The Living Room Podcast
By The Living Room
If you are wanting to learn more about planting a house church or micro-church, or looking for resources to help you connect with other house church and micro-church leaders, you can find us in The Living Room at www.living-church.com.
The Living Room is a ministry of Living Church existing to network, encourage, and equip house church and micro-church leaders all over the world.
The Living Room PodcastJun 29, 2022
Episode #26: Relationship Billionaires
It's a joy to welcome Josh Benadum into The Living Room Podcast world. In today's episode, Josh shares his thoughts, wisdom, and experience from over 12 years of working with and leading house churches. We discuss things like:
- Why house church and what it is
- Becoming a "relationship billionaire"
- Being committed to people
- Having a dedicated evangelistic prayer meeting
- Practices of house churches that have been most helpful for making disciples of Jesus
- What those leading a micro/house church and feeling alone and isolated can do to network or connect
Josh currently works with Brave Future, and served for 12 years with Dwell Community Church, a church of nearly 100 house churches, in Columbus, Ohio.
RESOURCES SHARED IN THIS EPISODE:
The Normal Christian Worker by Watchman Nee
Members of One Another by Dennis McCallum
Episode #25: Uh-oh! Jesus just said a four letter word!
No interview. No guest. It's only Mark in the Living Room for this episode. Listen in as he shares something God has been teaching him recently about living the everyday mission of Jesus.
Resources mentioned in this episode:
**Let Mark know if this episode impacted you in some way. You can reach him at mjones@living-church.com.
Episode #24: Workin' It: How to Leverage Your Work for Mission
Today's episode took place in our monthly virtual Living Room conversation. In this conversation we discussed, "How do we leverage our work and vocation for the mission of making disciples of Jesus?"
You might find what's shared about work and mission pretty surprising!
The Living Room zoom is a monthly conversation that takes place between house church and micro church leaders from the United States and around the world. If you'd like to be part of this monthly conversation email Mark at mjones@living-church.com.
Episode #23: Five Kids in Kathmandu
We welcome Micah & Lisa Landers into the Living Room. Micah and Lisa share life with the Living Church House Church in Independence, KY. In this episode they share their story of God leading their family to make a move in the next several months to live the everyday mission of Jesus in Kathmandu, Nepal.
During this episode, Micah shares two types of being faithful. Be sure to listen to find out what they are.
Resources shared in this episode: If you would like to learn more information about the various ministries Micah and Lisa share in this episode, email Lisa at lisamarielanders@gmail.com.
Episode #22: This is Us (w/ Jedidiah Smith)
In the Living Room today is Jedidiah Smith from Missouri. Jedidiah is planting an organic house church in their local neighborhood and community. In this episode Jedidiah shares his personal journey from serving and leading in a more established church to planting a more organic church, and what that journey of living the everyday mission of Jesus has looked like for them.
Episode 21: Lessons from Wang Yi & Chinese House Churches (An Interview with Hannah Nation)
In the Living Room today is Hannah Nation. Hannah is Managing Editor for The Center for House Church Theology, a ministry amplifying the voice of the house church in China. In this episode Hannah reveals powerful lessons to be learned from our brothers and sisters leading house churches in China.
Hannah also talks about a new book, "Faithful Disobedience", releasing today December 6th! This book is a compilation of writings from Wang Yi, a Chinese House Church pastor currently serving a 9 year prison sentence. For listeners to The Living Room Podcast use the Promo Code: LROOM to receive 30% off and free shipping! This promo lasts until 12/20.
Resources shared in this episode:
- The Center for House Church Theology
- China Partnership
- Faith in the Wilderness (book)
- Faithful Disobedience (New book! Released December 6!) / Use Promo Code: LROOM to receive 30% off and free shipping until 12/20!
Episode #20: Everyday Mission as Hospitality, Sports, & Amtrak
Today's episode is from the virtual Living Room which is a monthly conversation that takes place between house church and micro church leaders from around the United States, and other parts of the world. Today we have leaders from Missouri, Tennessee, California, and Ohio sharing how they seek to show and share the gospel of Jesus to neighbors and others in their community.
Resources mentioned in Today's Episode:
Episode #19: QUESTION MARK | Leading & Multiplying Leaders
In today's episode Joseph Dickens interviews Mark about leading and multiplying leaders. They discuss what leadership meetings look like for their house church pastors, how to find leaders, and the change in leading leaders Mark has experienced since being part of leading more organic church expressions.
QUESTION MARK episodes are where Mark sits in the podcast hot seat answering questions on house church, micro-church, and living the everyday mission of Christ.
Resources mentioned in this episode: The Living Room.
Episode #18: Realities of House Church - The Challenge & Reward
Episode #17: Tucking in the Neighborhood
Mark joins Jason & Izzy Tucker in their Living Room for today's episode. The Tuckers have been in the house church journey for the past 8-9 years. In this episode they share different ways they've lived intentionally in their neighborhood from starting a neighborhood Sunday school to now pastoring a house church. They also share what a typical house church meeting looks like for them, and Jason shares what's helped him navigate his struggle with seeing himself as a "pastor".
Episode #16: Why House Church?
Today's episode is an excerpt from a recent lecture Mark gave to students at the Russell School of Ministry in Florence, KY. The lecture involves answering the following questions: Why House Churches? What is a House Church? What do House Churches do? How do House Churches accomplish Jesus' mission? If you're looking for a summary on house churches, this episode is for you. You can also request copies of the handouts Mark distributed during the lecture by emailing him at mjones@living-church.com.
Episode #15: LIVNU with Lennie
In the Living Room today is Lennie McKinney IV. Lennie is planting LIVNU, an organic house church movement in Akron, OH, which they started in 2020 during Covid lockdowns. In this episode Lennie shares his journey into house church, what a typical house church meeting looks like for them, what prayer looks like in their house church meetings, and hurdles and unexpected blessings from pastoring three different house churches.
If you want to learn more about LIVNU, click here.
Resources shared in this episode:
- Organic Church by Neil Cole
- Cultivating a Life for God by Neil Cole
- Letters to the Church by Francis Chan
- Transformative Life by Martin Jones
Episode #14: Mom on a Mission
We're back! It's been a bit since our last episode, but we're excited to be back ready to share with you more episodes of the The Living Room Podcast.
In today's episode, Mark welcomes his wife Andrea into the Living Room. Andrea shares through the lens of being a mom some lessons she's learned from living the everyday missionary life, as well as some welcomed unexpected surprises house church living has had on her family.
Episode #13: Growing Up House Church
Joining Mark in the Living Room today are his two sons Grant (22 yrs) and Luke (19 yrs). Grant and Luke share experiences and perspective growing up as kids within the house church ethos. They also share the impact house church and missionary living has had on them and their journeys with Jesus and church. Near the end of the episode they each share a challenge to parents, so be sure to listen all the way to the end!
Episode #12: Leaving it all Behind
Today in the Living Room are Steve & Mary Klotz. Steve & Mary share life with our network and family of house churches in Cincinnati, OH. In this episode they share with our gathering of house churches the stories of God leading them to live the missionary life in Papua New Guinea (PNG). They plan to leave for PNG in November. What bubbles to the surface for you as you hear their missionary heart?
Click here to order the book Insanity of God mentioned in this episode.
Episode #11: QUESTION MARK | 4 Practices of a House Church (Part Two)
Today’s Question Mark episode is Part 2 of Episode #10 where Mark unpacks the 4 disciple making practices of house church lived and expected in the Living Church family of house churches. Before you listen to Part 2, be sure to check out Episode #10 if you haven't yet.
Question Mark episodes are where Mark sits in the podcast hot seat being interviewed answering questions on house church, micro-church, and living the everyday mission of Christ.
Episode #10: QUESTION MARK | 4 Practices of a House Church (Part One)
Question Mark episodes are where Mark sits in the podcast hot seat being interviewed answering questions on house church, micro-church, and living the everyday mission of Christ.
In today’s Question Mark, Mark unpacks the 4 disciple making practices of house church lived and expected in the Living Church family of house churches.
Episode #9: Lessons from a “Front Yard” Family
Episode #8: Living Room Network Leaders Roundtable
Every month Mark leads an online call with the Living Room Network church leaders. These leaders come from different parts of the U.S., and even around the world. These leaders meet monthly for the purpose of encouragement, and to learn from one another what living the everyday missionary life looks like personally and in their different contexts, churches, and ministries. Today's Living Room conversation comes from that monthly call.
Episode #7: Dads & Discipleship (A Father's Day Special)
Joining Mark in The Living Room are Martin Jones and Hanson Pampuinath. The three of them discuss dads and discipleship. Martin has three adult children and several grandchildren. Mark has two adult children, another in high school, and one in middle school. Hanson does not have children of his own, but shares the importance of being a spiritual father to those he disciples in the country of Nepal.
Every month Mark leads an online call with Living Room Network church leaders. These leaders come from different parts of the U.S., and even around the world. These leaders meet monthly for the purpose of encouragement, and to learn from one another what living the everyday missionary life looks like personally and in their different contexts, churches, and ministries. Today's Living Room conversation comes from that monthly call.
Episode #6: Old Man with a New Mission.
In the Living Room today is Martin Jones. Martin is in his sixties and planting an organic church in a city he's never lived in before. In this episode Martin shares his journey and what's moved him to plant a church when most in his stage of life are looking toward the relaxation of retirement. He also shares some excellent thoughts and resources for discipling others and moving from a more traditional way of church to organic church. Here is the website Martin references in this episode: https://www.transformativelife.org.
Episode #5: Living Jesus' Mission is the Difference between Off Brand Oreos & Real Oreos
In this episode we welcome Matt Wallin and Sarah Sanborn into the Living Room. Matt and Sarah are in their twenties. Matt works with college students. Sarah is a college student. They each share their journeys and experiences of how Jesus' mission impacts their everyday lives, and what it looks like while living life among college students. Why did we title this episode the way we did? You'll just have to listen.
Episode #4: Young, Married, Introverted, and On Mission
Mark invites Joseph & Hannah Dickens into the Living Room. Joseph and Hannah have been married three years. In this episode they share how Jesus' mission of making disciples impacts their decisions as a young, introverted married couple.
Episode #3: Question Mark | Mark's Story
Mark welcomes his good friend Joseph Dickens into the Living Room to lead this first of many "Question Mark" episodes. In these episodes Joseph takes the role of host while Mark sits in the podcast hot seat answering questions and sharing his thoughts on house church, micro-church, and living the everyday mission of Christ.
Today Mark shares his personal story of God leading him into house church and the start of Living Church, a family or network of house churches in the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky area.
Episode #1: What do Discipleship and House Church / Micro Church look like?
Welcome to The Living Room Podcast! In this very first episode of The Living Room Podcast Mark invites House Church Pastor Kyle Ackerson into the Living Room. Kyle pastors a house church in Northern Kentucky. He also works full time for a Gutter and Roofing Company. In this episode Kyle shares practical ways he disciples others, lives the everyday mission of Jesus, and pastors a house church in the middle of his busy schedule.
Episode #2: The Importance of House Church or Micro Churches being Connected
In this episode Mark invites House Church Pastor Jeremy Ellis into the Living Room. Jeremy pastors a house church in Northern Kentucky and shares his journey into house church, and why it's absolutely vital for house churches or micro churches to be connected.