Why the Name “X242”? |
X242 is an abbreviation of Acts 2:42 where we find the inspiring description of the first believers: “They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.” This forms the simplest practice that we seek to restore.
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Is X242 a church? |
Yes and no. X242 is a ministry working to plant and encourage microchurches by connecting them to each other in a relational network. As such we are a microchurch planting ministry, and an association of churches.
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What Does a Microchurch Gathering Look Like? |
Each microchurch can decide for themselves how they practice the four devotions. But the agreement is that when we devote ourselves to the apostles’ teaching it means we open scripture together and do what it says. Typically this means reading and discussing the scriptures. Fellowship is where we spend time together in friendship, learning to love each other in the practical and menial things of life. The breaking of bread means we eat together as an act of worship in remembrance of the Lord’s death, and in fellowship as we accept each other. Prayer is where we take time to understand the needs and to agree about how to pray, and then we do it.
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Why meet in homes and common spaces? |
Faith is meant to be lived out at home, in the common spaces where our lives interact with others. Of course God’s people have always set up holy places like temples and synagogues and sanctuaries for worship, often under God’s direction. But when those places were not available to the early believers, they met in people’s homes. There’s nothing inherently wrong with a building dedicated to worship and ministry. But there’s something good about using existing spaces for it.
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Do people have to leave their conventional church to be part of this? |
Even though we are setup to refresh those who are tired from the conventional church model, we are not trying to get people to leave it. That said, this isn't supplemental to "real church." It is real church. If you find it encouraging to join others in a conventional setting as well, that's fine. And if you choose to leave a conventional church that considers you one of its members, please do it respectably, in good order, with an explanation to those who have watched over you.
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Who teaches? |
As with all spiritual gifts, each person should use their gift for the edification of others. Whoever is gifted to teach should teach, however best they teach. In the microchurch meetings, many don't have a typical lesson or sermon per se, but rather a discussion led by those qualified to teach, under the guidance and approval of their elders. Others prepare and present a lesson. Teachers throughout the network can also bring regular teachings as helpful, whether in person at meetups, or by other media, “so that the church may be edified.”
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How do microchurches protect against heresy and hypocrisy? |
As we devote ourselves to the apostles’ teaching, we learn to value right belief, right action, and right heartedness as the revelation of God in Jesus Christ. As we live out the simple agreement, we grow in understanding, faithfulness, and purity. We allow this same process to address and correct destructive heresies and hypocrisies. This includes scripture’s instructions to the elders about how to deal with wickedness and false teachers in the church. When contention arises we prayerfully open scripture and submit to it, believing that even if the process is tedious, the outcome is ultimately better.
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Is there church membership? |
We don’t have a typical church membership. We recognize as a member in the family of God anyone who follows the one path, and relate to anyone as a member in our network who participates regularly in one of the network microchurches.
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Can people switch groups? |
Most people are afraid of getting stuck in a microchurch where there's no personal chemistry. There's freedom to leave. But we encourage people to spend at least three months with a group to experience the full cycle of relationships and events. Often it's the experiences we wouldn't choose that teach us the most. And occasionally it's the people we wouldn't naturally love who become some of our dearest friends. That said, if you feel stuck, you're not on your own. Any of the elders would be glad to listen to your concerns and help you make an honorable decision.
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What is the overall structure of the network? |
Each microchurch serves as the basic unit that connects people to each other in discipleship-based communities, and then to the people in other microchurches through regional networks that connect as one network.
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What is the leadership structure? |
Elders are the pastors of the network, with responsibility to care for their own microchurches and to regularly visit microchurches not led by an elder. Together they help oversee and care for the relational network they serve. X242 Ministries serves as a hub for these activities, providing direction and oversight through a board of directors, with the elders functioning as an advisory board.
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How are leaders selected? |
Scripture tells us, "Do not be hasty in the laying on of hands," which we take seriously. When a person is recommended as an elder, the other elders of the network commit them to a time of testing per 1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1 to see if they are exemplary in faith, love, and conduct, with wisdom to shepherd in their context.
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Who are the leaders? |
Roger Shenk leads X242 Ministries at its Executive Director and "pastor at large." But the network is led by elders who live in community with those they serve. Because of our preference for relational influence over positional, we choose not to list elders here by name. This isn't for anonymity but rather to drive all things to relationship. (If you know an elder who is in need of correction, please follow the instructions of 1 Timothy 5:19 in letting us know.)
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How do you handle finances? |
We love God with all we are and our neighbors with all we have. This affects how we spend our money. Each member should give directly to the missions and causes God calls them to support. But together we want to serve the immediate needs around us. (Acts 4:34; 2 Corinthians 8:12-15) We also invite people to support the planting and care of new churches and networks with a regular contribution to X242, however God leads.
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How do you make disciples? (And how do you do evangelism?) |
Our goal is to plant microchurches and networks of microchurches where anyone can invite anyone to come discover the way of Jesus by living out our simple agreement with us. That simple agreement is our discipleship process, and inviting people into it is our evangelism process. So, rather than evangelism programs we simply live out our mission and trust God for the process and the timing. When led, we invite people to join us in an existing microchurch, or to help us start a new microchurch.
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How do you plant microchurches? |
Anyone can follow this model, and we're happy for them to be part of our relational network. We pray for this. We also look for opportunities to plant and encourage new microchurches under the guidance and care of elders.
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For more a more in depth look at the vision and principles that guide us, read "Simpler Church." |
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