One interesting factor we've found in planting a new church is that "gathering the lost" is not as easy as it sounds.
Many lost people don't know it. Some lost people are in denial. Others who are lost are quite lost and take a lot of work and effort to become "found" again.
Then there are people who are believers, but for various reasons, live like lost people. That is, I think, perhaps the most serious kind of "lost" there is.
Preparing to lead people, especially preparing to lead as a pastor or elder, requires deep character.
Sometimes, men can get away with a checklist kind of review in preparation for the calling to shepherd the people of God--and this is to their, and others', detriment.
I like Tim Chester's list; even more, I aspire to his list. Here are a few of my own observations as to why this is such a helpful matrix.
(click below to read more.)
From time to time I'm asked the question, "How do you spend your time?" or "What do you do during the day?"
I've tried to give a partial answer to this question by using different job titles: "Spiritual Entrepreneur," "Soul Barista," and "New Church Pastor."
A spiritual answer--and a correct one--points out that my work really means nothing compared to what God the Holy Spirit is doing.
Sometimes, I joke about it, laugh, and say, "I have no idea."
Seriously, day in and day out I find myself doing one or more of the following...
(click below to read more)
Our new church is technically in what's known as the "pre-launch" phase of church planting.
During this season, gathering mission-minded and passionate believers together, along with forming relationships with new and non-Christians is critical for our future health as a spiritually healthy church family and, ultimately, essential in order for us to become a church-planting-church.
With this overall goal in mind, as we draw closer to weekly worship at Mercy Hill this Fall, our launch team will need to consider three priorities. (Click below to read more.)
I recently spoke with a leader of a global missionary initiative. He explained to me how he was interested in the way mission-theory and thinking on a local level can be transferred globally.
As I thought about that idea--that what we learn in our own setting can have implications and application to other believers in other cultural contexts around the globe, I was reminded of something the Apostle Paul wrote to his son-in-the-faith, Timothy:
...what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.
While this is traditionally applied to training up young men in the content of the Christian faith, I think it sometimes is treated too academically.
As if the only thing Timothy "heard" from Paul was, say, sermons.
Ask yourself this question: what do you remember from your dad? (Click below to read more.)
Phil Henry