Episode 8.0 Notes: Ten Things Every Churchplanter Must Learn

1. Comparison kills creativity.

Comparison keeps you from celebrating what Jesus is doing in your church.

We replicate what other people have done to chase the results other people have had.

God wants to do something unique in your area that He is not going to do anywhere else.

Our motivation needs to be pressing into the harvest that God has prepared in our community.

Churchplanting can become a spiritual guise for our own selfish ambition.

2. Protect and nurture your marriage

The most important people has put into our lives to care for and walk with are our family.

We need to disciple our families.

You have to protect your marriage from ministry.

Ask your spouse, “How well do I protect and nurture our marriage.”

Ask your spouse hard questions and listen to the answers.

The church plant doesn’t trump your marriage.

If it comes down to your marriage and family or the churchplant, choose your family.

3. Pray for miracles, but work for milestones

Miracles are more rare than milestones.

Expect God to work in miraculous ways, but put in the hard work to reach goals.

“Prayer will be effective when we stop using it as a substitute for obedience.” -A.W. Tozer

Being a church planter is hard work. You’re swimming against the flow of culture and church culture.

4. Be hospitable

If you are going to make disciples like Jesus did, you need to spend time with people.

Make people feel comfortable and wanted.

Listen to what people are saying.

Hospitably starts with your body language.

Offer people a drink. Welcome people into your home. Take their coat.

Make people feel like they are in the inside, not on the outside looking in.

People will know we are disciples of Jesus by the way that we love.

Most people think they are good at relationships.

Invite people into your life. Invite yourself into other people’s lives.

5. The gospel moves at the speed of trust

If you build trust with people far away from God, they will actually listen to what you have to say.

We are quick to tell the culture what they need to do, before the people in the culture know that we actually love them.

“If people know that you love them, they will listen to anything you have to say.” -Richard Baxter

Sometimes we don’t love people, we want to use them to achieve spiritual results.

People sense when you truly love them.

Building trust is not a churchplanting tactic. It is the heart of Jesus.

If you don’t sincerely love people, you’re sincerely wrong.

People sense when they are projects.

Ask God to break your heart for people in your community.

It’s easy to see people as a means to an end, instead of an end itself.

Make friends with sinners. Jesus did.

Be normal people. Make friends, without strings attached.

Trust is built over time.

The gap between where people are and Jesus is, is bridged by trust.

Tweet about us! Use the hashtag #flannel&beards

Twitter and Instagram @beardsflannel

Email us at [email protected]