Simple Church

Simple Church

Simple Church, by Thom Rainer & Eric Geiger, is a compelling book. Based upon a lot of research, which they detail in their book, they make a very strong case for the simple church. They define simple church this way: “A simple church is designed around a straightforward and strategic process that moves people through the stages of spiritual growth.”

They then unpack this definition in a highly effective way throughout the book. The four themes of Simple Church are Clarity - Movement - Alignment - Focus.

Then, based upon their extensive research between what they have defined as “simple churches” and “comparison churches” they make a very good case for each of these points.

Here’s what they mean:
Clarity - “the ability of the process to be communicated and understood by the people.”
Movement - “the sequential steps in the process that cause people to move to greater areas of commitment.”
Alignment - “the arrangement of all ministries and staff around the same simple process.”
Focus - “the commitment to abandon everything that falls outside of the simple ministry process.”

Each of these 4 areas are explained in great detail and tied-down with research statistics comparing how simple churches and comparison churches do or do not follow through in each of these areas.

The most controversial chapter will probably be the one on ‘focus’. In its emphasis to eliminate all the clutter and every ministry that does not directly and clearly enhance the process, many ministries in many churches will have to be cut.

It is a very good book, and I will tell you why in a moment. But first for one criticism: The book is sub-titled “Returning to God’s process for making disciples”. This is a phrase that has been overused, as a number of ministries, from the initial effort at T-net to Sonlife have used a similar phrase. I believe that Sonlife has most popularized it, and Rainer & Geiger might have given thought to a title which more accurately reflects the contents of their book. For although they do make occasional Scriptural quotations, this book is not derived from an extensive process of studying how Christ made disciples. Books like The Master Plan of Disciple Making by Robert Coleman and Jesus Christ Disciple Maker by Bill Hull, and many of Dann Spader’s Sonlife seminars on “Growing a Healthy Church” look at the Scriptural method of making disciples more closely than does Simple Church. This book derives its influence from the extensive studies of simple churches, and the statistical comparisons between them and comparison churches.

But now, despite that criticism, I believe it is a life-changing, or at least, church-changing book. Every since our church has gotten our hands on this book, it has captivated our thinking as a leadership team. We began reading it just as staff, and then have given it to the leadership board. Next we will be sending it to all of our ministry team leaders. The book is good, and it really gets you thinking about they way you do church.

We as a church of 700 are right at the crossroads of becoming a large, complex church, or we can remain and refocus as a simple church. We are laying the foundation now during this school year for a complete retooling of the way we do church. We will not be the same church as we go into the next ministry year because of this book.

I would recommend it to your leadership team for a group read. It will alter the way you do church.

In Christ,
Dr. Bill

Simple Church

Tuesday, January 16, 2007