No Longer Church As Usual: Simple Church in "High Definition"

by F. L. Anderson

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Let me get straight to it. I could easily say that No Longer Church As Usual is a must-read for all Simple/House church groups, and those seeking to transition from a traditional church lifestyle, to a first century church mindset. (In other words, the mind of Christ.) Don't get me wrong, It is a must read for these groups. However, this book should be read by all believers no matter their worship experience or affiliation.

No Longer Church As Usual breaks down the historical first century church model of gathering and fellowship and makes it plain. For those who truly want God's best, after reading this book you will see how far away the Church as a whole- has drifted from God's best.

While others just write about Simple/House Church and theorize new concepts on how Simple Churches should gather, Tim Kurtz, author of No Longer Church As Usual, is living Simple/House Church daily.

Tim Kurtz brings a unique perspective to Simple/House Church. It is a perspective that not only needs to be read but heard, in order to bring truth to a 2010, Barna Group study stating that, "blacks make up three-tenths (30%) of its house church attenders." I'm just saying...

This book is a clear and compelling confirmation to me that the 21st century church model is a train wreck. But wait! No Longer Church As Usual has come with a Godly directive to not only help clean up the wreckage, but to also help repair the tracks.

The accompanying handbook is Simple Church in a nutshell. The pocket Constitution, if you will, for 21st century gatherings. The Believers Handbook for New Testament Gatherings gives new meaning to the phrase "Be fruitful and multiply". After reading both books, I can now see Simple Church in "High Definition".

Fresh, New and Different

by F. L. Anderson

Soon a Samaritan woman came to draw water, and Jesus said to her, “Please give me a drink.” The woman was surprised, for Jews refuse to have anything to do with Samaritans.

(John 4 : 7 -9) NLT

In this scripture Jesus did something that was totally outside the box. Here He broke with tradition so that the Samaritan woman would be edified. So that her soul could be saved. If Jesus would have stuck with traditions, it would have hindered Him from accomplishing His purpose. To save those that or lost.

Traditions have a history of being or becoming barriers or stumbling blocks. The Barna Group found that two out of three Christian teens will leave the church after they graduate high school. That's 70 percent of graduating seniors walk away from the church after high school. Life Way Research showed last year that more than two-thirds of young adults who attend church stopped attending church regularly for at least a year between the ages of 18 and 22. More studies are being conducted and resulting in similar statistics, making it the talk of the town in youth ministries across the country.

J. Lee Grady said it best, "if we want to reach our culture for Christ, we had better become willing to let go of the past. What worked 30 years ago has outlived its usefulness."

The phrase "We've always done it this way" is a poor excuse to always do it the same way.

When we stick with traditions for traditions sake our thinking is limited. When Jesus spoke to the Samaritan woman He not only went against Jewish tradition but He removed a man made barrier. The Church through out history has created man made barriers that conflict with it's purpose, winning souls.

In verse 10 Jesus replied, “If you only knew the gift God has for you and who you are speaking to, you would ask me, and I would give you living water. In other words I would give you something fresh, new, and different.