A New Testament church of the Lord Jesus Christ is a local group of baptized believers who intentionally covenant together under the Lordship of Christ and the authority of the Bible to help each other follow Jesus, make disciples, extend the gospel to the ends of the earth, and participate in the church’s ordinances: baptism and the Lord’s Supper.
Our model for church is the one described below in the Book of Acts. How and where Simply churches meet for fellowship and worship will vary widely. What worship gatherings look like can vary widely between Simply Churches. Every Simply Church worship gathering includes life-on-life conversation, prayer, singing to the Lord, and the proclamation of God’s Word from the Bible. Music styles can vary widely and food may or may not be present.
A Simply Church is far more than an outreach ministry of another church. It is a fully functioning local body of Christ that meets weekly to practice five functions (Study the Word, Worship, Fellowship Together as Members of the Body of Christ, Minister to those Inside and Outside the Church, Reach the Lost) and two ordinances (Baptism and the Lord’s Supper) which characterize a biblical local church. Simply Churches should either be fully independent churches (which is strongly preferred) or substantially autonomous from a parent church or denominational structure.
And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. 43 And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. 44 And all who believed were together and had all things in common. 45 And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. 46 And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.
Acts 2:42-47 (ESV)