ObeyGC² | 3 Steps to Simplify a Complicated Church

Is Church too complicated? Is your life too complicated?

If you attend a complicated church this solution will simplify things.

Since my last article was entitled Going to church is NOT God’s main purpose I’ll be using the term “complicated church” in this article but it may be helpful for you to exchange the words “complicated church” for “complicated life”.

To complicate means to make (something) more difficult or less simple.

To  decide if “going to church” can become complicated let’s look at a typical “church” in our Western Culture;

“Church services” begin as you arrive at a building and are greeted by parking lot attendants and “door greeters”. Before you are ushered to your seat you check your kids in at “children’s church” or a nursery. Once the “worship service” starts you can expect to do a number of things depending on which denomination you belong to.

• Bible reading
• A time of “worship” which can include songs and musical instruments & multimedia productions
• announcements for more events or special programs
• giving of tithes and offerings
• high-tech media productions
• various special events

These are usually considered preliminary events in a  typical “church service”.  The main event is usually “the preaching of the Word” which is usually followed by some type of invitation to respond.

Now add titles such as pastors, priests, staff members, elders, deacons, bishops, apostles, etc.

Now add all the age, gender and marital status ministries, youth children, mens, women’s, married, young married, Senior citizens, etc.

More “church” components include finances which are budgeted by committees, church government which is regulated by more committees, and buildings which are maintained, insured and financed.

Yep! churches can be complicated.

Is there a way to Simplify Church?

The good news is I’m about to share how we can simplify church.

Since our purpose is global worship of God, our goal is to obey 3 priorities which are actually commands.

1. Love God
2. Love Others
3. Make Disciples

Obey these 3 commands to transition from a complicated church to a simplified church.

These 3 priorities come from Christ’s commands in what we have labeled “the Great Commandment” and “the Great Commission“.

The Great Commandment 

Every since the creation there have been rules to follow. Jews follow 613 commandments,  the number of mitzvot in the Torah,. In addition to the law of Moses, Christians must obey the 10 commandments. Following God became more complicated as man began performing many religious ceremonies in an attempt to obey Gods commands.  Jesus simplified things when one religious leader asked,

“Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?”

Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’. This is the first and great commandment.  And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.” -Matthew 22:36-40

The Great Commission

For years sacrifice has been required for atonement of sins. Christ fulfilled the old covenant sacrificial system, reconciling us to God, and changing our lives forever. Christ Jesus died on the cross for our sins (1 Cor. 15:3), then He rose again and simply told us to obey God and teach others to obey God’s commands (loving Him and loving people):

Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, to the mountain which Jesus had appointed for them. 17 When they saw Him, they worshiped Him; but some doubted.

And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.  Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,  teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.  Matthew 28:16-20

3 Steps To Simplify a Complicated Church

So now we know the Biblical basis for the 3 most important commands of Christ. Although Christ gave many other commands, following these 3 commands simplifies both His New Testament commands and all the law of Moses including the 10 commandments.  These 3 commands should be our main priority. They set apart shallow or religious christians from true disciple makers.

At the beginning of the year many people make new year’s resolutions. This year I didn’t purpose to lose weight, get out of debt, or even to get better habits. I simply purposed to make God’s purpose my purpose. You can make sure you’re pleasing God by simplifying your life.

There are 3 steps to simplify what we as Christians have somehow managed to complicate. Here’s what to do:

1. Love God– That’s our number one priority and our first purpose. To worship, love and adore God above all other things in our lives.
2. Love Others– Christ commanded us to love other people. If we love God first He will help us love others.
3. Make Disciples– Because you love God and you love other people you will want to teach them how to obey Christ also.

These 3 priorities are the key components of a simple church, a Godly life, and  they are the goal of our disciple making movements which we at Globe International call “GC ²”.

ObeyGC²

We are to obey Christ’s commands.

To obey means to comply with the command, direction, or request of (a person or a law); submit to the authority of.

Remember our purpose is to worship God. Obedience is the way we express our love of God. 1 John 5:3, John 14:15-23

GC ² (squared) stands for obeying the Great Commandment (Matthew 22:36-40) and the Great Commission (Matthew 28:16-20).

GC ² is God’s purpose and our purpose as Christ’s Church. This term is not original with us. It came from Curtis Sergeant who has mentored me and offers excellent training on his website at metacomp.org. His personal website is Obeygc2.com

Hear like you’ve never heard;

See like you’ve never seen;

Feel like you’ve never felt;

Share like you’ve never shared;

Love like you’ve never loved;

Live like you’ve never lived;

Multiply like you’ve never multiplied.

-Curtis Sergeant

Simple Church

In my last article I gave a lot of definitions of church. When we obey GC ² we call this a simple church. A simple church is a group of believers of any size who prioritize loving God, loving others and making disciples.