Wolfgang Simson

Wolfgang Simson
Originally uploaded by yafflickr.

Wolfgang Simson opened up with a number of stories and the importance that this is not to be about him. So many people are falling into the "pit" of commercialism and trying to get the next big book out so that they can go speak. I believe after hearing Wolfgang, that he wants to be about the work. I would say it this way... He wants to be a practitioner and not a historian.

Story about a young couple who in one year who has planted 7 house churches in one year to people who do not know Jesus.

Shared about the weirdness about being in his position. God constantly reminds him that it is

We are running our own race, we just need to finish. God has designed a special goal for us. He has a special task for us. What is it?

1Cor. 9:24 Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. 25 Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. 26 Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. 27 No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.

To finish strong, we need to...… Beat our Body into submission. Train our bodies to run the race that God has for us. It is not for anyone else it is for me. Wolfgang has a goal of reaching half the population. (One will be taken the other left)

Wolfgang shared what the Lord has laid on his heart to reach/have direct impact on 100 million house churches in his lifetime.

He asked, "What has God put on your heart as your goal/purpose for doing what you do?"

Consider the cost of what is God has laid on your heart. We must understand the cost so that we are not left with 1/2 a building or 1/2 a ministry.

We in the states must become the learners of what is working in other countries. Bangladeshh 500,000 + new converts baptized in the last number of years. Muslims coming to know Jesus Christ as their Savior.


These are the items that Wolfgang believes are some of the costs that we must considerÂ…
1. Luke 14:33 No one can be my disciple if he does not give up everything. What would be the hardest to give up right now? What makes you really secure/safe? (Theological Training, $$$ that just came in, your house church?) Are we willing to give it up?
2. Luke 14:26 – If you want to be my own disciples, you will need to hate your own life. This does not mean that you hate yourself as you stand in front of a mirror. It means loose your and Jesus'us's life. Are you willing to give up your selfish needs to do what God has called you to do? Are we willing to fight sin and give up our selfish desires to do things for the Lord.
3. Luke 10:2b – Driven out to be Driven into something. If you are sent out, you are be sent away from something. What are we being sent away from? Jesus wants us to leave something kicking and screaming. There is something that he wants us driven out from in order to get into the harvest field. What is it that you need to be driven out from in order to get out there and do the work? (Sin? Security? Money? Etc?) We may need to be kicked out of something in order to be kicked into the harvest. Have you been kicked out yet?
4. When the prince comes are we ready to live a clean life? No metal objects in our life? Live a life of purity so that the enemy does not have access.
5. Romans 15:17 – Pay the price of not being the "expert" but rather pointing the glory to Jesus Christ. Where does the glory point when things go well? We must not relish in the things that others have done but we need to relish/glory in Jesus. Let all glory go to Jesus. We are not to take the glory. Are we willing to pay the price of being a nobody.
6. Plan to finish your job well. Many start jobs well but they do not finish the job well.
7. Luke 11:21 – When the great harvest is on, are we ready to divide the spoils with the kingdom. Not taking the praise and honor for our "system" , "religion", "group","movement".


Three things that Jesus was a champion at...
Jesus as a champion in eating at other peoples houses
Jesus was a champion in telling stories
Jesus was a champion in healing and casting out demons.


I must come to the realization that I am at the end of doing it myself. To not pay the price would bear a greater cost in the end.

I need to be a practitioner not a historian.

There is no such thing as "successful ministry". We need to seek "real ministry". Success is determined by our relationship with God not our results in planting ministries.