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Our Only Incorporation is the Body of Christ. Free Christians and Churches.

Stephen Simons
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  • Doylestown, PA
  • United States
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Church Planting Without Institution Building

Started Jul. 12, 2009

Incorporating the Body of Christ
4 Replies

Started this discussion. Last reply by Clark Echols Dec. 24, 2009.

 

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Stephen Simons

Get Access to the Exponential Conference 2010 Sessions

As an awesome service to every ministry, the Exponential Network has made the audio from this year's Exponential Conference 2010 in Orlando, FL available online for FREE!


Download these great training sessions online now at



… Continue

Posted on May 27, 2010 at 1:03pm —

Stephen Simons

To 501(c)(3) or Not To 501(c)(3)

Are churches 501(c)(3) non-profits? Should they be? Do they have to be? Is there any other way that they can be recognized by the state? What is a "church" anyway? What legal entity, if any, is the best form for a church to take? Does it violate the church as the living body of Christ, to be embodied/incorporated under the state?



I am not yet ready to propose an answer to any of these questions. But I have begun collecting research on what various people have dis
… Continue

Posted on May 11, 2010 at 12:14pm — 5 Comments

Stephen Simons

Free Churches - Free as in speech? or Free as in beer?

Free Churches are free in the fact that they are autonomous, non-incorporated, local, and independent -- at liberty to organize as they choose, worship as they choose, hire/fire as they choose, teach as they choose, believe as they choose....


...you get the idea.



However, Free Churches are not free in the sense that they require funding to operate. Successful churches provide spaces to worship, spaces to study, spaces to celebrate, spaces to meet,
… Continue

Posted on March 11, 2010 at 9:35pm —

Stephen Simons

Followers of Christ - Disciples or Subordinates?

There are two types of followers: disciples and subordinates. The Freedom Church model is dependent on leaders who empower their followers as disciples, not those who would command and control their followers as subordinates.

Jesus said, "...don't you be called 'Rabbi,' for one is your teacher, the Christ, and all of you are brothers. Call no man on the earth your father, for one is your Father, he who is in heaven. Neither be called masters, for one is your master, the Christ." (… Continue

Posted on November 25, 2009 at 1:14am — 4 Comments

Stephen Simons

Pastors - Employees or Business Owners?

In the traditional model of denominational Christianity, following in the footsteps of the universal Catholic church that preceded it, the leaders/teachers/pastors in the body of Christ are supported in their work by receiving compensation as employees of their organizations. This is based on the pattern of Jesus sending out the seventy disciples to share the good news:

Now after these things, the Lord also appointed seventy others, and sent them two by two ahead of him into every c
… Continue

Posted on November 2, 2009 at 8:32am —

Latest Activity

Stephen Simons replied to Makram Max Abdelmalek Youssef's discussion 'SWEDENBORG OR PAUL'
It would be more accurate to say that no one is condemned out of hand, without being given the opportunity to make Jesus Christ the Lord of their life. Jesus Christ is God. And so in some sense, to believe in God is to believe in Jesus Christ, even…
July 3
Stephen Simons replied to Makram Max Abdelmalek Youssef's discussion 'SWEDENBORG OR PAUL'
Makram, As you yourself note, I do not think that you read my responses carefully before replying. And you continue to accuse me of beliefs that are not what I describe and certainly not what I believe. You keep coming back to your own false assert…
July 1
Stephen Simons commented on Stephen Simons's blog post 'To 501(c)(3) or Not To 501(c)(3)'
Dr. Bill, Thanks so much for the info, I will definitely be looking more into trusts!
June 29
Stephen Simons replied to Makram Max Abdelmalek Youssef's discussion 'SWEDENBORG OR PAUL'
I have been busy with my business and my church plant and am just now catching up on my messages. Wow, you are certainly a combative soul! I appreciate your concern for my soul and eternal life. I am equally concerned for your salvation and your rel…
June 29
The Freedom Church Network now has Donate
June 18
Dr. Bill Benton commented on Stephen Simons's blog post 'To 501(c)(3) or Not To 501(c)(3)'
Now, question #2: Should a church incorporate? When a citizen, company or church incorporates, it is seeking a franchise...a special privilege from the state, for which that entitiy must follow certain rules and pay certain fees..immediately, and an…
June 17
Dr. Bill Benton commented on Stephen Simons's blog post 'To 501(c)(3) or Not To 501(c)(3)'
There is no way under heaven that I would apply to a government agency--on behalf of my church--for a privilege. Did you know that churces were required to be licensed under the Nazi Germany government? To apply for special status to an agency such…
June 17
Amanda Vande Zande commented on Stephen Simons's blog post 'To 501(c)(3) or Not To 501(c)(3)'
I believe this is how it works. If you do not have a 501c3, then you are still tax exempt due to the fact that there is no affiliation with government. (Separation of church and state). Therefore, you would really have the right to say what ever you…
June 12
Amanda Vande Zande joined Stephen Simons's group
Angel Investors
Network with people looking to support ministries, start-ups, and church plants.
June 10
Stephen Simons replied to Makram Max Abdelmalek Youssef's discussion 'If Swedenborg was a prophet.........'
Yes.
June 5
Stephen Simons replied to Makram Max Abdelmalek Youssef's discussion 'If Swedenborg was a prophet.........'
I am not familiar with the Bible Meanings website, but taking a quick look at it, it appears to mix the works of Emanuel Swedenborg with others. For instance, the explanation of the gospels is by the Rev. John Clowes, an early Anglican follower of E…
June 1
Stephen Simons replied to Makram Max Abdelmalek Youssef's discussion 'If Swedenborg was a prophet.........'
This is why it was so important to Emanuel Swedenborg to explain his own experience, so that it could be understood that His experience was not a spiritist, or mediumistic experience. It was an experience similar to the apostle John on the island of…
May 31
Stephen Simons replied to Makram Max Abdelmalek Youssef's discussion 'If Swedenborg was a prophet.........'
What explanation of Matthew 5 were you reading?
May 31
Stephen Simons replied to Makram Max Abdelmalek Youssef's discussion 'If Swedenborg was a prophet.........'
Chapter 14 of True Christian Religion: Containing the Whole Theology of the New Church Predicted by the Lord in Daniel 7:13-14 and Revelation 21:1-2 is a good place to start, specifically section 779 and onwards to the end of the chapter. Also, for…
May 31
Stephen Simons replied to Makram Max Abdelmalek Youssef's discussion 'If Swedenborg was a prophet.........'
I do understand what you mean. It is extremely strange that Swedenborgians (http://www.swedenborg.org) and members of the New Church (http://www.newchurch.org) have kept the news of the return of Christ to themselves and do not feature it more stron…
May 28
Stephen Simons replied to Makram Max Abdelmalek Youssef's discussion 'If Swedenborg was a prophet.........'
I'll answer your question with another question. If Jesus was the Messiah, why was he not approved by the church? It took a radical act of faith to follow Jesus when the entire leadership of the church was opposed to Him and even wanted Him dead. I…
May 27

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At 8:44pm on July 2, 2010, joycey said…
Hello,
My name is Joy, i got you from,..freedomchurchnetwork.com and i want to have a
good relationship with you, please i need your cooperation,contact me with my email adress,
(joymabou0091@yahoo.com )
am yours Joy.
thanks,
Joy.
 
 
 

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