Name: H.O.T. Community
Price: 12 USD

This course is going to help people who have lost hope, and their online “friends” have let them down. They have lost trust in finding significant relationships. All the talk of AI and deepfake impacts our ability to believe what is real anymore. And what saddens Tim the most is how many have been abused. because of us sharing their vulnerability. 

The main reason Tim created this course is because people are more hungry for authentic relationships than ever before. This course presents H. O. T. Community as the solution for your relational needs.


H.O.T. Intro

H.O.T. Introduction

This course is for those who have lost hope in finding significant relationships because their “Friends” have disappointed them. Many attempts to be open and vulnerable has been has been abused. Tim Ross has created this course especially for people are more hungry an authentic relationships. Tim presents a H.O.T. Solution for your relational need found in a Honest, Open & Transparent Community.

For Tim, H. O. T. became his mantra, in his late twenties. He had been refraining this over and over and over again that, “I want to be honest. I want to be open. I want to be transparent.” And that's the acronym, H.O.T. This is the way to establish deep relational equity in every relationship that you have. Now, I got to tell you, um, that not everybody wants to be H.O.T.  Sometimes it makes people wildly uncomfortable, but it has to be a personal commitment. It can't be contingent on the commitment of others. This has to be something that you make a commitment to yourself. H. O. T. is a state of mind. It is a personal belief system. And it is, Tim believes it is a gift that we get to give the world.

H.O.T.  Mantra

Tim shares how he came up with his life mantra to be H.O.T. (honest, open and transparent) and why he believes it is a gift that we can all give to the world.

To be a H.O.T. person, you're going to stop lying, covering up and trying to put your best foot forward. No, you're just going to tell them the truth. If somebody asks you, “man, how's your day?” You're going to honestly tell them how your day is going. You're no longer going to give that little sugar coated answer of like, hey man, everything's fine, or I'm doing good, or hey, I'm blessed and highly favored if you're like super churchy.

No. Cut the crap. Just tell them how you feel for real. Like, if everything's going great, yay, that's a wonderful thing. I'm glad you have that day. But if it's not going well, just tell them, that today kind of sucks. 

What would you say the difference is between honesty and openness? Being honest is telling the truth and being open is allowing someone give you feedback.

Because when we are transparent, what we are saying is we are see through. Most people live their lives translucent. They don't live their lives transparent. Translucent is that frosted glass that only allows you to see the silhouette. Transparent is that clear glass that allows people to clearly see what is on the other side. You don't want to show up in community as a silhouette of yourself. You want to show up in community transparently. You want people to see through straight to the heart and the soul of where you are. It takes bravery to do this, but the more comfortable you become doing this in your own skin, the easier it is to do it as you walk it out in community.


H.O.T. In Community

Tim has gives the practical steps to become a part of a H.O.T. Community. He breaksdown the challenges of being H.O.T. with yourself and others. Finally, Tim will teach you about the difference between being translucent verses transparent.  Most people live their lives translucent like that frosted glass that only allows you to see the silhouette. Transparent invites others to see through us.

Now, because Tim has been doing this for so long, many would say that he has become an expert. Tim gives Charles and Maxine Ross a huge amount of credit as to why he is H.O.T. His parents are quintessential baby boomers, but they might as well be Gen Zers. But thanks to Charles and Maxine Ross, he grew up in a very communicative household. His parents crested a safe environment where he could talked with them about everything. 

His parents didn't penalize him for having an opinion or disagreeing with some of the things. Disagreement does not mean disobedience. Let me just be clear on that. I wasn't defiant, but I was able to voice my opinion and I was not penalized for it. It was a beautiful house to grow up in.

Obviously the more Tim got into the word of God and the more he started going through his own soul care through therapy and through counseling, he got hotter and hotter and hotter, to the point that it is now a non negotiable in my relationships that if we're going to really be friends.


H.O.T.  Boomers 

Tim has become an expert on the topic of authenticity. He gives tribute to his parents who he says are quintessential baby boomers, but they might as well be Gen Zers. Inspite of being raised in “the silent generation,” Tim explains how he was raised in most openly communicative household that modeled for him how to be honest, open and transparent.

You are going to learn the biblical basis for a honest, open, and transparent community. You're going to understand the challenges facing a hot community. I'm going to introduce to you what the basement community is going to look like and feel like. And then the life stages of community. How do we do life together? Importance of stories in community. Trust in community. How to build, finally, your own basement. community. Are you ready to get H.O.T.? Let's go!

H.O.T.  Outcomes

In this course you will receive the following: The Biblical basis for a H.O.T. Community Understand the challenges facing a H.O.T. Community Introduction to The Basement Community The Life Stages of Community: How do we do life together? Importance of Stories in Community How to build and rebuild Trust in Community How to Build My “Dwelling Place.”

Tim teaches on the biblical basis for a H.O.T. community. 1 Samuel 18:3 says this. And Jonathan made a solemn pact with David because he loved him as he loved himself.

And in John 3, 16 it says, God loved us so much that he gave us his son, Jesus. Tim share how he has metabolized these passages. He has a “twin” brother. His name is Preston Morrison. When he first met Preston they talked for four hours. Tim was immediately honest with him. Now, Preston will tell you that Tim’s honesty was actually very, very jarring to him because he had never been that vulnerable with a person or seen anybody be that vulnerable with him.

They had that proverbial Jonathan & David relationship ever since. Honesty is so important as the foundation of friendship, and intimate relationships. You're not going to get far without honesty. And when you decide to give that as a gift to somebody, and they reciprocate it, you can have a special relationship.

Tim teaches that in Genesis chapter 2 that God had made it very clear that He does not want man to be alone. He said it's not good for man to be alone. I want you to understand how profound this statement is. Adam doesn't know anything besides God and the creation that God has dropped him off in. We were created for relationship. When God makes that statement, that's not just a marital statement. That is a relational statement. And when we choose to move into that, knowing how good it is to be in a relationship, establishing that honesty right from the start is the way you're going to experience what it means to be H.O.T.

Honesty in the Bible

Biblical Basis for a H.O.T. Community

Tim instructs how the relationship between David and Jonathan in the Bible is an example of a H.O.T. community. (1 Samuel 18:1-4). Tim shares how he has applied these scriptures to the relationship he has with one of his best friends that he affectionately refers to as his “twin.” 

Tim talks about openness in the Bible. 1st Samuel 18:4 show how Jonathan sealed their covenant by taking off his robe and giving it to David. There was a literal stripping of himself in exchange with David to show how much he wanted to be in a covenant relationship with him. Tim teaches from Philippians 2:6-7, Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. Instead, he gave up his divine privileges. He took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being when he appeared in human form. He humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal's death on the cross. 

Somebody has to go first. And with the incarnation of Christ went first. He didn't wait for us to be open. He decided to be open with us first. And so, in order to establish the openness of a H.O.T. relationship, somebody gotta go first. And when you go first, you give somebody permission to go second. Be bold enough to go first. We're not saying that you have to do this H.O.T.  thing with 15 people. Just start with one. One that you already have some relational equity with. But you will need to take something off and exchange it with them. Be open.


Openness in the Bible

In 1 Samuel 18 Jonathan strips himself of his royal robe in exchange to be in a covenant relationship with David. Tim teaches how Jonathan initiates this openness much like how Paul writes about Jesus Christ in Philippians gave up his divine privileges and humbled himself to be born as a human being. The incarnation of Christ, He went first. He didn't wait for us to be open.

In Tim’s relationship with Preston, he didn't know how he was gonna receive his openness. This was too much for him. The benefit of being that open to establish that relationship to strip and be the person that says, I want to hand you something I don't hand a lot of people.

And when you decide to go first, you give people the benefit of going second. Openness opens up opportunities for deep relational equity.


H.O.T. Benefit

Tim has low inhibitions that allows him to go first with new relationships.  In the beginning of his relationship with Preston, he didn't know how he was gonna receive Tim’s openness. There is a benefit of going first and being that open. The benefit requires you to be brave enough to give something you don't hand a lot of people. Openness opens up opportunities for deep relational equity.

In the B clause of 1 Samuel 18:4. Jonathan gives David, “his tunic, sword, bow, and belt.” Jonathan stripping. But it wasn't just one garment. He took off almost everything. He takes off all of these different layers. There's layers to all of our lives.

He's not the only one. Jesus also was stripped (John 19:23), when the soldiers had crucified Jesus, they divided his clothes and also took his robe.

Because the depiction of Jesus on the cross that we usually see is actually, false. The depiction usually includes some loincloth. The Romans meant for the crucifixion to be both excruciatingly painful and absolutely humiliating. They, they were not concerned with the decency of anybody that they crucified.

So Jesus is on the cross was but naked. Full frontal. Body beat up, bruised, torn, bloodied, welted, swollen, disfigured. For us, He is stripped of everything. His divinity, His power, everything He lays on the side so that He can die on the cross for you and I. He wants you to see Him. This is transparent. That body on that cross, so disfigured, so bloodied, that God has a hard time distinguishing, is that my son or is that you? Is that my son or is that me? This is the reason why he's able to die instead of us. It's because he stripped and became transparent to a point that we could see him clearly.

Now, this may not be something you want to do for the entire public. But you want to have relationships where you can establish that type of connection with somebody where they see you clearly. 

With Prez, I can hear his voice and know where he is. He can hear mine and know where I am. It's the same with my, uh, relationship with Juliette. I'll give you something that might seem so insignificant, but it just goes... With the time that we've been with each other, Jesus can, uh, Jesus, sometimes she feels like Jesus, Juliet can see right through me, because there's a transparency.


Full Frontal Transparency 

In Jonathan’s covenant he demonstrates his willingness to be H.O.T. by taking the different layers of clothing and giving them to David. This act Jonathan declares how he wants David to see him in every facet of my life. Jesus was also stripped, when the soldiers who crucified him and stripped him of his robe and divided his clothes leaving him completely open and exposed. (John 19:23). 

There's so much rich symbolism in the four pieces that Jonathan took off and gave to David. First the tunic is the undergarment. Jonathan is giving the “shirt off his back” to be completely transparent with David. A symbol that you are not going to hold anything from back. 

Next Jonathan lays down his sword symbolizing that he is not going to be in an attack mode. He not going to weaponize anything in the relationship against David.

Then Jonathan also puts down the bow. This is a long range weapon. That keeps others at a distance. 

And then the belt, that is used to hold up your gear. When he takes that belt off. It says that “you don't want anything to come between us, even at an intimate level. And so I am literally relinquishing All of the tools that would keep me from feeling, from being seen, from being known.”


H.O.T. Armor

Tim describes the armor that Jonathan gave to David. How the first gift was the tunic is the undergarment that Jonathan gives in full transparency. He lays down his sword so that we don’t have to always be on the attack. When Jonathan gives up his bow is a statement that you will no longer keep people a distance. And then taking off the belt is the ultimate gift of intimacy.

Assignment:
Write down what is your Tunic - the thoughts that are keeping you from being H.O.T. And what do you need to change?

Write down what is your Sword - the ways you have used weaponize your words. How can you practically lay down your Sword?

Write down what is your Bow - the ways you have kept others at a distance. What do you need to do change this?

Write down what is your Belt - what has keep you from being an an intimate level. What do you need to change this?


H.O.T. Homework

The H.O.T. homework is to apply the concepts of laying down what is your “Tunic, sword, bow, belt,” and picking up a H.O.T. lifestyle. 

Tim addresses the challenges facing a hot community. When you decide to be H.O.T within community, you are going to make some people uncomfortable. It's just inevitable. It's okay for them to be uncomfortable. The majority of people do not live their lives H.O.T. Please don't become like the H.O.T. elitist that walks around like, I'm H.O.T. and you're not.

You need to show a certain level of empathy while also having boundaries and, what we call in therapy, self differentiation. You're H.O.T. They're not, that doesn't make them bad. Being vulnerable is at the risk of other people's comfort. If your “H.O.T.ness” repels them, or they want to back up, that's their decision. But you don’t have to change the way that you approach the philosophy of being H.O.T. Make a decision to live your life honestly, openly, and transparently.


H.O.T. Challenges

Being H.O.T. can make others feel uncomfortable. Your  “H.O.T.ness” may repel others. Some have said, “Hey Tim, too much information. You're keeping it too real. You are showing a side of you that I don't think you should be showing publicly. ”  Tim teaches how you cannot be a H.O.T person without having a healthy level of self differentiation at the expense of the other person.

As you navigate what it means to be H.O.T, in your community, it's naturally going to take shape with people that are like minded. Those that cannot handle the “H.O.T.ness” will naturally, organically, back away. And those that love it are going to move to the forefront that will shape your H.O.T. community.

You can't demand just anybody to become H.O.T.. Your honesty, openness and transparency is a gift that only you can give. H.O.T. is best grown organically. It's going to shape who you connect with and who you don't.

In the meantime don't disrespect others who are not H.O.T. They're not bad people. They may not be ready to move into that level of relationship. Sometimes your honesty, openness, and transparency can be triggering to people. You being your authentic self can trigger pain and trauma in another person, and that's why they retreat. Your “H.O.T.ness” may trigger something in them that they haven't dealt with. They have to withdraw so they can try to figure out what to do. Maybe they haven't even thought about the traumatic episodes in their lives until you brought it up and they are fearful. So be gracious to those who are still processing their trauma. Being kind and empathetic with people who are at different levels is key to building a H.O.T. community. 


H.O.T. and Triggered 

You can't force nobody to be H.O.T. You can't demand vulnerability from anybody. It's a gift that is given. It's not a demand. H.O.T. comes organically.  But it can also trigger some who have been hurt and your level of “H.O.T.ness” may trigger something in them that they haven't dealt with.

Tim reminds us that your H.O.T. relationships will not always translate to social media relationships. It doesn't give the context in the way that people may think that it does. Tim adds a humorous suggestion to use emojis and memes on social media to help highlight your tone and intentions that could be taken out of context 🙂. In person is the best place to be where you are strengthen your relationship with friends 😃. 

H.O.T. Online

Tim answers the question of “what should be my relationship with my online friends?” He cautions how H.O.T. you should be on social media platforms. He shares how he does not post on social media anything about his family. Social media will always take anything you post out of context. H.O.T. relationships are only developed in person.

How do you overcome people abusing your vulnerability? Tim gives a very succinct statement on this. “You're going to have to develop a thick skin, point, blank, period.” In the same way, a martial artist who breaks a lot of boards is going to get calluses around their knuckles in the same way. You're going to have to develop a thick emotional skin If you're going to choose to be a vulnerable person and live a H.O.T. life. There's no way around it. Your vulnerability is going to be taken advantage of and it is going to be abused. It is going to be gas lit.

Now that Tim is a podcast host publicly being H.O.T. in front of a camera and a hot mic, many people misconstrue his transparency. Many people misunderstand it, and don't like it. Some people think it's crazy, it's sinful, it's bad, that he is a false teacher, a heretic. These people do not have context to you as a person. And you cannot chase them down to give them context. People are going to misunderstand what you're giving. While others will say, “I can't believe that person gave me the gift of their vulnerability.”

Tim is at a place where his skin is thicker, but his heart is softer. His vulnerability has made him have a softer heart for those that don't want to live their lives in vulnerability. Vulnerability is scary. Vulnerability takes bravery. 

H.O.T. Thick Skin

Vulnerability takes bravery. It requires you to develop a thick emotional skin that does not take things personally. The reality is that your vulnerability is going to be taken advantage of. It is going to be gaslit. Tim says “my skin is thicker, but my heart is softer.” His vulnerability has created a softer heart for those that don't want to live their lives in vulnerability. 

1. List out the barriers in your life that keep you from being able to be H.O.T. person.
2. Describe what H.O.T. relationships you have in your life.
3. Take some time to scrub your social media feed.
4. Review your time logs on your phone to see how much time you spend on it.
5. Write down your feelings about your disappointment with someone who has authority over your life.


H.O.T.  Homework

This homework is to apply the concepts H.O.T. to your relationships and to guard against the negative impacts of your relationships from social media

Tim shares how God gave him the vision for the basement when I was 30 years old. He recalls walking down the street and approaching a building that is 100 stories high. Even though the building was 100 stories high, he could hear people laughing and talking and some music coming from the 100th floor even though I was on the ground. Tim walked into the building and stepped onto the elevator. There were two buttons. One is L for the lobby and right above the L, there is 100. It's only the button So he pressed 100. But Tim also realized that the higher he was going up, the more self conscious he was becoming. Tim started to be self conscious.

As Tim got to the 100 floor before the door was even open, he became intrinsically aware that everybody on this floor is an influential person in the body of Christ, nameless and faceless. Once the door opens there's a very long hallway and, at the end of this long hallway, there's three steps and the most beautiful penthouse living room that you could imagine.

Tim took one step off the elevator, to his left, there were the most beautiful women lined all the way down the hallway holding these silver chargers, and on them are every sin, weight, and vice that you can possibly imagine.

To his right, there are guys also holding chargers, silver chargers, with every sin, weight, and vice that you can ever imagine.

Okay? Tim begins to think to himself, “wow, this must be the test, right?” “I can't get all the way down to the end of this hall and interact with these very influential people if I don't pass this test, right?” So he puts his head down, makes a beeline to the end of the hall. When Tim gets down to the end of the hall he looks around. But nobody looks up at him. About eight feet away from Tim are these two guys talking and he looks at them and observes that they both are holding something from one of the chargers. And then he realized, everybody on this floor picked up something from one of the chargers. A couple more minutes passed and then Tim realized he was not supposed to be up there. So he turned around and took the long walk down this hall to get back in the elevator. Just as he was about to press L to go back to the lobby he noticed a button underneath the L and it's a very faint B. So Tim pressed B. And as the elevator rested, he could hear laughter and music and people talking. As soon as the door is open, everybody that was on that floor turns toward the elevator and they're like, yeah, they start cheering. They're like, Oh my God, they start clapping. They literally grabbed Tim and yanked me off the elevator. They started hugging him and patting him on the back.

They were so happy Tim made it down to the Basement. And it was a beautiful reception. Then one guy grabs Tim by both shoulders and he says, “Oh my God, Tim, I'm so grateful you made it down here. There are very few people that went up to the 100th floor and ever made it down here. We are so happy you're here.”

And that’s the end of the vision. Tim asked the Lord, what was that vision about? And the Holy Spirit says to him, “Tim, everybody thinks it's their goal to make it to the top. That's what everybody's trying to do. He said, but I didn't call anybody to go up. I've called them to come down. He said, Tim, I want you to get as many people to the basement as you can. Then he asked me this question, Tim, if Jesus is the chief cornerstone, what floor would you want to live on? 

The invitation is that it's better in the basement. So press B.


To the Basement (And Beyond)

H.O.T. Discipleship 

In this section, Tim graphically recalls the vision that the Lord gave him many years ago. It is a picture of what many strive for in attaining access to the top and what sin, weight, and vice is picked up along the way up. Thankfully, Tim gets into the elevator and presses “B” for the basement. There is a welcome celebration near Jesus who is the chief cornerstone.

Why the basement is a safe place for vulnerability. If you think about a natural basement it is meant to be a safe place when there's danger, particularly from a tornado, hurricane, or a storm. The aspirations to go high are actually aspirations to be in danger. It's perilous. The kingdom is upside down. The lower you go, the higher God takes you. It's the world system that says climb the ladder. The kingdom system says go down.

Where's the safest place to be? Where the cornerstone is, and the cornerstone is the foundation of any building. Literally, when you're at a basement level, you're the closest to the cornerstone. Tim reminds us of the popular worship song “Cornerstone,” that says Jesus will be with you through the storm. That's one of Tim's core mantras, is press B, because it is safer down here. It is safer in the basement. It is the place where you are not afraid to be vulnerable, not afraid to show weakness, not afraid to say, hey, I'm struggling. Pressing B is about being safe. And safety is the invitation for vulnerability.

H.O.T.  Cornerstone

Why is the basement a safe place for vulnerability? A natural basement is meant to be a safe place when there's danger, particularly from a tornado, hurricane, a storm.  Tim gives an illustration of inviting people into a larger bunker as a storm approaches. He does not stop anyone from having access because they have differences. 

Acts 2:42-47 NLT
42 All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals (including the Lord’s Supper), and to prayer.
43 A deep sense of awe came over them all, and the apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders. 44 And all the believers met together in one place and shared everything they had. 45 They sold their property and possessions and shared the money with those in need. 46 They worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord’s Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity— 47 all the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people. And each day the Lord added to their fellowship those who were being saved.

The four areas that glues a H.O.T. community together is describe in this passage.
 Bible teaching, fellowship, sharing in meals and prayer. 

Some people have made the preeminent focus on the weekend service, a Sunday service. But the H.O.T. glue of Christian community is not Sundays. The H.O.T. glue of Christian community is people doing life together Monday through Saturday.

It is going over the teachings. It is the fellowship that we have with one another. Those that we do life with. It's sitting down having a meal and talking and living life. It is more than attending a small group. Its those phone calls and text messages that you have regularly, just hanging out and praying for one another.

The Bible is clear that we are not to forsake the church assembly. The Sunday gathering is the celebration, but the glue is digging through that Bible every single day. Let's all celebrate on Sunday. But who are you living your life with on Monday? Who's in my DMs? Who's in my text messages? Who are you reaching out to regularly? 

This is what we found in the book of Acts. A group of people, generous with each other, committed to living life together.


H.O.T. Glue

He teaches how the first Christians described in Acts 2:42, devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals (including the Lord’s Supper), and to prayer.  This is literally the glue of a H.O.T. community. It is best seen in how believers live out their lives together. 

Tim affectionately refers to our basement community as “dwellers.” From city to city in almost every city in America. There are a group of devoted dwellers that have embraced this philosophy and, they're living their lives authentically, authentically, vulnerably in community.

It has become a refuge for some people that are in between churches. Perhaps they got hurt at a church and they're not a part of the community again. And the basement has become their community. And they have connected with like minded people to do life together. And out of that, some people have found new communities that they have found safe.

For others, this is their community. Tim shares about a person who hadn't been to church since she was 26 years old, and now she's 42. She attributed her love for community again - to the basement. She found a new community. 

Through The Basement podcast people are connecting. They are taking the steps to be H.O.T. and to be vulnerable, and to live their lives authentically, to see the community grow.


Devoted Dwellers

Tim wants you to know how that Christian discipleship is being modeled in “The Basement” community. He affectionately refer to them as “basement dwellers.” There are a group of devoted dwellers that have embraced this philosophy and, they're living their lives authentically, authentically, vulnerably, in community.

APPLICATION:

1. Envision your trip to the 100th floor, and what would you see there?
2. Describe your safe place
3. How are you currently being “Discipled:” 
4. Where are you regularly learning about the Bible?
5. Describe where you are regularly experiencing positive relationships with other Christians, “Fellowship?”
6. How are you actively doing life with other Christians, “Sharing Meals?”
7. Describe how times you pray with others.


This homework assignment will help you to assess if you are on deceived in striving for the top floor or being discipled by being a basement dweller who devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals (including the Lord’s Supper), and to prayer.  

Tim breaks down how to be H.O.T. in community during the various stages of your life. 

When you're single, sometimes you have to use discernment about how much you're sharing and who you're sharing it with. Because as a young adult, you're still trying to figure life out. Tim’s encouragement is to continue to be honest about where you are at every stage of your life, whether you're single, whether you're married, just be honest about where you are. 

Once you get married, you want to establish on being H.O.T. with your spouse. It's the hardest thing to do. Because communication is so difficult once you get married, but you want to interject being honest, open and transparent with that person as quickly as possible.

You cannot say you love your spouse without risking offending them. This is “Marriage class 101.” Do not say you love your spouse if you cannot risk offending them. The first 24 months, 24 to 36 months of marriage, most spouses are doing nothing more than trying to spare their loved one's feelings. Because you love that person, you need to risk offending them. It might mean some cold nights. It might mean some gaps in communication. The level of respect, and safety that the person would feel knowing that I can always count on my partner to tell me the truth. It goes a long way. So you need to do it. 

And then “H.O.T.ness” changes when you start having kids. You want to establish with your children at a very early age, this is a H.O.T. household. Tim tells his kids all the time that they will never be penalized for telling the truth. There might be consequences to telling the truth, but you'll never be penalized. We are a H.O.T. house. You got a H.O.T. daddy and a H.O.T. mama, and we want to have H.O.T. kids.”


H.O.T. Stages

Life Stages

Tim gives an overview of the differences in life stages of being a single, married or parent and how H.O.T. changes with each season. Whatever stage of life that you are at, according to Tim the most important action is to be open to forgive. Living in a H.O.T. community gets messy and you must learn how to admit when you are wrong. 

Life Hack #1 for single people is to let people know where you are. You want to be seen, known, heard, and felt.

Generally, the church has not done a good job allowing single people to just be single people. Most single people in church communities feel like they're just in an airport terminal until they get married. Even many single ministries reinforce that you don't have nobody. Maybe it could encourage singles to go to Cancun because you don't have nobody to check in with. Instead they hear messages like “God's got the best person for you. Just hold on.”  The truth is that some people don't want to be married. You can have a fulfilling life as a single person. Your life hack is to be found in community. To be found, be known, be seen, be loved, be heard. You don't need a spouse to do that. You need community to do that. Everything that you can find out about being married, you can find out in community. So if you're single, enjoy that freedom, enjoy that season. If you're praying for a spouse, cool, pray for a spouse, but God's in the timing of all of that. But don't paralyze your life waiting for it either.

The apostle Paul writes that if you're single, you can give yourself more readily to the work of ministry. Unfortunately a lot of churches have abused this, and they literally have treated single people as their way to get additional staff without paying for it. Tim wants Singles to be a contribution. But doesn’t want them to be abnormally used. Where does it say that in the Bible? Where does it say that He wants to use you? God partners with us. He lives in us. He works through us. But how much use has turned into abnormal use where we get the word abuse? God's not trying to use you. That's your Heavenly Father. He's living in you, working through you to bring His kingdom to earth. Partner with the Lord and see Him do incredible things.


H.O.T. Singleness

Tim offers a “life hack” how to navigate H.O.T. as a single person. He also exposes how some churches have abused Single people’s availability as additional unpaid staff members. Tim encourages Singles to enjoy their availability in other ventures and not be stressed about having to get married. 

Life Hack #2 is for married couples. This is what Ephesians chapter five, says that marriage is an absolute mystery, but it is literally the sign of Jesus and his love for his bride, the church. So you need to display that authentically within your community. Let them know the joys of it. And let them know the difficulties of it. Let them know the highs of it and let them know the lows of it. 

And it's something God instituted for us to put on display. At times marriage is a beautiful picture and at times it has been a messy picture. Marriage is like the most beautiful hurricane that you'll ever encounter. It is both peaceful and tranquil. It is all together, chaotic and messy. It's not either or, it's both. And the ebbs and flows of life, you growing together, knowing together, flowing together. But when you make the commitment to it, God is the one that will see you through it. So be open to letting people into the good and bad of your married life.


H.O.T. Marriage

Tim’s second “life hack” is for married couples. He reminds them that in Ephesians 5:32 marriage is described as a great mystery that is a living example of the love that Jesus has for the Church.  H.O.T married couples are to display authenticity with the community, the highs and lows of marriage. Establishing healthy communication is key to a H.O.T. marriage.

Life Hack #2 is for parents. Be honest about the joys of parenting and the woes of parenting.
Tim encourages parents to share their best practices and what is needed as parents to cross pollinate and then put that into our kids so that they can grow up living their lives honestly, openly, and transparently.


H.O.T. Parents

Final “Life Hack'' from Tim is how to be a H.O.T. Parent. Tim understands that he and his wife have not been parents long enough to give advice on parenting. But he encourages parents to be honest with your community by sharing both the joys of parenting and the woes of parenting.

What stage of life (Single, Married, Parent) are you in right now, and how are you practicing H.O.T. Community:?
Rate 1-10 where you are in practicing Honesty. AND Why?
Rate 1-10 where you are in practicing Openness. AND Why?
Rate 1-10 where you are in practicing Transparent. AND Why?


H.O.T. Assessment 

Tim encourages you to assess the stage of life that you are in, and how are you living in a H.O.T. community. Rate 1-10 your honesty, openness and transparency.

Tim talks about the importance of storytelling within a community. By default, Tim is a storyteller. Fun fact, he had a microphone in my hand when he was three years old, not my earliest memory. He was always compelled by stories. Growing up reading comic books and was drawn to the characters and their narratives.

In church Tim was hearing stories from the Bible as well. The power of story is the reason why the gospel narrative is so easy for people to get into and to share with others because the gospel is literally a story that is one size fits all.

That's why, uh, it works in every nation, with every culture, every ethnicity, every person. Because it is the greatest story that has ever been told. When it comes to us telling our stories in community, we want to make sure that we keep our stories H.O.T. And more important that we're not editing any parts of our story. In Rev. 12:11 it says that we overcome by the blood of the lamb and the word of our testimony. 

And what's powerful about that is that our testimony can really help others understand how normal their challenges, struggles, and even their sins may be, but they can't know that if we edit our testimonies. They cannot know that if we edit our stories. It's important within community that you keep your stories unedited, even if they make you look bad.

Be honest, the Bible gives you a story that's unedited. The Bible tells you the good, bad, and ugly of every person that was either walking in faith or being disobedient to the covenant that they were supposed to have with the God of Israel. And it's because of that unedited storytelling that we can find ourselves in the humanity today of each and every one of these people. 

The story of your life matters. Your unedited story helps people learn how to navigate their own faith journey. So don't hide behind your story. Stand beside your story. It'll bring life to someone in ways you can never imagine.


H.O.T. Story

H.O.T. Stories

When it comes to us telling our stories in community, we want to make sure that we keep our stories H.O.T. Rev. 12:11 says that we overcome by the blood of the lamb and the word of our testimony. Our testimony can help others understand how normal their challenges, their struggles, even their sins may be, but they can't know that if we edit our testimonies. 

Tim shares how he came to learn the essential practice of authentic preaching and teaching. He says that he honestly got this from the Bible, and seeing how unedited it was. In the Bible we see the good, the bad, and the ugly in people. He was able to see these narratives of human beings on display, full of tension and incongruencies. Tim came to the conclusion that this is the way that he should be preaching the gospel. 

Tim teaches about three ways the Bible can be taught. The type of preacher or a teacher that preaches with the Bible in front of them, behind them or beside them. Now the person that preaches with the Bible in front of them is the one that sounds like this. “This is what the Bible says, this is what you should do. Do what the Bible says, because it says you should do it. The Bible is right. And everybody else is wrong. So do what the Bible says, or God's going to get you. Because if the Bible says it, you should do it. And just listen to the Bible. Don't ever question the Bible. Don't ask why. Do what the Bible says. The end of my message. Bow your heads. Close your eyes. Let's pray.” They've put the Bible in front of you. And they've told you everything it does. And that's all they've told you. It's a very disconnected message to give anybody.

Secondly there is the person that's preaching with the Bible behind them. The message is one long illustration with no application to the Bible. They talk about episodes from your life and then making it an antidote to the Bible. 

Tim shares the type of preacher/teacher that he tries to be is the person that has the Bible side by side. Here's what Scripture says, here's what Scripture has done in me, and here is the outcome of that. The Bible says this, here is how it's transformed my life, and I believe it can transform yours as well. There's such a beautiful balance to what Scripture says, how it's impacted you, And giving encouragement from the Bible being next to you.

Those are the H.O.T. sermons that change people's lives, authentically and relatively. 


The Good, the Bad & the Ugly

Tim teaches about three ways the Bible can be taught. First, some preach with the “Bible in Front.”  Second, with the “Bible Behind” them. Or finally, Tim likes to preach with the “Bible Beside” him. He says, “this is what Scripture says, and this is what Scripture has done for me. This is how it transformed my life, and I believe it can transform yours as well.”

Tim gives some practical tools and tips on how you can develop your own storytelling narrative. First, he advises you to do a “life walk.” Tim found this very helpful when he started going through process group therapy. It helps you recall the stories of your life into little chunks. Then go through the sections of your life map and see what you discover. Then try storyboarding scenes in your life episodes that work in the same way you would share stories on Instagram.

H.O.T. Narrative

Tim offers some practical tools and tips on how you can develop your own storytelling narrative. He encourages you to use a tool that he learned from his process group therapy called “life walk” to chronicle the highs and lows of the story of your life.

We share those stories to discover where God was in our stories. We may believe, erroneously, that God wasn't there for me. Because if He was, then this wouldn't have happened. If God was really real, then he wouldn't allow that to happen. If God was true, then this person wouldn't have been taken away. This person wouldn't have been allowed to harm me. 

We have to be able to own our story and find God in it. Even if it means having to do the painful work of finding him in our darkest season that we've ever been through. 

Tim vulnerably shares a moment at a freedom session with his counselor guiding him in prayer around his childhood sexual abuse. The therapist asked Tim to imagine himself, during his traumatic episode when he was experiencing sexual abuse. Then he asked Tim, “Where is God in this moment? Where do you see him?” He said that he had an image of Jesus standing by watching this happen to me and he's kind of shaking his head in sadness. And then Jesus says, don't worry, Tim, I'm gonna use this for my glory. And then, the counselor says, “stop! I want to do it again, but let me pray first.” Tim thought what I was seeing was good. The counselor prays,  “God of the universe, show Tim where you were on the day that he was being abused.” He tells Tim to close your eyes and try to go back to that scene. The therapist asks again, “where's Jesus now?” And this time Tim saw that Jesus was being abused with him.Tim realized that the enemy always wanted me to see Jesus standing by watching me be abused. When the truth of the matter is, whatever you've done to the least of these, you've done to me. Once Tim realized that Jesus was there, he finally understood that He could identify with Tim’s pain. And that changed the way that he saw God in every single episode of my life. Jesus is not just with you. He's in you. He's not just by you. He's inside of you. And when you see the Lord walking with you, with you at that intimate level, it changes the way you see your narrative with God. He's partnering with you, giving you both the power and the desire to do what pleases Him.


H.O.T. Brokenness

When we share our stories we discover where God was in each moment of our life. Many erroneously think that during our lowest points God wasn’t there for us. We believe that bad things would not happen to us if God had been there. Tim exposes how the opposite of this is true for his own life.

A big part of Tim’s storytelling comes in the form of humor. He refers to his form of preaching as cherry flavored NyQuil. Um, if you've ever had the original NyQuil - why? Tim says that green NyQuil might as well be antifreeze. It's terrible. Why would anybody who's sick want to drink that stuff? So someone agreed and created a cherry flavored NyQuil. Just like Mary Poppins would sing, “just a spoon. Just a spoonful of sugar makes the medicine.” 

Tim believes the gospel is medicine for the soul. But most times people have heard the gospel message brought forth so sternly or in such a sobering way. You already feel bad and now you're telling me I'm a sinner. I'm a bust hell wide open. So Tim always uses humor. He uses humor to open people up to slide the truth in. Tim’s encouragement to not to just dwell on the dark things, there are times where it is good to laugh.

Ecclesiastes makes this clear. It says that there is a time to cry. And there is a time to laugh. Laughter does good like a medicine. It is good for us to take the time to express joy.

Tim points out how he can share something as dark as sexual abuse and the pain, but at the same time, express joy and laughter as a result because he is on the other side of it. He doesn’t live with a victim mentality. He is not simply a survivor, Tim is a thriver, because of the narrative that God gave him through Jesus Christ. 

Find something to laugh about. Find something to smile about. There is something about your story that's not gory. Find that. Celebrate that. Express that. Love that. Because God sees both our good and bad and makes us stewards of them both.


H.O.T. Cherry NyQuil 

Tim shares about the humorous style of his preaching as “cherry flavored NyQuil.” Tim believes the gospel is medicine for the soul. He uses humor to open people up to give him enough space to slide the truth of Jesus into the message. Even where there is something about your story that's not gory. Find that. Celebrate and express it.

1. Map the highs and lows of your life walk at various ages, 0-5, 6-10, 11-15, 16-20, 21-25, 26-30…
2. Cite on your map the times when you saw God work
3. Share your map with a friend and celebrate your life.


This homework assignment will help you map out your life as a narrative and help you discover where God was in you during your highs and lows. Once you have completed your “life map” then schedule some time with a friend to share and celebrate your H.O.T. story.

Tim gives some instructions about trust in community. The word trust is a very dense word. It's different from faith. The way you build trust through community is by first understanding that you don't start with trust. You actually start with faith. Some churches have missed this point. When explaining how to step into their church community. They articulated that you should just trust us because we're telling you the truth and you're gonna love it here. That's not how relationships are formed. That's not even how the relationship is required with God. God doesn't even invite us into a relationship with Him by saying, “trust me.” Scripture says “without faith, it is impossible to please him.” We place our faith in Jesus, but trust is something that's developed over time. And so, when it comes to developing trust in community, you first have to start off with placing your faith in that community. You don't know how it's going to turn out. They don't know how it's going to turn out. So you're placing your faith in one another and then you're going to see how that grows over time. The more you can be vulnerable, the more you can share your experiences and the more those experiences are safe and received and not thrown back in your face. That's how trust is built. 

How do you rebuild trust when it's been broken through a community? If the person that broke the trust and or persons that broke the trust, acknowledge it, then you can go through that process of rebuilding trust. (See Matthew 18:15-20.) If they don't acknowledge the breach in trust, you may not be able to rebuild trust within that community. You may have to move. 

Now, this is where church hurt has come up within the body of Christ. Many people have used their reason for not being a part of community based on church hurt. Some say, I got hurt by a church, they offended me. They lied to me. They cheated me. They talked about me. They gaslit me. There's so many scenarios, the subcategories are endless, but the bottom line is you got hurt. Trust was broken, and you weren't able to rebuild it within that community, and so you had to leave that community.

Here's what a lot of people wind up doing. Never joining another community. It's an egregious mistake. Just because that community hurts you, doesn't commune, doesn't mean every other community will. You have to be able, uh, to give yourself permission, not only to be loved again, but to be hurt again. I know that's hard to say, because most people, most of us want to build up a wall and say I'll never get hurt again.

But true bravery in relationship means that you're putting yourself out there again because you are designed to be seen, known, loved. We're designed for that. And so just because one person or persons didn't know how to steward that well, It doesn't mean the rest of the world doesn't know how to do that. And so don't rob yourself from being loved again. Don't rob yourself from being seen again. Don't rob yourself from being known again. Don't rob yourself from being heard again. If you got hurt in a community, you may have to take some time away, but at some point you need to be brave enough, bold enough to step back out there and place your faith in a different community.

One community may not have been able to deal with you. But there are thousands, millions of others that would love nothing more than to share their life with you and have you do the same. So establish faith first. Faith grows into trust. And when that trust is broken, if everybody's mature enough, we can rebuild that trust. After everybody is able to share how they felt through the breach of that trust. But if they can't own up to it, You may have to step back, withdraw, and go through the process of placing your faith in another community. No matter what the scenario is, don't live your life alone. You were meant to live your life vibrantly with others.


Trust in Community

Building Trust

The way you build trust through community is by first understanding that you don't start with trust. You actually start with faith. And so, when it comes to developing trust in community, you first have to start off with placing your faith in that community. Tim gives practical instructions on how to rebuild broken trust in community.

Tim says that he doesn't do anything by theory. He never gives you any examples, anecdotes, or advice that he hasn't had to live through himself. Tim opens up about one of the hardest transitions that he ever went through. He went through a season where he describes leaving a massive emotional wound when he transitioned from one community to another. This transition left a crater in his soul. Tim remembers telling the Lord that he felt like his soul had been cratered. Tim faced massive rejection, and was hurt. Tim remembers the Holy Spirit acknowledging and validating his pain and that he did have a crater in your soul. The Holy Spirit then said to Tim that he gets to choose what he fills it with next. It can be filled with one or two things. The crater can be filled with bitterness, and people will drown in it for the rest of his life. Or you can fill it with grace, and if you choose to fill it with grace, people will be refreshed in it for the rest of your life.

Tim chose to fill it with grace. Filling it with grace is a slower process than filling it with bitterness. If he had filled it with bitterness, it would have come in like a flood in several seconds. Because Tim chose to fill it with grace, it took months. It was like filling up a swimming pool with a regular standard garden hose. As a result, Tim has so much more empathy and grace. 

You want people to be refreshed. Not messed up because your bitterness has gotten out of control. Tim exhortates you to pull up bitterness by the root and replace it with the seed of grace. It may take longer to grow, but what grows is going to be something that blesses people for a long time.


Soul Crater

Tim is H.O.T. when he shares how he had received a massive emotional wound when he transitioned from one community to another. It was so painful that it left a crater in his soul. When he prayed about this terrible rejection, he heard the Holy Spirit validating his pain, and challenged him: what was he going to choose to fill the carter with? That crater in your soul can be filled with bitterness, and if you fill it with bitterness, people will drown in it for the rest of your life. He said, or you can fill it with grace, and if you choose to fill it with grace, people will be refreshed in it for the rest of your life.

1. How do you define Trust?
2. Reflect on a time when your trust was broken.
3. Take a minute and journal how you are currently feeling about your community.


H.O.T. Reflections 

Tim encourages you to take some time and reflect and journal on the trust you have experienced in community.

Some ask, “how do I build my own basement community?” H.O.T. Basement communities are starting to develop organically, literally all around the world. Tim wants “basement dwellers” to have safe places and safe spaces to gather together in community. Tim calls these gatherings “Dwelling Places.”

Tim gives instruction for those who want to become a Dwelling Places leader who are H.O.T. that love the Lord. In addition these  leaders must be safe, submitted and spirit led.

A safe leader is entrusted with the fragility of people's vulnerability. It's like you're walking around with an egg and trying to protect it. It is that fragile. When we're dealing with people's lives and the intimacy of their stories, their narratives must be safe. Dwelling Places must be safe for others and it has to be safe for yourself as well.

A submitted leader can't be a rogue agent. You need to be submitted to somebody who has accountability in your life. A person who will love, respect and correct you. 

A submitted leader is not a rogue agent who doesn’t go to anybody's church. Every leader needs to be led. Tim is submitted to his mentors and leaders. They can still call me to the carpet on anything. The scripture says that there is in a multitude of counselors, there is safety. 

A Spirit led leader. This doesn't mean that in a distinct theological way. Tim means be open to the Holy Spirit. Moving in and through you to be a blessing to the community. Sometimes that might come through a word of encouragement. Sometimes it might come through you being a blessing to somebody, buying their groceries or however the Lord leads. Be open to the Holy Spirit working in and through you to be a blessing to the community that you're developing.

Dwelling Places need leaders who are H.O.T., safe, submitted, and spirit led. With that combination, this would be a safe environment in your town, your city, your country for people to press B.


H.O.T. Leadership

People are asking Tim how to start their own “Basement” community that are known as Dwelling Places. Those who follow Tim’s podcast are affectionately known as “dwellers,” who committed to have safe places and safe spaces all around the world. Tim explains the criteria for those who lead these gatherings must be safe, submitted and spirit led. 

Tim describes how these dwelling places will  function. It's very important to keep it simple. K.I.S.S. This is the acronym to remember that Dwelling Place format must, “Keep It Simple - stupid.” 

Leaders should be at a membership level to have access to all membership episodes. 

Tim reminds us that he is not just a content creator, he is a conversation creator. The Dwelling Place Leader role is to spark a conversation.

Dwelling Places, will follow the format found in Acts chapter 2. 
* We go over the teachings discussed “The Basement” podcast
* Pray for each other, 
* Share a meal together 
* and be H.O.T. with each.

Please, if you're going to be a leader, the quickest way for you to get “fired" as a volunteer leader is for you to start your own conversation on a topic other than what was discussed on the podcast. If you want to do something different, start your own group, but please do not call it a dwelling place.  There's a reason why there's Coke and Pepsi. They are not the same. They're both Colas. They are not the same thing. So if we're establishing a Dwelling Place, let's keep it a Dwelling Place. We are establishing dwelling people in the basement, and we're establishing dwelling places where people can come and listen.

Watch that “The Basement”podcast together. Since the podcasts are long, feel free to watch a particular portion or topic that you would like to discuss. And so maybe you might want your group to listen to the pod on their own. If it drops on Tuesday, give them 48 hours to listen to the whole thing, and then maybe you just want to get together at the end of the week. Perhaps you want to make it a weekly thing after both the pods for the week have dropped, and then from there you can pick.

Based on your Dwelling Place, deal with that part that resonated with you as the leader. Remember to “Keep it simple.” Follow the format of Acts 2. Make sure the conversations are H.O.T. and they're specific to what we've talked about in the pod.


Spark a H.O.T. Conversation

Tim describes the Dwelling Places format. Dwelling Places will follow the model of Acts chapter 2. Review the teachings and topics discussed “The Basement podcast. Leaders should be at the membership level to access membership episodes. A leader's role is to spark conversation about a specific podcast, pray for each other, share a meal together and be H.O.T. with each.

As a Dwelling Place Leader

1. Rate from 1-10 your own leadership:
* Honesty
* Openness
* Transparency

2. What H.O.T. areas are you in need of growing in and why?

3. Who are you currently submitting to in your life to?


H.O.T. Assessment

Tim challenges you to take some time to assess your growth as a H.O.T. Leader. After you rate your current growth write down where you need to continue to grow and why.  Finally, take a minute to explain who you are currently submitting your life to?

In this final section, Tim teaches on the Essentials of a H.O.T. church. For seven years Tim was the lead pastor of Embassy City Church. As the founding pastor he intentionally set out to establish a church culture that is honest, open, and transparent. He loves the local church. Tim loves what Jesus established through his broken body on the cross for Jews and Gentiles to have a place to express our faith in Him and in the God of our creation. Because he loves the local church so much, Tim is always doing whatever I can to encourage, lead pastors, to encourage parishioners, churchgoers. From all walks of life, from all different types of theological and denominational backgrounds. Tim’s passion is to see every church be as H.O.T. as Jesus was. Our rabbi, our lord, our savior is the embodiment of honest, open, and transparent. 

#1. The true marker of apostolic ministry is its authenticity and vulnerability. 

This is how Jesus Christ led. The Apostle Paul is one of the most beautiful examples of an H.O.T. leader. In 2 Corinthians 12 about the thorn in his side. The weakness that he felt, and that he had prayed three times to Jesus to take it away and that it was not being taken away.

Therefore, he was going to glory in his weakness and the trials and the tests and the persecutions, knowing that when he is weak, that's when he's actually strong. Because Jesus' response to him is that “my grace is sufficient for you.” You're not going to escape that level of vulnerability.

Jesus' vulnerability in the Garden of Gethsemane is the reason why Tim follows Him. It's not because of the miracles. It's because He showed His humanity in a way that He didn't even have to. He could have shielded it from the other disciples and they never would have known that He had this excruciating moment, but because he did, we know that He understands us on our weakest day. Those are the days that you can show up H.O.T.est because Jesus did too.

Tim is passionate about seeing the local church be H.O.T. He is passionate about leading pastors to be H.O.T. Because if we can live our lives like this, at that level, Big C Church wins. The world would be attracted to that type of church. The world would be attracted to those types of leaders.


H.O.T. Big C

The Essentials of a H.O.T. Church

Tim applies the essentials of H.O.T.ness to the Church. Tim absolutely loves the local church and is always doing whatever he can to encourage, lead pastors, to encourage parishioners, churchgoers. His passion is to see every church be as H.O.T. as Jesus was authentic and vulnerable.  Because if we can live our lives like this the Big C Church wins. 

In this final section, Tim continues to teach on the Essentials of a H.O.T. church. 

#2. H.O.T.  worship service.

Spoiler alert, H.O.T. worship has nothing to do with the genre of music. Tim has literally been in churches around the world, whether they be Anglican, Scottish Reformed, Baptist, Episcopal, Presbyterian, Church of the Nazarene, you name it, Tim has probably been in it, preached in it, worshiped with them. He is not talking about worship style, not even talking about. musical instruments or no musical instruments. Tim is just talking about authenticity. H.O.T. worship that is focused on Jesus. Worship that is theologically sound, that literally makes me forget about yourself and focus on Him. The greatest worship services to Tim are the ones that do this throughout the worship service. True worship is when in your worship you get smaller and smaller and Jesus gets bigger and bigger and bigger. 

#3. H.O.T. Bible teaching.

Tim shares how as a teacher and/or preacher of the Bible that is honest, open and transparent is when church becomes fun. Because not only are you going to learn about something from the Bible, you're also going to get the preacher/teacher's life applications. What it's done in and through them, and how it's changed them for the better. Tim loves to hear just sound biblical teaching. It doesn't have to be fancy. Tim says that he'll take H.O.T.  over any type of style, any day. As long as it's open, as long as it's honest and transparent.

#4. H.O.T. service.

And so when you're in a community that's open, honest, and transparent, And you start to see how they serve their own community. How they take care of the people that are a part of their community, their congregation. How they pray for each other. How they meet the needs of others. How they reach out to others. And then extend that to the community. To represent Jesus to the world.

There is nothing worse than a church in a city that the city knows nothing about it. If your church shut down today, would anybody even notice? That was one of the recurring thoughts in my head when we planted Embassy City Church. Are we having such an impact in our community that if we were to shut down, the mayor would come looking for us? If we were to shut down, would the chief of police come looking for us? If our church disappeared, would the fire department know? Would the local food shelter know? A H.O.T church community knows how to serve inside and outside of their church. It is not either/or, it’s both/and.


H.O.T. Worship

Tim describes what a H.O.T. worship service that literally makes you forget about you and focus on Him. The H.O.T. teacher/preacher instructs you in the Bible, and offers life applications through sharing what it's done in and through them, and how it's changed them for the better. Finally, a H.O.T. Church leads its congregation in acts of service among its community.

Tim wants to make something abundantly clear because he doesn't want there to be any confusion. The local church and dwelling places are not synonymous. No one should want to attend a Dwelling Place gathering and say that this is their church. “The Basement” podcast is not a church. Dwelling Places are supplemental to the local church. It's not either or, you need both. You need a church community, and you need a Dwelling Place. Tim believes every church needs “a basement.”

Do not substitute a Dwelling Place gathering for the local church. Please know that dwelling places are particularly about the community of people that have embraced the uh, basement philosophy.

If you're a believer in Jesus Christ, you should already be going to church. Now, if you're coming from one of these backgrounds that is atheistic, or agnostic, or, you haven't been in church in two decades. You're welcome to start with “The Basement,” but we hope it leads you to a local church. You need it. You need that community! Tim doesn't want you to say, Dwelling Places are enough for me. No, you need to be a part of the local church. First of all, we are all a part of the body of Christ.


Dwelling Places

Tim makes something abundantly clear and that the local church and Dwelling Places are not synonymous. Dwelling Places are supplemental to the local church. It's not either or, you need both. You need a church community, and you need a Dwelling Place. Every church needs a basement.


* Evaluate your current participation in Worship with a local church community

* Evaluate your current participation in Bible teaching at a local church community

* Evaluate your current participation in Service of others with a local church community


Tim’s final homework assignment is to evaluate your current participation in worship with a local church community. Secondly, evaluate your current participation in Bible teaching at a local church and finally, evaluate how you are participating in service to others with your local church.

H.O.T. Community

Tim Ross practically addresses how to live a Honest, Open and Transparent life in a loving Community. He teaches the Biblical basis for how to be H.O.T. through the covenant relationship between Jonathan and David described in 1 Samuel 18. 

Tim discloses that choosing to live Honest, Open, and Transparent brings with it many challenges. And reveals the vision that the Lord showed him about “The Basement” and how the safest place is dwelling near the cornerstone, who is Jesus Christ. He coins the title, “Basement Dwellers” for those who are committed to live a H.O.T. together in community. He instruct you on how to live H.O.T. at every stage of your life as a Single person, Married couple and a Parent.

Tim Ross is a natural storyteller. He explains how sharing your story is key to becoming a H.O.T. person in community. He gives simple ways you can write you own narrative and discover where God was in each season. He encourages us to share and celebrate the good, bad &amp; the ugly parts of your life story. Tim reveals about a rejection that he experienced that left a crater in his soul that he chose not to fill with bitterness, and instead over time has learned how to filled it with forgiveness and grace. He instructs on how to build trust in community by starting as an act of faith.

Tim Ross shares how people around the world are gathering around his podcast “The Basement with Tim Ross.” Tim has named these groups, “Dwelling Places.” He teaches about the leadership characteristics that are needed for Dwelling Places and what format they should follow. Finally, Tim Ross expresses his love for the local church and encourages leaders in the local church to practice the essentials of being a H.O.T. Church.

Tim-Ross.jpg

Tim Ross

International Speaker | Podcast Host

Are you tired of fake friends and surface church relationships? Tim Ross applies his life’s mantra of being a honest, open and transparent person to building a H.O.T. Community. Loneliness and isolation are at pandemic level and people are more hungry for authentic relationships more than ever.

How to Build My Basement Dwelling Place Community

The Life Stages of Community: How do we do life together?

Understand the challenges facing a H.O.T. Community

The Biblical basis for a H.O.T. Community

Your guide, Tim Ross