Church Plant Chat

Episode Summary
In this final episode, we reflect on personal lessons from the planting journey—gathering wisdom from olive trees, prophetic pictures, and Scripture that has shaped the path. A reflective send-off for future leaders.

Key Topics Covered
·       The olive tree graft as a metaphor for revitalisation

·       Knowing yourself and the challenge ahead

·       Prophetic pictures that shaped planting leadership

·       Scriptures that anchored the journey: forgiveness and mercy

·       Letting go and preparing the way for the next leader

Reflection Questions
·       What metaphors or stories have guided your journey?

·       Where do you need to graft in rather than start from scratch?

·       How well do you know your calling, wiring, and blindspots?

·       What Scriptures are anchoring you right now?

·       What are you handing over—and how can you do it with peace?

Connect & Continue the Conversation
Instagram: @churchplantchat

Email: [email protected]

Subscribe for future episodes exploring insights from revitalisation, planting, and discipleship.

Support the show

Buy 'Journal of a Church Planter' here:

https://amzn.eu/d/dcFw9By

Episode Summary
Church planters and revitalisation leaders need support too. In this episode, we introduce the idea of ‘pastoral scaffolding’—a supportive structure designed to sustain and strengthen leaders on the front lines.

Key Topics Covered
·       What pastoral scaffolding looks like in practice

·       Why church planters often feel isolated

·       The role of spiritual direction, coaching, and peer support

·       One-to-one partnerships for encouragement and accountability

·       Sustaining health and resilience in long-term ministry

Reflection Questions
·       What scaffolding currently holds you up in ministry?

·       Where are you lacking support—and who could help?

·       How do you process the emotional toll of leadership?

·       What kind of relationship brings you clarity and courage?

·       Are you building a sustainable pattern of care around your leadership?

Connect & Continue the Conversation
Instagram: @churchplantchat

Email: [email protected]

Subscribe for future episodes exploring insights from revitalisation, planting, and discipleship.

Support the show

Buy 'Journal of a Church Planter' here:

https://amzn.eu/d/dcFw9By

Episode Summary
Continuing from Part 1, this episode dives deeper into the art and practice of asking hard questions. We reflect on how asking them—of ourselves and our churches—can lead to breakthrough moments.

Key Topics Covered
·       When the right question changes everything

·       Examples of turning points sparked by difficult questions

·       Why honest evaluation beats false encouragement

·       Discerning the questions beneath the surface

·       How curiosity leads to clarity and courage

Reflection Questions
·       What have been the most powerful questions in your leadership journey?

·       Where is your church avoiding necessary conversations?

·       What are the questions behind the questions in your context?

·       How do you create a culture of curiosity and honesty?

·       Where might asking the right question unlock the next step?

Connect & Continue the Conversation
Instagram: @churchplantchat

Email: [email protected]

Subscribe for future episodes exploring insights from revitalisation, planting, and discipleship.

Support the show

Buy 'Journal of a Church Planter' here:

https://amzn.eu/d/dcFw9By

Episode Summary

In this episode, we explore why asking hard, often uncomfortable questions is essential in church planting and revitalisation. The questions you ask can shape the culture you lead.

Key Topics Covered

·       The power of curiosity and courageous questioning

·       Why not asking hard questions leads to shallow planting

·       Real-life examples of tensions that need facing

·       How hard questions foster depth, clarity, and resilience

·       Practicing grace and truth in leadership conversations

Reflection Questions
·       What hard questions are you avoiding right now?

·       Are you creating space for others to speak honestly?

·       How do you respond to challenge—with defence or curiosity?

·       Where do you need to model vulnerability as a leader?

·       What difficult conversations might unlock growth in your context?

Connect & Continue the Conversation
Instagram: @churchplantchat

Email: [email protected]

Subscribe for future episodes exploring insights from revitalisation, planting, and discipleship.

Support the show

Buy 'Journal of a Church Planter' here:

https://amzn.eu/d/dcFw9By

Episode Summary
Evangelism isn’t just something we do—it’s something we become. This episode looks at distinctive discipleship as the foundation for effective, authentic witness in a hungry world.

Key Topics Covered
·       Being the evangelism before doing the evangelism

·       How suffering shapes witness and openness

·       The cost of being distinctive in a conforming culture

·       Encounters that reflect the cross in everyday life

·       What the early church teaches us about growing through integrity

Reflection Questions
·       What does it look like to become evangelism where you are?

·       How does your story of suffering connect with others?

·       Where might you be blending in rather than standing out?

·       What spiritual hunger are you noticing in those around you?

·       How are you embodying the message before you speak it?

Connect & Continue the Conversation
Instagram: @churchplantchat

Email: [email protected]

Subscribe for future episodes exploring insights from revitalisation, planting, and discipleship.

Support the show

Buy 'Journal of a Church Planter' here:

https://amzn.eu/d/dcFw9By

Episode Summary
In this episode, we examine the importance of relational discipleship in revitalisation. Rather than just systems or strategies, it’s relationships that provide the bridge from outreach to transformation.

Key Topics Covered

·       The difference between relational and transactional discipleship

·       Why strategy without relationship falls short

·       Lessons from delayed transformation stories

·       The power of proximity and patience

·       Interruptions as sacred opportunities

Reflection Questions

·       Where do relationships sit in your current discipleship strategy?

·       Are you prepared for the slow burn of trust-building?

·       What sacred interruptions might God be using in your context?

·       Who in your church needs new investment in relationship?

·       How is your posture modelling the relational way of Jesus?

Connect & Continue the Conversation
Instagram: @churchplantchat

Email: [email protected]

Subscribe for future episodes exploring insights from revitalisation, planting, and discipleship.

Support the show

Buy 'Journal of a Church Planter' here:

https://amzn.eu/d/dcFw9By

Episode Summary
This episode highlights the transformative power of focusing on just one person. Using the example of Ananias and Saul, we’re reminded how faithful, relational ministry to ‘the one’ can unlock catalytic change.

Key Topics Covered
·       Learning from Ananias’ brief but powerful role in Acts

·       Why relational ministry is worth the risk

·       Challenging the obsession with numbers in church growth

·       The cost and beauty of walking with ‘the one’

·       Examples from Jesus’ ministry prioritising individuals

Reflection Questions

·       Who is ‘the one’ God is calling you to notice?

·       Are you measuring success by faithfulness or numbers?

·       How do you discern divine interruptions?

·       What would it mean to slow down and truly see someone?

·       Where have you seen one small act of obedience lead to big change?

Connect & Continue the Conversation

Instagram: @churchplantchat

Email: [email protected]

Subscribe for future episodes exploring insights from revitalisation, planting, and discipleship.

Support the show

Buy 'Journal of a Church Planter' here:

https://amzn.eu/d/dcFw9By

Episode Summary
In this episode, we explore how curiosity in leadership—especially around Preparation, Posture, Pace, Perception, and Person—can shape and sharpen a leader’s approach to growth and revitalisation.

Key Topics Covered
·       Curiosity as a foundational posture in leadership

·       The 5 Ps: Preparation, Posture, Pace, Perception, Person

·       How slowing down and asking the right questions can lead to better outcomes

·       Why perception of success must be aligned with God’s view

·       Cultivating compassion and curiosity in daily leadership

Reflection Questions
·       How are you cultivating curiosity in your leadership?

·       Which of the 5 P’s needs the most attention in your context?

·       Where do you need to pause and re-align your pace?

·       How are you inviting God’s perception to shape your view of success?

·       What does it mean to get curious about the person in front of you?

Connect & Continue the Conversation
Instagram: @churchplantchat
Email: [email protected]

Subscribe for future episodes exploring insights from revitalisation, planting, and discipleship.

Support the show

Buy 'Journal of a Church Planter' here:

https://amzn.eu/d/dcFw9By

Episode Summary
This episode reflects on the early stages of revitalisation. Drawing on real experiences, the episode lays out key priorities during the first year of planting or leading in a new context.

Key Topics Covered

·       Understanding the difference between long-term vision and immediate priorities

·       Why it’s okay (and wise) to take things slowly at the start

·       Learning to listen before implementing

·       Building relational trust before structural change

·       Creating room for spiritual discernment

Reflection Questions

·       What are your top three priorities in your first year?

·       Where are you tempted to rush ahead without listening?

·       How will you balance urgency with relational patience?

·       What small wins could build trust early on?

·       Where do you need to create space to hear God’s leading?

Connect & Continue the Conversation
Instagram: @churchplantchat
Email: [email protected]

Subscribe for future episodes exploring insights from revitalisation, planting, and discipleship.

Support the show

Buy 'Journal of a Church Planter' here:

https://amzn.eu/d/dcFw9By

Episode 1: Am I Ready to Church Plant?

Episode Summary:

In this inaugural episode of the Revitalisation Review series, we dive into the deeply personal and practical question: “Am I ready to church plant?” Sharing from his own four-year journey of leading a revitalisation project, your host reflects on the highs, the heartbreaks, and the holy ground of planting not from scratch—but from the remnant of something that once was.

Key Topics Covered:

·       The Call to Plant – How an unexpected seed of calling was sown as a teenager through witnessing his father’s church planting journey.

·       Discerning and Disappointment – A candid look at five failed planting attempts—and the spiritual formation that emerged through rejection, patience, and perseverance.

·       The Shift to Revitalisation – Embracing the challenge of weaving together the old with the new to form something beautifully renewed.

·       The Reality of Readiness – Feeling unprepared despite training—and learning to lead in the unknown.

·       A Tent-Pitching Analogy – A humorous but helpful metaphor for church planting—full of trial, error, and readjustment.

·       Key Learnings – Don’t confuse revitalisation with a blank-canvas plant. Pace matters. Relationships and trust take time. Measure success by spiritual health and transformation, not flashy numbers. Prioritise relational discipleship over grand strategies.

·       Practical Models – From Messy Church to weekly missional rhythms—how a sustainable and relational approach can build trust and community over time.

Reflection Questions:

·       What shape of planting best aligns with your strengths and personality?

·       What problems in leadership or mission stir your passion—and how do they relate to your planting context?

·       What does success look like for you, personally, as a planter?

·       Who else in your sphere might be called to plant?

·       Is the community you’re called to also preparing for what’s coming?

Connect & Continue the Conversation:

Instagram: @churchplantchat
Email: [email protected]

Subscribe to hear upcoming episodes as we unpack more insights from revitalisation, planting, and leading through change.

Support the show

Buy 'Journal of a Church Planter' here:

https://amzn.eu/d/dcFw9By