Timekeeper

I am called Father Time, and I open the gate
     That will lead to next year, and I never am late.

Prompter & Echoes

And he never delays!

Timekeeper

This old hourglass I’ve turned, that I keep by the door
     All three sixty-five* times, every day’s twenty-four.

Now, a Pilgrim has stopped, and he checks today’s date.
     He now looks at his watch, as he fears next year’s fate!

Do not pause, timid Pilgrim! Come enter next year.
     If you trust in the Lord, then there’s nothing to fear!

Prompter & Echoes

Don’t be afraid!

Pilgrim

But it’s dark; the unknown always fills me with dread.
     Can you loan me a light, so I’ll see where to tread?         

Timekeeper

Simply take Jesus’ hand, not a light I’d provide.
     Do not fear what’s ahead; our dear Lord is your Guide

Prompter & Echoes

Jesus goes ahead of you!

Pilgrim

Then in case I go on, and I do not turn back.
     Can you say what will be, if a light I should lack?

Timekeeper

You are never to worry about how you’ll fare.
     Since tomorrow depends on today’s faithful prayer.

Pilgrim

You have stirred my weak faith with a hope that’s sublime.
     I will walk on with Christ just one step at a time.

Prompter & Echoes

One step at a time!

Librarian

Welcome folks, to our time-travel library.
Each side room opens into a different historical era.
Are you ready?

Prompter & Echoes

Watch your step!

 

Oh! This gloomy room is poorly lit; we’re in the Dark Ages,
and the year is thirteen hundred and two.
Meet Pope Boniface the 8th.
Bow, or his swordsmen will run you through.

Prompter & Echoes

Kiss his ring!

Boniface

I cannot bless you yet, my children.
The College of Cardinals awaits me,
to announce the most momentous canon law of all time.
Hear ye, all Christendom. I pronounce ex cathredra,
from the throne of St. Peter: Almighty God’s infallible truth:

 

Librarian

Oh, listen!
Rome’s Pope claims that he alone holds the keys to heaven,
 and that all people are his subjects.
This condemns even the older Eastern Orthodox Church,
half of all Christendom. The church needs reformation,
but it’s hopeless while people have no Bibles.

Prompter & Echoes

No Bibles!

Librarian

Come to into this next room.
 Oh! I smell salt water. Here’s an elderly sailor.

Prompter & Echoes

Ahoy, mates!

Sailor

Now hear this!
I sailed the Atlantic Ocean 39 years ago with Columbus,
the same year we Spanish drove them bloodthirsty Muslims
from Europe’s soil.
But alas! What we gained in the West we lost in the East.
Muslims captured Constantinople,
the center of eastern Christendom and power.

Prompter & Echoes

How tragic!

Sailor

Aye, mates, but good come of it.
Christian refugees brought with them ancient Hebrew
and Greek manuscripts. Now Scripture can be translated
into our own tongues, if the good Pope allows.
I would dearly love to read the Holy Book.
Europe has only the obsolete Latin Vulgate Bible
that none of us understands.

Librarian

Let us step into another room, a century later.
England is suffering from conflicting cultures,
paganism, barbarity, drunkenness and corruption.
Oh! Meet her Royal Highness, our Catholic queen.

Prompter & Echoes

Bloody Mary!

Queen

What? What did you dare call my royal person?
Bloody, am I? Well, you will find just how bloody!
Yes, rude minions, I shed blood and I am proud of it!
 Over 300 protestant heretics I’ve burned at the stake.

Prompter & Echoes

Oh no!

Queen

What a blessing to hear they burned William Tyndale!
He dared translate God’s Holy Word
into the vulgar tongue of you commoners.
Fortunately, he died before he got an accurate version;
you common folk have no right to such sacred things!

Prompter & Echoes

Poor, ignorant commoners!

Queen

And we drove off the likes of Wycliffe
who dared start translating. The fool!

Librarian

Your majesty, other reformers have fled to Switzerland;
they are translating the Bible into current English,
in John Calvin’s free city.

Queen

Fie! Let the apostates commit their crimes in Geneva.
They’ll never make a mark on my England! Never!
I bid you goodbye.

Librarian

  Oh! Here’s the Church of England’s Archbishop Laud.
It’s the year 1557.

Laud

My children, those villains in Geneva commit treason!
They printed Geneva’s Breeches Bible in English,
and smuggled in 6,000 copies into England.

Prompter & Echoes

Sedition!

Librarian

Most reverend Archbishop, why do you call the Geneva Bible the “Breeches Bible”?

Laud

It says God replaced Adam and Eve’s fig leaves with
breeches of animal skins. Such a vulgar word for Holy Writ!
I’ve tried to wipe out that devilish book,
but it’s wildly popular!
They keep revising it, as our language is rapidly changing,
from Middle English to Modern.
I outlaw the Geneva Bible under penalty of death.

 

Prompter & Echoes

Oh my!

Laud

Yes! It misleads common rabble;
sacred matters are far above them.
I have stretched on the rack those sneaky Presbyterians
who dared read it.
Ah… As you leave, you’ll see the alms coffer by the door.

Librarian

Let’s move now to this other room; it’s  the year 1611.
Meet the most high and mighty King James,
and bow low. Very low!

Prompter & Echoes

Or else!

James

Hear my recent and proudest announcement, my visitors!
We’ve published the Authorized Version of Holy Scripture. Commoners call it King James Bible, after our royal person.
Bless them! I, king of the English Empire
and its many colonies, Defender of the Faith,
authorize my subjects to read only my authorized version…

Prompter & Echoes

Or face prison or death!

Librarian

Your Majesty, why did you translate the Bible again?
Was something wrong with the Geneva translation?

 

 

James

The Geneva Bible was well translated;
our scholars referred to it to translate my version.
Shakespeare quoted it, as well as Milton in Paradise Lost,
and John Bunyan in his Pilgrims’ Progress.
Those pilgrims that escaped my dungeons in the Mayflower
had Geneva Bibles. Its error lies only in its marginal notes.

Librarian

Please, your Majesty,
give us an example of an erroneous marginal note.

James

One dastardly comment is about the Hebrew midwives
defying Pharaoh’s edict to drown all Hebrew boy babies
in the Nile river.
It says that God’s Word refutes the Divine Right of kings,
denying our God-given, absolute control over our subjects!

Prompter & Echoes

Rebellion!

James

Alas! Even I, with the most powerful army on earth,
cannot hold back the flood!
The Geneva Bible has done its treacherous work.
Mobs roam over England protesting my sovereign rule;
some even rave about “freedom”!

Librarian

The monarch’s fear was justified.
People yearned for freedom and found hope
in those marginal notes.
The Geneva Bible’s impact led to sweeping changes
in England’s law and encouraged the colonists,
 all of which profoundly influenced our world.

Prompter & Echoes

Jesus reigns!

Librarian

Welcome folks, to our time-travel library.
Each side room opens into a different historical era.
Are you ready?

Prompter & Echoes

Watch your step!

 

Oh! This gloomy room is poorly lit; we’re in the Dark Ages,
and the year is thirteen hundred and two.
Meet Pope Boniface the 8th.
Bow, or his swordsmen will run you through.

Prompter & Echoes

Kiss his ring!

Boniface

I cannot bless you yet, my children.
The College of Cardinals awaits me,
to announce the most momentous canon law of all time.
Hear ye, all Christendom. I pronounce ex cathredra,
from the throne of St. Peter: Almighty God’s infallible truth:

 

Librarian

Oh, listen!
Rome’s Pope claims that he alone holds the keys to heaven,
 and that all people are his subjects.
This condemns even the older Eastern Orthodox Church,
half of all Christendom. The church needs reformation,
but it’s hopeless while people have no Bibles.

Prompter & Echoes

No Bibles!

Librarian

Come into this next room.
 Oh! I smell salt water. Here’s an elderly sailor.

Prompter & Echoes

Ahoy, mates!

Sailor

Now hear this!
I sailed the Atlantic Ocean 39 years ago with Columbus,
the same year we Spanish drove them bloodthirsty Muslims
from Europe’s soil.
But alas! What we gained in the West we lost in the East.
Muslims captured Constantinople,
the center of eastern Christendom and power.

Prompter & Echoes

How tragic!

Sailor

Aye, mates, but good come of it.
Christian refugees brought with them ancient Hebrew
and Greek manuscripts. Now Scripture can be translated
into our own tongues, if the good Pope allows.
I would dearly love to read the Holy Book.
Europe has only the obsolete Latin Vulgate Bible
that none of us understands.

Librarian

Let us step into another room, a century later.
England is suffering from conflicting cultures,
paganism, barbarity, drunkenness and corruption.
Oh! Meet her Royal Highness, our Catholic queen.

Prompter & Echoes

Bloody Mary!

Queen

What? What did you dare call my royal person?
Bloody, am I? Well, you will find just how bloody!
Yes, rude minions, I shed blood and I am proud of it!
 Over 300 protestant heretics I’ve burned at the stake.

Prompter & Echoes

Oh no!

Queen

What a blessing to hear they burned William Tyndale!
He dared translate God’s Holy Word
into the vulgar tongue of you commoners.
Fortunately, he died before he got an accurate version;
you common folk have no right to such sacred things!

Prompter & Echoes

Poor, ignorant commoners!

Queen

And we drove off the likes of Wycliffe
who dared start translating. The fool!

Librarian

Your majesty, other reformers have fled to Switzerland;
they are translating the Bible into current English,
in John Calvin’s free city.

Queen

Fie! Let the apostates commit their crimes in Geneva.
They’ll never make a mark on my England! Never!
I bid you goodbye.

Librarian

  Oh! Here’s the Church of England’s Archbishop Laud.
It’s the year 1557.

Laud

My children, those villains in Geneva commit treason!
They printed Geneva’s Breeches Bible in English,
and smuggled in 6,000 copies into England.

Prompter & Echoes

Sedition!

Librarian

Most reverend Archbishop,
why do you call the Geneva Bible the “Breeches Bible”?

Laud

It says God replaced Adam and Eve’s fig leaves with
breeches of animal skins. Such a vulgar word for Holy Writ!
I’ve tried to wipe out that devilish book,
but it’s wildly popular!
They keep revising it, as our language is rapidly changing,
from Middle English to Modern.
I outlaw the Geneva Bible under penalty of death.

 

Prompter & Echoes

Oh my!

Laud

Yes! It misleads common rabble;
sacred matters are far above them.
I have stretched on the rack those sneaky Presbyterians
who dared read it.
Ah… As you leave, you’ll see the alms coffer by the door.

Librarian

Let’s move now to this other room; it’s the year 1611.
Meet the most high and mighty King James,
and bow low. Very low!

Prompter & Echoes

Or else!

James

Hear my recent and proudest announcement, my visitors!
We’ve published the Authorized Version of Holy Scripture.
Commoners call it King James Bible, after our royal person.
Bless them! I, king of the English Empire
and its many colonies, Defender of the Faith,
authorize my subjects to read only my authorized version…

Prompter & Echoes

Or face prison or death!

Librarian

Your Majesty, why did you translate the Bible again?
Was something wrong with the Geneva translation?

James

The Geneva Bible was well translated;
our scholars referred to it to translate my version.
Shakespeare quoted it, as well as Milton in Paradise Lost,
and John Bunyan in his Pilgrims’ Progress.
Those pilgrims that escaped my dungeons in the Mayflower
had Geneva Bibles. Its error lies only in its marginal notes.

Librarian

Please, your Majesty,
give us an example of an erroneous marginal note.

James

One dastardly comment is about the Hebrew midwives
defying Pharaoh’s edict to drown all Hebrew boy babies
in the Nile river.
It says that God’s Word refutes the Divine Right of kings,
denying our God-given, absolute control over our subjects!

Prompter & Echoes

Rebellion!

James

Alas! Even I, with the most powerful army on earth,
cannot hold back the flood!
The Geneva Bible has done its treacherous work.
Mobs roam over England protesting my sovereign rule;
some even rave about “freedom”!

Librarian

The monarch’s fear was justified.
People yearned for freedom and found hope
in those marginal notes.
The Geneva Bible’s impact led to sweeping changes
in England’s law and encouraged the colonists,
 all of which profoundly influenced our world.

Prompter & Echoes

Jesus reigns!

Takechance

Mr. Caring, I need help.
When I received Jesus, I quit all my vices except one.

Prompter & Echoes

It has him hooked!

Caring

Drugs?

Takechance

Gambling. Look at these cursed lottery tickets!
I’ll bet on anything! I can’t resist it.

Caring

Yes you can, Mr. Takechance.
Trust the Lord to provide without taking from others.

Takechance

Taking it? I have not stolen anything since I received Christ, Mr. Caring.

Caring

Not directly, but when you win a bet, you take it from someone else. 
You gain, another loses. Your family is lucky; another family lacks.
 Compulsive gambling seeks wealth not by working, but by taking it from others.

Prompter & Echoes

Someone always loses.

Takechance

Yeah, someone always loses and it’s usually me.

Caring

Gambling becomes a form of laziness, Mr. Takechance.
Proverbs 6:6 says, “Go to the ant, O sluggard. Observe
her ways and be wise.”

Takechance

I always hoped to win big, so I would not have to work anymore.
You are right, Mr. Caring. I was lazy. Okay, I’ll be an ant!

Prompter & Echoes

A busy ant!

Caring

2 Thessalonians 3:10-11 says,
“If one is not willing to work, then he is not to eat, either.
Some among you lead an undisciplined life, doing no work at all.”

Takechance

That me. Yes, I’ve seen gambling plunge addicts’ families into poverty.

Caring

Some men, after losing their family’s life savings, have committed suicide.

Takechance

I’ve thought about it.

Caring

I’ve been praying for you, Mr. Takechance. Now is the time for you to stop idolizing the goddess of luck. Will you trust God? Will you let me hold you accountable as long as you need it?

Takechance

Yes. Each week I’ll report my progress to you. Oh, praise God!

Caring

Then start right now. Here’s a match. Burn those lottery tickets!

Takechance

I’ll do it. Hear they go, up in smoke! Oh! I’ve been unshackled!

Prompter & Echoes

Freedom!

Discipler

Mr. Learner, God gives five kinds of gifted people
to His churches to equip believers to work together
as a loving body. Ephesians 4 lists all five.
First are apostles. The word apostle means “sent one.”

Prompter & Echoes

They have itchy feet!

Learner

What do apostles do?

Lucifer

  (Hiss) Apostles travel afar, have lots of money,
and hire locals to do all the work.
Be an apostle and get rich, Mr. Learner!

Prompter & Echoes

Wealth!

Learner

Aha! I’ll be an apostle, Mr. Discipler.
They fly first class to tourist spots.

Discipler

Where did you get that egoistic idea?
God gives many ordinary believers to be apostles,
who go and start congregations nearby and afar.
Often no one recognizes them to be apostles.

Learner

Oh! I see! Help me do true apostolic work, Mr. Discipler.

Discipler

Next are prophets. Do you recall what they do?

Lucifer

Prophets go into trances, get visions,
scold in a shaky voice, and predict doom.
Everyone will fear your great power, Mr. Learner!

Prompter & Echoes

Power!

Learner

I will love being a prophet! Everyone will jump when I say to!

Discipler

Wait! 1 Corinthians 14 tells all believers to prophesy, but in the
New Testament way: edify, strengthen, and encourage each other.

Learner

All are to prophesy? Oh! I have much to learn.

Discipler

Next are evangelists.

Lucifer

Evangelists expound eloquently before huge, admiring crowds,
you will love being a popular evangelist. You will be famous!

Prompter & Echoes

Fame!

Learner

I will be a world-renowned evangelist
and hold massive crowds spellbound!

Discipler

Listen, Mr. Learner. For every professional evangelist,
God gives hundreds of ordinary evangelists,
people like you and me, who simply tell others
the Good News about Jesus.

Learner

Oh! Help me do that.

Discipler

You need my help, and I need yours.
Next are pastors; they shepherd others.

Lucifer

Pastors are clergy elite; they do the important work
and get great salaries. People will leave their churches
and flock to hear your superb sermons!

Prompter & Echoes

Prestige!

Learner

Thousands will come to hear me preach!
I will be rich and famous!

Discipler

Stop dreaming, Mr. Learner. For every professional pastor,
God gives hundreds of volunteer shepherds;
they lovingly care for the newborn lambs,
starting with their own families.

Learner

Oh! I will do that if you help me.

Wise

Next are teachers.

Lucifer

Teachers tell students what they may need to know years later.
They display their compelling sagacity in huge classrooms.
Scholars will come from all over the world
to hear your grand wisdom.

Prompter & Echoes

Wisdom!

Learner

Aha! I will be incredibly wise and wealthy!

Discipler

Where do you get all these ideas?
For every professional teacher,
God gives hundreds of normal teachers
 that equip friends to obey Jesus,
especially while they’re out working
with people, and not just voicing abstract truths.

Learner

Oh! Please help me teach that way!
I will not listen to that voice again.
Now I know where it’s coming from.
I simply want to serve others.

Prompter & Echoes

Let us love and serve others!

Larry

My wife Lillian and I are frustrated.
We try to multiply churches as they did in the New Testament,
but we.ve failed. Can you advise us, Connor?

Conner

I’ll try, Larry.
Many efforts to start a movement flounder before they start.
Workers fail to apply a few simple New Testament guidelines.

Lillian

We followed this church planting manual carefully, Conner.

Prompter & Echoes

Every detail!

Conner

That is the problem, Lillian. Too many details!
It lists many helpful tasks, but fails to discern the
three foundational guidelines that are utterly essential.

Larry

Now wait a minute, Conner!
Lillian and I helped edit that manual!

Conner

You did your best, Larry, with what you knew at the time,
but you included traditions that cause older churches to decline.

Prompter & Echoes

Needless baggage!

Lillian

You want to cut out details, Conner,
but our old church is very conventional.
If we require a lot of changes, few people, if any,
will cooperate with us.

Conner

Don’t ask all the members to change; there’s an easier way.
Your congregation must have a few who want to serve Jesus
in a more vital way, but find vital ministry positions already filled.
Well, let them take the church to those who do not come to it.

Larry

That makes sense! What are the essential guidelines, Conner?

Conner

The first and most crucial is to obey.
Heed Jesus’ general orders before all else.
He said, “If you love me, obey my commands.”

Prompter & Echoes

Obey the King of Kings!

Conner

Seven general commands sum up all that Jesus ordered;
the first church obeyed them all from the start, in Acts 2, Larry.

Larry

I remember them:
   Repent, believe and receive the Holy Spirit,
   Baptize,
   Serve the Lord’s Supper,
   Love God, believers, neighbors, and enemies, which is to forgive,
   Pray, which includes healing and spiritual warfare,
   Give, and
   make disciples nearby and afar.

Conner

Very good! Another essential guideline is to simplify.
Require of new churches only what Jesus and his apostles required.

Prompter & Echoes

Nothing more!

Lillian

That goes against the modern current, Conner!

Conner

It does; all movements of God do, ever since the apostles.

Larry

This is helpful, Conner.

Conner

The third and last guideline is to model.
Have others do what they have seen you do
in a way they can imitate at once.

Larry

Obey, simplify and model! Yes!
Oh! I see why even new believers, uneducated and penniless,
are multiply churches in so many lands around the world.
We’ll let new believers and leaders follow these guidelines.

Lillian

Where did you get these guidelines, Conner?

Conner

From Jesus and his apostles.

Prompter & Echoes

No better source!

Larry

Lillian, a few days have passed; look at what God has done.
Here we are at Khichi’s home; he received Jesus yesterday.
Conner is coming; I want to see how he deals with Khichi.

Conner

Hello, Brother Khichi, now that you know Jesus,
we will lay hands on you and ask God for power
for you to tell your family and friends about Jesus.

Prompter & Echoes

Share your faith!

Conner

Do it just as Larry and Lillian did with you;
pray for them and tell them what Jesus did.

Khichi

Yes. I remember. Jesus died and rose from the dead
to forgive our sins and give us eternal life.

Larry

I’ll go with you at first if you want, Khichi,
but let them hear it from you first.

Lillian

When should Khichi be baptized, Conner?

Conner

Right away. The apostles did only one thing before baptizing.
Do you recall it?

Prompter & Echoes

Go to the family!

Larry

Another day passes, and we meet again.
Khichi, please tell Conner the news.

Khichi

Larry baptized me in our bathtub, Connor;
only my family was present.

Lillian

It was not public?

Larry

Scripture does not require baptism to be public;
Paul baptized the jailer’s family at midnight,
and Philip baptized the Ethiopian in private out in a desert.

Khichi

Baptism left me really encouraged;
I am ready to go tell my friends about Jesus.
Larry also healed my sick aunt in Jesus’ name.
Now we all trust in Jesus.
Larry had me baptize my own wife and kids, and my aunt.

Lillian

Conner, did Larry do those things too rapidly?

Conner

No. It is impossible to obey Jesus too quickly.

Khichi

I am so glad you did not delay it! We are so happy!
While our hair was still wet, we sat in a circle
and received the Lord Supper. We felt Jesus with us.
We had no bread, so we used corn chips.

Larry

We dipped them into one cup;
there is no need to heed the old protocols
that have no basis in Scripture. Simply obey Jesus.

Khichi

Larry told us then that our own church had been born,
right there in our house!

Conner

Khichi, God holds you responsible, as head of your family,
to be its shepherd. Will you lead your baby church
by your word and example?

Khichi

Absolutely! However, I will need Larry’s coaching.

Conner

Yes, and you will need God’s power;
we will lay hands on you now, and ask for it.

Larry

Two weeks go by, and we meet again;
Khichi tells Conner about their first worship time.

Khichi

Larry had us plan to whom we would go and tell about Jesus.
We then went in pairs, repeating exactly what Larry and Lillian
had done with us. On a later visit, I baptized two cousins
and three neighbors who repented.

Conner

You must start other churches in your social network, Khichi.
A new church is a baby, unable to do all the vital tasks by itself,
so let several churches form a closely-knit body, as the apostles did.

Prompter & Echoes

A regional church body!

Lillian

But that will take tons of work, Conner!

Conner

Yes, Lillian. That is why we let the new believers do it.
Let them shoulder the main responsibility for their movement;
you simply coach their leaders.

Lillian

How do we motivate them to go witness to others, Conner?

Conner

Lay hands on them, as you did for Khichi; let God empower them.
Go with them the first time or two, to watch;
give help if they need it.

Larry

People received Jesus in one place; in another we wasted time.
I’m glad Jesus said to shake the dust from our feet,
to leave resistant people.

Conner

Yes, but first make sure that the way you witness for Jesus
fits their background, and that the workers are united in prayer.
Serve in the power of the Holy Spirit;
do not merely work the principles mechanically.
Do everything in a way others can imitate.

Khichi

Larry teaches us with Bible stories
that we recall and pass on at once.
We start by telling key stories about Jesus
that new believers can repeat easily.
Sometimes we get them and their friends
to act the stories out; they love that!

Lillian

Now I see why we must cut out so many man-made customs
in order to multiply.

Conner

We are eager to do all the valuable activities
that we’ve learned over the years, but we must be patient.
Once churches are multiplying in the normal way,
then we can introduce the more advanced activities.
This restraint requires self-discipline,
and is crucial during a movement’s embryonic stage.

Larry

Yes! We see that now!

Prompter & Echoes

Thank you, Lord!

Larry

My wife Lillian and I are frustrated.
We have tried to multiply churches as they did in the New Testament,
but we have failed. Can you advise us, Connor?

Conner

I will try, Larry.
Many efforts to start a movement flounder before they start.
Workers fail to apply a few simple New Testament guidelines.

Lillian

Larry and I followed this church planting manual carefully, Conner.

Prompter & Echoes

Every detail!

Conner

That is the problem. Too many details!
It lists many helpful tasks, but fails to discern the
three foundational guidelines that are utterly essential.

Larry

Now wait a minute, Conner!
Lillian and I helped edit that manual!

Conner

You did your best, Larry, with what you knew at the time,
but you included traditions that have led older churches into decline.

Prompter & Echoes

Needless baggage!

Lillian

You want to cut out details, Conner,
but our old church is very conventional.
If we require a lot of changes, few, if any,
will cooperate with us.

Conner

Do not ask all the members to change, Lillian.
There is an easier way. Your congregation must have a few who want to serve Jesus in a more vital way, but find important ministry positions already filled.
Well, let them take the church to those who do not come to it.

Larry

That makes sense! What are those three essential guidelines, Conner?

Conner

The first and most crucial is to obey.
Heed Jesus’ general orders before all else.
Jesus said, “If you love me, obey my commands.”

Prompter & Echoes

Obey the King of Kings!

Larry

I remember them.
  Repent, believe and receive the Holy Spirit,
  Baptize,
  Serve the Lord’s Supper,
  Love God, believers, neighbors, and enemies, which is to forgive,
  Pray, which includes healing and spiritual warfare,
  Give
  And make disciples, nearby and afar.

Conner

Very good! The second essential guideline is to simplify.
Require of new churches only what Jesus and his apostles required.
Nothing more!

Prompter & Echoes

Simplify!

Lillian

That goes against the modern current, Conner!

Conner

It does; all movements of God do, starting with the apostles.

Larry

This is helpful, Conner. What is the third essential guideline?

Conner

Model. Have others do what they have seen you do.

Larry

Obey, simplify and model! Yes!
Oh! I see now why even new believers, uneducated and penniless,
are multiply churches in so many lands around the world.
We will have new believers and new leaders follow these guidelines,
before doing any of the more advanced disciple-making activities.

Lillian

Where did you get these guidelines, Conner?

Conner

From Jesus and his apostles.

Prompter & Echoes

Not from books or classrooms!

Larry

Now, a few days have gone by.
Lillian and I are in the home of Khichi who received Jesus yesterday.
Conner comes, and I am eager to see how he deals with Khichi.

Conner

Brother Khichi, now that you know Jesus,
we will lay hands on you and ask God for power
for you to tell your family and friends about Jesus.

Prompter & Echoes

Share your faith!

Conner

Do it just as Larry and Lillian did with you;
pray for them and tell what Jesus did.
Do you remember this?

Khichi

Yes. Jesus died and rose from the dead to forgive their sins
and give them eternal life.

Larry

I will go with you at first if you want, Khichi,
but let them hear it from you first.

Lillian

When should Khichi be baptized, Conner?

Conner

Right away. The apostles did only one thing before baptizing.
Do you recall it?

Prompter & Echoes

Go to the family!

Larry

Another day passes, and we meet again.
Khichi, please tell Conner the news.

Khichi

Larry baptized me in our bathtub, Connor;
only my family was present.

Lillian

It was not public?

Larry

Scripture does not require baptism to be public;
Paul baptized the jailer’s family at midnight,
and Philip baptized the Ethiopian in private out in a desert.

Khichi

Baptism left me really encouraged;
I am ready to go tell my friends about Jesus.
Larry also prayed for my sick aunt.
Now we all trust in Jesus.
Larry had me baptize my own wife and kids, and my aunt.

Lillian

Conner, did Larry do those things too rapidly?

Conner

No. It is impossible to obey Jesus too quickly.

Khichi

I am so glad you did not delay it! We are so happy!
While our hair was still wet, we sat in a circle
and received the Lord Supper. We felt Jesus with us.
We had no bread, so we used corn chips.

Larry

We dipped them into one cup;
there is no need to heed the old protocols
that have no basis in Scripture;
simply obey Jesus.

Khichi

Larry told us that our own church had been born,
right there in our house!

Conner

Khichi, God holds you responsible, as head of your family,
to be its shepherd. Will you lead your baby church
by your word and example?

Khichi

Absolutely! However, I will need Larry’s coaching.

Conner

Yes, and you will need God’s power;
we will lay hands on you now, and ask for it.

Larry

Two weeks go by, and we meet again;
Khichi recalls their first worship time.

Khichi

Larry had us plan to whom we would go and tell about Jesus.
We went in pairs, repeating exactly what Larry and Lillian
had done with us. On a third visit,
I baptized two cousins and three neighbors who repented.

Conner

Now you can start other churches in your own social network, Khichi.
A new church is a baby, unable to do all the vital tasks by itself,
so let several churches form a closely-knit body, as the apostles did.

Prompter & Echoes

A regional church body!

Lillian

But that will take tons of work, Conner!

Conner

Yes, Lillian. That is why we let the new believers do it.
Let them shoulder the main responsibility for their own movement;
you simply coach their leaders.

Lillian

How do we motivate them to go witness to others, Conner?

Conner

Lay hands on them, as you did for Khichi,
and ask God to empower them.
Go with them the first time or two,
to watch and give help if they need it.

Larry

People received Christ in one place,
but in another we just wasted our time.
I am glad Jesus said to shake the dust from our feet,
to leave resistant people.

Conner

Yes, but first make sure that the way you witness for Jesus
fits their background, and that the workers are united in prayer.
Serve in the power of the Holy Spirit;
do not merely work the principles mechanically.
Do it all in an imitable way.

Khichi

Larry teaches us with Bible stories that we recall and pass on at once.
We start by telling key stories about Jesus
that new believers can repeat easily.
Sometimes we get them and their friends to act the stories out;
they love that!

Lillian

Now I see why we must cut out so many man-made customs,
in order to multiply.

Conner

Good, Lillian!
We are eager to do all the valuable activities we have learned,
but we must be patient.
Once churches are multiplying in the normal way,
we can introduce the more advanced stuff.
This restraint requires self-discipline,
and is crucial during a movement’s embryonic stage.

Larry

Yes! We see that plainly now!

Prompter & Echoes

Thank you, Lord!

Bernie

Monty, I’m glad you had us leave our cell phones behind
to go backpacking out here.
It’s refreshing to be in God’s raw nature with no distractions.
I love it! Climbing this mountain helps us face harsh reality.

Prompter & Echoes

Revitalizing!

Monty

Good, Bernie.
Those who experience this adventure with me often
come to know Jesus Christ as their savior,
or find a deeper relationship with him.
I’m pleased that all of you on this trip already know Jesus.
Let’s compare your different church backgrounds.
Bernie, you’re the youngest. Go first.

Bernie

Okay. My Baptist church just held a class on the Holy Spirit
and its attributes.

Luther

Ouch! It hurts my ears to hear you call the Holy Spirit an “it.”
You’d never say “God the Father and its attributes,”
or call God the Son an “it.”

Bernie

Oh! You’re right. I’m a new believer…

Prompter & Echoes

And eager to learn!

Monty

Let’s compare our churches’ views of the Holy Spirit.
All our churches emphasize that we are born again by his work,
 and receive help to live holy lives.
What else have you learned about the Holy Spirit, Bernie?

Bernie

Well, my Baptist church emphasizes
that he gives us power to witness for Jesus.

Prompter & Echoes

Divine energizing!

Monty

Good, Bernie. How about you, Orville?

Orville

My background is Russian Orthodox.
There’s no orthodox church of any kind near my current home,
so I worship with Roman Catholics.
They emphasize that the Holy Spirit gives
their priests authority to forgive sins.

Charles

Not true!

Prompter & Echoes

Oh, oh!

Monty

Now wait, Charles. There is some truth to that,
provided it’s not taken to a non-biblical extreme.
Jesus promised all his disciples power to forgive sins.

Orville

My Orthodox Church’s view of holiness raises a question.
Is our holiness ours, or is it on loan from Christ
through the Holy Spirit?

Homer

It’s Christ’s holiness, imparted to us, not strictly ours.

Orville

Well the Orthodox view differs.
They say the holiness is ours. We are a “sword in the fire.”
Put the blade in flames and it turns red, then white.
Touch paper with it, and the paper flames. Its heat is its own.
Before long the glow dims, and the blade cools’

Prompter & Echoes

Back in the fire it goes.

Luther

My parents are Lutheran, and named me Luther.
We emphasize the Holy Spirit’s quiet assurance.

Prompter & Echoes

Our Comforter!

Luther

My uncle is of the Reformed faith, Presbyterian.
He emphasizes that the Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Truth  
and gives us understanding. My uncle loves theology.

Charles

I was a Pentecostal; now I serve with the Charismatics.
Like the original Methodists, we emphasize that the Holy Spirit
transforms us; we experience grace, not just read about it.
We also heal in Jesus’ name.
Recently, we charismatics have been multiplying thousands of
simple house churches all over the world.

Prompter & Echoes

Millions are coming to Christ!

Charles

We emphasize that the Holy Spirit equips even the newest
believer to shepherd his family and share Christ
with his relatives and friends. It’s happening.

Prompter & Echoes

All over the world!

Monty

Good! There is valuable truth in these different emphases.

Bernie

Yes! Now I see that my own view is not the only true one.

Prompter & Echoes

We learn from each other.

â–º

Participants need no props or costumes.

â–º

They may simply read their lines, as the aim is not to perform,
but to equip harvesters to multiply simple New Testament type churches.

â–º

Observe how to take Jesus to people who prefer not,
 or cannot, join a conventional congregation

â–º

It requires no rehearsal, although some practice can make it to smoother.

â–º

You need no audience. Everyone present has a part:

Rowdy

(Run among the people, shouting)
Betsy! Betsy! Come back!
Now where did that naughty horse go?

Prompter & Echoes

Come back, Betsy!

Suzy

Your stupid horse is eating lettuce on that peasant’s cart.
Hitch her up quickly; we gotta go to Harpenden.

Wilbur

Harpenden, you say? Marvelous!
We must be going to the same installation rites.

Suzy

(Face Wilbur) Well now, such grand priestly attire!
Sir, I don’t care if you be the Archbishop himself.
Alf and me, we was here first we was, so this cab is ours.

Wilbur

My good lady, we will share it. I am the Reverend Wilbur.
My church is the one with the highest steeple in Saint Albans.

Alf

Sir, you may call me Alf. This lady is my wife, Suzy.
I am shepherd and janitor of New Life Chapel,
down by the livery stables.

Wilbur

The livery stables! I dare say!
Why serve in such a smelly place, brother Alf?

Alf

God chose it for us, sir.
I yearn to take Jesus to all those poor people,
but my flock takes up all my time, which is sad,
because so many are ready to receive Jesus!

Wilbur

Indeed. Well, I prefer quality to quantity, my son.
My church’s motto is,
“You cannot take it with you, so leave it with us.”

Rowdy

Old Betsy be ready, folks. My name is Rowdy.
Now, old Betsy, trot!

Prompter & Echoes

Clip clop!

Wilbur

Ah! This is the grandest day of my life, pastor Alf!

Suzy

Oh, my!
The cab’s swaying and the steady hoof beats make me sleepy.

Prompter & Echoes

Clip clop!

Alf

Me, too. The Rev. Wilbur is already snoring!

Prompter & Echoes

Clip clop!

Suzy

Oh! This nauseating stench woke me!
Garbage in this lane is reeking.

Wilbur

Get moving, Rowdy! Your lazy mare is trudging too slowly.
Go faster!

Rowdy

Can’t, sir. Too rocky.

Wilbur

You will, cabby. I dare not miss the installation rites.
I have waited for this grand moment all my life.
Use your whip! Now!

Rowdy

Won’t. Too rocky.
Ouch! Stop squeezing my shoulder!
Your grip is hurting me.

Wilbur

Lash that horse, I say, or I’ll squeeze your skinny throat.
Let’s hear that whip!

Prompter & Echoes

Crack! Crack!

Wilbur

Not that fast! Slow down!
You lurched forward so abruptly that my hat fell off.

Suzy

Oh, my! We’re bouncing like a kangaroo, we are!
Poor old Betsy is racing, eyes ablaze,
tail flowing behind, and ears flattened!
See the chickens and children flee from the pounding hooves!

Prompter & Echoes

Thud!

Wilbur

Now what, Rowdy?
You stopped so abruptly my spectacles slipped off.

Rowdy

(Groan)
Old Betsy slipped on a loose stone and threw a shoe.
A lady she is, and I’ll not drive her improperly dressed,
barefoot on one leg.
Yer fault, yer highness. Ya made me drive ’er too fast.

Wilbur

Insolent lip! Now, stop predicting where I’ll spend eternity,
or I’ll reciprocate in the proper ecclesiastic language.
You have made me miss the installation rites.

Rowdy

No sir.
Saint Alban halted us by my friend Bruiser’s blacksmith’s shop.
Bruiser’s a good man he is; he helped me find Jesus.
Come to his shop.
Watch yer step; horse plop is lying all over.

Suzy

Eee! A scruffy rat scurried into that pile of broken cartwheels.

Rowdy

Duck down, gentlemen, or you’ll bump yer heads
on them plucked chickens hanging from the doorframe.

Prompter & Echoes

Hey! Watch out!

Wilbur

I say, who was that little guy?
He bumped into me as he rushed out!

Alf

He’s wearing an Anglican priest’s garb
and has an ugly scar on one cheek.

Suzy

He jumped on his horse and galloped off like a whirlwind.

Rowdy

Blimey! Sure and it was the Rev. John Wesley!
He helps us poor folk, he does.

Bruiser

Welcome to my shop, gentlemen!
I’ll take care of yer horse in a jiffy.
Please join us. We be worshiping.

Prompter & Echoes

Amen!

Bruiser

Brother Rowdy, wipe the soot off them nail kegs,
so the reverends can sit.
Now, you all be surprised at such noblemen joining us,
but stop jabbering, or I’ll pound yer skulls with me hammer.

 

                      

Wilbur

I say! How shocking that Rev. Wesley would ministers here
in such a degraded hamlet!

Prompter & Echoes

Wicked and worldly!

Margie

Brother Wesley loves to serve us poor degraded sinners, sir.

Bruiser

Aye! Listen to what Wesley done fer me
before I got borned all over again. I shut my ears to his words,
but his compassion sneaked into my heart another way.
You seen that ugly scar on Brother Wesley’s cheek?
I done that.

Prompter & Echoes

Oh no!

Bruiser

He tried to stop me from
breaking another drunken brawler’s face in the pub,
so I sent brother John sprawling with the back of me hand,
I did.

Prompter & Echoes

Cruel!

Bruiser

He wiped off the blood, and blessed me in Jesus’ name,
and that’s the truth.
God’s grace pulsated in his kindness,
forgiving me while he absorbed my abuse!

Prompter & Echoes

So gracious!

Bruiser

Then he invited me to come talk with him,
and called the cook fer another slice of kidney pie!”
Fer the first time since I was a nipper, I wept.

Margie

Wesley loves us poor folk he does,
not like some people around here that looks down on us.

Wilbur

Well now, I know who and what you are, you pudgy wench!
You cleaned house for my wife before you became a bar maid,
and worse.

Prompter & Echoes

Oh, my!

Bruiser

Margie is my wife now, sir. You will mind your words.
Now listen everyone.
We’ll all discuss what God wants us to do this week.

Wilbur

This is wrong, my good man.
Such free discussion during worship lets laymen impart falsity.

Bruiser

I hope so, sir! Get any falsity out in the open,
before it festers and divides.
The apostle Paul urged believers to discuss God’s word
freely with one another.

Wilbur

Your way of worship would displease the head of our church,
our good King George.

Prompter & Echoes

Long live the king!

Bruiser

This week we will go in pairs to take Jesus to our friends.
Rowdy, you and me will go to them shanties
down by the garbage dump.

Rowdy

I can’t go around in public in my tattered shoes
and patched trousers.

Bruiser

You’ll go to folk whose clothes are just as tattered, Rowdy
All right everyone, let’s confess our sins.
We all got lots to confess!

Prompter & Echoes

Be honest before God!

Bruiser

Now, that’s done. See this bread?
Our Lord said, “Take, eat, this is my body.”

Wilbur

Stop! Stop I say!
I cannot receive Holy Sacrament from layman’s hands.

Bruiser

Brother Wesley blessed this bread beforehand, sir,
so any bloke can serve it.

Margie

Brother Wesley told us to receive Communion
in the Anglican Church.
Me and Bruiser went,
but the high and mighty priest eyed my patched dress,
and he passed us by when he served Communion, he did.

Prompter & Echoes

How terrible!

Margie

Bruiser begged him to come serve us Communion here,
but he called Bruiser uncouth, and turned away.

Bruiser

I told the bloke I didn’t see nothing of Christ’s image in him.
He got red in the face and said to me,
“Someone pulled you down from a tree, cut off your tail,
and taught you to make human noises.”

Prompter & Echoes

Cruel!

Bruiser

Poor Margie, she cried ’er heart out all the way ’ome, she did.

Wilbur

I disapprove of what that priest said.
Nevertheless, you cannot serve Communion, my son.

Rowdy

Jesus commands it. Whom do we obey, you or Jesus?
We cannot obey both.

Prompter & Echoes

Obey God above all.

Wilbur

Mr. Blacksmith, today I’ll be made Bishop over Saint Albans,
so do as I say.
Stop pretending that this travesty is a church.

Bruiser

It is a church, sir.
We do all that Jesus and his apostles require of a church.

Wilbur

You will obey me, my son,
I have the full authority of the Church of England.

Prompter & Echoes

Well, kiss his ring!

Suzy

Look, Alf! The blacksmith is facing the priest, eye to eye.
Rev. Wilbur’s eyes are spitting fire.

Rowdy

Them two men be locked in a battle they is,
the soon-to-be bishop and the powerful blacksmith.

Suzy

Everyone is so silent! My goodness!

Alf

(Groan) Two voices in my soul are tearing me in two, Suzy.
One hisses. It said, “Mind your soon-to-be Bishop,
or he’ll revoke your ordination.”
The other voice coos like a dove; it said:
“Don’t fear man; just obey Jesus.”

Suzy

Look! Bruiser won the stare-down!
Rev. Wilbur sat, crossed himself and began humming a tune.
Now we are having Communion.

Bruiser

Now that our worship is over, gentlemen,
yer horse will be ready in a few minutes.
Wait outside to avoid the smoke from me forge.

Wilbur

Ah! Fresh air! Listen, Elder Alf. This is all wrong.
If sinners really want to know Christ,
they’ll come to our churches.

Suzy

But you know they do not, sir.
Rowdy’s britches had patches upon patches.
He would be shunned if he sat in one of our pews.

Prompter & Echoes

Ding dong!

Wilbur

I say! The church bell! I still have time!
I can make it after all to the installation rites!

Rowdy

I told ya you would, reverend.

Wilbur

Elder Alf, that toothless old hag warbled off key, trying to sing!
Even worse was that young woman holding her brat:
she howled so!
Such confusion is of the devil, for sure!
Of Satan, I say!

Alf

Whoa, brother! You came close to blaspheming the Holy Spirit!
That young woman was totally focused on Jesus.

Wilbur

So you say.
One fellow actually confessed he’d stolen a mule last week.

Suzy

But he promised to return the mule, and they restored him.

Wilbur

Here comes that ruffian with the horse; it’s ready to go.
I say, Mr. Bruiser, you must be using a very heavy hand
to get your followers to do so much work during the week.

Bruiser

No Reverend Wilbur. It be Jesus who moves them.
He’ll do the same for yer people.
Surely, some of them yearns to do more fer Jesus
than what you let them do.

Wilbur

Some do, and they give me ulcers,
always straining to do new things!

Alf

Goodbye, brother Bruiser.
Suzy, that voice is hissing again;
it warns me that to embrace this madness will ruin my career,
but the coo says to do as Jesus said and did:
go and love the poor, rejected people.

Suzy

Oh, Alf, I’ve been praying!

Alf

That hiss is louder now; it says my church needs no change.

Suzy

Don’t listen to it! It’s the Old Dragon, the devil.

Alf

The gentle voice says to serve Jesus and stop craving power.
The hissing voice promises to make me popular and wealthy.
Oh, Suzy!

Prompter & Echoes

Such tension!

Alf

Rev. Wilbur, what should I do? I cannot bear the strain!
Wesley’s way cannot be true! I will not let it! I won’t!

Wilbur

Now you’ve come to your senses, my lad!

Alf

Suzy, that dove’s voice warns me to decide.
It is God’s countdown time.

Prompter & Echoes

Five. Four. Three. Two…

Alf

I surrender! My congregation will send out harvesters.

Suzy

Yes! Some of us will love to be freed
to gather new believers in home churches.

Alf

Rev. Wilbur, I see now what I was searching for!
Whatever kept me so blind?

Wilbur

You have a fever, brother Alf. You are raving!
My barber’s shop is nearby. He is an excellent blood-letter.
I will take you there as soon as I clean off my shoe.

Suzy

Alfie, our Lord won a huge victory today!

Prompter & Echoes

Hallelujah!

Alf

Now, we have crossed the Atlantic Ocean,

Prompter & Echoes

The scene has changed!

Suzy

Here we are, in the 21st century with these church elders!

Prompter & Echoes

In today’s America!

Margie

Thank you, elders,
for letting Suzy and me explain our project.

Suzy

Margie and I saw how to do it in a story about
John Wesley and a blacksmith.
It took place in England
back when the Evangelical movement began.

Margie

Thank you for letting us explain our plans. I’m so glad!

Suzy

Not me, Margie; I’m scared!

Prompter & Echoes

Poor Suzy!

Alf

We elders will not bite, Suzy.
Girls, please tell us why you want to start home churches.

Margie

Most of the younger generation won’t come
to our older church; so, we take the church to them.
They love to gather in homes with friends
and share experiences. We will gather small,
New Testament type congregations
that enjoy healthy, interactive dialogue,
six to eight adults ideally, and no more than twelve.

Suzy

Such little flocks are multiplying all over the world today.
It’s awesome!
They’re bringing huge numbers of sinners to Christ.

Prompter & Echoes

Millions!

Suzy

We need you elders to stand with us, Elder Alf,
as we battle the Old Dragon.

Alf

Yes. Satan counterattacks after the Holy Spirit drives him
from a stronghold.
It’s the centuries-old battle between Dove and Dragon.
Are you girls ready for such serious warfare?

Margie

Suzy and I are ready, but are you elders ready?
It’s not just Suzy’s and my project;
our church as a body will birth the little daughter churches.
Suzy and I are merely the spiritual midwives.

Alf

What do you want us elders to do?

Margie

Send us like the Antioch church sent Paul and Barnabas,
and pray.

Suzy

Prayer is the most effective Dragon Repellant.

Margie

Our biggest challenge is to leave behind
some of our cherished church procedures;
that neither Jesus nor his apostles practiced
We must simplify, for churches to multiply
as in the New Testament.

Alf

Will you need financial support, Margie?

Margie

No. We will pay for our own gasoline, Elder Alf,
and we need no help to find receptive people.
We observed school grounds yesterday,
and read Chamber of Commerce surveys.
We know where the most receptive people live:
in the Lost Pearl district.

Prompter & Echoes

Oh, no! Never!

Alf

Lost Pearl! That place is wicked!
It’s the most dangerous neighborhood in the city!

Suzy

So, we will touch the leper, just as Jesus did.

Prompter & Echoes

And as John Wesley did!

Alf

Gentlemen, stop grumbling! Poor Suzy’s wiping a tear.