Simple Church Ministries of Lancaster

“For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in   high places.  Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.”  (Eph. 6:12-13 KJV) 

Every Christian should become acquainted with the principles of spiritual warfare.  The bible reveals we are in the midst of a great spiritual war.  It is an invisible supernatural war that rages in the dimension of the spirit world, between the kingdom of darkness and the kingdom of light (2 Kings 6:16-17).

This is not a new war; this war has existed for unknown eons of time.  It is a war where fallen angels and demon spirits (the enemies of God) have become the rulers of the darkness of this world (age).

Satan, the god and prince of this world is the antagonist and instigator of this primeval conflict (Jn. 12:31; 2 Cor. 4:4).  Together, with his army of fallen angels and demon spirits, his purpose is to thwart the eternal plan and purposes of God in heaven and Earth. 

At the center of this conflict is God’s prize creation, Man.

The Invisible Enemy:

Whether we realize it or not an unseen but evil enemy is all around us. Whether we wake or sleep this spiritual warfare continually rages on.

Though most of us are unaware, unwitting, and unwilling participants, this war touches the everyday lives of every human being on Earth.  There are no neutral parties in this war; there are no exceptions; no one is exempt. Read more…

The bible declares that there is only one true God.  The bible also declares that God is one, and that God has revealed Himself in eternity as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit-God in three persons.   The apostle John writes, 

For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one. (1 Jn. 5:7)

The triune nature of the Godhead (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) is an infinite mystery that transcends human understanding.   Therefore, it is impossible for the finite mind of man to grasp the infinite triune being of God.

By triune, we mean that God is a trinity.   This means that God is three in one.   He exists eternally in three separate and distinct persons, God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.

Some do not approve of the term persons when referring to the Godhead.   However, by saying God is a trinity, or that He eternally exists in three persons does not mean that there are three Gods; for this would be tri-theism (the belief in three Gods).

The use of the term persons in a theological sense is confined strictly to describe an infinite concept of the triune nature of God, so that finite man can approach the Godhead with an understanding that he can embrace.  The term persons is used to represent the distinction within the Godhead. Read more…

And all that believed were together, and had all things common; (Acts 2:44).  

And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart,  (Acts 2:46).

The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ? (1 Cor. 10:16)

If you were raised in a traditional church setting you have become accustomed to participating in the special but sacred service called the Holy Communion.   This special service, also known as the Eucharist or the Lord’s Supper is traditionally administered by the clergy and is usually a solemn, reflective, and introspective time of prayer, confession, and re-dedication of the believer to Christ.

However, in contrast to most churches of today, churches of the 1^st century had an entirely different perspective and experience of what we call the Holy Communion.

The Common Meal

In the early church the Lord’s Supper was not reduced to a sacred ceremony consisting of a small cracker and a tiny glass of grape juice administered by professional clergy.   In contrast to modern practice the early church observed the Lord’s Supper regularly, breaking bread from house to house.  This consisted of a complete meal including bread and wine, symbols of the New Covenant (Acts 2:44, 46).  Read more…

“Let the prophets speak two or three, and let the other judge. If any thing be revealed to another that sitteth by, let the first hold his peace. For ye may all prophesy one by one, that all may learn, and all may be comforted.  And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets. For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints. ” (1 Cor. 14:29-33)

The subject of prophecy, prophesying, and prophets has caught the attention of many believers today, so I thought I would take the time to weigh in on this important but controversial area.

It appears that some reject the idea of New Testament prophets in the church today.  Some believe that since the canonization of the scriptures the gift of prophecy as well as the office of the prophet has ceased and they are no longer needed today. 

Personally, I think there is a lack of fundamental knowledge and understanding in the Body of Christ when it comes to the entire arena of prophecy, prophesying, and prophets.

Compound the issue with the misuse and abuse of the gifts and callings of some who represent these things and you end up with confusion, misinformation, and mistrust of anything prophetic in nature.  So, let us begin by defining what prophecy is. Read more…

House Church – leadership and government is a 4 part video presented by CharlesSmoot.org and Simple Church Ministries of Lancaster. 

This video series explores the role of local and central church leadership and government as it is found in the book of Acts.  

In addition, it introduces the persuasive servant leadership role of the five-fold ministry gifts of apostle, prophet, evangelist, pastor, and teacher within the context of the New Testament.  The “four generations of leadership model” is also explained.  This series is presented in a house church “open meeting” setting with audience participation.  You may access the remaining 3 videos in this series by clicking on the following links:  Part 2, Part 3, Part 4

Copyright  © 2010,  All Rights Reserved

The church as we know it is undergoing a radical change; a transformation from the institutional to the organic, as believers are coming together in a relational, family, House church, Simple church kind of way.

Simple Church Ministries of Lancaster and CharlesSmoot.org is devoted to spreading the good news of the “finished work” of Jesus Christ around the globe.

If you are currently attending or have attended “the church in Charles and Helen’s house,” let us know if this ministry has been a blessing to you by placing a comment under the blog post entitled Simple Church feedback. 

If you are interested in sharing Christ within an organic setting you will find the House church an environment of discovery, experience, and celebration.  To find a House church in your area go to http://www.hccentral.com/.

 Blessings,

 Charles & Helen Smoot

“When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.” (Jn. 19:30) KJV 

Recently I received a letter from a dear brother who shared with me a conversation between two believers discussing the relationship between faith and works.

One assumed the position that salvation is a free-gift by grace through faith; the other the position that obedience is an essential component and evidence of salvation.

Without trying to be critical or judgmental, I believe such discussions exist because many believers do not have an understanding or appreciation of what is commonly referred to in theology as, the finished work of the cross.

More importantly, some believers do not appreciate nor understand how Christ’s finished work of substitution and atonement relates to the justification, sanctification, and preservation of the believer.

 More than good news:

All of my life I have heard many teach that the gospel is the good news.  However, the gospel of Jesus Christ is more than simply good news.

Just what is it about this good news that makes it so good? Read more…

I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. ²Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. ³Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. ⁴Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. ⁵I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.  ⁶If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. ⁷If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. ⁸Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples (St. Jn 15: 1-8). -KJV (emphasis mine)

Organic Relationship

One of the best known parables of Jesus is that of the Vine and the Branches. It is a metaphor that illustrates the spiritual, vital, and fruitful union shared between Christ and the church.

I particularly like this metaphor because it not only depicts the Headship of Christ; it also alludes to the inter-dependent and organic relationship of believers to each other.

   1) This organic relationship underscores the vital dependence of each believer upon Christ, who is the source of our spiritual life and fruitfulness (Jn. 15:4; Col. 3:4).  

   2) This parable further illustrates the inter-dependent nature of the Body of Christ (Eph. 4:16).

As the individual branches are one with the vine, so we are “members one of another,” are “members in particular,” and share the same spiritual life of the Vine (Rom. 12:5; 1 Cor. 12:27). Read more…

Sunday evening, I was delighted how “perfect strangers” could have oneness.   The fellowship in our home meeting was an extra-ordinary experience shared by nine people, who, if not for Christ might not even connect in the world.

Ephesians 4:3 tells us to:

“Be eager and strive earnestly to guard and keep the harmony and oneness of [and produced by] the Spirit in the binding power of peace” (Amplified).

In our humanness we look for commonness in such things as age, sex, ethnicity, economics, etc, because this appeals to our flesh.   Yet, what is truly powerful is what occurs when our spirits connect because of HIM, “…because you love one another” (Eph. 4:2 Amplified).

Go ahead; invite another believer into your home.   Especially someone you don’t normally worship with and you will share the most important thing you have in common, the oneness of the Spirit.

The exaltation of Jesus Christ and the mutual edification of the Body of Christ should be the purpose and focus of every House church gathering. 

When we come together, we are essentially practicing how to experience Jesus in our midst.  This experience, however, does not take place over night.

It takes time for a House church to discover how to be sensitive to the leadership of the Holy Spirit. The apostle Paul spent many years writing letters to the church instructing them in the things of God.

The church in Corinth in particular was one in which Paul gave instructions in how to experience and share Christ in a decent and orderly way so that everyone could be mutually edified, encouraged, and strengthened in the faith.

The early churches gathered regularly to worship and share the life of Christ with one another.  For a little over 300 years, believers primarily gathered in homes all across the city to pray, sing, worship, and share the life of Christ together.

 Luke records four pillars of early church community:

    “And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship,   and in breaking of bread, and in prayers“ (Acts 2:42).

    “And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, “ (Acts 2:46). Read more…

WOW, what an unexpected treasure Saturday night. We have brothers and sisters who worship around a bonfire!  We roast hot-dogs and marshmallows. One of the brothers wanted to be baptized.

The amazing thing to me is─He, like me, got overwhelmed with fear and feelings of  inferiority. This is the lie of our enemy!

You see, we will NEVER be good enough in ourselves!  We are good only good enough through the atonement of Jesus Christ (1 John 4:10).

I know so many who have had a similar experience prior to their own baptism.

1 John 4:18 (Amplified) says, “There is no fear in love (dread does not exist), but full-grown (complete, perfect) love turns out of doors and expels every trace of terror!”

It was a beautiful thing to watch the saints encourage him and to see love cast out fear.

We all piled into the bathroom and watched our dear brother go into the water.  Hallelujah!  What a wonderful experience.

There are so many times the Lord tells us to “fear not.”  I encourage you to do a word search on it. Fear does come in many forms.  Walk in faith and obedience.  The Lord gives courage through His love and Spirit.

For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect. (Heb. 10:1)

Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ. (Col. 2:17)

The Law, A Shadow of Things To Come

It has been said that the Old Testament is the New Testament concealed and the New Testament is Old Testament revealed. However, many preachers do not understand the relationship between the types and shadows of the Old Testament and their fulfillment in the New Testament (Col. 2:17).

When interpreting and applying Old Testament scriptures many have ignored a very important hermeneutic principle of interpretation.  That is:

When interpreting the relationship between the types and shadows of the Old Testament and their fulfillment in the New Testament, we must progress in revelation and knowledge from a revealed truth (the New Testament covenant of Grace)in order to understand a concealed truth (the Old Testament covenant of The Law). 

Think of the Law as the shadow of an object which is cast backward through time.  The shadow (in this instance) is the Old Testament typology of the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms (Lk. 24:44).  The object which cast the shadow backward through time is the cross of Jesus Christ, His “finished work,“ and the New Testament of Grace.

In other words, as New Testament believers, we must interpret the types and shadows of the Law from the standpoint of Grace rather than interpret Grace from the standpoint of the Law.

Just because we are first introduced to The Law (the shadow) does not mean that we are to use the Law to interpret Grace (the body casting the shadow) (Col.2:17).  Why is this so? Read more…

Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.  But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster. (Gal. 3:24-25)

For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect. (Heb. 10:1)

For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did; by the which we draw nigh unto God. (Heb. 7:19)

 No Longer Under a Schoolmaster

Although the Old Testament canon of scripture (Genesis – Malachi) is referred to as the Law and the Prophets, the Law specifically was the moral, civil, and ceremonial code that was given to the prophet Moses as revealed in the first five books of the Bible known as the Pentateuch (Genesis – Deuteronomy). 

 The apostle Paul said this law was the handwriting of ordinances contained in commandments that was against us and contrary to us (Eph. 2:15; Col. 2:14). Read more…

Join us as we discover and experience what House church life is like when believers come together to share the life of Jesus organically within our local Simple church community!

 What is a house church? 

A House church is a local “faith community” of believers in Jesus Christ who enjoy an extended family relationship for the purposes of discovering, experiencing, and celebrating the life of Jesus within their midst.

 1)  A  House church is established through the nurturing and care of relationships that are based on a commitment to family, community, discipleship, and mutual support.

 2)  A  House church may meet in a home, business, restaurant, park, school, office, or other casual setting.  It is important to distinguish that:

 3)  A  House church is not where we meet, but how we meet.

 4)  A  House church meeting is usually an “open meeting.”  That is, in an organic House church setting, members are encouraged to each participate and have part in the gathering as the Lord Jesus through the Holy Spirit may lead.

However, this does not mean that there are no leaders present.  It simply means that even when leaders are present, Jesus will still lead or guide the meeting, as each member is sensitive to the realization that the “open meeting” is under the Headship of Christ, as members participate and function openly as they are lead by His Holy Spirit. Read more…

After watching “my” Cowboys loose last evening, it became evident to me; we can have an identity problem.

People like associating themselves with things.  A danger to believers is in being enamored with belonging to the biggest, latest, or best church in town.

If “serving” or church membership is more valued than your personal devotional worship, prayer, or study time, it may have become an idol.

Matt 6:21 tells us, “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be.”

Remember what team you are on.  We are followers of Jesus Christ.

Since the dawn of history and in each age or dispensation thereafter, man has always attempted to justify himself, to make him-self  holy, clean, acceptable and right with God.  In addition, man has always attempted to improve on God’s plan of redemption.  Such attempts have always led man to some form of legalism.

Since the beginning of the church and for nearly 2,000 years, there has also existed a great debate within-a theological tug of war between proponents of law vs. grace and works vs. faith.   This is written about that struggle, a struggle that will continue until Jesus returns.

Legalism, A Religious Phenomenon

Legalism is a religious phenomenon within the Body of Christ.  At the core of legalism is the concept of righteousness through works (human merit).   For the purposes of this work, I would like to offer the following definition of works.

Works:  righteous acts, deeds, effort, or service based on human merit.

Righteousness through works is self-righteousness.  Self-righteousness and legalism are both a curse and a stumbling block to the Body of Christ (Rom. 9:31-33).

Legalism is responsible for more darkness and false teaching within the Body of Christ than anything else.

Legalism, The Yoke of Bondage

Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines legalism as strict, literal, or excessive conformity to the law or to a religious or moral code.  For purposes of this work, I offer a definition of legalism:

Legalism is any belief system where man derives merit through the keeping of the Law or other man-made doctrines, disciplines, or rules in order that he might obtain righteousness with God and thereby secure for himself favor, blessings, and in the end, salvation and eternal life. Read more…

For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, one by a bondmaid, the other by a free woman.  But he who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh, but he of the free woman was by promise.  Which things are an allegory:  for these are the two covenants;   (Gal. 4:22-24)

 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.  (Jn. 1:13)

  That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.  (Jn. 3:6)

Salvation, A Miracle of Grace

An allegory is an extended metaphor. It is an illustration used in scripture to explain or give meaning to a biblical type, shadow, or other spiritual truth.  

The Old Testament is full of types and shadows.   The New Testament abounds with allegories.  This allegory of Isaac and Ishmael illustrates the New Testament truth that:

Salvation is possible only because of the promise of God and not by the righteous efforts of man. 

Furthermore, it illustrates the struggle between the proponents of law and grace; “but as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now” (Gal. 4:29).  In other words:

Those, who by the grace of God put their trust solely in the blood of Jesus as the basis for salvation, are persecuted by those who look to themselves and to their own works in order to obtain and maintain righteousness with God.

I can find no better example of this than Paul’s use of Isaac and Ishmael.  Isaac was a child of promise, born after the Spirit. He was conceived by grace through faith.  He was a gift to Abraham through Sarah; though Abraham was 100 years old and Sarah 90 and beyond the age of childbirth (Gen. 15:1-6; Rom. 4:17-22).  

 As Isaac’s birth was made possible because of a miracle of God’s grace, so is the believer’s salvation made possible because of a miracle of God’s grace.  Read more…

At first mention in the bible, systematically, the word grace in its generic form simply means favor; Thus, “Noah found grace [Heb. chen favor] in the eyes of the Lord” (Gen. 6:8). The Hebrew word chen is translated elsewhere in the Old Testament as either grace or favor (e.g. Gen. 18:3 favor and 19:19 grace; 39:4 grace and 39:21 favor).

The idea of grace as favor can be seen and understood in the context of the following scriptures:

“Now it came to pass on the third day, that Esther put on her royal apparel, and stood in the inner court of the king’s house, over against the king’s house: and the king sat upon his royal throne in the royal house, over against the gate of the house. 2And it was so, when the king saw Esther the queen standing in the court, that she “obtained” favour [grace], in his sight: and the king held out to Esther the golden sceptre that was in his hand. So Esther drew near, and touched the top of the sceptre. 3Then said the king unto her, What wilt thou, queen Esther? and what is thy request? it shall be even given thee to the half of the kingdom” (Esth. 5:1-3 emphasis mine)(e.g. Esth. 2:15,5:8,7:3,8:5; Heb. 4:16)

Here, we find that although under the condemnation of the law, Esther, a young Jewish girl obtained grace “favour” (Heb.chen) in the eyes of the king and was granted her petition. What a beautiful picture of what happens to the believer in Christ today when he/she petitions our heavenly Father.  In fact, the New Testament anti-type of this verse is revealed in the book to the Hebrews.   It reads:

“Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace [charis], that we may “obtain” mercy, and find grace [charis] to help in time of need (Heb. 4:16 emphasis mine).

Whenever God is doing something for us, to us, in us, or through us, it is through the means of and to the glory of His grace (Eph. 1:6). Whenever grace is supplied to the believer it is always given to “help in the time of need.”   Thus, grace is and always brings with it a divine benefit of a sort.

“Mercy, forgiveness, divine enablement, and strength to walk in our gifts and calling flow [freely] from the throne of grace to the believer” (Fallen from Grace, Zulon Press pg. 245) Read more…