I do not think that the American church is dependent upon the Spirit's empowerment. Most of what takes place among our local gatherings may be able to occur without the Holy Spirit. This is tragic because Jesus depended on the Spirit's empowerment for His ministry (Luke 4) and He sent the first church in the power of the Spirit (Acts 1:8). Josh Kouri is leading a Spirit-empowered church in Oklahoma City. His words below are an encouragement to me. — Scott Thomas, Acts 29 President
By Josh Kouri, Lead Pastor at Frontline Church in Oklahoma City, OK
Paul rebukes his friends for acting as mere humans in 1 Corinthians 3. Their carnal, man-focused approach to church and life has left them spiritually stunted and weak. Instead of growing up and thriving as a church, they are divided, ...
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Tags: church, church planting, plant a church, pastor, church planter, thriving, supernatural, jesus, spirit, healthy, mission, missional, god, leadership
Evangelism and Discipleship
Church planters can do a lot of things wrong and God can still bless the new church. All pastors will confess that God often blessed in spite of their frail leadership and strategies. Still, planters need to lead and strategize for carrying out the mission of God.
Evangelism and discipleship is one of those mission critical issues that needs a planter’s attention. Evangelism does not automatically happen in a new church. Too many planters think the reason that lost people have not come to Christ is because they have not found the right church yet. Thus, a mythological equation is formed: lost culture + relevant church plant = instant harvest.
Planters sincerely set out with a new approach that will fill the local middle school gymnasium or movie ...
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Posted in: Leadership, Disciple Making
Tags: evangelism, discipleship, church-planting, church, pastor, church planter, top issues, challenges, disciple-making, missional
Casting Vision and Avoiding Mission Drift
Church plants often lose sight of their direction, vision and resulted in mission drift in several different ways. Planters may struggle with pressure from "churched" people to stray away from the mission; discerning between "good ideas" and mission critical ideas; making decisions consistent with mission; defining priorities for growth; and balancing evangelism and discipleship.
Five Key Considerations to Avoid Mission Drift
1. ClarityThe concept of "drift" implies leaving a clearly defined and understood standard. Planters mistakenly assume their expectations for the rest of the team and body are as clear and compelling in their minds that they are in the planter’s mind.
2. Core ValuesMost planters have a strong sense of mission and ...
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Posted in: Leadership
Tags: church planting, pastor, church, planting a church, church planter, mission, vision, mission drift, vision casting, leadership, clarity, values, ministry, philosophy
Systems and Processes
Planters usually begin their planting journey with great intentions. Their strengths tend to be relationships and their passion is often looking toward weekend church gatherings.
Starting a church is not easy, but it is often when the church has the most receptivity in the community. With certain exceptions churches will not maintain the momentum that most church planters are seeking. Once the newness wanes, momentum must be transferred to sustainable systems. In new churches, intentional systems and processes are critical to long-term impact in the community.
Darrin Patrick explained why most churches stay small.
Most churches stay small because most pastors don't know how to build systems, structures, and processes that are not contingent upon them. Most pastors ...
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Posted in: Leadership
Tags: systems, structures, processes, church planting, church planter, pastor, starting a church, top issues, challenges, healthy church, methodology, methodolatry
Team Development and Volunteer Mobilization
Mobilizing volunteers and building teams are major challenges, according to church planters. Mobilizing volunteers is an issue regardless of the size of the launch team. Mobilizing volunteers and building teams expands the new church impact in a community.
Five Key Considerations in Launch Team Development and Mobilizing Volunteers
1. Start with a healthy coreA healthy core group is key to a viable church plant.
2. Plant with a teamWhen a planter and family move into a community without team members, the risk factors increase. "Parachute Plants" where the planter arrives in a city with few existing relationships, hinder team building and volunteer mobilization.
3. Focus on relationshipsMost planters are good at relationship building. ...
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