhead?

• Is there a helpful diagram or illustration to explain the triune Godhead?

• If you studied only the Old Testament, could you come to know that God is triune? What about from General Revelation alone (meaning no Scriptures)?

Application:

Divine Truth:
​What are some old beliefs that I need to lay aside and new beliefs I need to adopt:

​What are some old behaviors I need to lay aside and new behaviors I need to adopt:

Nurturing Relationships:
  How does this truth affect relationships…
​…with my spouse (if appropriate):
​…with my child/parent:
​…with my employer/employee:
​…with my friends:
​…with my brother/sister:
​…with those in authority:

Apostolic Mission: ​
   How does this truth help me in overcoming the enemy’s schemes?

   How does this truth help me in pursuing the mission I have in God’s kingdom?


One Thing I Will Do This Week:

Take Home:
1) God is one
2) The Godhead has three persons
3) The differences between the three

The Authority of the Bible

Our Topic…what is the actual authority of the Bible.
Verses to Consider:     John 10:35; Revelation 22:18-19; Matthew 5:17-18; 1 Corinthians 14:37
Key Questions:
  • How high in the pecking order is the Scripture?
  • I’m responsible to know the Scriptures (interpret it myself), so does it still have authority over me?
  • How does church history/tradition relate to the Scripture?
  • Is the Bible sufficient for what God wants us to know?
  • How does the Bible relate to science
Application:
Divine Truth:
            What are some old beliefs that I need to lay aside and new beliefs I need to adopt:
            What are some old behaviors I need to lay aside and new behaviors I need to adopt:
Nurturing Relationships:
    How does this truth affect relationships…
                        …with my spouse (if appropriate):
                        …with my child/parent:
                        …with my employer/employee:
                        …with my friends:
                        …with my brother/sister:
                        …with those in authority:
Apostolic Mission:    
     How does this truth help me in overcoming the enemy’s schemes?
     How does this truth help me in pursuing the mission I have in God’s kingdom?
Take Home:
    The Scripture is superior to me
            The Scripture has a claim on my life
            Its authority leads us to a right relationship with God
            Have a learning, submitting, growing, awe-filled approach to the Scriptures

How We Got Our Bible: The Canon of Scripture – Session 3

How We Got Our Bible: The Canon of Scripture
Topic:
     The Old Testament was in put together by the Jewish religious leaders years before Jesus came to earth.  The early church accepted the books of the New Testament after passing certain criteria.  The accepted collection was called the “canon” of Scripture.  The word “canon” means “measuring stick.”  There were three main criteria:
1)            Did an Apostle or someone with Jesus write it?
2)            Was the book consistent with known Scriptures?
3)            Did the early church universally accept the book as Scripture?
Check out the following article for more introduction:   http://bible.org/seriespage/bible-holy-canon-scripture
Key Questions:
  • Why these books?
  • How did it get to this list of books?
  • Can more books/letters be added to this list?
Application:
Divine Truth:
            What are some old beliefs that I need to lay aside and new beliefs I need to adopt:
            What are some old behaviors I need to lay aside and new behaviors I need to adopt:

Nurturing Relationships:
    How does this truth affect relationships…
                        …with my spouse (if appropriate):
                        …with my child/parent:
                        …with my employer/employee:
                        …with my friends:
                        …with my brother/sister:
                        …with those in authority:
Apostolic Mission:    
     How does this truth help me in overcoming the enemy’s schemes?
     How does this truth help me in pursuing the mission I have in God’s kingdom?


One Thing I Will Do This Week:
Take Home:
1. General outline of how we got the Bible
2. Confident of the 66 books in our Bible
3. Awe of God using humans to accomplish His purpose over time, space, cultures


Scriptures Reflecting Their Inspiration: Top Ten Bible Passages on Inspiration

What the Bible says about itself. . .
All Scripture is inspired.  Inspiration is literally “God-breathed.”  Inspiration in the biblical definition means that all the very words of Scripture were God-breathed.
            This text emphasizes that divine inspiration applies to the whole original text of the Bible.  It doesn’t say that all Scripture is equally important, but that it is equally inspired by God (cf. Judges 3:16 and John 3:16).
ALL SCRIPTURE IS INSPIRED
This text explains something of the “how” in divine revelation. It emphasizes the Holy Spirit’s superintending work over the human authors.  Both the human and divine elements exist, but the divine is in control.
THE HOW OF INSPIRATION INCLUDED GOD AND MAN
Christ endorsed
1)    the fact that Moses authored the Pentateuch (first 5 books of OT) and
2)    the divine inspiration of the Pentateuch. 
As a corollary, the emphasis is once again, as in 2 Timothy 3:16‑17, on the written product as being divinely inspired and preserved (see Matthew 5:18).
THE PENTATEUCH IS INSPIRED
Christ endorsed the Prophets.  In this case, Daniel is mentioned by name.  Thus this becomes an important proof text since Daniel, more than any other book outside the Pentateuch, is ridiculed and rejected by liberal “scholarship.”
THE PROPHETS ARE INSPIRED
Christ endorsed the Psalms, in this case also attesting to David’s authorship.
THE POETIC BOOKS ARE INSPIRED
Christ endorsed the entire Old Testament (called the “Law and the Prophets” in this verse‑ see Matthew 5:17, 7:12, 11:13).
THE ENTIRE OLD TESTAMENT IS INSPIRED
Christ declared that his own words were eternal and infallible.
THE GOSPELS ARE INSPIRED
Christ declared that His teaching did not represent the sum of new revelation.  He stated that the Holy Spirit would give further, complete truth to the Apostles.  This verse teaches two things: (a) further revelation would be given to the Apostles, and (b) this revelation would be completed in the Apostles’ lifetimes, since Jesus said that the Holy Spirit would guide them into “all” truth.  Correlate this passage with John 17:17, where Jesus, speaking to the Father, says, “Thy word is truth [aleithia, same word as 16:12‑13].”
FURTHER REVELATION WOULD FOLLOW THE GOSPELS
Paul taught that his teaching carried divine authority (see also 1 Cor 14:37).
THE LETTERS/EPISTLES ARE INSPIRED
Peter affirmed the inspiration of Paul’s letters, equating them with the “other Scriptures.”  (The Greek word for “other” is loipos, meaning rest, further, remaining.)
THE LETTERS OF PAUL ARE INSPIRED

Topic for Session 2 (Sun. 6/12) – Inspiration, Inerrancy and Reliability of the Bible

            
Verses to check out and see what they say about themselves (The Scriptures affirming the Scriptures):

1) 2 Timothy 3:16‑17 
2) 2 Peter 1:20‑21
3) Mark 7:8‑13
Christ endorsed
            1.  
                        2.                    

 Matthew 5:18
 4) Matthew 24:15
 5) Mark 12:36
 6) Luke 24:25‑27 
 7) Mark 13:31

 8) John 16:12‑13

 9) 1 Thessalonians 2:13
 10) 2 Peter 3:15‑16


God’s Revealing Work – Revelation

Revelation
Topic: 
Revelation defined.       These are two kinds of revelation- Specific and General Revelation
Verses: Psalm 19:1-2; Romans 1:20, Hebrews 1:1-3
Article: http://ldolphin.org/reveln.html
Key Questions:
           How has God revealed himself to us?
           How do we know He has? 
           What means does He reveal himself to us today?
           Why would God communicate with us?
           What can you know about God and His expectations of man from General Revelation
Application:
Divine Truth:
            What are some old beliefs that I need to lay aside and new beliefs I need to adopt:
            What are some old behaviors I need to lay aside and new behaviors I need to adopt:
Text Box: One Thing I Will Do This Week:         Take Home:  1. Means by which God reveals Himself 2. A sense that God wants to be known by you
Nurturing Relationships:
    How does this truth affect relationships…
                        …with my spouse (if appropriate):
                        …with my child/parent:
                        …with my employer/employee:
                        …with my friends:
                        …with my brother/sister:
                        …with those in authority:
Apostolic Mission:    
     How does this truth help me in overcoming the enemy’s schemes?
     How does this truth help me in pursuing the mission I have in God’s kingdom?

Revelation
Topic: 
Revelation defined.       These are two kinds of revelation- Specific and General Revelation
Verses: Psalm 19:1-2; Romans 1:20, Hebrews 1:1-3
Article: http://ldolphin.org/reveln.html
Key Questions:
           How has God revealed himself to us?
           How do we know He has? 
           What means does He reveal himself to us today?
           Why would God communicate with us?
           What can you know about God and His expectations of man from General Revelation
Application:
Divine Truth:
            What are some old beliefs that I need to lay aside and new beliefs I need to adopt:
            What are some old behaviors I need to lay aside and new behaviors I need to adopt:
Text Box: One Thing I Will Do This Week:         Take Home:  1. Means by which God reveals Himself 2. A sense that God wants to be known by you
Nurturing Relationships:
    How does this truth affect relationships…
                        …with my spouse (if appropriate):
                        …with my child/parent:
                        …with my employer/employee:
                        …with my friends:
                        …with my brother/sister:
                        …with those in authority:
Apostolic Mission:    
     How does this truth help me in overcoming the enemy’s schemes?
     How does this truth help me in pursuing the mission I have in God’s kingdom?