2. Foundation
Foundation
Church as we know it has
Church as we know it has
existed in nearly the same
existed in nearly the same
form for hundreds of years.
form for hundreds of years.
We believe a change from
We believe a change from
doing church the same old
doing church the same old
way is necessary for us to
way is necessary for us to
deepen our understanding
deepen our understanding
of Jesus and through him,
of Jesus and through him,
our connection to God.
our connection to God.
3. Luke 6:2-5Luke 6:2-5
One time on a Sabbath day, Jesus was walking through someOne time on a Sabbath day, Jesus was walking through some
grain fields. His followers picked the grain, rubbed it in theirgrain fields. His followers picked the grain, rubbed it in their
hands, and ate it. hands, and ate it. 2 2
Some Pharisees said,“Why are you doingSome Pharisees said,“Why are you doing
that? It is against the Law of Moses to do that on the Sabbaththat? It is against the Law of Moses to do that on the Sabbath
day.”day.”
3 3
Jesus answered,“You have read about what David did whenJesus answered,“You have read about what David did when
he and the people with him were hungry. he and the people with him were hungry. 4 4
David went intoDavid went into
God’s house. He took the bread that was offered to God andGod’s house. He took the bread that was offered to God and
ate it. And he gave some of the bread to the people with him.ate it. And he gave some of the bread to the people with him.
This wasThis was against the Lawagainst the Law of Moses, which says that only theof Moses, which says that only the
priests can eat that bread.” priests can eat that bread.” 5 5
Then Jesus said to the Pharisees,Then Jesus said to the Pharisees,
““The Son of Man is Lord over the Sabbath day.”The Son of Man is Lord over the Sabbath day.”
4. Whatdoesthismean
Whatdoesthismean
forourdailylives?
forourdailylives?
Rather than giving license
Rather than giving license
for irresponsible behavior
for irresponsible behavior
I must now be more
I must now be more
responsible because I must
responsible because I must
judge each action on the
judge each action on the
merit of service to God and
merit of service to God and
man not just consider
man not just consider
whether or not it is
whether or not it is
“lawful.”
“lawful.”
5. Luke 6: 37-38Luke 6: 37-38
37 37
““Don’t judge othersDon’t judge others, and God will not judge you., and God will not judge you.
Don’t condemn othersDon’t condemn others, and you will not be, and you will not be
condemned.condemned. Forgive othersForgive others, and you will be, and you will be
forgiven. forgiven. 38 38
Give to othersGive to others, and you will receive.You, and you will receive.You
will be given much. It will be poured into your handswill be given much. It will be poured into your hands
—more than you can hold.You will be given so much—more than you can hold.You will be given so much
that it will spill into your lap.The way you give tothat it will spill into your lap.The way you give to
others is the way God will give to you.”others is the way God will give to you.”
6. WhatWeBelieve
WhatWeBelieve
“Love the Lord your God
with all your heart, all your
soul, all your strength, and
all your mind. Also, love
your neighbor the same as
you love yourself.”-Luke 10:27
7. ANewWaytodo
ANewWaytodo“Church”
“Church”
Moving away from:
Moving away from:
1.1. top down organization
top down organization
2.2.meaningless traditions
meaningless traditions
and rituals.
and rituals.3.3. numbers based
numbers based
measure of success
measure of success4.4.one “right” way to do
one “right” way to do
things
things
8. ANewWaytodo
ANewWaytodo“Church”
“Church”
Moving toward:
Moving toward:1.1.community of equals
community of equals
2.2.symbolic gestures that
symbolic gestures that
are meaningful to the
are meaningful to the
participants
participants3.3. successes is people
successes is people
growing and learning
growing and learning
4.4.the “right way” is the
the “right way” is the
way that works for you
way that works for you
9. Learning
LearningCommunities
Communities
10-20 people
10-20 people members decide
members decide
together
together
• how meetings are
how meetings are
conducted
conducted• where and how tithes will
where and how tithes will
be collected
be collected• what tithe money should be
what tithe money should be
spent on
spent on
10. Finances
Finances
Tithing is in place for
Tithing is in place for
three reasons:
three reasons:1.1. It teaches us to be
It teaches us to be
generous, faithful and
generous, faithful and
trusting.
trusting.
2.2. It is a savings for a time
It is a savings for a time
of need.
of need.
3.3. When we pool our
When we pool our
money we can
money we canaccomplish more.
accomplish more.
11. Finances
Finances
Example tithing system-
Example tithing system- Each family gathers their
Each family gathers their
committed tithe into a
committed tithe into a
savings account.
savings account. When needs are brought
When needs are brought
forward we gather together
forward we gather together
what each feels is their
what each feels is their
portion.
portion.
12. Finances
Finances
Conventional wisdom
Conventional wisdom
says between 40-60% of
says between 40-60% of
a churches income goes
a churches income goes
to the building.
to the building. A room rental costs
A room rental costs
about $1000 a month in
about $1000 a month in
our area.
our area.
13. Finances
Finances
If we don’t have an
If we don’t have an
infrastructure to maintain
infrastructure to maintain
100% of our tithes can go for
100% of our tithes can go for
helping people in need.
helping people in need.
14. Finances
Finances
These are our priorities:
These are our priorities:
1.1.Our own families
Our own families
2.2.Our learning community
Our learning community
3.3.The Connecting Points
The Connecting Points
community
community4.4.Our local community
Our local community
5.5.Those outside the
Those outside the
community (national and
community (national and
world wide)
world wide)
15. TheConnecting
TheConnectingPointWebpage
PointWebpage
• A place for learning
A place for learning
communities to
communities toannounce events,
announce events,
establish relationships
establish relationships
and stay connected with
and stay connected with
each other.
each other.• A place for other home-
A place for other home-
based churches to
based churches to
connect with a larger
connect with a larger
community.
community.
16. Questions
Questions
Please contact us with any
Please contact us with any
questions, comments or
questions, comments or
suggestions.
suggestions.
Post a comment on The
Post a comment on The
Connecting Points page or
Connecting Points page or
message Tammy Johnson
message Tammy Johnson
directly on Facebook.
directly on Facebook.
Editor's Notes
Connecting points is a two part vision consisting of learning communities and The Connecting Point webpage.
Traditions that once held meaning and significance have become empty rituals. Churches break up over disputes about insignificant details while the needs of families and communities go unmet. The world looks into churches and finds no answers to their problems.
We believe that rules and laws are in place to serve us. They teach us how to be better people and to treat each other in the right way, but we are not supposed to be servants to the law.
Cultures differ and the specific ways we relate to each other and God will differ with the culture, but the "law" of love God and love your neighbor never changes. Consider the lawyer in Luke 10:25-29 who was content to follow the letter of the law while seeking to limit his responsibility to care for others.
Jesus did not preach rules, regulations and procedures. He taught patterns of behavior. When we follow his example we are free. When we teach others by example we set them free.
This is who we are at the core. It is non-negotiable. All other beliefs, doctrine and theology can be openly and honestly discussed, debated, and studied.
1. Traditional church hierarchies limit the ideas discussed and taught to the opinions of a few. 2. Traditions and rituals that were symbolic of meaningful events can become empty over time. 3. The drive to have a big church leads many well-meaning pastors to lose their focus on God’s purpose for their lives. 4. When I am right and you are wrong our ability to love each other is damaged.
1. We believe that all people are equal and under the direct leadership of Jesus through his word and the Holy Spirit. 2. Symbolic gestures such as baptism need not be thrown out. As physical manifestations of an inner change symbolic gestures can be a very powerful experience for people in the right mindset. 3. If I change myself to be more Christ-like I am doing my job. If I help some-one else become more Christ-like I have been successful beyond measure. 4. When we can disagree, respectfully, our relationship is preserved.
Part one of the vision is to establish a network of learning communities that are independent in operation but interdependent with love and support for each other.
We believe that tithing is an important part of personal growth and should be encouraged. However, the traditional way leads many churches to turn their focus to growing in wealth instead of growing in spirit.
We encourage learning communities to set up a system for tithing that works to meet the needs of their unique situations. Some groups may wish to organize and collect tithes as a non-profit to take advantage of tax deductions, for example.
One reason for our focus on having home-based gatherings is that it frees up money to help those in need.
There are so many needs in the world, how do we know what to focus on? 1 st Timothy 5:8 teaches us how to prioritize our resources. If every person is our neighbor then we start with those closest to us and continue helping as we have resources.
Part 2 of the vision is The Connecting Point webpage. Both Connecting Points learning communities and other home-based churches are welcome to post their meetings and other events.
