Church Planting Series, Part fourteen
C.S. Lewis published “Mere Christianity” in 1952. The book was based on radio talks he gave in the 1940’s. These talks outlined the basic fundamentals of the Christian faith.
What if there was a “Mere Church Plantery” book? What essentials of church planting might be included?
PASSION – The starting point is one person with unstoppable passion to share Jesus. Salary or not, the love of Christ must be passed along in deed and word.
GROWTH – Immersion in prayer, a life of worship, and study of the Bible marks every church planter and church planting effort.
TRAINING – Those who plant churches need to be seasoned in the Scriptures, faith, and life. They must be able in relationships, teaching, and the sharing of tasks.
INTEGRITY – Honoring God and His people is essential.
ORGANIZING – The church planter must be able to formulate a plan, form relationships, and help guide others into effective outreach for Christ.
COMMUNITY – Those in ministry must learn to mentor, share, and collaborate. This is not a one-person show. The goal is to create a movement of passionate evangelists.
SERVING – The goal in everything is ultimately to reach out with the Good News of Jesus.
RISK – Never satisfied, the question is always, “What next bold step needs to be taken for the sake of the cross of Jesus Christ?”
Mere Church Plantery isn’t contingent on a building, sound equipment, new computers, or even money! These are secondary to the central task of growing a movement of God’s Spirit of grace in and through people. The secondary tools might become important, but if the first things are taken care of, the secondary items will develop and will serve the primary focus.
What secondary areas might be distracting you? How do you need to get back to Mere Church Plantery?
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Public Behavior
Church Planting Series, Part thirteen
I went to a movie the other day. I actually saw it in a theater. I regretted every moment. Why? Theater behavior has undergone radical changes.
After the lights finally went down thirty minutes into the movie, and after the focus was adjusted at about the same time, the activity in the crowd began. To my left, a woman in her 70’s was texting someone during the movie. To my right, a man and woman narrated their commentary of each scene. In front of me, several people made multiple trips in and out of the theater for a variety of reasons, some which involved large quantities of snacks. Behind me, the person kept tapping the back of my seat with his foot—tap, tap, tap, tap, tap, tap, tap, tap, tap, tap, tap. You get the idea.
It was a circus, a fiasco, a disorderly din of sights, sounds, and smells. I wasn’t able to become lost in the story or engrossed by the compelling plot line. I got annoyed because it felt like I invited 100 restless people into my living room to watch a rented video.
Theater behavior has changed.
When my grandparents and parents went to the movies it was a special occasion. People got dressed up. Ushers seated you. They patrolled the aisles for noise and disruption. People stayed quiet. A hush fell over the theater when the previews began.
Now, after the movie is over, I wouldn’t be surprised if many in attendance would say, “What movie?”
Yes times have changed. Public behavior has changed. Restraint is disappearing. Shame is fading. The veneer that once made lives look civil and orderly is wearing very thin. Real life is showing through.
This fact impacts church. It is a new day with new behavior and a new set of expectations for a church planter. Yes, signs abound reminding people to turn off cell phones. Yes, texting and tweeting are being integrated into some teaching. But there’s a bigger issue. Sin, brokenness, addiction, and dysfunction are very evident in people’s lives. Polite conformity to society is vanishing. This brings about some key challenges for ministry:
First, how will you reach and relate to sinners? Jesus dined with them after Matthew’s conversion. In Luke 5:27-32 He outlined His strategy. How will you uphold the integrity of the Gospel while bringing the Gospel to its prime audience: sinners?
Second, how will you address sin, brokenness, dysfunction, and unholy behavior in a clear and balanced way? How will you bring the living Word that changes lives to lives that really need changing, but do so in a way that doesn’t do damage to the mission of God?
Third, how will you not fall prey to a ministry of power and control in the midst of radically changed public behavior, but, instead, move forward in the love, humility, and truth of Christ?
Answers to these questions will help you truly reach the lost with the saving news of the cross of Jesus. Just don’t expect to eliminate coffee spills and stray Cheerios from your meeting place.
I went to a movie the other day. I actually saw it in a theater. I regretted every moment. Why? Theater behavior has undergone radical changes.
After the lights finally went down thirty minutes into the movie, and after the focus was adjusted at about the same time, the activity in the crowd began. To my left, a woman in her 70’s was texting someone during the movie. To my right, a man and woman narrated their commentary of each scene. In front of me, several people made multiple trips in and out of the theater for a variety of reasons, some which involved large quantities of snacks. Behind me, the person kept tapping the back of my seat with his foot—tap, tap, tap, tap, tap, tap, tap, tap, tap, tap, tap. You get the idea.
It was a circus, a fiasco, a disorderly din of sights, sounds, and smells. I wasn’t able to become lost in the story or engrossed by the compelling plot line. I got annoyed because it felt like I invited 100 restless people into my living room to watch a rented video.
Theater behavior has changed.
When my grandparents and parents went to the movies it was a special occasion. People got dressed up. Ushers seated you. They patrolled the aisles for noise and disruption. People stayed quiet. A hush fell over the theater when the previews began.
Now, after the movie is over, I wouldn’t be surprised if many in attendance would say, “What movie?”
Yes times have changed. Public behavior has changed. Restraint is disappearing. Shame is fading. The veneer that once made lives look civil and orderly is wearing very thin. Real life is showing through.
This fact impacts church. It is a new day with new behavior and a new set of expectations for a church planter. Yes, signs abound reminding people to turn off cell phones. Yes, texting and tweeting are being integrated into some teaching. But there’s a bigger issue. Sin, brokenness, addiction, and dysfunction are very evident in people’s lives. Polite conformity to society is vanishing. This brings about some key challenges for ministry:
First, how will you reach and relate to sinners? Jesus dined with them after Matthew’s conversion. In Luke 5:27-32 He outlined His strategy. How will you uphold the integrity of the Gospel while bringing the Gospel to its prime audience: sinners?
Second, how will you address sin, brokenness, dysfunction, and unholy behavior in a clear and balanced way? How will you bring the living Word that changes lives to lives that really need changing, but do so in a way that doesn’t do damage to the mission of God?
Third, how will you not fall prey to a ministry of power and control in the midst of radically changed public behavior, but, instead, move forward in the love, humility, and truth of Christ?
Answers to these questions will help you truly reach the lost with the saving news of the cross of Jesus. Just don’t expect to eliminate coffee spills and stray Cheerios from your meeting place.
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Leaving Legalism Behind
Church Planting Series, Part twelve
I came across a great quote from Alexander Solzhenitsyn:
“A society based on the letter of the law and never reaching any higher, fails to take advantage of the full range of human possibilities. The letter of the law is too cold and formal to have a beneficial influence on society. Whenever the tissue of life is woven of legalistic relationships, this creates an atmosphere of spiritual mediocrity that paralyzes men’s noblest impulses.”
In church planting, legalism is always a temptation. You start something a certain way. You use your gifts to get the ball rolling. You choose the songs. You pick the slide backgrounds. You organize the small group structure. You brainstorm community outreach projects. You design the strategic plan. Then, suddenly, people show up. People get involved. And they have ideas that might change things!
You may be a Gospel preacher, a Gospel servant, a Gospel kind of person. You may never think of yourself as a legalist, a control freak, an in-the-box dude. But suddenly, at the prospect of change, you bristle. You hesitate. You say (or want to say) “No!”
It’s amazing how “that’s not the way we’ve done it before” can surface after one week in a church plant!
We’re creatures of habit. We like our will to be done. We’re legalists at heart.
The result is death. People get discouraged. Imaginations whither. Creativity disappears. Taking risks for the Gospel falls off the radar. The fear of not doing things the way “they” say it should be done takes hold and paralyzes the hearts and minds of all. 2 Corinthians 3:6 sums it up well: “The letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.”
I’m not talking about an “anything goes” attitude or a departure from God’s Word and ways. I’m talking about the fear-based reduction of all possibilities to one person’s mind, judgment, and rules.
How do you leave “an atmosphere of spiritual mediocrity that paralyzes men’s noblest impulses” behind? How do you leave legalism behind and live in the new covenant that gives life?
Building on “the Spirit gives life” proclamation of 2 Corinthians 3:6, Paul sticks with his point of a life of freedom in the Gospel. He says in chapter four, verse five, “For we do not preach ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus' sake.” Legalism is left behind when an event that we would have never thought of takes hold of our lives. Legalism is left behind at the cross. His ways ARE higher than our ways. We’re not the only game in town. There’s a body of Christ out there. There are many gifts for the common good. We live by grace, not by our works—-or our brainy plans and strategies.
When we belong to Christ Jesus and keep in step with the Spirit (Galatians 5:24-25), people live in the freedom of the Gospel. They are respected and loved. Their Spirit-led imaginations soar. Paralysis is gone. Spiritual mediocrity evaporates. The Kingdom flourishes. We notice and embrace God’s surprises. Mission and ministry become beautiful. A church-plant happens, not a me-plant.
I came across a great quote from Alexander Solzhenitsyn:
“A society based on the letter of the law and never reaching any higher, fails to take advantage of the full range of human possibilities. The letter of the law is too cold and formal to have a beneficial influence on society. Whenever the tissue of life is woven of legalistic relationships, this creates an atmosphere of spiritual mediocrity that paralyzes men’s noblest impulses.”
In church planting, legalism is always a temptation. You start something a certain way. You use your gifts to get the ball rolling. You choose the songs. You pick the slide backgrounds. You organize the small group structure. You brainstorm community outreach projects. You design the strategic plan. Then, suddenly, people show up. People get involved. And they have ideas that might change things!
You may be a Gospel preacher, a Gospel servant, a Gospel kind of person. You may never think of yourself as a legalist, a control freak, an in-the-box dude. But suddenly, at the prospect of change, you bristle. You hesitate. You say (or want to say) “No!”
It’s amazing how “that’s not the way we’ve done it before” can surface after one week in a church plant!
We’re creatures of habit. We like our will to be done. We’re legalists at heart.
The result is death. People get discouraged. Imaginations whither. Creativity disappears. Taking risks for the Gospel falls off the radar. The fear of not doing things the way “they” say it should be done takes hold and paralyzes the hearts and minds of all. 2 Corinthians 3:6 sums it up well: “The letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.”
I’m not talking about an “anything goes” attitude or a departure from God’s Word and ways. I’m talking about the fear-based reduction of all possibilities to one person’s mind, judgment, and rules.
How do you leave “an atmosphere of spiritual mediocrity that paralyzes men’s noblest impulses” behind? How do you leave legalism behind and live in the new covenant that gives life?
Building on “the Spirit gives life” proclamation of 2 Corinthians 3:6, Paul sticks with his point of a life of freedom in the Gospel. He says in chapter four, verse five, “For we do not preach ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus' sake.” Legalism is left behind when an event that we would have never thought of takes hold of our lives. Legalism is left behind at the cross. His ways ARE higher than our ways. We’re not the only game in town. There’s a body of Christ out there. There are many gifts for the common good. We live by grace, not by our works—-or our brainy plans and strategies.
When we belong to Christ Jesus and keep in step with the Spirit (Galatians 5:24-25), people live in the freedom of the Gospel. They are respected and loved. Their Spirit-led imaginations soar. Paralysis is gone. Spiritual mediocrity evaporates. The Kingdom flourishes. We notice and embrace God’s surprises. Mission and ministry become beautiful. A church-plant happens, not a me-plant.
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
Don't Get Lost
Church Planting Series, Part eleven
Air France flight 447. Judge Sotomayor. Swine Flu. GM goes through bankruptcy. An abortion doctor murdered in a Lutheran Church.
This is what people are thinking about this week. Add to those items a broken relationship, an illness in the family, a special family celebration, financial struggles, some life successes, personal dissatisfaction at work, a vacation that’s coming, the struggle with an addiction, and a boatload of stress, and you have a pretty good idea of where people are at.
The question is: will you meet them there?
Church planting can be very thought and life consuming. It can get to a point where you’re thinking so much about ministry, you begin to think ministry is the whole point, the goal, the end. You talk with your ministry friends. You read ministry books. You plan ministry events. You work with ministry teams.
And you may forget that people aren’t thinking about ministry; they’re thinking about life!
Will you meet people who are living life with the Good News of Jesus Christ for their lives? Will you remember what it feels like to live?
One hazard of church/ministry planting is that a ministry leader can get lost in the church. You can forget to connect with people and take their thoughts captive for Christ.
Do you remember when the exiles were returning from Babylon and they heard the preaching of the Word for the first time? Nehemiah 8:7-8 tells us that the Levites, “Instructed the people in the Law while the people were standing there. They read from the Book of the Law of God, making it clear and giving the meaning so that the people could understand what was being read.”
People need to understand the Gospel for their lives, their ups and downs, their celebrations and hurts, their media-bombarded brains. If you forget to “make it clear and give meaning so that the people could understand,” you’re sending people away to become lost in the world.
You see, that’s the other extreme. People are getting lost in the world—-in the headlines, schedules, bills, and busyness. You shouldn’t be a leader who joins them—-and lets the headlines drive your ministry. But you shouldn’t be a leader who is disjointed from them. The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us—-full of grace and truth (John 14:6). God came near. He touched the weak and sick. He laid hands on the children. He looked people in the eye. And He brought life. A blood dripping, screaming Savior joined us in our brokenness and helped us in our pain.
Will you draw near, make the connections, and articulate the fact that Jesus joins people in their real lives? If you’re having a hard time remembering how, get out, take notice, and live a little.
Air France flight 447. Judge Sotomayor. Swine Flu. GM goes through bankruptcy. An abortion doctor murdered in a Lutheran Church.
This is what people are thinking about this week. Add to those items a broken relationship, an illness in the family, a special family celebration, financial struggles, some life successes, personal dissatisfaction at work, a vacation that’s coming, the struggle with an addiction, and a boatload of stress, and you have a pretty good idea of where people are at.
The question is: will you meet them there?
Church planting can be very thought and life consuming. It can get to a point where you’re thinking so much about ministry, you begin to think ministry is the whole point, the goal, the end. You talk with your ministry friends. You read ministry books. You plan ministry events. You work with ministry teams.
And you may forget that people aren’t thinking about ministry; they’re thinking about life!
Will you meet people who are living life with the Good News of Jesus Christ for their lives? Will you remember what it feels like to live?
One hazard of church/ministry planting is that a ministry leader can get lost in the church. You can forget to connect with people and take their thoughts captive for Christ.
Do you remember when the exiles were returning from Babylon and they heard the preaching of the Word for the first time? Nehemiah 8:7-8 tells us that the Levites, “Instructed the people in the Law while the people were standing there. They read from the Book of the Law of God, making it clear and giving the meaning so that the people could understand what was being read.”
People need to understand the Gospel for their lives, their ups and downs, their celebrations and hurts, their media-bombarded brains. If you forget to “make it clear and give meaning so that the people could understand,” you’re sending people away to become lost in the world.
You see, that’s the other extreme. People are getting lost in the world—-in the headlines, schedules, bills, and busyness. You shouldn’t be a leader who joins them—-and lets the headlines drive your ministry. But you shouldn’t be a leader who is disjointed from them. The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us—-full of grace and truth (John 14:6). God came near. He touched the weak and sick. He laid hands on the children. He looked people in the eye. And He brought life. A blood dripping, screaming Savior joined us in our brokenness and helped us in our pain.
Will you draw near, make the connections, and articulate the fact that Jesus joins people in their real lives? If you’re having a hard time remembering how, get out, take notice, and live a little.
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
Family
Church Planting Series, Part ten
NFL quarterback and politician Jack Kemp died this month. Columnist Mona Charen, a former speech writer for Mr. Kemp, wrote a wonderful tribute to this accomplished American. At the end of her article she commented: “Though he achieved great things in public life, he managed to do it without neglecting his family. That is a man in full. He will be greatly missed.”
“A man in full.” Why? Because he was a champion football player? No. Because he overcame adversity throughout his life? No. Because he made a name for himself in the political world? No.
He was “a man in full” because he didn’t neglect his wife, his four children and his 17 grandchildren.
Being involved in church planting—-and any ministry for that matter—-can become all consuming. The excitement and constant demands can eat up every hour of the day. The plans for what’s coming next can dominate your thoughts. The needs of other people can pull you away from relationships in your life-—mentally, emotionally, and physically.
The question is: will you let your calling as a servant of Christ make you a “man in part,” an inattentive husband, a distracted father, an absentee family member, a short-fused presence around the house, a one-dimensional shell of a human being—all, allegedly, in the name of Jesus?
As ministry reached a frenzied pace, Jesus said to His disciples in Mark 6:31, "Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest." Our Savior who rose early in the morning to pray, who stuck to the outskirts of town to avoid crowds, and who knew when His time hadn’t come and when it had, was all about a healthy rhythm of life. He came to sacrifice His life, but He didn’t come to wreck His relationships. He came to put it all on the line, but He didn’t neglect the people in His life. No, He served them. He ate with them. He conversed with them. He washed their feet. He loved them.
Your primary witness of Christ’s love to the world starts with the people closest to you. It starts with your family. If you want the world to take notice of Jesus in you, it’s not going to be through a sermon or ministry program or church plant. But the world will take a close look at how you love your family, how you allocate your time and attention, and what kind of person you are when you’re not on stage.
Of course, loving your family and living a balanced life isn’t just so the world sees a good guy in action. You love your family because Christ first loved His. You love your family and devote time to them because you’ve made a commitment to do it. Most of all, because it’s joyful and delightful to cherish the gift God gave you in them.
It takes work to carve out dependable time for your spouse and children. It takes persistence and discipline to establish boundaries. As life changes, it takes trial and error to establish a trustworthy rhythm that honors your loved ones and allows you to serve God’s people faithfully. But finding this rhythm reflects the character of our Creator who rested. It also makes God’s self-sacrificial love real and demonstrable in your life.
An experienced pastor friend of mine said, “If you sacrifice your family on the altar of the church, the people of the church will not admire you. They’ll think you’re a fool.” Mona Charen might add that it is a high calling and a great legacy to end your life not as a “man in part,” but as “a man in full.”
NFL quarterback and politician Jack Kemp died this month. Columnist Mona Charen, a former speech writer for Mr. Kemp, wrote a wonderful tribute to this accomplished American. At the end of her article she commented: “Though he achieved great things in public life, he managed to do it without neglecting his family. That is a man in full. He will be greatly missed.”
“A man in full.” Why? Because he was a champion football player? No. Because he overcame adversity throughout his life? No. Because he made a name for himself in the political world? No.
He was “a man in full” because he didn’t neglect his wife, his four children and his 17 grandchildren.
Being involved in church planting—-and any ministry for that matter—-can become all consuming. The excitement and constant demands can eat up every hour of the day. The plans for what’s coming next can dominate your thoughts. The needs of other people can pull you away from relationships in your life-—mentally, emotionally, and physically.
The question is: will you let your calling as a servant of Christ make you a “man in part,” an inattentive husband, a distracted father, an absentee family member, a short-fused presence around the house, a one-dimensional shell of a human being—all, allegedly, in the name of Jesus?
As ministry reached a frenzied pace, Jesus said to His disciples in Mark 6:31, "Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest." Our Savior who rose early in the morning to pray, who stuck to the outskirts of town to avoid crowds, and who knew when His time hadn’t come and when it had, was all about a healthy rhythm of life. He came to sacrifice His life, but He didn’t come to wreck His relationships. He came to put it all on the line, but He didn’t neglect the people in His life. No, He served them. He ate with them. He conversed with them. He washed their feet. He loved them.
Your primary witness of Christ’s love to the world starts with the people closest to you. It starts with your family. If you want the world to take notice of Jesus in you, it’s not going to be through a sermon or ministry program or church plant. But the world will take a close look at how you love your family, how you allocate your time and attention, and what kind of person you are when you’re not on stage.
Of course, loving your family and living a balanced life isn’t just so the world sees a good guy in action. You love your family because Christ first loved His. You love your family and devote time to them because you’ve made a commitment to do it. Most of all, because it’s joyful and delightful to cherish the gift God gave you in them.
It takes work to carve out dependable time for your spouse and children. It takes persistence and discipline to establish boundaries. As life changes, it takes trial and error to establish a trustworthy rhythm that honors your loved ones and allows you to serve God’s people faithfully. But finding this rhythm reflects the character of our Creator who rested. It also makes God’s self-sacrificial love real and demonstrable in your life.
An experienced pastor friend of mine said, “If you sacrifice your family on the altar of the church, the people of the church will not admire you. They’ll think you’re a fool.” Mona Charen might add that it is a high calling and a great legacy to end your life not as a “man in part,” but as “a man in full.”
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
Money, Money, Money
Church Planting Series, Part nine
I had a theology professor who never ever talked about money. He was a doctrine guy. He dug deeply into the richness of the person of Christ and mystery of the sacraments. He led us to marvel at the poetic creedal statements of the early church in the Scriptures. He dwelt in the heavenly realms and gave each of his students a glimpse of God’s glory and majesty.
Then one day—I think it was on the very last day of classes—he brought up the subject of money. Seemingly out of the blue he said, “Brothers, remember, there is never a shortage of money in God’s Kingdom. There is only a shortage of vision.”
Wow. Come to think of it, I don’t think I ever heard him speak about vision either! But this doctrine guy WAS all about the church of Jesus Christ. He WAS all about the Gospel and the need for every human being to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge.
That’s why he brought up money.
We errantly believe that there’s not enough money out there, that money is THE big obstacle for ministry, that lack of money will always hinder Kingdom growth.
Hmmm, I seem to remember that, according to Jesus, even the gates of Hell cannot hinder the advance of God’s Kingdom (Matthew 16:18). So, what do you do about money?
First, DON’T BE AFRAID. As my professor said, there’s never a shortage of it-—even during an economic downturn. The Almighty God, Creator of all things, said in Psalm 50:9-10, “I have no need of a bull from your stall or of goats from your pens, for every animal of the forest is mine, and the cattle on a thousand hills.”
I love that verse. God’s portfolio has not been affected by this economic downturn. He’s got ownership papers for everything. There are no worries when He is in charge. He’s the ultimate creative Kingdom entrepreneur. He opens doors that no one can shut. Pray and trust in Him.
Second, ASK FOR IT. I’ve worked with many capital funding efforts. One lesson I learned early is that while many church leaders lament the shortage of money, not many actually ask for it. They teach ABOUT it, they dance AROUND it, but they never ask. Sometimes you know how much to ask for. Sometimes you have to give options. I remember talking with a couple who expressed the desire to help our ministry efforts by giving a memorial donation. I started by letting them know about the blessing of a $15 hymnal donation. I ended by letting them know about a $100,000 multi-media room they could donate. What did they choose? They donated the room! Who would have thought?
Don’t hide God’s giving opportunities. Some people need to hear what they can give.
Third, CONNECT IT TO THE MISSION. Money is not the goal; ministry is. The Gospel of Jesus Christ is. If the money doesn’t advance the Gospel, you shouldn’t be asking for it. If it does advance sharing the blood-bought gift of Jesus, then make the connection! People want to be part of that which impacts people’s lives for eternity. Share the vision, the dream, the heart of God.
Finally, SAY THANK YOU. I don’t mean simply writing a thank you note-—although you should definitely do that. Continue to affirm the Kingdom impact of people’s gifts. If you’ve shared the vision, then keep making the connection. This will lift up true stewardship. Years after the couple donated the multi-media room in memory of their 19-year-old son, I saw that it became a place where hundreds of young people heard about Jesus, brought their friends to hear about Him, and grew in discipleship and outreach together. I was blown away by God’s faithfulness. Look what He did! I jotted a note to the couple about how the dream they shared had born fruit and how many young lives were being brought to Christ in that very room. And I thanked them.
Giving people a chance to give money for God’s eternal cause is worthy and good. Don’t let the devil deceive you into thinking you should avoid the topic. And don’t let a shortage of vision for God’s Kingdom convince you that God’s plans are limited by YOUR checkbook balance.
I had a theology professor who never ever talked about money. He was a doctrine guy. He dug deeply into the richness of the person of Christ and mystery of the sacraments. He led us to marvel at the poetic creedal statements of the early church in the Scriptures. He dwelt in the heavenly realms and gave each of his students a glimpse of God’s glory and majesty.
Then one day—I think it was on the very last day of classes—he brought up the subject of money. Seemingly out of the blue he said, “Brothers, remember, there is never a shortage of money in God’s Kingdom. There is only a shortage of vision.”
Wow. Come to think of it, I don’t think I ever heard him speak about vision either! But this doctrine guy WAS all about the church of Jesus Christ. He WAS all about the Gospel and the need for every human being to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge.
That’s why he brought up money.
We errantly believe that there’s not enough money out there, that money is THE big obstacle for ministry, that lack of money will always hinder Kingdom growth.
Hmmm, I seem to remember that, according to Jesus, even the gates of Hell cannot hinder the advance of God’s Kingdom (Matthew 16:18). So, what do you do about money?
First, DON’T BE AFRAID. As my professor said, there’s never a shortage of it-—even during an economic downturn. The Almighty God, Creator of all things, said in Psalm 50:9-10, “I have no need of a bull from your stall or of goats from your pens, for every animal of the forest is mine, and the cattle on a thousand hills.”
I love that verse. God’s portfolio has not been affected by this economic downturn. He’s got ownership papers for everything. There are no worries when He is in charge. He’s the ultimate creative Kingdom entrepreneur. He opens doors that no one can shut. Pray and trust in Him.
Second, ASK FOR IT. I’ve worked with many capital funding efforts. One lesson I learned early is that while many church leaders lament the shortage of money, not many actually ask for it. They teach ABOUT it, they dance AROUND it, but they never ask. Sometimes you know how much to ask for. Sometimes you have to give options. I remember talking with a couple who expressed the desire to help our ministry efforts by giving a memorial donation. I started by letting them know about the blessing of a $15 hymnal donation. I ended by letting them know about a $100,000 multi-media room they could donate. What did they choose? They donated the room! Who would have thought?
Don’t hide God’s giving opportunities. Some people need to hear what they can give.
Third, CONNECT IT TO THE MISSION. Money is not the goal; ministry is. The Gospel of Jesus Christ is. If the money doesn’t advance the Gospel, you shouldn’t be asking for it. If it does advance sharing the blood-bought gift of Jesus, then make the connection! People want to be part of that which impacts people’s lives for eternity. Share the vision, the dream, the heart of God.
Finally, SAY THANK YOU. I don’t mean simply writing a thank you note-—although you should definitely do that. Continue to affirm the Kingdom impact of people’s gifts. If you’ve shared the vision, then keep making the connection. This will lift up true stewardship. Years after the couple donated the multi-media room in memory of their 19-year-old son, I saw that it became a place where hundreds of young people heard about Jesus, brought their friends to hear about Him, and grew in discipleship and outreach together. I was blown away by God’s faithfulness. Look what He did! I jotted a note to the couple about how the dream they shared had born fruit and how many young lives were being brought to Christ in that very room. And I thanked them.
Giving people a chance to give money for God’s eternal cause is worthy and good. Don’t let the devil deceive you into thinking you should avoid the topic. And don’t let a shortage of vision for God’s Kingdom convince you that God’s plans are limited by YOUR checkbook balance.
Sunday, April 19, 2009
The Mission Service
Church Planting Series, Part eight
The grandson of a friend of mine became a pastor at a church where his grandfather had served many years before.
Imagine the thrill as the grandson sifted through old files and saw his own grandfather’s handiwork: minutes of board meetings, fliers from ministry initiatives, printed sermons and bible class notes.
As the grandson scanned old worship service bulletins, he kept coming across a calendar item that confused him. Each Sunday in the late afternoon there was a calendar listing called “The Mission Service.” What in the world was “The Mission Service”? The grandson was intrigued. In the worship bulletins after his grandfather left, “The Mission Service” listing disappeared. The church also began to decline.
It took just a few phones calls and personal visits to unravel the mystery. The old-timers remembered what “The Mission Service” was. Every Sunday afternoon the grandfather traveled to a neighboring community to hold a special service. The location of the worship service varied from community to community. Sometimes church members would attend; sometimes the pastor would venture out by himself. But every week the pastor tried something new. Some of the services kept going for months until a person was raised up to take over the worshiping community. Other services never caught on or “fizzled” out due to lack of response. But as an elderly man who grew up under the grandfather’s pastorate said, “Your grandfather taught us that a church should always be reaching new communities.”
This is a true story. This is how the church used to behave. This was NORMAL for the church. Pastors had multiple preaching stations. They tried new things. The congregation not only supported these efforts, they participated in this outreach. Why? Because a church was about reaching new communities.
The goal of a local church was not to become comfortable, or to acquire wealth, or to become the stylish place to be, or to be the “high-tech” church of the area. It was to reach new communities.
For the new pastor’s grandfather, the strategy was “The Mission Service”—-create some relationships in a new area, get people talking, do some publicity, knock on some doors, discover some needs, and go there to do something. Make a “splash” and see what God does with it.
These days we are challenged in two ways. First, we must not overlook the old and simple ways of reaching out. Get out of the office and try something! Bring the living Word of God with you and see what happens.
Second, we need to shatter the notion that a few “expert” paradigms from the last fifty years are the only options we have for church planting and ministry expansion. There are simple and exciting ways to reach meaningfully into communities. We just need to listen, watch, pray, and go to work.
What might make a “splash” for Jesus in an unreached area near you? What will your “Mission Service" look like?
The grandson of a friend of mine became a pastor at a church where his grandfather had served many years before.
Imagine the thrill as the grandson sifted through old files and saw his own grandfather’s handiwork: minutes of board meetings, fliers from ministry initiatives, printed sermons and bible class notes.
As the grandson scanned old worship service bulletins, he kept coming across a calendar item that confused him. Each Sunday in the late afternoon there was a calendar listing called “The Mission Service.” What in the world was “The Mission Service”? The grandson was intrigued. In the worship bulletins after his grandfather left, “The Mission Service” listing disappeared. The church also began to decline.
It took just a few phones calls and personal visits to unravel the mystery. The old-timers remembered what “The Mission Service” was. Every Sunday afternoon the grandfather traveled to a neighboring community to hold a special service. The location of the worship service varied from community to community. Sometimes church members would attend; sometimes the pastor would venture out by himself. But every week the pastor tried something new. Some of the services kept going for months until a person was raised up to take over the worshiping community. Other services never caught on or “fizzled” out due to lack of response. But as an elderly man who grew up under the grandfather’s pastorate said, “Your grandfather taught us that a church should always be reaching new communities.”
This is a true story. This is how the church used to behave. This was NORMAL for the church. Pastors had multiple preaching stations. They tried new things. The congregation not only supported these efforts, they participated in this outreach. Why? Because a church was about reaching new communities.
The goal of a local church was not to become comfortable, or to acquire wealth, or to become the stylish place to be, or to be the “high-tech” church of the area. It was to reach new communities.
For the new pastor’s grandfather, the strategy was “The Mission Service”—-create some relationships in a new area, get people talking, do some publicity, knock on some doors, discover some needs, and go there to do something. Make a “splash” and see what God does with it.
These days we are challenged in two ways. First, we must not overlook the old and simple ways of reaching out. Get out of the office and try something! Bring the living Word of God with you and see what happens.
Second, we need to shatter the notion that a few “expert” paradigms from the last fifty years are the only options we have for church planting and ministry expansion. There are simple and exciting ways to reach meaningfully into communities. We just need to listen, watch, pray, and go to work.
What might make a “splash” for Jesus in an unreached area near you? What will your “Mission Service" look like?
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