It’s my belief that we’re living in a new movement, with the potential to see revival in our generation.
Many people in the United States and around the world have a general feeling that something is happening. There’s an excitement in the air worldwide. The hearts of church leaders from around the globe are pounding from an increased sense of urgency for evangelism, discipleship, and church planting. This increased heart rate was felt by the thumb of Collin Hansen back in 2006 when he penned the article Young, Restless, Reformed. Just a few years later in 2009, this new movement was considered by Time magazine as one of the top ten ideas changing the world.
What Is a Movement?
A movement is an unusual work of God, sometimes called a revival or renewal. During a ...
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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
Leadership Development and Reproducing Culture
Planters face incredible pressure to find quality leaders quickly. Yet the limitations of money, critical mass, and spiritual maturity in new churches create an under-stocked leadership fishing pond. Planters can make critical mistakes as a result.
Many church planters attract interested people but few prepare leaders. Leadership development is the most frequently cited challenge of planters according to our research in this survey of church planting leaders and thinkers. Leadership includes the following.
1. Recruiting and developing leaders2. Implementing teams3. Leadership development approach4. Hiring and leading staff 5. Making changes to facilitate growth 6. Decision-making 7. Empowering volunteers
Five Hurdles to Clear to ...
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Posted in: Leadership
Tags: leadership, church-planting, pastor, church, leaders, culture, raising leaders, staff, resources, discipleship, coaching, church plant, planting a church
By Scott Thomas, President of Acts 29.
Adapted and excerpted from his message, “Fighting For One Another: Gospel Friendship.”
We face a problem in the church. We’re often too busy fighting with each other and we’re failing to fight for each other. We need to learn to fight for each other with every weapon in our arsenal.
Each of us stands functionally alone unless we have a brotherhood (a band of brothers, a community, a network) that we gather ourselves in and around. Peter reminds us: “be sober, be watchful: your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.”
I’m sick of fighting with other believers and other pastors over menial ...
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Posted in: Relationship Building
Tags: four characteristics of a gospel friendship, gospel friendship, christian friendship, discipleship, coaching, scott thomas, fighting well, fighting for each other, christians fighting, good fighting, fair fighting, fighting for not against, 1 peter 5, how to be a friend, how to be a christian friend, how to be a gospel friend, how to be a helpful friend, true friendship, band of brothers, pastors need friends, pastor friendship, dallas boot camp, dallas, church planter training, church plant, training, leadership training
"As a church, if you don't believe in the present reality of the gospel, in terms of the Spirit's presence to save, even now, then you will feel like every time you're up to preach you have got to do the work to get them there. Your worship leaders will say 'they'll never worship God unless we do better songs.' Or your leaders will say, 'they'll never get on mission unless we kick their butt every week and put together a plan and tell them what to do every moment.' All it is is unbelief in the gospel power of Jesus to do its work today."
Jeff Vanderstelt spoke on the Gospel at last fall's Phoenix Boot Camp – and in particular the gospel's power over the past, present and future realities of a Christian. Here he talks about Clay, a man who recently met Jesus and is in his ...
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Posted in: Disciple Making
Tags: gospel, sanctification, gospel is the power of sanctification, phoenix boot camp, how to stop sinning, how to grow as a christian, why can't i stop sinning, do i need accountability, accountability, sin issues, discipleship, helping new christians
