Comments on: Starting a House Church http://lifestream.org/blog/2009/05/12/starting-a-house-church/ Mon, 15 Mar 2010 02:10:27 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Carole Firth http://lifestream.org/blog/2009/05/12/starting-a-house-church/comment-page-1/#comment-28902 Carole Firth Sun, 02 Aug 2009 00:21:01 +0000 http://lifestream.org/blog/?p=836#comment-28902 Well what can I say. I have been enjoying Lifestreams website for some months now, after reading both The Shack and So You Don't want to go to church anymore. Still to buy He Loves me but will do very soon. My husband and I left the traditional pentacostal church 4-5 years ago and ended up starting a home church. Interesting to read your comments Wayne to others on your blog. I have gleaned and my heart has been touched many many times. I now find myself in the position (we closed home church May this year) of missing fellowship and wondering how I be the church when I don't seem to come into contact with many people. My old ways are wanting me to go to church to have fellowship but I know this is not what the Father has in store. My niece a newly returned to Jesus gave me a very encouraging word that My Father told me He has a home for me. Of course now I don't really know what that 'home' means as such but am awaiting for His next step for me. Thank you so much for what you are helping those of us also on this journey of trying to live loved and then love others. Keep up your blogs and encouraging us to wait on God instead of trying to help Him with what only He can do for and in and through us. Bless you and your family. Carole Australia Well what can I say. I have been enjoying Lifestreams website for some months now, after reading both The Shack and So You Don’t want to go to church anymore. Still to buy He Loves me but will do very soon. My husband and I left the traditional pentacostal church 4-5 years ago and ended up starting a home church. Interesting to read your comments Wayne to others on your blog. I have gleaned and my heart has been touched many many times. I now find myself in the position (we closed home church May this year) of missing fellowship and wondering how I be the church when I don’t seem to come into contact with many people. My old ways are wanting me to go to church to have fellowship but I know this is not what the Father has in store. My niece a newly returned to Jesus gave me a very encouraging word that My Father told me He has a home for me. Of course now I don’t really know what that ‘home’ means as such but am awaiting for His next step for me. Thank you so much for what you are helping those of us also on this journey of trying to live loved and then love others. Keep up your blogs and encouraging us to wait on God instead of trying to help Him with what only He can do for and in and through us. Bless you and your family. Carole Australia

]]> By: Amy http://lifestream.org/blog/2009/05/12/starting-a-house-church/comment-page-1/#comment-28417 Amy Thu, 21 May 2009 13:58:00 +0000 http://lifestream.org/blog/?p=836#comment-28417 I have to tell you that I have not read this as clearly and well put as this. Thank you for sharing this conversation with Mike. I can hear alot of his words are the thoughts that have gone through my head, and the conversations that I have had with other believers about this very topic. My husband and I are in a season of transition. Both of us are worship leaders in the church, and have been feeling a stirring in our hearts that there is something terribly wrong with the organized church. That's been hard to swallow simply because it's a huge part of what we have known and functioned in the church. It's been our lively hood also, whether being on staff, or traveling and leading at different churches... We were on staff at our home church for a very long time, (my husband 20 years, then I for 10.), and because of finances, the church had to let us go. So, we have been helping out at a friends church since. Both of us have been miserable. So as of late, after praying and seeking direction, we have decided that we will be finishing up at our current church in July, and will be taking a rest. But even more so to take time and seek out what the Father is doing. I am so excited to have come across this blog! I have NO idea what God is going to do, but I know He always reveals His heart when we seek after it. I do know that He has been hitting on "identity" issues that have been wrapped up in the "doing" for Him instead of the just being in relationship with Him. It's so easy to do. All the "you should" do this because of your gifting that screams from people in the church.... it's hard to be clear on what is Him and what is not. I am ready for a deprogramming tho! LOL! Bring it on, Lord! Thanks for your heart! Amy I have to tell you that I have not read this as clearly and well put as this.
Thank you for sharing this conversation with Mike.
I can hear alot of his words are the thoughts that have gone through my head, and the conversations that I have had with other believers about this very topic.

My husband and I are in a season of transition. Both of us are worship leaders in the church, and have been feeling a stirring in our hearts that there is something terribly wrong with the organized church. That’s been hard to swallow simply because it’s a huge part of what we have known and functioned in the church. It’s been our lively hood also, whether being on staff, or traveling and leading at different churches…
We were on staff at our home church for a very long time, (my husband 20 years, then I for 10.), and because of finances, the church had to let us go. So, we have been helping out at a friends church since. Both of us have been miserable.

So as of late, after praying and seeking direction, we have decided that we will be finishing up at our current church in July, and will be taking a rest. But even more so to take time and seek out what the Father is doing.

I am so excited to have come across this blog! I have NO idea what God is going to do, but I know He always reveals His heart when we seek after it. I do know that He has been hitting on “identity” issues that have been wrapped up in the “doing” for Him instead of the just being in relationship with Him. It’s so easy to do. All the “you should” do this because of your gifting that screams from people in the church…. it’s hard to be clear on what is Him and what is not.

I am ready for a deprogramming tho! LOL! Bring it on, Lord! Thanks for your heart!

Amy

]]> By: Objections to a Non Institutional Church « re-dreaming the dream http://lifestream.org/blog/2009/05/12/starting-a-house-church/comment-page-1/#comment-28397 Objections to a Non Institutional Church « re-dreaming the dream Mon, 18 May 2009 20:19:28 +0000 http://lifestream.org/blog/?p=836#comment-28397 [...] is an excerpt of a post from Wayne Jacobsen of Thr Lifestream Blog that, well, just made a lot of sense to me. You can also find a good discussion of the post at [...] [...] is an excerpt of a post from Wayne Jacobsen of Thr Lifestream Blog that, well, just made a lot of sense to me. You can also find a good discussion of the post at [...]

]]> By: Tom Wilson http://lifestream.org/blog/2009/05/12/starting-a-house-church/comment-page-1/#comment-28385 Tom Wilson Sun, 17 May 2009 15:07:46 +0000 http://lifestream.org/blog/?p=836#comment-28385 Wayne thank you for sharing this with us. I'm a slow learner and though I am not even tempted to "plant a church" I do find that in my passion to see people find real relationship with Father I can be tempted to attempt to get people to conform to the journey Father has me on. Simply living loved and then living love has become almost a motto for me. However sometimes it becomes hard to live in His love alone much of the time however I know in my heart for me that is part of the growing process Father in his love and perfect wisdom has chosen for me for a season nevertheless knowing that does not always make it easy. I say that, because I believe many tempted to "plant" or start a Church are often in a similar season and do not recognize it and mistake their desire for connection as a call do what only Jesus can do at least right... Wayne thank you for sharing this with us. I’m a slow learner and though I am not even tempted to “plant a church” I do find that in my passion to see people find real relationship with Father I can be tempted to attempt to get people to conform to the journey Father has me on. Simply living loved and then living love has become almost a motto for me. However sometimes it becomes hard to live in His love alone much of the time however I know in my heart for me that is part of the growing process Father in his love and perfect wisdom has chosen for me for a season nevertheless knowing that does not always make it easy. I say that, because I believe many tempted to “plant” or start a Church are often in a similar season and do not recognize it and mistake their desire for connection as a call do what only Jesus can do at least right…

]]> By: Jo http://lifestream.org/blog/2009/05/12/starting-a-house-church/comment-page-1/#comment-28373 Jo Sat, 16 May 2009 00:19:44 +0000 http://lifestream.org/blog/?p=836#comment-28373 My husband and I have been completely blown away with this, for us, new stuff, we both have read, The Shack, So you don't want to go to church anymore, and He loves me.... We have also both gone ... WOW!!! this is what we thought but had never put into words ... We have both been through a hurrendously challenging time in our marriage, but love each other to bits and have now come through to look at a much brighter future for us both and our family .. I was readin the blogg to understand more and get more info just for us and I just want to say thank you so much for helping the Lord reveal to us this much brighter future, as many people we have a testimony and a half, both quite unbelievable and have been transformed inside out pretty much and now this new stuff has helped us get to know our creator better and stand with our heads up proud to be what we are and proud to share our Father gently with other people all around us that have not had the oportunites we have had, but have not had the hurts in a church either so receive what we share with open hearts, this is just with people we meet every day, we hardley go to our church anymore, many people have left hurt and will not ever be open again to His Love, thinking it was God who hurt them when it was just some misguided people trying to do their best and what they thought was right... but as I said very misguided... Anyhow ... THANK YOU HEAPS ... ;o) My husband and I have been completely blown away with this, for us, new stuff, we both have read, The Shack, So you don’t want to go to church anymore, and He loves me…. We have also both gone … WOW!!! this is what we thought but had never put into words … We have both been through a hurrendously challenging time in our marriage, but love each other to bits and have now come through to look at a much brighter future for us both and our family .. I was readin the blogg to understand more and get more info just for us and I just want to say thank you so much for helping the Lord reveal to us this much brighter future, as many people we have a testimony and a half, both quite unbelievable and have been transformed inside out pretty much and now this new stuff has helped us get to know our creator better and stand with our heads up proud to be what we are and proud to share our Father gently with other people all around us that have not had the oportunites we have had, but have not had the hurts in a church either so receive what we share with open hearts, this is just with people we meet every day, we hardley go to our church anymore, many people have left hurt and will not ever be open again to His Love, thinking it was God who hurt them when it was just some misguided people trying to do their best and what they thought was right… but as I said very misguided… Anyhow … THANK YOU HEAPS … ;o)

]]> By: Jamie Arpin-Ricci http://lifestream.org/blog/2009/05/12/starting-a-house-church/comment-page-1/#comment-28355 Jamie Arpin-Ricci Thu, 14 May 2009 12:33:32 +0000 http://lifestream.org/blog/?p=836#comment-28355 Our small church plant happened to us, in many ways. After 7 years of living and serving in our inner city community, the relationships we built had developed to such a stage that to form into a community of faith together was only natural. This flew in the face of church planting methods we had heard about before, but have been very blessed at what has been born as a result. Peace, Jamie Our small church plant happened to us, in many ways. After 7 years of living and serving in our inner city community, the relationships we built had developed to such a stage that to form into a community of faith together was only natural. This flew in the face of church planting methods we had heard about before, but have been very blessed at what has been born as a result.

Peace,
Jamie

]]> By: Andy in Germany http://lifestream.org/blog/2009/05/12/starting-a-house-church/comment-page-1/#comment-28353 Andy in Germany Thu, 14 May 2009 09:39:42 +0000 http://lifestream.org/blog/?p=836#comment-28353 This makes a lot of sense to me and I find it very freeing: I've never realls fitted in 'traditional' or 'modern' churches and I'm still looking at alternatives where we can be real and love people and be loved without having to jump through hoops. Quite how it fits into our life and current church situation is another matter, but I'm sure God has some very creative ideas. Thanks for posting. This makes a lot of sense to me and I find it very freeing: I’ve never realls fitted in ‘traditional’ or ‘modern’ churches and I’m still looking at alternatives where we can be real and love people and be loved without having to jump through hoops. Quite how it fits into our life and current church situation is another matter, but I’m sure God has some very creative ideas.
Thanks for posting.

]]> By: Alexander Campbell http://lifestream.org/blog/2009/05/12/starting-a-house-church/comment-page-1/#comment-28352 Alexander Campbell Thu, 14 May 2009 07:33:59 +0000 http://lifestream.org/blog/?p=836#comment-28352 Wayne hi again. thanks for your reply. yes! this is the heart of it for us too - as servants our role is to connect people with a living relationship with jesus, so they become dependent on him not on us or our forms. this is what we are doing amongst the desperate and forgotten in the southern most townships in Africa. it is a privilege. This is a radically new approach to 'leadership' here in Africa but our vision is partly to raise up servant leaders who will serve Africa rather than continue the process of power abuse which pervades both secular and church contexts here. Wayne hi again. thanks for your reply. yes! this is the heart of it for us too – as servants our role is to connect people with a living relationship with jesus, so they become dependent on him not on us or our forms. this is what we are doing amongst the desperate and forgotten in the southern most townships in Africa. it is a privilege.
This is a radically new approach to ‘leadership’ here in Africa but our vision is partly to raise up servant leaders who will serve Africa rather than continue the process of power abuse which pervades both secular and church contexts here.

]]> By: The Shape of the Church (Part II) « The Hand of God http://lifestream.org/blog/2009/05/12/starting-a-house-church/comment-page-1/#comment-28349 The Shape of the Church (Part II) « The Hand of God Thu, 14 May 2009 07:10:32 +0000 http://lifestream.org/blog/?p=836#comment-28349 [...] topic as we’re discussing here Wayne Jacobsen’s blog LifeStream is dealing with “Starting A House Church”.   So I’m delving into what even more people are saying about this topic of the shape of the [...] [...] topic as we’re discussing here Wayne Jacobsen’s blog LifeStream is dealing with “Starting A House Church”.   So I’m delving into what even more people are saying about this topic of the shape of the [...]

]]> By: Wayne http://lifestream.org/blog/2009/05/12/starting-a-house-church/comment-page-1/#comment-28347 Wayne Wed, 13 May 2009 22:34:01 +0000 http://lifestream.org/blog/?p=836#comment-28347 Yes, Alexander, I do see a place for gifted and experienced men and women to spend a significant part of their lives helping equip others to live in his relationship to Jesus. Unfortunately, and not always intentionally, such ministries have more often offered a substitute for that relationship, rather than being a supplement of it. For more you can read here: http://www.lifestream.org/LSBL.dec02.html Yes, Alexander, I do see a place for gifted and experienced men and women to spend a significant part of their lives helping equip others to live in his relationship to Jesus. Unfortunately, and not always intentionally, such ministries have more often offered a substitute for that relationship, rather than being a supplement of it. For more you can read here: http://www.lifestream.org/LSBL.dec02.html

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