Over the last fifty years – going all the way back to my college days in the mid-1970s – God’s often used me to help simple, participatory churches emerge.

Yet I can’t think of a single one of them that didn’t first start with discipleship.

Looking back, I guess that makes sense given that Jesus said He would build His church …

But we are to build disciples.

In contrast, I’ve seen many try to start a “church” first, but in my experience real discipleship seldom follows and things quickly begin falling apart. 

This has been a source of great frustration for many. 

My suggestion?

Don’t try to start a church – even if it’s simple and participatory like the New Testament commands. 

Instead, begin intentionally meeting with a few people who are serious about mutually encouraging and helping one another (including you!) become the kinds of disciples Jesus wants you each to be. 

Forget about what you think your gatherings are supposed to look like, and cast aside all your master plans, presumptions and extraneous agendas. 

The goal is to mutually build up one another, rather than have a Bible study, prayer meeting or social gathering. 

Of course, to build up each other, there will be times when you pray, study Scripture and also just talk together about what’s happening in each other’s lives. Yet those are not the primary focus, but follow from how best to mutually build up one another into solid disciples. 

Likewise, don’t make your gatherings about you and your own vision and abilities. Instead, learn to prefer and encourage each other – and the differing gifts and abilities God has given to each of you to build up one another – above yourself. 

By focusing on humbly learning how to mutually build up each other, you’re learning to submit one to another and letting God burn your own agendas out of each other. 

As you’re faithful in doing that, in whatever way is needed and appropriate based on the unique personalities and circumstances you each bring to each other …

You’ll see that Christ will be faithful in slowly building you into His church – but in His way and in His timing – as you all become able. 

And what you’ll discover is that your own prior notions about what it should look like were just that …

Your own notions. 

In fact, every healthy simple participatory church I’ve seen emerge over the last fifty years looked different than every other one.

Yes, the Biblical foundations and precepts were the same, but how Christ wants to express Himself among you inevitably will vary depending on factors you can’t know or anticipate on your own. 

Bottom line?

There are no cookie cutter assemblies – not even simple participatory assemblies! – despite all the books, blogs and seminars trying to convince (and sometimes even sell) you otherwise. 

So learn to mutually build up one another …

And trust Christ to build up His church among you. 

Nothing more, nothing less.