A Horse & Carriage? (Pt 2)

Thought I’d share a few posts on your wife for pastors, especially church planters. I don’t mean to be sexist. If you are a female pastor or church planter, more power to ya. I just don’t know anything about being a male spouse of a church planter, so I can’t speak on that…

So of first importance for potential church planters: If you are thinking about starting a church, your wife better be all in. If your wife is not fully supportive of planting a church, don’t do it. She can be nervous, even scared (she probably should be!) but if she’s unsure, that won’t be good.

I’ll throw in here that you need to be sure as well. I tell guys who are thinking of starting a church, “If you can do something else, do it. Only plant a church if you HAVE to do it. If you’re sure God is calling you to it and can’t imagine life without it.” Why? Because church planting is hard! And if you have something else you could have done, I think you’ll keep looking back and wondering what could have been, and you may even drop out.

In the same way, your wife needs to be all in. It’s going to be tough on her too. If she goes into it filled with doubts about whether it’s God’s calling, whether it’s the wise choice, then when things get tough she’ll find herself questioning what you’re doing.

Not only will this make life tough and confusing for her, it will also make things really difficult on your marriage. Marriage is hard enough, throw in starting a church and, well, ouch. But if you also throw in a wife who’s not convinced, that’s a recipe for pain.

So, if you’re thinking about it, make sure your wife has prayed up, you’ve had a heart-to-heart, and she’s all in.

We’ll hit this theme more next time, until then enjoy your next breakfast.

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Incarnation

This is a post I put on our Forefront Church blog tonight......

It was cool being at the White Horse tonight. We are trying some different things there. Why?

Well, when God wanted everyone to know the good news that He loved them and desired a relationship, what did He do? He became human. Why? Because God wanted to connect with us, and the most effective way to relate to us was to become one of us. Theologians call this the "incarnation." Incarnation basically means "to put meat on." God, who is spirit, took on flesh and moved into our neighborhood so we could relate to Him, so that He could effectively share the good news with us.

This is the task of all of us who follows Jesus. We are to share the good news of God's love and desire for a relationship with everyone. And so we need to figure out how to connect with people. What is the most effective way to relate to people so we can share the good news with them? Seriously - you need to figure that out. How should you do that at your workplace? At your kid's Little League field? In your school? With your neighbors?

Well, those are the questions we are asking at the White Horse Pub. How should we "incarnate" the gospel in a bar? We went into it back in September assuming that it would be the same kind of service that we've done in movie theaters and high school auditoriums. But over the months we've begun to wonder if this really is most effective. It's certainly the easiest for us, because it's what we're used to. But God hasn't called us to do what's easy, He's called us to share Jesus with people, and to make the most of every opportunity to do so.

So, please be praying for us as we work through this, and we'll pray for you as you incarnate the gospel and make the most of every opportunity with the people God has put into your life.

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A Horse & Carriage? (Part 1)

Thought I’d share a few posts on your wife for pastors, especially church planters. I don’t mean to be sexist. If you are a female pastor or church planter, more power to ya. I just don’t know anything about being a male spouse of a church planter, so I can’t speak on that…

So of first importance (I think for any pastor): Marry someone who is stronger spiritually and closer to God than you. Now if you’re some kind of spiritual superman, maybe this is just impossible. But if you’re anything like me, there is room above you in the spiritual ladder. And if there is, and you still have some choice in the matter, find someone to marry who is up there.

Why? Because you’ll need it! Ministry is harder than crap. That’s why like 80% of those who enter in go AWOL, not to mention the many who trainwreck spiritually. Why haven’t I? Well, yes, the grace of God. But (I think) every pastor has the grace of God. What I also have is a fantastic wife. I literally can’t even begin to imagine where I would be without her example, support, wisdom, friendship. I’m not just saying that because I’m supposed to. It’s ridiculously true.

Now it may well be that it’s too late for you. You’re already married, and perhaps you don’t have a wife who is stronger spiritually and closer to God than you. What then? Well, you do everything you can to pour into her and give her every opportunity and resource to grow. My wife didn’t use to be where she is. In fact, there was a day when I had her spiritually. In fact, there was a day when she wasn’t a Christian, and I led her to Jesus! After that we started dating, and then later got married. But the entire time I did all kinds of things to help fast-track her growth. Then one day I realized she had somehow passed me, and now she’s trying to fast-track my growth! (And I just wish I was joking.)

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What A Weekend!!

Okay, in the past when I've posted about the "Lousy T-Shirt" series I've felt a little weird about it ... I don't want to be self-promotional (even though the series is free). Well, no more. I just had the coolest weekend.

I went out to Phoenix to preach at Chandler Christian Church. They did the Lousy T-Shirt series and had me come out to preach the last message. What an experience! This is a church of 2,500 people, and 1,500 people read the book (and discussed it in small groups) along with experiencing the series on Sunday mornings.

After the services people lined up to talk to me - and it was incredible. Hundreds of people told me how the book and series impacted them. I had people crying as they told me it finally helped them to forgive their fathers, how it helped them come to faith, how they've shared the book with non-Christian friends, one lady is purchasing a case to give out to prisoners. It was AMAZING!

And it confirms my belief: You should totally do this series. Seriously. First, it will be the easiest six weeks you ever have. We'll give you a DVD with sermons, small group questions, graphics, videos, top ten lists - all done for you! Second, it's not only an all-done-for-you, free series, but it's a powerful series. Third, most of the people who go to our churches don't read Christian books - but I know that good Christian books have had a major impact on my spiritual life. This will get your people reading a book that will catalyze spiritual growth. And it's a book that non-Christians will like, new Christians will like, old Christians will get something out of. (In fact, the church in Phoenix has a lot of Senior Citizens and, to my surprise, they really enjoyed the book! But I will admit: One elderly lady said, "I love your book! But I just read chapter 12, and I liked the first paragraph and the last, but inbetween, well, I didn't know what you were talking about.")

I have to admit, I can't figure out why a church wouldn't do the series. That's not ego speaking, it's just that it's a done-for-you, free series that will give you six weeks to focus on other stuff, or prepare for your next series or two. So why not? Interested? Get all the resources for free here.

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Quote This

Are you like me? Do you love the good quotes? Well, love this:

"The man who has struggled to purify himself and has had nothing but repeated failures will experience real relief when he stops tinkering with his soul and looks away to the perfect One. While he looks at Christ, the very things he has so long been trying to do will be getting done within him. It will be God working in him to will and to do."

- A.W. Tozer



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Darren Patrick

Darren's session at the Exponential Conference came mostly out of Dan Allendar's book, "Leading with a Limp." Here are my notes from it:

1. Paul was a weak leader

- Paul had his thorn in the flesh
- People will follow leaders who operate out of weakness
- Operating out of weakness forces reliance on God
- When stay in our strengths, we tend to control people
- Leaders who try to control will hide
- Thorns are God's grace, forcing you to dependance

2. Paul was a reluctant leader

- As a leader, you will dissapoint everyone
- Constantly dealing with people, systems, plans
- Constantly making decisions
- Leaders will be lonely
- "No one really understands."
- "I wish I didn't have to do this."
- Your biggest problem is you.
- Filled with insecurities
- Improperly motivated
- People will follow a reluctant leader (not a rock star)

3. Paul was a sin-confessing leader

- People follow leaders who confess sins
- 1 Timothy 1:8ff
- Need to confess our ambition
- Need to confess we're controlling
- Confess in real time (not just about things from your past)

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Tim Keller

I'm posting notes from sessions at the Exponential Conference. I heard Tim Keller at a breakfast this morning, but didn't take notes. Unfortunately, what he said was awesome, so I really wish I took notes. Later he spoke at a main session, and I did take notes (though my notes aren't that great) (and he was good at the main session, but not nearly as good as at the breakfast). Here you go:

Christian world now in a position where people don’t know the gospel anymore.

The story of your culture can only find a happy ending in Jesus.

3 points of the gospel:

1. Upside Down Kingdom (God empties Himself)
- Because god emptied Himself, came down, it should turn the world’s values upside down.
- God won by losing. He triumphed by being killed.
- We’re about serving, racial reconciliation, lifting up the poor

2. The ??? Kingdom (God substitutes Himself)
- Pharisees repent of their sins. If you only repent of your sins, you’re a Pharisee.
- What makes a Christian different is that they repent of their good works.

3. The ??? Kingdom (God returns to create a new Heaven and new Earth)
- Christianity is a fighting religion. It knows that God hates suffering, hates poverty, hates hunger – and will someday destroy these things. So we are not passive.

How apply? Three parts of the gospel, but almost nowhere in the Bible do we see those three points all put together. So when we preach or present the gospel, we don’t have to give all three points.


Ways of illustrating each of the "parts" of the gospel:


1. Incarnation

- Russian astronaut: “We went to the heavens and did not see God there.” C.S. Lewis: If there is a God you wouldn’t relate to him the way a person would by going upstairs to find someone. You’d relate to him the way Hamlet would relate to Shakespeare. Not by going backstage. The only way you’d know of the existence of Shakespeare is if he wrote himself in the play.

- Dorothy Sayers wrote series of books. Fell in love with a character she created. In the middle of the series she wrote herself into the series. Married the character.

- That’s the incarnation.

2. Atonement
- Tale of Two Cieties: Two guys who look exactly alike. Both love Lucy. Lucy chooses and marries Charles. During the French Revolution. Charles is arrested bey the revolution. Waiting in prison to be executed. Syndey breaks into jail, “Let me take your place. Then you can be free to live the rest of your life with Lucy and your child.” Chales says no. Sydney knocks him out, gets taken out of prison. Sydney now in prison waiting to be executed. Another woman waiting for execution. A seamstress. Comes up to talk. Eventually realizes now Charles. “Are you dying for him?” “Shhhh, yes, for him, and his wife and child.” She says, “Haven’t known how I can face my death, but if a brave stranger like you holds my hand to the end, I think I could do it.”
- What gave her courage? His substitutionary sacrficice. And wasn’t even for her. And if that was life-changing for her, how much would it mean for you?

3. Resurrection
- N.T. Wright. In Surprised by Hope. Makes case even if you don’t believe in resurrection, you should want it to be true. People care about people, world. But believe world caused by accident. Dissapointmented that more people don’t care about things. Don’t realize their own world view undercuts what they desire. If this world is all there is, then who cares… Easter means that things matter.

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Larry Osbourne - Living a Kingdom Life

One of my favorite books is, "A Contrarians Guide to Knowing God" by Larry Osborne. At the Exponential Conference I got to attend a workshop he did. Here are my notes from it:

1. Build a church you would want to go to
- Not big, not like someone else’s, not successful…
- The church you would want to go to is the only church you an lead intuitively and the only church God has gifted you to lead

2. Fulfill your calling, not your potential
- Potential is a bitch goddess. It will kill you.
- When you’re first starting you get lots of encouragement that you believe is fact.
- Be all you can be is great for the army, stinks for God’s Kingdom
- Son, at 7, “I don’t like it when daddy writes books, because he doesn’t play with me.”

- Committed to not write book until youngest graduated from High School. All his kids follow Jesus and have found churches in the towns they move to.

3. Focus on being a sticky church
- No one stays at a church because they were assimilated into a program, they stay because they’ve been velcroed into relationships.
- “I’m less needed when people are genuinely connected.”
- “Northcoast is all about sticky relationships.”

4. Live like a mature Christian, not a pastor
- If think being a pastor means you have to live differently, something is wrong with your paradigm.
- If do, no longer have nagging question: “Who is watching?” (That question will kill you, and poison your kids.)
- You might lose people, but you’ll save your family.

5. Lose your church before you lose your family
- If on path where you’re putting family on back burner for church (“for awhile”) you are on a very bad path. And that other path never comes.
- The bigger the church gets, the less discretionary time you have. (It’s a myth that a large staff will give you discretionary time.)
- So master this now, or you won’t later.
- Never has done counseling after 5:00 p.m.

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Andy Stanley: Apostolic Mission

Here's my notes on another of the sessions at the Exponential Conference. Andy Stanley is brilliant and makes everything seem so ridiculously simple...

Vision = Mental picture of hwat could be, fueled by passion of what should be

Vision begins as a burden

What’s clear in here must become clear out there – or people won’t know how to follow us.

5 Things To Do:

1. State it simply

• Memorable is portable
  
• We suffer from the curse of knowledge
  
• People don’t ask stupid questions, they’re just letting us know how poorly we’ve communicated the vision.


• Northpointe’s Vision: “Create a church that unchurched people love to attend.”


• What is Obama’s vision? Change. What is Hillary’s? John McCains?

2. Cast it convincingly

• Define the problem (If people don’t feel weight of problem they won’t be excited about the vision).
  
• Offer the solution (Your vision is the solution to a problem.)


• Explain why and why now (Why now in this community?)

3. Repeat it regularly

• Discover the rhythm of your church


• Build vision casting into the rhythm

4. Celebrate constantly

• Problem with vision – no pictures going somewhere that only exists in my head.


• So when we get “pictures” – hold them up – celebrate the win.


• Stories do more to clarify vision than anything else.


• Don’t miss opportunities to showcase examples

5. Embrace it personally (and publicly)

• Share with staff and church when you invite someone, what happened this week in your small group, etc.


• Don’t miss opportunities to showcase examples.

So: What do you think? Which of these come easy to you? Which are really difficult? For me I'm worst at "repeat it regularly." I think maybe I don't want to bore people? Also, I'm always nervous about how the vision will sound to the newest people... What about you?

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Steve Andrews: Radical Disciples

Notes from Steve Andrews talk at Exponential on Radical Disciples...

We need to become exponential, or the church in America will fade into obscurity and irrelevance.

What we need to pour into the church planters of the future

1. Permission to say NO
- You cannot pursue God’s vision and expect to be liked and loved.
- Have a crystal clear vision and stick to it unwaveringly.

2. The Spirit of GO
- See the greatness in others.
- Release people

3. No EGO
- We need people who don’t care who gets the credit.

I'll tell you what, I don't really know Steve Andrews, but I know quite a bit about him and his church (Kensington Community outside of Detroit) - in fact we partnered with his church in starting a church in Detroit - AND this guy seems to REALLY live it. I am so impressed with what his church is doing. They are starting a ton of churches, and really putting their money where their mouth is. We need more leaders like Steve and more churches like Kensington...

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Alan Hirsh: Missional Movements

Finally I'm able to post some of my notes from sessions of the Exponential Conference. Here's my notes on Alan Hirsh's talk on "Missional Movements." By the way, if you haven't read his book "The Forgotten Ways" - you crazy! Buy it and read it tomorrow! Here's what he said:

We need to:

1. Recover the Centrality of Jesus in His Own Movement

• We must radicalize in order to missionize
• Radix = root. To radicalize we must go back to our roots.
• If we don’t go back to our roots, what are we doing?!?
• Christology leads to our Missiology leads to our Ecclesiology
• “Jesus is a disturbing dude. Jesus and religion don’t go down well together.”
• The subversion of Christianity.
• We’ve taken Jesus out. Why? Because it’s hard to live with the Lord.
• We’ve domesticated Jesus
• We’ve re-made Him in our image.
• You know you’ve done it if He hates the people you hate.
• What if Jesus showed up in our churches? I mean the wild Jesus…
• We need to be disturbed by Jesus.

2. Recover Discipleship as Our Core Task

• Discipleship is becoming a little Jesus
• Our lives speak loudest
• Consumerism is killing us.

3. Recover the Ethos/Structure of Apostolic Movements

• Missionally responsive; Culturally adaptive; Organizationally agile; Multiplying
• Movements mobilize the whole people of God
• Every believer a church planter. Every church a church planting church.
• Structurally networked.
• Employ missional leadership. Ephesians 4: 5 fold leadership.

4. Recover an Incarnational Mission Impulse

• God is missional and incarnational
• We must go, and go deep

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Exponential Craziness

Man, I've been at Exponential going to sessions, leading sessions, being interviewed for a few podcasts, doing a book signing (one person showed up to have their book signed!), and it's been crazy.

It's been very cool seeing old friends, and meeting a few new one's. I got to meet some people I had only heard about - Scott Hodge, Chris Elrod. The nice thing is that you meet people like that, and you're afraid of what you'll find, but it's amazing how many of these guys who get "popular" in the church and church-planting and blogging worlds seem to be genuinely good guys.

I'm going to post a few of my notes from some of the sessions - hopefully today.

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Exponential Idiot's Outline

For those attending my session at Exponential (Wednesday morning, 8 am) - here's the outline:

AN IDIOT'S GUIDE TO IDIOTIC CHURCH PLANTING

God’s Way

Acts 4:13, “When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus.”

1 Corinthians 4:9For it seems to me that God has put us apostles on display at the end of the procession, like men condemned to die in the arena. We have been made a spectacle to the whole universe, to angels as well as to men. 10We are fools for Christ, but you are so wise in Christ! We are weak, but you are strong! You are honored, we are dishonored! 11To this very hour we go hungry and thirsty, we are in rags, we are brutally treated, we are homeless. 12We work hard with our own hands. When we are cursed, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure it; 13when we are slandered, we answer kindly. Up to this moment we have become the scum of the earth, the refuse of the world. 14I am not writing this to shame you, but to warn you, as my dear children. 15Even though you have ten thousand guardians in Christ, you do not have many fathers, for in Christ Jesus I became your father through the gospel. 16Therefore I urge you to imitate me.”

The Forefront Example

Three Paths to Help You Find Your Dream & Vision

First: The Ancient Path

Second: The Mystic’s Path

Third: The Entrepreneur’s Path.
(Blue Ocean Strategy, W. Chan Kim & Renee Mauborgne)

Four key questions to challenge an industry’s strategic logic & business model:

1. Which of the factors that the industry takes for granted should be eliminated?


2. Which factors should be reduced well below the industry’s standard?


3. Which factors should be raised well above the industry’s standard?


4. Which factors should be created that the industry has never offered?

Look across alternative industries

Look across time

God Honors This!

Do You See It?

The Multiplying Church 9: Processors

I'm gonna do a few series kind of interacting with and starting discussions about themes in some books on church planting. This first series comes out of the The Multiplying Church.

Bob Roberts doesn’t just write books about church planting, his church actually plants churches. They have multiple church planting interns each year. Bob describes the seven “processors” they have their interns work through before going off to plant.

1. Call: You better feel called! If not, you’ll be tempted to quit when the going gets tough
2. Values: What are the values you practice without thinking? Know your values, you can’t adopt someone else’s!
3. Purpose: What is your purpose? What is the purpose of the church you’re starting?
4. Vision: Must start with you, then spread. (George Barna: “Vision has no force, power or impact unless it spreads.”)
5. Strategy: Whom are you going to reach and how will you reach them? What will you do with them once you reach them?
6. Leadership: Bob writes:“In a new church, start with turning outsiders into insiders. Do this as quickly as possible as people come on board. They have to feel as though they are part of something larger than the Sunday event. The next step is to turn converts into disciples, through what I’ve described as creating a culture for transformation that changes people’s behavior, not merely passes along information. The final step is turning disciples into ministers. This is where you practice mobilization through spiritual gifts. Identify the reliable men and women in your church and their giftings. Entrust responsibilities to them and educate them through mentoring so that they can emulate what they have seen you do.”
7. Evaluation: How will your church evaluate how you’re doing?

Here are some landmines I see with a lot of church plants. (1) Guys who are planting because they want to be the leader and do their own thing rather than feeling called. If that’s you, you’ll quit. (2) Guys who steal someone else’s values because their church is successful, “so maybe we can capture some of their mojo!” (3) Guys whose purpose is to start a “cool church” rather than win lost people to Christ and glorify God. (4) Guys who have a vision but don’t share it concisely, passionately, and consistently. (5) Guys who have no strategy. They have a vision, maybe they pray, and they just hope/assume it’s gonna happen. (6) Guys who do it all rather than developing layers of leadership in the church. (7) Guys who don’t evaluate how they’re doing. Mayybe the worst thing that can happen is early success because it can lull us, if we don’t do evaluation, into complacency.

What do you think? What are the necessary processors? What are the landmines that can kill us along the path?

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The Multiplying Church 8: Survey Saturday!

I'm gonna do a few series kind of interacting with and starting discussions about themes in some books on church planting. This first series comes out of the The Multiplying Church.

In The Multiplying Church, Bob Roberts asks the question, “How do you define church? Finish this sentence: A church is …” (p. 40).

So let’s make that our Survey Saturday question How do you define church? Finish this sentence: A church is …

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The Multiplying Church 7: Start with Society

I'm gonna do a few series kind of interacting with and starting discussions about themes in some books on church planting. This first series comes out of the The Multiplying Church.

One of the main themes of Bob Robert’s life and book (you need to read it!) is that we need to start with society, not the church. The way Ed Stetzer talks about this is that too many planters start the church in their head rather than in their community. They arrive already knowing what they’re going to do, which doesn’t allow the church to be indigenous.

Roberts takes this a step further than almost anyone I’ve heard. He suggests, “Perhaps ‘community faith engager’ is a better term than church planter. Church planters should think like community developers more than anything else. They go into a community to scout out everything and then get to work” (p 116). His suggestion for the initial concern when a planter moves into his community? “To start a church that starts with society, you have to identify where to jump in from day one. … Where is the biggest challenge? How will we first engage?” (p 122).

If this idea is new to you, and you’re going to the Exponential Conference, let me suggest that you attend: Pre-Launch Track, Session 2 - The Community which will be led by Dave Mills and Rick Rusaw. You may also want to check out: http://www.compassionbydesign.org/.

If this idea isn’t new to you … what do you think of it? Any faults in this line of thinking?

And: How have you done it, or will you do it, or have you seen it done? If you’re starting a new church (or pretend you’re starting a new church) how would you “start with society”?

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The Multiplying Church 6: Disciples?

I'm gonna do a few series kind of interacting with and starting discussions about themes in some books on church planting. This first series comes out of the The Multiplying Church.

I love it that one of the questions Bob asks is, “What kind of disciples do we want to produce?” To often we go into church planting just wanting to start a church, or just wanting to attract a lot of people, or just wanting to convert a lot of the lost. But the goal, for the people we reach, is transformation. We want to produce disciples whose lives are changed by following Jesus.

So what kind of disciples do we want to produce? Bob offers a great list. We want:

1. Radical: Let Them Do and Be More
2. Comprehensive: Encourage Them to See Life as a Whole
3. Vocational: Tell Them How to Use Their Jobs
4. Intimate: Help Them Love Jesus More
5. Servant: Show Them How to Look Outward
6. Pilgrims: Remind Them It’s an Unpredictable Journey
7. Giving: Model for Them What It Means to Give It All

I like that! At Forefront we talk about producing disciples who Love God, Love People, and Turn the World Upside Down. We talk about two “disciplines” for each of those three characteristics: For Love God: (1) A weekly large group worship gathering and (2) A daily time of intimacy with God. For Love People: (1) A weekly small group gathering and (2) Investing in relationships with people who are far from God, in hopes that they’ll get close to God. For Turn the World Upside Down: (1) Serving on a Forefront Ministry Team and (2) Giving generously back to God to grow His Kingdom.

So what do you think? Is there anything you would add to or take away from Bob Robert’s list? Anything you would add to or take away from Forefront’s list? Any better way to say any of these?

And if you had to come up with your own 6 or 7, what would your list have? Do it, it will be a great exercise for you. And leave your list in my comments, it will be a great learning for me and others to see what you’re thinking.

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The Multiplying Church 5: A Church Planter Is...

I'm gonna do a few series kind of interacting with and starting discussions about themes in some books on church planting. This first series comes out of the The Multiplying Church.

What are the characteristics of a church planter? Bob Roberts lists 5 characteristics:

1. Entrepreneurs: The First One to Jump
   
2. Evangelists: Great Conversationalists for Christ
   
3. Equippers: Skillful Encouragers Who Challenge and Coach
   
4. Mystics: Seeing and Thinking in Ways Others Don’t
   
5. Designers: Learning from a World of Knowledge

So, what do you think of that list? Anything you think isn’t necessary? Or anything you think should be added?

I’m adding “Faith.” That’s probably a part of the idea of “Mystics” in Bob’s list. But I just think a church planter has to be able to see what can’t be seen. And on the dark days (there are many!) the have to be able to believe in something that makes no sense.

If I’m putting the characteristics in order of importance, I’m going: (1) Faith, (2) Mystic, (3) Entrepreneur, (4) Evangelist, (5) Designer, (6) Equipper.

Okay, one more question. For you church planters: Which of those five is your weakest, and which is your strongest? For me, weakest is easy: Equipper. Strongest for me? I’m not sure. Maybe entrepreneur, or evangelist? What about you?

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The Multiplying Church 4: Jesus Movement

I'm gonna do a few series kind of interacting with and starting discussions about themes in some books on church planting. This first series comes out of the The Multiplying Church.

I love what Bob writes about the difference between a church planting movement and a Jesus movement. He notes that a Jesus movement is not about technique but instead intimacy with the living God. They are driven by the Holy Spirit rather than human ingenuity.

I agree. I desperately want my ministry to flow out of an intense relationship with God. I want my ministry to be bigger than me and for it to be crazy and out of control.

Do you think there’s a bit of tension here? I feel it. On one hand I want to be totally dependent on God, but I also want to grow in my knowledge, increase my skills, improve my techniques. I’d like to think that that second “want” doesn’t diminish the first, but … well, does it? As I’m better prepared to do ministry, how do I continue to rely on God to the same degree as when I knew nothing and had crappy skills?

Bob also mentions something I’ve never heard. He explains that “there is no historical evidence that after the gospel first invades a country, it does so a second time. The initial movement of the gospel is powerful in a specific place,” (p 60). Maybe this is part of the reason why. Maybe when people first introduce the gospel into a new nation they are God-dependent to the extreme. Then when it “works” they decide that they’ve gotten it figured out and can continue to do what they’ve been doing (“only we can do it even better!”) They then focus on keeping up the momentum, developing their techniques, and the Holy Spirit moves into the passenger seat.

So what do you think? Let’s try to avoid the clichés and just be honest. How do we grow in knowledge, increase skills, improve techniques AND rely on God radically?

- featured on newchurches.com

The Multiplying Church 3 - Intentional

I'm gonna do a few series kind of interacting with and starting discussions about themes in some books on church planting. This first series comes out of the The Multiplying Church.

The forward to this book is written by Ed Stetzer, who explains that for a church to be faithful, it must be incarnational, indigenous, and intentional. I'll hit each of those ideas in three posts today. This is number three:

Intentional churches are “strategic about worship style, evangelistic methods, attire, service times, locations, and other matters.” There are some non-negotionals – preaching the bible, worship, discipleship, baptism. But methodologies are determined by how effective they’ll be in our specific cultural context.

Now some Christians will argue with this because they hold the view that everything is non-negotiable – and so the style we’ve always done music is still the right style, our old method of evangelism is still the right method, our service times (which were originally chosen because we were a farming community, and there’s no longer a farm within 20 miles) are still the right service times, and polyester is definitely still the right fabric for our suits. These are people who have never read Romans 15 and 16. They’ve made idols of their methods.

But here’s what I wonder: I’m sure anyone who reads this blog would agree that (though we can’t change our message) we can change our methods, but I wonder how we choose our methods. Have the methods your church uses (like your style of preaching and worship, your service times, the way you do small groups, what your web site looks like, the form discipleship takes in your church) truly been determined by what is most effective in your specific cultural context, or by something else? (Like maybe you carry on what you’ve always known, or you copy what’s been proven effective in some other church’s specific cultural context, or you do what keeps your core people happy because you hate confrontation?)

And, second question: Let’s say you were starting a new church in a cultural context that was new to you. How would you go about determining what methodologies would be most effective?

Tell me what you’re thinking…

- featured on newchurches.com

The Multiplying Church 2 - Indigenous

I'm gonna do a few series kind of interacting with and starting discussions about themes in some books on church planting. This first series comes out of the The Multiplying Church.

The forward to this book is written by Ed Stetzer, who explains that for a church to be faithful, it must be incarnational, indigenous, and intentional. I'll hit each of those ideas in three posts today. This is number two:

Indigenous churches take “root in the soil of their society and reflect, appropriately, their surrounding culture.” This goes to the question of: If the same person were to start a church in a suburb of Little Rock, Arkansas, OR a small town of 3,000 people in Maine, OR in downtown Las Vegas, would they all look the same? What would be different?

Now this seems obvious, of course they should be different, but one complicating factor is that it’s the same person. So on one hand we want to be all things to all men, and have an indigenous church that reflects the surrounding culture. But, on the other hand, there are complications. One is that, as Stetzer explains in his writing and speaking, most church planters start the church in their head and not in their community. That is, they come to their "mission field" with preconceived ideas of what kind of church they want to start. A second issue is that we want to be authentic to who we are. So what do you think? Should a planter only start a church in an area that is a “right fit,” or should we just be able to adapt? And how different can we be from who we really are?

I’ve actually had quite a few people ask me this question: “Vince, if you had started this church in a different place, how different would it be?” And I know the correct missiologist answer, “Oh, very different indeed.” But I usually say, “Man, I don’t think it’d be much different. I just don’t know how to be anything but me.”

Yet another complicating factor is that it strikes me that incarnational must come before indigenous. Without truly living in the community, you can’t start a church that reflects it. But many Christians have serious trouble living incarnationally in their community. And many church planters don’t get to move to an area till shortly before the new church is launched, so how well can they know it? What do you think?

In another book (Reconnecting God's Story to Ministry) Tom Steffen suggests some great questions to ask when entering a new culture:

1. What is the worldview of the target audience?
   
2. What is the culture's decision-making pattern?
   
3. What does it cost a person in this culture to become a Christian?


4. What redemptive analogy is best for this culture?


5. How does this culture view Christianity?


6. What does this culture understand about the basic components of the gospel story?


7. Is this culture based on shame or guilt?


8. How will this culture understand Christian rituals?


9. What is the best delivery system for exposing the people of this culture to the gospel?

So ... how about your church? How much is it rooted in and a reflection of the culture of your surrounding community? In what ways is, and isn’t it? And what could you do to make it more indigenous?

- featured on newchurches.com

The Multiplying Church 1 - Incarnational

I'm gonna do a few series kind of interacting with and starting discussions about themes in some books on church planting. This first series comes out of the The Multiplying Church.

The forward to this book is written by Ed Stetzer, who explains that for a church to be faithful, it must be incarnational, indigenous, and intentional. I'll hit each of those ideas in three posts over the next 24 hours.

Incarational churches become deeply involved in their communities. As Jesus put flesh on and moved into our neighborhood, an effective church planter moves into the neighborhood and lives amongst the people there. Later in the book, Bob Roberts writes that we must “speak their language, feel their pain, and share their joys as well. We totally identify with them as Jesus did when He came from Heaven to be with us.”

Unfortunately, this is the opposite of “normal church” today, where most live isolationist lives from within the confines of a Christian bubble. So I guess the question is: How do we escape the Christian bubble and get integrated into the community? How do we initiate relationships? What can we find in common with people who are far from God, so we can develop those relationships?

For me, the most difficult part is initiating the relationships. What about you? What part challenges you?

Roberts says that the risk of incarnational living is “either shortchanging the gospel and making it easy believism or denying the exclusivity of Jesus Christ.” That's because as we grow to love people there's a temptation to lower Jesus’ standards to help our friends reach them. Obviously we have to avoid this, but it isn’t always easy. When you’re sitting across the table from a couple in your small group who are living together, you just don’t want to offend them, you don’t want to lose them as friends, and you’re afraid of turning them away from God. So it's easy to show grace, but avoid truth.

Do you agree? What do you see as the risks of living incarnationally?

One last question: Let's say you moved into a town to plant a church, what (practical) steps would you take to live incarnationally, and to make sure your new church does the same?

- featured on newchurches.com

Quote This

Are you like me? Do you love the good quotes? Well, love this:

"Jesus Christ came to rescue us from listlessness as well as lostness; He came to save us from flat souls as well as corrupted souls. He came to save us from dullness. Our culture is awash in immorality and drowning in dullness. We have forgotten how to dance, how to sing, how to laugh... We have been stunted by mediocrity."

- Mike Yaconelli


- featured on newchurches.com

Coming Soon!

So 11 years ago I moved to Virginia Beach to plant a church with a friend of mine. I had no idea what I was doing. The church has done pretty well and somewhere along the line someone out there decided I knew what I was doing. That person's assumption led to my being asked to speak at a conference, and then another conference, and then another. Then I was asked to coach a church planter and a church planting network. Then I was asked to do a blog on church planting. I also have church planters e-mailing, calling, and showing up at my church all the time. Now I've been asked to fly to Poland this summer and be the main speaker for a Pastor's Convention, which is hopefully going to spark a national church planting movement. I'm supposed to teach them all about church planting.

And there's only one problem with all of this: I'm still not sure I know what I'm doing!

So, at long last, I've decided to grow my knowledge on church planting. Yes, I've planted a church, but (to be honest) I've still never read only one book on church planting (Church Planting for a Greater Harvest, by Peter Wagner, like 15 years ago). But that's about to change. I bought about 5 books and not only am I going to read them, but I'm also going to blog about them. Not in a book review kind of way - instead I'm going to share some of my thoughts on a few of the themes in the book, and ask you to share some of your thoughts. I'd like to learn from you as well - and hopefully through this we can sharpen each other. (Or we can prove that none of us know what we're doing.)

So on Monday, look for the first installments of this. Until then ... you make me feel like a natural woman.

- featured on newchurches.com

Hot, Hot, Hot (8 of 8)

How do you keep your people’s passion for those who are far from God white hot? How can you tell how hot it is? We’re taking some posts to think through those issues. So how you feeling? (Hot, hot, hot).

And the last way (at least for this series) to increase the heat in your church is through the stories you tell. In the fantastic book, “Made to Stick” the authors explain the factors that make an idea sticky. Probably the greatest stickiness factor is … a story. They give the example of Subway who for awhile had featured an ad campaign explaining that they had “6 subs with under 6 grams of fat.” This marketing effort saw their sales increase by zero percent. Their next campaign featured Jared, who had gone from over 400 pounds to under 200 by eating Subway subs. Sales went through the roof. Why? Because of this new information? No, it was basically the same information – Jared lost weight through eating the six subs with under six grams of fat. It wasn’t the info. People responded because of Jared’s story.

If we want to have a church that is truly passionate about helping people who are far from God find their way back into His arms, we need to share stories. It’s crucial. I share my own story of coming to faith often. I share stories of people who are without God and how it’s having a negative impact on their lives. I share stories of Forefront people who share their faith or invite their friends to church. I share stories of life change.

Probably the most powerful story sharing that happens at Forefront occurs at our baptism services. We have each person share their coming to faith in Jesus story, and it is powerful. I mean really powerful. People are in tears, they’re cheering, it’s like a vision fest.

So what stories are you sharing, and who are you having share stories? Don’t let Subway corner the market on this one. They can already make sandwiches better than you – you be the better storyteller.

- featured on newchurches.com

The Blogging Tournament Continues

So I got asked to be in this "blogging tournament" and now I'm kind of sorry I did because it means I have to write these posts for it, but anyway, I had to do another one, and you can go to http://www.plantingspace.com/ if you want to see all the entries, or if you want to vote for me (but I don't really care if you do, I'd be fine with losing). Today's question was: "Give us your best outreach idea that costs under $500." Here's my answer:

Okay, not to sound pompous, but how about rather than an outreach "idea," rather than having to do some event that we'll need to top next year, what if we who lead the church started to burn with passion for lost people? What if we set the example of building relationships with people who are far from God? What if we hung out where sinful people hang out? What if we went to sleep at night and woke up in the morning praying for our lost neighbors? What if our church people met our non-Christians friends on Sunday mornings, because we invited them to church? What if we taught our people that church is not a country club for its members but a search and rescue mission for those who do not belong? What if we really believed in Hell, and cared enough about people to not want them to go there? What if we became obsessed with the heart of our Father, who has children who are separated from Him - and He doesn't know if He'll ever get to hold them again?

And, if that doesn't work ... here are two more ideas:

(1) Go into the center of your town. Set yourself on fire. Have a big sign that says, "This is hell. Any questions?"

(2) Or: Have dancing girls in cages hanging from the ceilings at your services. (Well, maybe not, the cages might cost more than $500.) My name is Vince Antonucci, my blog is http://www.vinceantonucci.com/, and I really don't care if you vote for me.

- featured on newchurches.com

Hot, Hot, Hot (Part 7)

How do you keep your people’s passion for those who are far from God white hot? How can you tell how hot it is? We’re taking some posts to think through those issues. So how you feeling? (Hot, hot, hot).

How hot is your passion for evangelism? How can you raise the stakes in your church? A lot of it is about the battles you’re willing to fight.

When someone says, “Pastor, the music is just too loud.” Do you say, “Sorry, we’ll turn it down a little,” or, “Sorry, but the people we’re trying to reach don’t think it’s too loud.” If someone complains, “Pastor, there are people smoking out in front of the church.” Do you say, “Yeah, isn’t that too bad” or, “Yeah, isn’t that beautiful.” When someone asks, “Why don’t we have Precept bible studies like my friend’s church?” Do you say, “We may offer something like that someday,” or “Then why don’t you go to your friend’s church?” When someone says, “Pastor, why don’t we do just a few hymns?” Do you say, “Yeah, why don’t we?” or “Why don’t you take a flying leap off a …”

People can sense what hills you’re willing to die on. If you aren’t willing to die for evangelism, your people won’t be willing to really live for it…

- featured on newchurches.com

Yikes

Holy wasabi, I am so stinkin' busy.

We're tweakin' some things at Forefront, with our bar service, with where/how we're filming our sermons, with the small group and individual bible studies we provide in our programs each week. And all of that, for now, is causing more work and way more meetings.

I've also got a few conferences coming up, which I'm psyched about. The Exponential Conference is only two weeks away - if you're a church planter, or want your church to become a church planting church, go to this! The Whiteboard Sessions is about six weeks away and it looks like this brand new conference is going to be awesome. The day after Whiteboard I'm speaking at Passion for Planting's one day church planting seminar with Ed Stetzer and Ron Sylvia. Again, church planters, that's a really good event for you to be at!

In June I'm speaking at back-to-back conferences in Poland, but I'm guessing that no one who reads this wants to commute to that ... unless you live in Poland, then I'll see you there!

Okay, I've gotta go and have a nervous breakdown!

- featured on newchurches.com

Hot, Hot, Hot (Part 6)

How do you keep your people’s passion for those who are far from God white hot? How can you tell how hot it is? We’re taking some posts to think through those issues. So how you feeling? (Hot, hot, hot).

Yet another way to monitor, and crank up, the heat in your church is through the conversations you have. What would you say is the best way to evaluate what’s truly important to a person? Maybe it’s by how we spend our money. Or how we spend our time. Or what we think about, like where our mind just naturally drifts. All of those are probably significant indicators, but another has to be your conversations, right? Like if I told you that I was absolutely passionate about hockey, and you asked me when the last time I talked to someone about hockey was, and I said, “Wow, I have no idea. It’s been like forever.” “Wait,” you ask, “I mean, how often would you say you talk about hockey.” I think for a second and then answer, “Well, basically never.” Do you still believe I’m passionate about it?

And so when is the last time you had a conversation about how God’s heart must be frantic for all His lost children? When’s the last time your church staff sat around (without it being on an agenda) talking about how you could do a better job of reaching people? When’s the last time you and your family talked about how you could reach your neighbors?

Not having those conversations? Then the heat is low. Want to increase the heat? Start having those conversations.

- featured on newchurches.com

Hot, Hot, Hot (Part 5)

How do you keep your people’s passion for those who are far from God white hot? How can you tell how hot it is? We’re taking some posts to think through those issues. So how you feeling? (Hot, hot, hot).

Another way to turn up the heat in your church is through the metaphors you use. Have you heard the golden rule re-mix, “Whoever owns the gold makes the rules.” Well, I think, “Whoever owns the metaphors makes the rules.” Metaphors shape culture. So what metaphors do you share, and how are they shaping your culture?

I have several metaphors that I’ve tried to tell often enough that they’ve become a part of the fabric of our church. For instance, I say that our church is like a steak restaurant for P.E.T.A. activists, or a hair product company for bald men. We are a church for people who don’t like church. We have chosen to go after the one group of people we know are not interested in what we have to offer. And so that impacts the way we do everything. And using those metaphors helps people to understand the nature of who we are.

I also share (often) how the people who make up Forefront are like the rescue workers who searched for people in the rubble after 9-11. This is an image that people can vividly remember. It stirs emotions. And it helps people to understand: The people in our community are buried under the rubble of life. Our role is to go out and dig, to reach down and grab a hand and help pull them out to a place where they can breathe and move again. (And how do you say no to that?!?)

What metaphors do you use? Whoever owns the metaphors makes the rules.

- featured on newchurches.com

The White Shadow

Did you used to watch The White Shadow? I loved that show! Well, tomorrow I am experiencing my own little episode of the white shadow, but it has nothing to do with basketball.

There's an 8th Grader at Forefront who has to shadow someone at work for a day, and his mother asked me. I said, "Ummm, no, he'll be bored to death" but she insisted he wouldn't. So ... tomorrow is the day. And I am afraid! This will be the most intimidated I've been going into work, maybe ever. Why?

Well, first is the aforementioned boredom factor. ("Okay kid, now I'm going to read a book." "Okay, now I'm going to type on my computer." "Okay, now I have to go to the bathroom.")

Second is that we will scar this kid for life. Like ... we have our Monday morning Creative Team Meeting tomorrow, which he'll be sitting in. At one of these meetings, back in November, we had an extended conversation about hiring a stripper to be in a Forefront skit. Not to strip! But we just didn't feel comfortable asking anyone from Forefront to play a part we were talking about, so someone jokingly said, "We should hire a stripper to do it" which led to a long talk about whether we could do that, and whether it could be a creative form of evangelism. ("We could hire strippers every week to do something in our service - we'd lead 'em all to Christ! Pretty soon there wouldn't be any strippers left to hire!") So you see what I mean about scarring this kid. Plus, people get shot a lot at our office.

There's probably some other fear factors, but I'll just end there. So, I don't know, maybe pray for me? Actually, pray for this kid.

- featured on newchurches.com

Calling WiBo Women

Are you a woman, who will be attending The Whiteboard Sessions? Or, are you a man, who will be attending The Whiteboard Sessions, and your woman is coming with you? Either way, all you women need to sign up for the women's lunch. It's at a nice Italian Restaraunt where, in the words of the website, "You'll enjoy a meal of your choice off a select menu, receive a special gift bag filled with goodies and resources, and enjoy meeting like-hearted women from all over the country." But best of all, you'll hear a great talk from an awesome speaker who ... I must admit ... I've seen naked.

And that's all I'm going to say about that.

- featured on newchurches.com

Another Survey Saturday!

How do you solve the riddle Bob Roberts poses in his book The Multiplying Church:

“Let’s start a thousand churches over the next ten years, each one running a minimum of two thousand members, and in just ten years we will turn America upside down with the gospel! That would work, right? Wrong – that scenario just happened over the past ten years, and there are fewer people in church today than ever before. How can that be? How could we have spent billions to start two thousand megachurches and yet have fewer people in church and a society that largely feels the church is antagonistic?”

By the way - if you come to The Whiteboard Sessions this is basically what I'll be talking about. But, for now, let's hear what you think...

- featured on newchurches.com

Lousy T-Shirt Series 2!!

The other day I posted about new creative materials available for the Lousy T-Shirt series. I also shared with you a few "reviews" from churches that have done the series. Here are a couple more. And, remember, if you want to do this series it is ABSOLUTELY FREE. I know that we at Forefront and have really appreciated it when we've been able to use something from another church, thereby saving us the work of having to create something ourselves. So this is our way of trying to give back. Here are those reviews:

"We had a great experience using the Lousy T-shirt series at our church. As the weeks went on we could see our people really catching the vision to cast off their "lousy t-shirts" and enjoy the adventure of faith god intended us to live. Because of the programming resources on the website our creative team had a huge jump start on the series each week. We took advantage of the small group studies so that all of our groups were studying the same curriculum. We also used the daily devotions provided on the website. We sold out of several cases of the books we provided at our resource table. We're looking forward to Vince's next book and series that we can challenge our congregation with!" (Tim Cole, Velocity Church)

"I lead a small congregation of a church ... most of the congregation is old. As a young pastor, I sometimes struggle to develop message series that will touch their lives in a way as to reignite their passion for Christ. I have to say the book and materials that you have produced in "I Became A Christian and All I Got Was This Lousy T-Shirt" have truly been a blessing from God. I wasn't sure at first how they might respond to it, but have been overwhelmed by the comments that I have received. I preach to people who have been Christians for decades and have been in the same old religious rut for many years. The themes of Lousy T-Shirt help to to explore possible reasons why they have lost their fire and explores ways to get it back. However, part of the beauty of the series is that it is written is a way that it touches the hearts, not only mature Christians, but that of new believers and non-believers alike. I will be ever thankful for the materials that you all have put together that work to enhance the message... I pray that many churches will incorporate this series into their churches soon!" (Willy Maxwell)

- featured on newchurches.com

Quote This

Are you like me? Do you love the good quotes? Well, love this:

"For I tell you this; one loving blind desire for God alone is more valuable in itself, more pleasing to God and to the saints, more beneficial to your own growth, and more helpful to your friends, both living and dead, than anything else you could do."
- William Johnston

- featured on newchurches.com

Meetings!!!

Wow, I have been in meetings all day! I feel like a real meeting whore. I met with someone from 8 to 9; two other people from 9 to 10; two other people from 10 to 11; two other people from 11 to 12; and three other people from 12:30 to 3:00.


I had a phone meeting scheduled from 7:15 to 8:00 this morning but (thank God) there was a miscommunication and the guy meant 7:15 Central Time, so he called me at 8:15 Eastern Time and I couldn't talk to him.

The one nice thing is getting to meet with people you really enjoy. I seriously can't imagine having to work with people I don't like. I think this may be the best advice I give my kids when they get a little older: "Son ... Daughter ... Work with people you like, even if it means you have to scrub vomitoriums for a living." (I have real high hopes for my kids.)

Hot, Hot, Hot (Part 4)

How do you keep your people’s passion for those who are far from God white hot? How can you tell how hot it is? We’re taking some posts to think through those issues. So how you feeling? (Hot, hot, hot).

Another way to crank up the heat in your church is for you to state the problem. If I asked you to give money to some kids in Africa you’d say no, with ease. But if I explained that these kids have AIDS and need medicine that your money would buy, you might give. If I asked you to hang out with a kid I know for an hour, you’d say no. But if I told you he was an underprivileged kid with no parents who needs a little tutoring, you’d probably say yes. If I asked you to give me some food out of your refrigerator you’d just give me a perplexed look, but if I told you it was for a homeless family that was near starving to death, you’d run to the kitchen.

See it? To get people to care, to get them to act, you need to show them the problem.

Our developing relationships with people who are far from God, and trying to lovingly lead them towards Him is not something we do because it’s fun, or entertaining, or nice. We do it because there is a significant problem that needs to be solved.

What is that problem? God is a father who is heartbroken because he has children who are lost and without Him. And, people are empty and purposeless and sad inside because they’re far from God, and face eternity separated from their Father and their true home.

People need to understand the problem to want to be a part of the solution.

- featured on newchurches.com

Vote for Me!

Okay, I was asked to enter a "blogging tournament" by the guys at plantingspace.com. And because I'm stupid, and because I like those guys, I said yes. There's no prize or anything, but I guess I still need to try to win. So, the winner is determined by who gets the most votes. If you're feeling bored, go to: www.plantingspace.com and cast your vote for me. Here is my entry in the first round of this contest:


So I'm supposed to answer the question: Does the presidential election matter? Are you kidding me? Of course the results of the presidential election matter! I mean, let's think about it:

• In 1876 Rutherford B. Hayes beat Samuel J. Tilden which matters because if he hadn't, you and I would never have even heard of Rutherford B. Hayes.
• In 1952 Dwight Eisenhower beat Adlai Stevenson. This changed the course of American history because, seriously, can you imagine having had a president named Adlai??!
• In 1972 Richard Nixon beat George McGovern. If he hadn't, "I am not a crook" would not be an American catchphrase!
• In 1976 Jimmy Carter beat Gerald Ford. Do you realize what that did for the self-esteem of peanut farmers?
• In 1996 Bill Clinton beat Bob Dole. This victory eventually gave hope to interns everywhere that they would no longer have to toil in obscurity, but could (with a few calculated moves) become front page news.
• In 2000 George W. Bush beat Al Gore. (Wait, did he beat Al Gore?) Anyway, if Al Gore had become president, we would not have the film "An Inconvenient Truth" sitting on the shelf at Blockbuster, and what DVD would be sitting in its place?!?!
• In 2004 George W. Bush beat John Kerry. If he hadn't the word "strategery" would not have been introduced into the English language.

Okay, let me get serious for a moment. We can see that presidential elections matter by looking back at how presidents have been able to do away with poverty, and eliminate homelessness, and give meaning to those without purpose, and solve the AID's epidemic in Africa, and stop war so that peace prevails in the world, and provide quality education and health care for every American citizen and ... wait ... presidents haven't been able to accomplish any of that?

Oh. I guess the presidential election doesn't matter. And it turns out, once again, that stinking Bill Hybles is right, let's all say it together now, "The church is the hope of the world." (Did Hybles trademark that phrase?) (If not, can I?)

vince antonucci
forefront church - virginia beach

Hot, Hot, Hot (Part 3)

How do you keep your people’s passion for those who are far from God white hot? How can you tell how hot it is? We’re taking some posts to think through those issues. So how you feeling? (Hot, hot, hot).

Another way to crank up the heat in your church, in fact the best way is for you to set the example. Often church planters will ask me how to start a church with “evangelistic dna” – the answer is that it has to be in you.

When my wife got pregnant for the first time, no amount of praying that we would have a baby who would grow up to be a seven foot black man who stars in the NBA would have done the trick. We also could have prayed for child who would become a great Chinese gymnast, but it wouldn’t happen. Why? Because it’s not in our DNA.

And I don’t think a person without evangelistic DNA can birth a church with evangelistic DNA. So it better be in you, and you need to live it out and let it show. If your heart doesn’t break for people who are far from God, why will anyone else’s? If you’re not developing relationships with non-Christians, why should anyone else? If you’re not inviting lost people to church, why will anyone else?

So, is it in you? And is it showing? Set the example, and watch your church burn.

- featured on newchurches.com

Lousy T-Shirt Series!!

Hey - cool news: A series of Youth Group Discussion Questions and Interactive Activities have just been added to the Lousy T-Shirt church series, based on my book. A few churches who were doing it asked if we could add a component specifically for teenagers, and you're wish is our command!

Also, several churches have now done the series. One new church just started it this past Sunday and got on the local news, where the series was featured, along with some other creative things this church has been doing.