Outreach is a critical element in church planting. It's no secret that nearly 9 out of 10 North American churches are declining or growing slower than their communities, primarily because they lack effective outreach programs. Outreach helps churches reach people in the community that are far from God or anything spiritual for that matter. Outreach [...]
How do we plant churches in a post-modern culture? This is a question that church leaders across the globe are grappling with. There is no one-size-fits-all answer, but there are some key principles that can help guide us as we seek to reach our communities for Christ. In this blog post, we'll explore some of [...]
One of the key qualities of an effective church planter is probably not what you think. It's not theological knowledge, marketing skills, or even the ability to raise funds. While all those things are important, a successful church planter's essential quality is much simpler: passion. Passion for the lost, passion for seeing people come to [...]
I have heard a well-intentioned church planter say that if there is a great worship team and an above-average preacher, the church will succeed. I think that is a way to start a worship service but NOT the foundation for a life-giving church plant. So, how can you know if you are merely starting a [...]
I believe churches should be planted with a team. Lone ranger church planting just isn’t healthy. Here are a few words of advice for core teams. Focus on three things “Your focus needs more focus.” – Mr. Myagi (Karate Kid Movie) A church plant needs to narrow its focus to three main things: outreach, small groups, [...]
The thought of making a difference stirs you to take action. The excitement of something unique and fresh drives you to step out in faith and plant a church. The first year of the church plant may not have been perfect, but the forward momentum keeps you focused and on track. Years later, you [...]
While new churches are unique to their local context, there are some key factors that are consistent with all of the church plants. I call these the Four "Must Do's" of church planting. Here are 4 things you must do as you begin your church planting journey: 1. Be Ready! Spiritual warfare is [...]
There are good reasons to start a church but also some bad reasons. This post will focus on the positive side and suggest two great reasons to plant the church that God has laid on your heart. Ready? Here we go! 1. People Still Need the Gospel Many people are praying for the [...]
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 [...]
Whenever I am out of town for a weekend, I look for a church to attend. More specifically, I look for a church plant to attend. Each time I do this, I am reminded that it can be scary attending any church for the first time. The anxiety intensifies if you don’t know anyone there. [...]