A few weeks ago, I wrote an article about the need for church communities to embrace new wineskins. In a post-Christendom age that has many similarities to the pre-Christendom age before Constantine, many of our churches are operating in a traditional Christendom-era format. Therefore, we must critically re-examine and look at the powerful, Spirit-filled, and world-changing early Church communities and see how we can shape and drastically simplify our own church communities in a way that reflects this early Church. In the church community my wife and I are a part of at Meeting House Ministries, this is what the community is striving for.
For many churches and denominations with a traditional, centralized, hierarchical, and institutional ecclesiology and format, these types of changes can be an uncomfortable step of faith. However, the Church is ultimately the people of God, and not necessarily how God’s people are organized into structures. The Spirit has filled God’s people. Therefore, as church communities filled with God’s people, we must disciple and model to one another and the world around us the power and love of Jesus Christ, unleashing the supernatural power and love of the Spirit on the world in a way the world hasn’t seen since the early Church exploded.
This past weekend, I had the opportunity to teach two sessions at the Philadelphia District Church of the Nazarene Momentum discipleship conference, discussing what these new wineskins might look like. I’ve attached my outline and handout below, with ideas and examples included. Please take a look and feel free to utilize and incorporate these ideas in your own church communities, and if you have any questions, please contact me.
Simple Church Momentum Conference Outline and Handout
The Kayaking Church 