Church Planting: Reading: Church Planter Smart Wisdom (Slides)

Church Planter Smart Wisdom

Henry Reyenga

Act Your Age As A Church

Church planting is real-life drama that requires leaders and the church to act its age and size. Sure, they were doing the right thing, but at the wrong time. Their impatience was leading down a path that could only wind up in exhaustion and loss of a great team of leaders. People can work a hundred hours a week for just so long.

James Griffith; William Easum. Ten Most Common Mistakes Made by Church Starts (Kindle Locations 881-883). Kindle Edition.

Don’t Promise What You Cannot Deliver

Effective church plants don't begin ministries to please guests. It's better to just let them walk away than to overextend and burn out. It's also better than making promises you can't keep. Making promises you can't keep undermines your credibility over the long term.

James Griffith; William Easum. Ten Most Common Mistakes Made by Church Starts (Kindle Locations 892-893). Kindle Edition.

Church Planter’s Life In Balance!

The health of the church plant is in direct proportion to the health of the lead pastor and his or her family, and the staff. If any aspect of their lives is out of balance, sooner or later it will show up in the church. If the planter is constantly pushing the leaders to expand beyond the age or size of the church, more than just physical exhaustion occurs. It is essential the church planter find some balance in his or her life.

James Griffith; William Easum. Ten Most Common Mistakes Made by Church Starts (Kindle Locations 899-902). Kindle Edition.

Wait To Formalize Leadership

Formalizing the leadership and organization of the church too soon is dangerous. Whether it's bowing to pressure by zealous supervisors, current "unofficial" leaders, personal insecurities, or personal experience with a previous "church," the net effect is the same-a major sea change in the life of the church, and, more importantly, redirecting youthful energies away from mission to management. Either way, formalizing leadership too soon always hinders the growth of a plant.

James Griffith; William Easum. Ten Most Common Mistakes Made by Church Starts (Kindle Locations 946-949). Kindle Edition.

You Don’t Need Formalized Ruling Elders At First

Stage one is working the plan.

The real leaders cannot be identified right a way.

Do not rush to appoint ruling elders. Instead appoint ministry deacons.

Let your elder cover be in the sending group to begin.

Start developing the future ruling elders.

Ruling Elder Leaders

Must prove themselves.

3 John 9 I wrote to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to be first, will have nothing to do with us. 10 So if I come, I will call attention to what he is doing, gossiping maliciously about us. Not satisfied with that, he refuses to welcome the brothers. He also stops those who want to do so and puts them out of the church.

Ruling Elder Leaders

Must be a vision supporter and one who connects to your leadership.

Philemon 7 Your love has given me great joy and encouragement, because you, brother, have refreshed the hearts of the saints.

Ruling Elder Leaders

Must be called to build the local church.

1 Thessalonians 1:4-5 For we know, brothers loved by God, that he has chosen you, because our gospel came to you not simply with words, but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and with deep conviction.

Ruling Elder Leaders

Must have the gift of leadership not management alone.

The qualifications of elders in 1 Timothy 3 and Titus 2.

Ruling Elder Leaders

Avoid those with a chip on their shoulder about pastors, leaders, salaries and such. Avoid those who ask “too randomly” about this!

1 Timothy 5:22 Do not be hasty in the laying on of hands, and do not share in the sins of others. Keep yourself pure.

Ruling Elder Leaders

Will they follow in your recommending that they take the free Christian Leaders Institute Getting Started Class?