Reading: Challenges A Church Planter Faces -Video Slides
Challenges A Church Planter Faces
Henry Reyenga
The Ego Challenge
The apostle and entrepreneurial person is needed…
But, if not bridled with wisdom, temperance, and a good healthy team of leaders around you who are capable and free to speak into your life, that same gift will eventually be the downfall of everything that you have built. It will turn you into a mean-spirited bully, domineering and leaving you with followers who instead of having love and respect for you, follow you because they are afraid of you. Eventually, effective ministry will come to a crashing halt.
Crumbly, Douglas (2013-03-01). Church Planting 101 (Kindle Locations 290-293). Kindle Edition.
Key Truths To Settle The Ego
Other pastors and churches are not the enemy.
Other church plants and their leaders are not the enemy.
Your church is not called to conquer a city; it is called to be a gift to the city.
Success is not determined by the size of your church.
Crumbly, Douglas (2013-03-01). Church Planting 101 (Kindle Locations 295-304). Kindle Edition.
Key Truths To Settle The Ego
Remember!
The people God sends to you are not sent to just build your ministry. On the contrary, they are sent to you so that you can build theirs. The main point? Keep that God-given super ego of yours in check. Pray in the Spirit a lot. Surround your self with great leaders.
Crumbly, Douglas (2013-03-01). Church Planting 101 (Kindle Locations 309-311). Kindle Edition.
The Significance Challenge
This challenge is one that many just simply have to learn by going through the proverbial school of hard knocks, but I am going to talk about it anyway. I fear that many people get into ministry because they are trying to fix issues in their own lives. Ouch! I know that hurt a little even to just read it, but I would rather have you hurting now, and at least thinking about it, than hurt a bunch of other people later, including yourself.
Crumbly, Douglas (2013-03-01). Church Planting 101 (Kindle Locations 314-317). . Kindle Edition.
The Significance Challenge
Your significance DOES NOT COME FROM THE CHURCH YOU PASTOR OR THE MINISTRY THAT YOU LEAD! Our significance comes from God and from the pursuit that we have of His presence. Period.
Crumbly, Douglas (2013-03-01). Church Planting 101 (Kindle Locations 318-320). Kindle Edition.
The Significance Challenge
Build on God’s Team!
1 Cor. 3:14 …If what he has built survives, he will receive his reward.
The Walk Challenge
Never forget the church is first the church in your own life!
Develop a prayer team.
If you will learn to get into God's presence and allow Him to be the One to sustain and meet all of your needs, you will be amazed at how refreshed that you will be and how much better of a leader that you will become.
Crumbly, Douglas (2013-03-01). Church Planting 101 (Kindle Locations 351-352). Kindle Edition.
The Conflict Challenge
Isaiah 52:7 How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, “Your God reigns!”
Your “Teachable” Challenge
Fail Forward. Stay Positive. Learn Quickly.
Proverbs 8:33 Listen to my instruction and be wise; do not ignore it.
Your Personal Struggles Challenge
Everyone has them. Be more transparent than hiding. Do not let your personal struggles get in the way of your ministry. Keep in the moderate path.
2 Corinthians 12:10 That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
The Tongue Challenge
Watch Your Expectations.
Proverbs 12:18 Reckless words pierce like a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.
The Social Gospel Challenge
Be careful not to reduce the Gospel to an issue or politics.
1 Corinthians 1:23 …but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles,
The Spiritual Warfare Challenge
Ephesians 6:12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.