Simple Church Glossary
Here’s a simple glossary for simple churches. It is not exhaustive by any means but will be helpful for people less familiar with the concept of simple church.
Simple Church
We use “simple church” instead of “house church.” “House church” can have negative or weird connotations in our culture. “House church” can also communicate a closed mentality, instead of a missional mentality. Our emphasis is also on simple, not house.[1] We believe in an ecclesiological minimum for the sake of replication, full functioning of the church body, and keeping ministry simple to keep Jesus central.
Church
“Church” is the called-out people of God. Church is not a building; it is a body. The church gathers to be built up, and it scatters to bless the broken world. Church is not an event. Church is not something we go to. Church is something the people of God are.
Missional
“Missional,” Ed Stetzer says, “means adopting the posture of a missionary, joining Jesus on mission, learning and adapting to the culture around you while remaining biblically sound.”[2]
We lovingly engage with the people around us. We do not shut ourselves off in “God ghettos,” we do not create Christian castles. Jesus said that we are to be lights in a dark world (Matt. 5:15). Also as the Father sent Jesus, so Jesus has sent us into the world (Jn. 20:21). So, we leave the “bubble,” learn the culture, love our neighbors, listen to others wisely, live in relationship, and look to connect with people who don’t yet know Jesus.
Discovery Bible Study (DBS)
Discovery Bible Study is a helpful tool or methodology. It is a Bible study method used worldwide that is extremely simple, facilitating replication. It is very easy for people to lead the study even after just going through a DBS once (and that’s the point!). By keeping it simple, people can easily replicate it and pass it on. Importantly, each element teaches an aspect of discipleship.
(Many simple churches use DBS in some form or another. For example, we use DBS in some evangelistic and discipleship contexts.)
APEST (apostle, prophet, evangelist, shepherd, teacher)
The traditional Western church thinks in terms of pastor/shepherd and teacher, maybe even evangelist, but the gift of apostles and prophets is often left out, in contradiction to Ephesians 4. We, as simple churches, want to see the full functioning of Christ’s body so that the saints are equipped, and the body of Christ matures (v. 12-13).
(Alan Hirsch has written much that is helpful on this subject. For example, check out his book 5Q: Reactivating the Original Intelligence and Capacity of the Body of Christ.)
Four Fields
The “Four Fields” refers to a diagram-based training framework (based on Mk. 4:26-29) used as a training aid. It outlines the stages of kingdom growth: (1) Entering (praying and finding people of peace), (2) Sharing Jesus (sowing seeds/evangelism), (3) Growing (discipling), and (4) (4) Gathering as a Church (harvesting, equipping, sending on mission).
Person of Peace
A person of peace is a person who is welcoming and hospitable, and the Spirit uses them to help spread the gospel in their community. The term is from the New Testament, where Jesus instructed His disciples to find people of peace when entering a village.
Oikos Map
An Oikos Map is a visual prayer and evangelism tool. Oikos is Greek for “household.” An Oikos Map is used to map a person’s sphere of influence. The people we know where we work, live, and play: our family, friends, neighbors, and coworkers. It is a visual reminder and prayer guide for people in our social networks. It emphasizes how reaching one person can impact their own social networks.
Movement
As simple churches, we desire to multiply and make disciples who make more disciples, not grow any one location in numerical size. We understand a movement to be four generations of disciple makers along the lines of what Paul says in 2 Timothy 2:2.[3] Notice Paul’s desire and exhortation were not to amass a crowd but to form disciples who would make disciples. As simple churches, that is the movement we desire, a disciple-making movement.
Notes
[1] Although we do believe meeting in homes is often strategic. We meet in various other venues, including outside at parks when the weather is nice.
[2] Ed Stetzer and Daniel Im, Planting Missional Churches, 1.
[3] Here are the four generations of disciples from 2 Timothy 2: (1) Paul to (2) Timothy to (3) faithful persons who will be able to teach (4) others also.
*Photo by Redd Francisco
What if Sheep had a Shepherd?
When Jesus saw the masses He had compassion on them because they were like sheep without a shepherd (Matt. 9:36). Jesus cared about people, and He was very adamant that pastors care too. Yet, often people are left to face the world on their own.
What if church were different? What if sheep had a shepherd? What if pastors weren’t elevated on the stage or locked behind the closed doors of the office? What if shepherds “smelled like their sheep” and knew and spent time with people? What if the proportion of pastors to people allowed for pastoral care? What if we valued pastoral practice over eloquence and business acumen?
Jesus said shepherds will give an account for their shepherding or non-shepherding of the sheep entrusted to their care. Yet, sadly sometimes churches focus on the brand, building(s), and performance, and not on the church body being shepherded and equipped. But Jesus cared about shepherds shepherding.
A pastor is a “shepherd” or “one who cares for a flock or herd.” That’s why “pastor” sounds like the word “pasture.” The two words are connected. All over scripture, God refers to leaders as shepherds, with God Himself being the ultimate shepherd. When God’s people are not rightly cared for, He is upset. God says, “Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture” (Jer. 23:1-4)! And Ezekiel 34 shows that God takes the failure of His under-shepherds very seriously. He pronounces judgment on them (Ezek. 34:1-10). He promises He Himself will care for them (Ezek. 34:11-31).
God’s word says, “Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which He obtained with His own blood” (Acts 20:28). What a high, precious, and important calling! Pastors are to care for what Jesus bought with His very own blood. If it is that important to Jesus, how can it not be important to us?
Paul himself provides a powerful example of pastoral care. Paul visited people to “see how they are doing” (Acts 15:36)[1] and his letters showed his shepherding care. Paul made disciples and cared for disciples. These are complementary callings of church leaders. Paul taught Timothy and Timothy was genuinely concerned about the welfare of the people of the church (Phil. 2:20).
Paul had pastoral concern for God’s people. He wrote “I have you in my heart” (Phil. 1:7) as well as “being affectionately desirous of you, we were ready to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own selves, because you had become very dear to us” (1 Thess. 2:8). Scripture would have us see the importance of ministry both “publicly” and “house to house” (Acts 20:20).
Peter cared about leaders caring for people too. He passed on what he heard from Jesus: “shepherd the flock” (John 21:15-17). Peter relayed the command that leaders are to shepherd the flock of God (1 Peter 5:1). And Peter reminds us of our motivation: When the chief Shepherd appears, He will give the unfading crown of glory (v. 4).
Further, Acts 6:1-7 shows us shepherding must be intentional. We must make plans, delegate, and ensure the practical needs of people in the church are taken care of. Shepherding God’s people must be taken very seriously. King David, before he was king, risked his life for mere sheep (1 Sam. 17:34-36). King Jesus gave His life for His sinful people. He’s the Good Shepherd that lays down His life for the sheep (Jn. 10:11). And His under-shepherds are to lovingly and practically care for those for whom He gave His life (Acts 20:28).
Thus, in summary, King Jesus, the Great and Sovereign Shepherd, laid down His life for the sheep and calls pastors to care for His sheep. Under-shepherds must not spurn what the Over-Shepherd has called them to. If Jesus is the Pastor par excellence then under-shepherds must strive to emulate His loving, relational care.
Notes
[1] John also longed to see his people “face to face.” He was not satisfied with letters. He wanted to visit. Actual pastoral presence matters.
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