In part three of the series 'Church Planting Out of Season', Acts 29 Western Europe Director Steve Timmis looks at Expectations.

 
Expectations

Expectations are incredibly important. Every relationship that fails does so because of mis-matched expectations, and unrealised expectations are often a significant factor in depression. So undertaking and sustaining gospel ministry 'out of season' requires the setting of godly expectations. After all, look at how Paul continues in his final words to Timothy after he had exhorted him to "be ready in season and out of season" (4:2). He talks about people "not enduring sound teaching" (4:3), and "turning away from truth" (4:4). He refers to his own circumstances of being "poured out as a drink offering" (4:6), before speaking of Demas (4:9), Alexander (4:14) and how "all have deserted me" (4:16). In other words, it's not a pretty picture. For Paul, at the end of his life and after a hard but fruitful ministry, he seems to have moved into a time of 'out of season' ministry. But he pressed on, knowing what awaited him (4:8). It's as though he's preparing Timothy for the worst, deliberately setting his expectations so that no matter how hard it becomes, he will endure with faithfulness and humility as he relies on the Lord.


Church Planting and expectations

Listening to men as they talk about going into church planting is often very refreshing. They are full of hope, vision and faith, and it's a good way of refreshing those of us who've been in it for some time. So we should be careful not to disillusion and be the one who 'douses the flame'! But this focus on expectations is not a council of despair. That would have been the last thing on Paul's mind and heart as he wrote his farewell letter to his dear friend. But setting expectations is important because when the work is hard,  the soil unyielding, and the seed doesn't seem to be taking root and certainly not bearing fruit, it's important we recognise the times we are in, the contexts in which we work and press on with hope and joy as we long for eternity.

 
Commended by Jesus

In the final analysis, Jesus will not commend us because of the numbers of people converted, and certainly not for the number of people who read our blogs, reference our books or follow us on Twitter. What he will commend us for is our faithfulness to him whatever the response from others. We do not know what the next 10 years will bring for gospel ministry in Western Europe, but the signs are that it's going to get harder rather than easier. Opposition will probably increase and laws may well make it harder, but so much growth occurs during difficult times. History shows that church planting is not the most effective evangelistic strategy ever; persecution is.

Expecting difficulties does not mean lowering our sights. Whatever the circumstances we can "expect great things from God" and so we should "attempt great things for him". God will not disappoint, though it may be in eternity that we see the result of our work for him. So let us not settle for less than the giving of our all to the Saviour and his fame.

One final word. Look at 4:17. Paul had been on trial, and was isolated and vulnerable. But he writes, "the Lord stood by me and strengthened me, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear". In other words, it was all about the gospel and the glory of God. Paul wanted that to be so for Timothy. May it be so for us.