It’s been several years since I first read Simple Church by Thom Rainer and Eric 
Geiger. The second time through was a good refresher as the authors remind readers about the importance of returning to “God’s process for making disciples.”
Simple Church argues that healthy churches have a simple plan for making disciples. Four key words describe the process that is presented in the book:
- Clarity
- Movement
- Alignment
- Focus
Clarity sets forth the ministry blueprint. Clarity is “the ability of the process communicated and understood by the people. Without understanding, commitment wanes. Understanding precedes commitment.”
Movement is the “sequential steps in the process that cause people to move to greater areas of commitment. Movement is about flow. It is about assimilation. Movement is what causes a person to go to the next step.”
Alignment is “the arrangement of all ministries and staff around the same simple process. Alignment to the process means that all ministry departments submit and attach themselves to the same overarching process.”
Focus is “the commitment to abandon everything that falls outside of the simple ministry process. Focus requires saying “yes” to the best and “no” to everything else.”
Each of the above steps gives church leaders the necessary framework to begin with a simple plan for making disciples. This model will require a radical paradigm shift in most churches. Some sacred cows will die. But more disciples will be nurtured in the long run. Simple Church is an important contribution and contains some critical components that lead to the establishment of a healthy church.
Veritas et Lux 