Archive for Church Planting
Five Mistakes I Made As A Young Leader–Part Two November 18, 2009
#3 – I Spoke In Absolutes, Saying That We Would Always Do Certain Things and “Never” Do Other Things.
If you want to make God laugh…tell Him about all of the things you will and won’t do…and watch over time how He will cause you to eat your words!
When we first began NewSpring I said that I would never teach on giving…because it made people uncomfortable. Until I actually begin digging into Scripture and realized that Jesus talked about giving more than He did prayer…or faith…or heaven…or hell! (And I also realized the only people who were really uncomfortable were the ones who were not giving!)
When we first began I said we would not do a public invitation because they didn’t work anymore. I had a place in the program that people could check if they wanted to know more information about Christ…and asked people to fill that out and that someone would follow up with them. BUT…THEN GOD pressed in on me DURING a service to offer an invitation. I tried to explain to Him we didn’t do that…then He explained to me that it wasn’t my church! So…I obeyed (relunctantly) and people responded!!!
THEN I began to declare that we would ALWAYS do a public invitation…which, once again, was a phrase I would have to eat. I
I could go on and on with this one…the thing I would warn leaders about is this…be VERY careful when making absolute statements…they probably will come back to bite you.
(And…for the record…we do an invitation when HE leads us to…which is often!!)
#4 – I Had The “Not Us” Mentality.
I heard a statistic when we planted NewSpring Church that within two years that 50% of the people who started the church would be gone.
When I heard that I said, “not us…we’re different…we’re commited…we’re going to be the exception.”
Uh…we weren’t! In fact, it didn’t take me two years to lose about 50% of the core team…it took about two months!!! The lessons I learned in those days were hard…but real…
- You will lose people!
- Whenever you call for sacrifice…you will lose people! (See John 6)
- Whenever the church grows you will lose people!
- Whenever the church makes a major move you will lose people!
- Whenever things seem to be going well you will lose people.
I hate it…but it’s true!!! There isn’t a ministry on the planet that hasn’t had to deal with the painful reality that people leave…even when you feel like you are being completely obedient to God and doing what He says!!! (I actually heard someone say once, “If people aren’t leaving then you are not leading!” That statement is painfully true!)
#5 – I Thought I Could Control What People Thought About Me!
I remember the first time I read something negative about me on the internet. It literally destroyed me…seriously, it was like someone took a knife and jabbed it into my soul!!! I read it about four or five times…and for the next several days I hyper focused on that particular website and had this thought, “If this person and I could only meet and chat I think I could change his mind.”
It didn’t take long for me to realize that no matter what I did…no matter how many conversations I had…no matter how many olive branches I extended…that there were going to be people who hated me, slandered me and despised me…and there was literally nothing I could do about it.
Church leader…you CANNOT control what people think about you…and you can’t worry about it either. Jesus had a group of people who HATED Him and followed Him everywhere He went, pointing out His “faults,” yet He stayed true to the VISION His Father placed inside of Him and didn’t engage in trying to change their minds about Him.
If you want to silence your critics then you must…
- Keep your eyes on Jesus (Craig Groeschel says that becoming obsessed with what people think about me is the quickest way to forget what God thinks about me.) Let HIM, not “them” define you!
- Live a life of integrity!! (I Peter 2:15)
The rest is in God’s hands!!! You cannot shape the opinions of others…you can only be true to who God called you to be!!!
Five Mistakes I Made As A Young Leader–Part One November 17, 2009
One of the questions most often asked of me by pastors when we meet is, “what are the mistakes you made when you were a young leader that you wish someone would have talked to you about?”
Five always come to mind…
#1 – I thought that people who did not believe just like me were stupid, ungodly and should be avoided and rebuked.
This attitude stems from pride and arrogance…which is a danger with any leader…and, when I first began leading I thought I was RIGHT…and if anyone deviated from anything I believed it was because “the enemy had taken hold of them.” AND…what is unfortunate is that I didn’t think this way in regards to MAJOR theological issues (which should be fought for)…but rather music preferences, rated “R” movies, drinking alcohol, you know…the “important” things that Jesus fought about all of the time!!! :-)
It took several years for God to break me of this…and He did. He showed me that majoring on the minors isn’t really something that Jesus did…nor did those who followed Him. In fact…the people who majored on the minors were actually the ones who murdered Him.
It was a humbling process…but I have pretty much come to the conclusion that if we can at least agree on the basics found in the Nicene Creed then we should be able to love one another a learn from each other.
#2 – I defined our church by who we were not going to be rather than who we were going to be.
It’s easy when a person plants a church because we already know everything we’re not going to do! We left a world that we felt was a little dysfunctional…and we are commited to doing it “the right way.”
BUT…the danger in that mentality is…when we begin it is easy to launch a ministry based on attacking what is wrong with the church rather than proclaiming strong vision and declaring what we will do as a church.
Sooner or later people get tired of a ministry that is always in attack mode…they want to hear not what’s wrong with other churches, but rather what your church is going to do that is right.
Vision MUST begin with a burden and passion to do what God places inside of us…and a part of that IS identifying what is wrong…but when all we do is focus on the wrong (ANY idiot can point out a problem) and refuse to get involved in making what is wrong become right…well…that usually means we are not leaders but rather people who love to tear down but have no desire to build up.
One of the best things we can do is leaders is define who we are as a church by what God has called us to do…focus on that with intense passion…and allow God to drive us with His direction…NOT focus on what is wrong with everyone and everything and us others faults to make us feel so much better about where we are and what we are doing!
Four Random Questions I Wrestle With November 12, 2009
I often reflect on my early years in ministry…and the questions I wrestled with then. As I look at my struggles my first five years…not that much has changed. I still struggle with the same things…
#1 – Why do people criticize a church that reaches people?
I remember hearing early on in my ministry how evil Willow Creek/Bill Hybels was…so…I went to a conference where Hybels was speaking (so I could make my own decision) and watched him WEEP over people far from God (something I had never seen his critics do!) It didn’t take me long to realize that his critics were not motivated by concern…but rather jealousy.
Yet…this still happens today. In fact, it is quite popular to speak against anything that is growing in Christian circles…because if it can be shown in a negative light then it empowers other churches/organization to stay where they are and not make any sorts of adjustments.
#2 – Why do churches continually invest in broken systems?
For example…I am from Baptist world (this will be fun)…and I never, EVER, understood the concept of Sunday school. The church begged and begged people to go…but the pastor didn’t go, the staff didn’t go–HECK, the Sunday school director didn’t even go!!!
If I am remembering correctly…SS attendance in ever major denomination has been DECREASING since the 1970′s…and yet churches STILL invest in the system that DID HAVE IT’S DAY…but needs to be let go of. (I am REALLY making a lot of new friends in Baptist world right now! Guys…I don’t hate you! My heart is built on nothing less than Lottie Moon and Broadman Press! I just desperately wish change would be embraced for the sake of HIS KINGDOM…and the SBC’s goal would not be merely to survive…but thrive!!!)
The other thing that comes to mind here is the way churches invest in youth and children’s ministry! Seriously…I’ve read statistics that say up to 80% of CHURCHED KIDS walk away from the church when they graduate high school…and very few EVER return. Could one of the problems be THE WAY the church approached ministry? If so…then does the church MAYBE need to make some adjustments?
If the system is broken then say it is…and doing so is NOT irreverent…it is actually honoring to God!!!
#3 – Why do “Christians” hate people who aren’t like them?
This was REALLY confusing…I remember churches organizing abortion protest and then going out and yelling/screaming at people entering the abortion clinics and such.
NOW…let me be very clear…I am NOT for abortion…at all! BUT…I remember thinking during the times when these protests were quite popular, “what about the girl who is sitting in the church right now and has had an abortion?” (You can actually put anyone in that situation…the person who has given away their virginity, had a divorce, struggles with an addiction.)
Unfortunately…I’ve discovered that the people who most often look down on people who aren’t as “good as them” are usually hiding something of their own!!!
Oh…and one more thing here…why do “Christians” hate people who don’t believe just like them? (The reformed guys are usually the worse…and, being pretty much reformed in my theology I believe I can say that with integrity!) We all have different beliefs…but I would say if we could claim the Nicean Creed as our common ground…we should be mature enough to work through the rest.)
#4 – Why do pastors/church leaders listen to people who tell them what they should be doing…but have actually never done it?
If I wrote a book on surgery…the how to’s and such…there isn’t a doctor in the world that would buy it and/or attempt to apply what I had written! Why? Because…I am not a doctor…and I have NEVER actually performed surgery.
Yet…someone who has never planted a church and/or been a pastor can write a book in the Christian world…and church planters/pastors will devour it. Some people call this brilliant…I call it stupid.
The world seems to grasp this concept…learn from people who have been where you want to go. Yet the church seems to embrace, “listen and learn from the people who have never actually done anything…but have really good theories.”
Pastors/church leaders…if you want to learn the seek the wisdom of people who have actually done what you are wanting to do. (BTW…these people do not descrie themselves as “experts”…but rather servants who simply listen to the Lord and do what He says!)
And for the person/people who have great theories about how to plant/lead a church…I would say if you really believe in your theories then why don’t you risk it all and put them into practice rather than trying to make a profit by selling your untested ideas to men and women whom you are hoping may have the faith that you don’t actually have?
Why I Believe The Church’s Best Days Are Ahead… October 29, 2009
As I survey the landscape of church in America I am not buying into to the “doom and gloom” that some people seem to take joy in declaring…
IN FACT, I believe the opposite…I seriously believe the churches best days are ahead of her.
Acts 2 wasn’t something that happened that we are supposed “to get back to,” it was where we STARTED FROM…and should be FOUNDATIONAL and not just some ideal we strive for…
And I’m seeing that!
I see leaders stepping up and leading with CONVICTION and PASSION…and begging God for HIS permission instead of begging committees for their approval!
I see Jesus being preached and repentance being demanded…and people RESPONDING in droves because THE GOSPEL, not some non-eternal agenda, has taken center stage.
I see churches being planted and video campuses getting started by people who are more interested in seeing birth given to babies rather than trying to resurrect the dead.
I see networking taking place like never before…where people are reaching across denominational lines and loving and learning from one another. (THAT didn’t happen 15-20 years ago!)
I see the potential of a worldwide revival like that has NEVER happened right in front of our eyes!!! The internet was not given so we could view porn…but rather as a TOOL to advance His Kingdom.
I see passion in church leaders being unapologized for.
I see churches and leaders that are NOT AFRAID to take risks and do things different in order to reach people far from God.
I see churches buying into the SCRIPTURAL idea that people do not have to be perfect to come to church…and just because they are in church doesn’t mean they are perfect either.
I see churches embracing the fact that the pastor isn’t the one who is supposed to minister to all of the people…but rather it is the BODY that is supposed to minister to the BODY!
I see churches stepping up in their communities and not just being a mouth that speaks out about what it is against and for…but being hands and feet and serving those in the area.
I see “non-professionals” (you know, fisherman, tax collectors and tent makers) leaving the marketplace and entering the ministry…and making a difference!
I see people inviting their friends to church because they understand they won’t have to apologize the entire time because churches are actually embracing that if we are doing something for Jesus then we should give it our best!!!
I see religion being rejected so that it no longer matters what you wear to church!
I am seeing it…for those who think it’s over for the church, I’ve got news for you…Jesus is still Lord, the tomb is still empty and the church is STILL HIS PLAN!!!
Church…we’re not called to play “prevent defense,” let’s PREACH CHRIST, BEG HIM FOR SALVATION TO FALL LIKE RAIN…AND RUN UP THE SCORE!!!
Some Random Stuff… October 23, 2009
It’s Friday…here are a few more posts that have attracted a lot of attention over the past several years!
#1 – This post on masturbation! (What was CRAZY was the people who emailed in afterward trying to justify it…SERIOUSLY. There are some things I think I might stay silent about…I’m just sayin’!)
#2 – THE Question that CHANGED MY LIFE! (It will change yours too!!!)
#3 – Top Ten Mistakes Church Planters/Pastors Make!!!
#4 – AWESOME QUOTES!!! These SERIOUSLY set me on fire!!!
#5 – Top Five Complaints I Hear From Church Planters and Pastors…
#6 – Why Do People Criticize? If you are a leader…it isn’t “if” you get criticized…but “when,” so we need to understand “why!!!”
#7 – “I Don’t See How Someone Can Worship God With A Booming Sound System.” I heard this on the radio one day…and…well…it fired me up!
Fifteen Things I Wish Someone Would Have Told Me September 1, 2009
From time to time a church planter will ask me, “what do you wish someone would have told you before you began?” Here’s a list of fifteen things I came up with…
#1 – Everyone Will Not Understand You…SO Stop Trying To Explain Yourself. Cast Vision…And MOVE Forward!
#2 – Everyone Will Not Like You…So STOP Trying To Be Popular.
#3 – You Don’t Have To Be The Person Who Actually Solves Every Problem….Admit You Are Not The Smartest Person and Let Your Experts Be Your Experts.
#4 – Spend WAY More Time Talking About Who You Are Rather Than Who You Are Not.
#5 – A Leader Is Always An East Target Because They Are…A Leader. So, Get Over Yourself And Get On With What God Called You To Do!
#6 – When The Holy Spirit Presses Something Into Your Heart…Don’t Ignore Him.
#7 – Do NOT Expect God’s Next Step To Make Sense.
#8 – You Can’t Plan A Move Of God…But You Must Be Prepared For One!
#9 – Do Not Resist Something Just Because You Do Not Understand It!
#10 – People Who Claim You “Are Not Deep Enough” Are Obsessed With Information But Have No Desire To Live Out Transformation.
#11 – You Don’t Need To Listen To Everybody…But You Had Better Be Listening To Somebody Because God Didn’t Ask You To Take This Journey Alone.
#12 – Never Apologize For Asking People To Commit To Something…Jesus Didn’t!
#13 – The Church Has Been Underachieving For Way Too Long…So Dream BIG And Don’t Apologize For It.
#14 – There Will Be Days When You Want To Quit…Don’t…Jesus Didn’t! (Remember…DON’T GIVE UP…if you are discouraged, take a second and read this!)
#15 – The Gospel Changes Lives…PREACH Every Sermon Like It’s Your Last!!!
Pastors…Church Leaders…If I May… August 11, 2009
I read II Corinthians 6:1-2 the other day and nearly came out of my skin!
We can’t receive His grace in vain…we cannot pretend that what we do doesn’t matter…because…
NOW is the time of HIS FAVOR!!! The church has more potential right now than ever before in the history of the world! God has set the church up for MAJOR success…when you combine the potential of technology WITH THE SUPERNATURAL HOLY SPIRIT OF GOD…DANG!!! We need to be OBSESSED with this…HIS FAVOR is ON THE CHURCH. Which leads to…
NOW IS THE DAY OF SALVATION! TODAY!!! God wants to save people…to DRAW them TO HIM through the church! Don’t be afraid to give an invitation…to share the Gospel…to challenge people to respond!
Don’t wait–NOW!!!
- You’ve been putting off that ministry idea…do it NOW!
- You’ve been holding off on that sermon…do it NOW!
- You’ve been too scared to launch that church…do it NOW!
- You’ve been too fearful to confront certain things…do it NOW!
NOW is the time! Let’s stop the foolishness of saying “one day/some day!” Life is too short to wish it away!
Favor and Salvation…the time is NOW! You say you’re “waiting on God,” but is that a cop out…is it the other way around…that God is waiting on you to take a step of faith and trust Him?
II Corinthians 5:7 = the time is now!