Community Fellowship is a network of Simple Churches that meet in homes, the workplace, cafés, school campuses and virtually anywhere people hang out.
Our vision is to simply bring church to people instead of expecting people to come to a church building. We are the church. We are carriers of the Kingdom of God everywhere we go.
This is Simple Church.
Welcome to Community Fellowship!
Simple Church
Simple Church
What takes place at a Simple Church gathering?
We do what the Early Church did: “They committed themselves to the teaching of the apostles, the life together, the common meal, and the prayers” Acts 2:42 Message.
Essentially four things happen at a Simple Church gathering. We eat together (and usually celebrate communion), we interact around the Word of God together, we pray for one another (and the needs of others outside our group), and we enjoy hanging out and spending time together.
We do what the Early Church did: “They committed themselves to the teaching of the apostles, the life together, the common meal, and the prayers” Acts 2:42 Message.
Essentially four things happen at a Simple Church gathering. We eat together (and usually celebrate communion), we interact around the Word of God together, we pray for one another (and the needs of others outside our group), and we enjoy hanging out and spending time together.
What about Children & Students?
What about Children & Students?
The strongest metaphor for our Simple Church network is family. In every family, children should be counted as a blessing and always welcome.
Our children and youth are vital participants at each gathering. We do not have specialized curriculum or graded classes, rather we include the children in our worship and discussion.
Because their attention span is short, children are often allowed to draw during Bible discussion or play in another area.
Children benefit greatly from many spiritual aunts, uncles, grandmothers, and grandfathers, etc. Family is what helps each of us mature.
As for middle and high school students, they have their own simple churches that meet each week.
Our children and youth are vital participants at each gathering. We do not have specialized curriculum or graded classes, rather we include the children in our worship and discussion.
Because their attention span is short, children are often allowed to draw during Bible discussion or play in another area.
Children benefit greatly from many spiritual aunts, uncles, grandmothers, and grandfathers, etc. Family is what helps each of us mature.
As for middle and high school students, they have their own simple churches that meet each week.
Three Simple Goals
Three Simple Goals
Be Followers Of Jesus!
Be Followers Of Jesus!
(Love God)
(Love God)
Be A Blessing To Everyone!
Be A Blessing To Everyone!
(Love Others)
(Love Others)
Be Fruitful & Multiply!
Be Fruitful & Multiply!
BE FOLLOWERS OF JESUS
Jesus came to restore what man has lost. Originally, mankind had three purposes:
• Together they were to reflect the image of their Creator-God.
• They were to reproduce that image by filling the earth with children.
• They were to reign together against evil, to cultivate and guard the garden (Eden) as co-rulers with Him.
Jesus came to give us what we can’t get on our own:
• Peace that counteracts fear!
• Love that counteracts anger!
• Joy that counteracts guilt!
• Grace that counteracts shame!
Jesus came to personalize the God of gods (Theme of gospel of John).
Jesus came to dissolve alienation at every level:
• Jesus trumps competition between denominations and religion.
• Jesus trumps animosity between political parties.
• Jesus trumps prejudicial conflict.
• Jesus trumps marital differences.
• Jesus trumps natural enemies.
• Jesus trumps alienation you are experiencing personally.
Jesus is worthy of our following!
BE A BLESSING
We bless others in 4 ways:
B- egin with prayer. Jesus said He only did what He saw His Father doing as revealed in prayer.
L- isten. Jesus was a master of the art of listening and asking questions (Luke 2:46).
E- at. Jesus ate with people wherever he went. Eating breaks down walls (Rev3:20).
S-erve. Jesus modeled the life of a servant (Mark 10:45).
S- tory. Jesus was a master story- teller. He incorporated the stories of daily life into the context of God’s larger story and ongoing activity in our lives.
We are called to be a BLESSing to others- everywhere we go!
BE FRUITFUL AND MULTIPLY
• God’s original mandate for mankind was to “be fruitful and multiply” (Gen. 1:28).
• Jesus’ message to His disciples just before He went to the cross to die for the sins of mankind (which kept man from fulfilling his intended purpose) was:
“I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing…I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit…” (John 15:5, 16).
• Jesus’ final commission to all His followers prior to His ascension was:
“Go and make disciples of all the nations…” (Matt. 28:19).
Jesus came to restore what man has lost. Originally, mankind had three purposes:
• Together they were to reflect the image of their Creator-God.
• They were to reproduce that image by filling the earth with children.
• They were to reign together against evil, to cultivate and guard the garden (Eden) as co-rulers with Him.
Jesus came to give us what we can’t get on our own:
• Peace that counteracts fear!
• Love that counteracts anger!
• Joy that counteracts guilt!
• Grace that counteracts shame!
Jesus came to personalize the God of gods (Theme of gospel of John).
Jesus came to dissolve alienation at every level:
• Jesus trumps competition between denominations and religion.
• Jesus trumps animosity between political parties.
• Jesus trumps prejudicial conflict.
• Jesus trumps marital differences.
• Jesus trumps natural enemies.
• Jesus trumps alienation you are experiencing personally.
Jesus is worthy of our following!
BE A BLESSING
We bless others in 4 ways:
B- egin with prayer. Jesus said He only did what He saw His Father doing as revealed in prayer.
L- isten. Jesus was a master of the art of listening and asking questions (Luke 2:46).
E- at. Jesus ate with people wherever he went. Eating breaks down walls (Rev3:20).
S-erve. Jesus modeled the life of a servant (Mark 10:45).
S- tory. Jesus was a master story- teller. He incorporated the stories of daily life into the context of God’s larger story and ongoing activity in our lives.
We are called to be a BLESSing to others- everywhere we go!
BE FRUITFUL AND MULTIPLY
• God’s original mandate for mankind was to “be fruitful and multiply” (Gen. 1:28).
• Jesus’ message to His disciples just before He went to the cross to die for the sins of mankind (which kept man from fulfilling his intended purpose) was:
“I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing…I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit…” (John 15:5, 16).
• Jesus’ final commission to all His followers prior to His ascension was:
“Go and make disciples of all the nations…” (Matt. 28:19).
The DNA of Every Simple Church
The DNA of Every Simple Church
From Organic Church, Neil Cole and Paul Kaak
From Organic Church, Neil Cole and Paul Kaak
DNA is the internal code that maintains the integrity of each multiplied cell. In every organism, DNA is what encodes each cell with its proper process and place in the body.
Just as the DNA is exactly the same in almost every cell of a body, the DNA is the same throughout Body of Christ, for all its members and in every cell. The DNA is the pattern of Kingdom life, from the smallest unit (the disciple in relationship to Jesus and others) to the largest unit.
The DNA of our Simple Churches can be simplified into three things. Each is needed for a church to be healthy:
Divine truth. Truth comes from God. It is seen in the person of Jesus and the Scriptures. Jesus said the greatest commandment is to “love the Lord with all your heart…” (Matt. 22:37-38).
Nurturing relationships. Humans were never created to be alone. We are social creatures and have an intrinsic need for relationships. Jesus said the second greatest commandment is to “ love your neighbor as yourself” (Matt. 22:39-40). We thus show the world that we are His disciples by our love for one another (John 13:35).
Apostolic mission. Apostolic means “sent as a representative with a message.” We are here for a purpose. In Jesus’ final words while on earth He gave this directive: “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them… teaching them to observe all that I (Jesus) commanded you; and I (Jesus) will always be with you, even to the end of the age.” (Matt. 28:19-20).
In short, our DNA has three applications, which can be summarized with the encouragement toward faith, love and hope. Faith is our response to truth. Love is our response to relationships. Hope is our response to mission. This is the pattern Paul uses to summarize the life one who follows Jesus (1 Cor. 13:13; Col. 1:5; 1Thess. 1:3; 5:8).
Just as the DNA is exactly the same in almost every cell of a body, the DNA is the same throughout Body of Christ, for all its members and in every cell. The DNA is the pattern of Kingdom life, from the smallest unit (the disciple in relationship to Jesus and others) to the largest unit.
The DNA of our Simple Churches can be simplified into three things. Each is needed for a church to be healthy:
Divine truth. Truth comes from God. It is seen in the person of Jesus and the Scriptures. Jesus said the greatest commandment is to “love the Lord with all your heart…” (Matt. 22:37-38).
Nurturing relationships. Humans were never created to be alone. We are social creatures and have an intrinsic need for relationships. Jesus said the second greatest commandment is to “ love your neighbor as yourself” (Matt. 22:39-40). We thus show the world that we are His disciples by our love for one another (John 13:35).
Apostolic mission. Apostolic means “sent as a representative with a message.” We are here for a purpose. In Jesus’ final words while on earth He gave this directive: “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them… teaching them to observe all that I (Jesus) commanded you; and I (Jesus) will always be with you, even to the end of the age.” (Matt. 28:19-20).
In short, our DNA has three applications, which can be summarized with the encouragement toward faith, love and hope. Faith is our response to truth. Love is our response to relationships. Hope is our response to mission. This is the pattern Paul uses to summarize the life one who follows Jesus (1 Cor. 13:13; Col. 1:5; 1Thess. 1:3; 5:8).
A Love-Wins Culture
A Love-Wins Culture
Our desire is to create a Love-Wins Culture.
In Matthew 22:40, Jesus said, "Everything depends on two commandments: To love God with all your heart and to love your neighbor as yourself."
In I Corinthians 13:8, Paul said, "Love never fails," or as one translation says, "Love ALWAYS wins."
At CF, we put action to these verses through our Simple Churches which are built around the idea of loving God, loving yourself and loving others.
Loving God is expressed through our worship as disciples of Christ. Loving ourselves occurs when we live out of our new identity in Christ. Loving others is expressed through our service and care of all people.
This is Simple Church.
In Matthew 22:40, Jesus said, "Everything depends on two commandments: To love God with all your heart and to love your neighbor as yourself."
In I Corinthians 13:8, Paul said, "Love never fails," or as one translation says, "Love ALWAYS wins."
At CF, we put action to these verses through our Simple Churches which are built around the idea of loving God, loving yourself and loving others.
Loving God is expressed through our worship as disciples of Christ. Loving ourselves occurs when we live out of our new identity in Christ. Loving others is expressed through our service and care of all people.
This is Simple Church.