Nobody you've likely heard of. We're just a small group of simple Christians who happen to live in North America. We aren't a part of any denomination or movement or para-church organization. We're just trying to live as disciples of Jesus. (You may be thinking that we didn't tell you much, and if so you'd have a point. But to be fair, keep in mind that you already know more about us than we do about you! :))
Yes. Look, we believe that the status quo in twenty-first century Christianity could use a major change. Don't you? But the change isn't going to come by experimenting with strange new doctrines and extra-biblical revelations. The "faith of our fathers" (Jesus and His hand-picked apostles) is certainly good enough for us. We're not trying to come up with some radical new interpretation of the Bible. Instead, we're trying to get you to step into the pages of the Bible and live the same adventure of faith that they lived! We're also not trying to alter any of the biblically-received truth about Who Jesus is. Instead, we're trying to encourage you to know Him, love Him, obey Him, and live in Him on a deeper level. And we're not trying to invent some trendy new "way to have church." The first-century churches described in Antioch and Jerusalem, Philippi and Thessalonica were authentic and real. The sad truth, though, is that many people in our day don't have the opportunity to belong to a body of believers that looks much like any of those churches. Novelty isn't the goal; reality is. We don't have all the answers. But we're not settling for what we've already seen and experienced. We think you shouldn't, either!
No. But if we were, do you think we'd tell you? :) Honestly, we're not asking for your money (see below), and we don't have anything for you to join (also see below), so the odds aren't too high that we're a cult. We have to admit that we don't really even know what the word "cult" means to you. Too often it seems like a convenient label to stick on a group when someone doesn't understand it or feels threatened by it for some reason. It's a nasty sounding word with some ugly history to it. It conjures up ideas of mindless automatons exploited by a controlling leader, or of tragedies in which hundreds of people die needlessly. So if a group can be called a cult, that label somehow "dehumanizes" them so that they don't have to be listened to seriously or even treated kindly. For that reason we try to be very careful in our use of the "c-word." We should warn you, though, that we are trying to get you to live wholeheartedly for Jesus. If you do, some people will call you names. "Everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted," Paul warns us (2 Timothy 3:12). We hope this website and the materials offered on it will inspire you to desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus. But if we succeed, there will be a price to pay, for you and for us. So be it. A godly life in Jesus is reward enough, don't you think?
Well, yes, that is a little different, isn't it? No big, complicated reason. We just want to be able to say, like Paul, "For we do not preach ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus' sake" (2 Corinthians 4:5). We're not trying to hide anything. If you want to get to know us, that's certainly possible. If you hit the "contact" button, it will format an e-mail message to us. A real person or persons will receive it, read it prayerfully, and if appropriate answer it. We're just honestly not wanting to be the focus here. Somehow, some way, the focus has to be on Jesus. Keeping our names and portrait-studio photos off the website and the materials we distribute seemed like a good idea in that light. Of course Paul signed his name to his letters. When we write letters to our good friends, we sign our names, too! But many of the more general writings in the New Testament (like the gospels and Acts and Hebrews) don't have the authors' names revealed as such in the actual document. We thought we'd leave the names off of our stuff, too. But we're accessible, if that's your wish.
Yes. We're trying to put into practice what Jesus taught: "Freely you have received, freely give" (Matthew 10:8). God's word belongs to Him. We want to serve His people with it, not profit from it. We have real jobs and support ourselves that way, as God enables. As long as the Provision is available to do it, we'll continue to distribute our materials free of charge. If we ever can't afford it, we'll wait until funds are available and try again. You'll notice that our copyright gives you permission to copy and distribute the materials, too, as long as you don't change anything, and as long as you don't charge anyone for them, either. That's all we ask!
We'll use it to send you the CD--and that's all. Nobody else will ever see your information. And we ourselves will never contact you again in any way, unless you write us first and invite us to reply. We mean it.
No. In the first place, there's no movement to join. We don't have "franchises" around the globe. And even if we did, we still wouldn't try to separate you from any relationships with other believers that you already have. Our goal is to encourage you to be faithful in those relationships, not to abandon them for others! We do realize that a number of folks who read these words live in an environment where they simply don't have anyone they can call a close brother or sister in the Lord. We know how painful and lonely that can be. But please, if you are living in your city because you believe that's where God wants you, find some way to dig in and make a difference in others' lives there. If you can use our materials to encourage people in your city, it would make us very happy. Feel free to point others to our website, or request materials from us to give them. We'll certainly do what we can!
"We make it our goal to please Him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad...For Christ's love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. And He died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for Him who died for them and was raised again" (2 Corinthians 5:9-10,14-15). That's what's in it for us. That's what we're living for. We hope you are, too!
We're going to try to add more materials, both audio and print, as time and financial resources allow. Feel free to come back and check again whenever you'd like.
Yes. You mean you didn't believe us the first time? :) Look, there's no mechanism for paying for the downloads, even if you wanted to. And even if you figured out a way to mail us a check or money order, we'd just send it back to you. So please use the money in some other way to support widows and orphans, or to feed and clothe impoverished brothers in your city or elsewhere in the world, or to distribute God's word--or for whatever else you think best. Thanks for asking, though!