How to Plant a Church

Consider the fellowship, caring for felt needs, unity of the early church.  None of us would ever say we wouldn't want to be a part of something like that.  Few church planters and church members would ever argue that we should strive for anything more.  But to merely set up a model like that is not only wrong, it is utterly impossible.  That is, we can quickly gravitate toward establishing something that looks so much like the original, but lacks every bit of its essential components. 

There is a great backdrop to everything that is going on in Acts that we quickly miss if we just approach it for methodology.  It never dawned on me until I paused and realized just who these were that are involved in the planting of the early church(es): the Apostles.  They had been with Jesus.  They had sat at the feet of Jesus.  They had marveled over miracles of Jesus.  They had been dumbfounded at the teaching of Jesus.  This is the great backdrop against which all the book of Acts is set.  And so we cannot start with methodology, we start with Jesus.  We need to spend time with Jesus if ever we are going to plant churches.  Methodology doesn't matter.  Jesus matters.

It quickly becomes apparent that the gospel is what is so pervasive throughout the Acts.  The willingness of the early church members to sacrifice, is in light of their knowledge of the gospel.  Their willingness to go bring hope to the nations, is reflective of the gospel and Christ's condescension from heaven to earth.  The breaking of bread together in their homes is modeled every bit after the unity that has been brought to them by Christ, who ultimately united them to the One with whom no unity was otherwise possible.  The gospel drips off of every action, every word, every sermon, every servant, every day of the week, every mission trip, at least when they are done in a fashion that is amiable and desirable.

So we push aside our methodology, for the sake of Christ.  We push aside our agenda for the sake of the glorious gospel of Christ.  Those things all naturally fall into place when Christ is at the forefront.  Methodology is not the gospel.  Instead, the gospel transcends all methodology.  We don't aim to plant a church indifferent to methodology, but it will not be our savior.  The gospel can stand alone, methods can't.  The gospel saves, methodology doesn't.  The gospel is beautiful, methodology is boring.  The gospel is glorious, methodology is pale, worn, and rusted.  And ever will it be the gospel that is our objective, our goal, our focus, or song, our sermon, our joy.  And upon/by/through this gospel God will plant His church.

Counting without Numbers

In my effort to see what God is doing in my community I stepped into a new church recently.   As I walked up to the front door I was warmly greeted by the pastor, who I had met previously.  He recognized me, reached out his hand, welcomed me with a "it's great to see you Nathan."  Then he added, "Oh man, we are missing so many people this week.  It is just going to feel really empty in there."  

I cannot say this surprised me.  I have been a part of churches that counted heads in every service and would have weekly totals, monthly totals, yearly totals of numbers of people.  And of course in  church planting we can't help but feel somewhat validated by numbers.  But when did numbers of people become the measurement of success?  When did we become so shallow?  I wonder if that pastor would have delighted in 10,000 in attendance that particular Sunday if he had to preach a heretical message to get them there.  I wonder if he would have cared about the broken marriage in his midst, or the homeless man in the front row, or the young man who was broken over his sin, if there had been a full church.  

Numbers are such a deceptive means of measuring success.  I find it very curious that in all Paul's many letters to churches he never once gives or asks for a report on the numbers.  Paul is a forerunner in church planting, and if ever he needed to validate himself, or validate others would it make sense to get a feel for numbers?  I suppose, if that is how he were measuring success, but he didn't measure that way.  It is a much higher bar for him.  He says in his letter to the Colossians that the ministry he does is to the end that he may present these people to whom he ministers "mature in Christ" (1:28).  When is the last time we got to know those we minister alongside, let alone those who sit in the seats every week?  

I am beginning to marvel at the work God is doing in the lives of the people I am getting to know and ministering to/alongside of.  I rejoiced as Steve, Jan, James, Jodi, John, Emily, Loren, and Kelli recently gathered to open the Word, share their hearts with one another, and pray together, and eat a meal together.  These are real people, and a number is not worthy to talk any bit about them. 

We need to engage with those God brings our way.  We need to put away our pens and papers used for counting numbers (as though people are just numbers).  We need to know these people, their stories, their pains, their growth...  We need to strive to see Christ formed in them and in us.  Anything less just ends up becoming about us, and ultimately draws attention to us.  But may we learn to draw fixed attention to Christ, the only worthy.

Northward, Southward, Eastward, Westward

I have spent many hours in the last few months driving, walking, biking around Lee's Summit. It is a large area.   I have since been told that it is the 2nd largest city far as overall space (64 square miles) in the state.  I find myself in good company in such movement across this land.  

Abram (before he was Abraham) so many years before me was told by God to lift up his eyes and look every which direction.  All that Abram was able to see was land that the Lord was promising to give to he and his offspring...forever (Gen. 13:14-15).  It is interesting to note just a few verses following the Lord challenges him further to see the expanse of God's promise and rule when the call is to "walk through the length and breadth of the land" (13:17).  And as he walked, he could see further, and if he could see further, he could know that it was one day going to be realized as his.  Of course in the longer plan God had to bring about a complete fulfillment of this, it is Christ in whom we find this manifest.  We are the offspring of Abram in that we are those of faith, even as he was of faith (Rom. 4:16).  The point is that the land God had for Abram and his offspring is finally understood and realized not merely in a small space we might now call Israel, but in all that is called earth.  And of course the coming Kingdom of Christ will reveal His rule expands to and through the entire universe, and worlds physical and spiritual.

And so we need not look at the expanse of our world, our state, our city and feel as though only pockets belong to Christ.  It may look that way to an outsider who drives through, or even lives in the areas mentioned, who sees the church buildings around and concludes Christ owns small parts.  I think it is time to drive around and dream.  Dream often of the coming day where Jesus shows us His rightful ownership of everything.  Dream often of the opportunity He affords us to speak of His rule.  He will one day remove all those who are on His territory, but in the meantime He extends an offer to possess it with Him and for those who embrace the offer they stake claim to eternal possession of it, with Him, in His presence.  That is what I want to dream about as I look around at the length and breadth of what I can see. 

Prayer and the Word - Acts 6:4

My heart has for sometime resonated with the words of the apostles from the above mentioned reference.  So there they were, serving tables.  It was not that they viewed the serving of such tables as below them, or an unworthy cause in the least bit.  Rather, they came to this realization that they were entrusted the message of Christ, and in their serving tables they were actually neglecting the ministry of prayer and the Word.  And so they find men who are willing and able to serve these tables so they can "devote" themselves to prayer and the Word.  

I have had to wrestle lately with this application.  Not that I believe one or the other is wrong, but instead if there is any ability to actually divide prayer and the Word.  Ultimately I would argue of myself that prayer is lacking in my own life and ministry (and likely most pastors would say the same), while the ability to be disciplined in handling and proclaiming the Word is not as neglected.  But I am coming to see that a lack of discipline in one or the other will inevitably lead to a failure of both.  That is ultimately to say, there is not so great a divide between these two "disciplines" but instead we'd do well to see them interactive with one another. 

Note:

1) Prayer should always be flowing out of the Word in the first place, so that we are in accordance with God's will,

2) Prayer apart from the Word will only lead to some potentially dangerous conclusions and requests because of a wayward theology, 

3) Prayer is the end aim of the ministry of the Word, where prayer is understood as a deeper level of intimacy with God and learning to commune back to Him His will,

4) The Word proclaimed apart from prayer, breeds independence,

5) The Word studied apart from prayer only breeds academicians, not disciples,

6) The Word promotes a deeper intimacy, which I might argue is ultimately modeled when one is engaged in incessant prayer.

And so there is no visible divide between these two the more time we meditate and reflect upon this. My ability then to proclaim the glorious Word of God should never, can never really be done any bit adequately apart from prayer.  Neither should ever my desire, even if I could efficiently proclaim the Word apart from prayer, be to do so without prayer as through prayer I connect with God on a level deeper than just His Word affords me.  And so I am challenged this day to be devoted for the Word's sake, to prayer.  And I am challenged, for prayer's sake, to the Word.  One without the other is a miserable failure of both. 

I Cannot Deny Myself

A few years ago a great friend of mine told me that he was convinced the way to live life was to live in a manner that he approached situations saying one thing: "have no regrets."  He was ultimately saying that if he ever wondered whether he should do something bold, something outrageous because his heart seemed to compel him to do so, he would do it.  That became my mantra in aspects of my life (though believe me I have by no means perfected such).  It was the cry of my heart that caused me to pursue my wife years ago.  I had to face the reality that it would be uncomfortable to call her, but I couldn't deny myself.  I had to face the reality that she may not reciprocate my affinity for her, but I couldn't deny myself.  I had to face the reality that it would be exposing my hearts, my pains, my doubts, my fears, but I couldn't deny myself.  Why?  Because if I was unwilling to take even a first step, there would be no unity, no shared joy with her, no marriage, no kids.  And my life remains a testimony that the joys I experience with my wife and family were the very pursuit after which I ultimately would not deny myself. 

And so too with Christ.  My aim to plant a church is not birthed out of a desire to make a name for myself.  It is not birthed out of a professional pursuit.  It is not birthed out of anything other than my deep burning desire to KNOW CHRIST.  In my pursuit of Christ He has stirred my heart (called me) to plant a church.  If I were to bypass this opportunity, I'd miss out on the greater, deeper knowledge and experience of HIM.  And HE is all I want.  HE is all I want anyone I am ever given the opportunity to minister to know.  I don't for a moment know just what Redemption Church will look like in 7 days, 7 weeks, 7 months, or 7 years (if indeed it lasts so long), but I will not deny myself the opportunity to experience and know Christ so deeply through this unto which He has called me.  I'd be foolish to pass on this opportunity. 

"Here am I"

Three times in Genesis 22 we read these three simple English words, "Here am I."  Each time it is Abraham's response to the beckon of someone asking or calling upon him.  The emphasis of this text is clear that it is God's call that outweighed anything logic might conjecture, anything his own desires may have presented, anything his circumstances may have shouted...his own son, servants, and so much else.  God's call would win out and indeed it should always win out, to where when we hear it all we say again and again is "Here am I."  

So I sit again in a place I knew well years ago (as I write this from my dad's porch).  I sit and look at who I am.  In doing so I realize the greatness of my inabilities to do any bit of what God calls me to do (on my own).  I pause to consider the gravity of what He's called me to and I am overwhelmed.  I look at how much of life has changed.  And again my heart says one simple thing - "Here am I."  I only want to be available to God in all times...for His glory.

And in aiming to plant a church I am not saying I am God's gift to the community, to lost people, to saved people.  Instead, I am only saying, "Here am I."  I am simply embracing this apparent calling that God initiated.  And as today comes to an end and rolls into tomorrow, I will say it again.  Because of His worth, because of His authority, because of His love I say with joy, confidence, faith, and expectation - "Here am I."

ALL THINGS under HIS feet

Psalm 8:6b - "You have put all things under His feet."

What is there that has not been created by God other than God Himself?  Indeed, all that is, has been, ever could be, will be, all finds its origin in Him (Jn. 1:3).  There is nothing spiritual or physical that can stand over, or alongside of Christ.  He rules and reigns over all.  Even death is impotent when put up against Christ.  And since all finds its place under the feet of Christ (I'd even argue the serpent too - see Genesis 3:15ff), we are called to be heralds of this great message. 

His rule and reign over all is a call to worship.  Again, there is none equal, similar, relatively close to Christ in the least bit.  I am under His feet.  He rules and reigns over me.  The stranger I pass by at the store is under Christ's feet (even if he doesn't know it).  Our privilege is to make Christ's rule known. 

In overcoming death, God has made known the superiority of Christ over all things.  Go tell it!  This is our aim, as God plants, and as God establishes us as a church.