Fresh Expressions in five easy lessons

Are you curious about what Fresh Expressions means? Here are five easy lessons, with terrific examples, from Fresh Expressions US.

Lesson 1: Start with Listening 

Every Fresh Expression begins the same way: with listening to the community and to the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Begin by asking these questions:
  • Who in my community is not connected to the church?
  • How and where are they already gathering?
  • To which group of people do I feel called?
As we begin to hear our community’s answers to these questions, ideas for new fresh expressions will emerge. 

Church in the Parking Lot


Lesson 2: Loving and Serving 

Through your efforts of listening to your community, you've uncovered a niche group of people that need a new way to experience Church. Now, you move onto Loving and Serving.

To start a fresh expression among our neighbors outside the church we must first get to know them.
Focus on building meaningful relationships with people who do not attend church.

This can happen through attending community events, hosting potlucks, doing service projects, and other community-building activities. 

Incarnation & Reconciliation at East End Fellowship


Lesson 3: Building Community 

As relationships are being built, a group with a specific identity begins to form. The group begins to meet regularly.

Many of these groups begin with a few Christians who are comfortable around non-Christians, and they grow by bringing in non-Christian friends. 

From Fresh Produce to a Fresh Expression


Lesson 4: Exploring Discipleship 

Discipleship begins in the moment when a community transitions from hanging out as friends to gathering for a purpose.

Sometimes this happens formally. For instance, if you have a group of friends who play football together, you invite those interested in faith to have a discussion before the game.

Often it happens incidentally, during moments of socializing. However, this requires proximity, regulars times of interacting and authenticity, and a willingness to talk about real life. 

How Beer & Hymns Brings Light to the Darkness

Lesson 5: Church Taking Shape 

The group begins to identify how it can participate in their calling to be a group of people with Jesus at the center. The "marks of the church" may look different than you'd expect.

A Sunday morning gathering with the typical sermon and sacraments might not take place from the beginning. But people begin to follow Jesus and worship together in ways that are appropriate to their context. 

Farm Church: Planting Seeds of Faith in a Garden

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