It has been over 21 years since I first became a pastor. I've had the privilege of equipping many for church planting and missions. Here is some advice that I share with those who feel called into this field of ministry: 1. Read everything you can get your hands on! Leaders are readers. If [...]
What if church planters considered themselves as missionaries? I believe the paradigm shift makes a huge difference. Sometimes we get into church planting 101 stuff like church planting systems, core team gathering, strategy sessions, etc... and forget the one thing that God called us to do.... make disciples. All of those things are fine and [...]
There are many reasons we should start a church. There are even more reasons we should plant churches that plant churches that will continue to multiply... and plant more churches. There are also numerous reasons not to start a church. We may visit these various reasons in upcoming blog posts, but for now, here is [...]
Many churches have mission statements that reflect the Great Commandment and the Great Commission. For example: Reach – Teach – Send Empowered by God to reach others for Christ. What we need is more clarity on the sending and reaching. Are we building the local church or God's kingdom? What does that look like, [...]
A good leader inspires people to do something bigger than themselves. In the case of churches and para-church groups, the Great commission along with the Great Commandment are the driving reasons for all we do. In order to make a difference, we need to work together to accomplish key objectives. I believe that we are truly better together [...]
By Bryan Stevenson Church planting is a labor of love. Being a part of a new or expanded expression of the Bride of Christ should only be entered into with that focus. Love of the Lord and His word, love for His people, love for the lost, and love for the geographical area that [...]
Matthew 28:19–20 “Go therefore and make disciples, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.” We know about the Great Commission. The "going" is pretty clear. The question is more about the "making" portion of this [...]
If you have been in ministry for more than a week, you can relate to this blog topic. All of us want to see people discipled and the gospel of Jesus spread to every part of the world. if we are honest, we have all been disappointed. Maybe things didn't play out the way we [...]
By Bryan Stevenson A Matter of the Heart In the middle of the twenty-ninth chapter of Isaiah just before the prophet speaks of the Messiah, the Lord pronounces a judgment (through Isaiah) on the people of Israel – one that Jesus recalls in Mark 7:7. Isaiah 29:13 And so the Lord says, “These people say [...]
In January 2020, I was teaching on the vision for the church as is my norm each year. January and February were great months, and then there was March 2020. It was different. Much different than anything I had experienced in my 20+ years of ministry. [...]