The Need for Church Plants

There are certainly plenty of gatherings of the church throughout most of our cities, but is there a need for more? The answer to that question is yes. For one reason, stastiticly church plants reach more new people for Christ than established churches. That's not to say that established churches do not reach people, some do. However, it is to say that many new churches have a zeal for evangelism that many established churches have lost. So for those who are committed to reaching lost people with the gospel, church planting is an important thing to consider.

Almost a Month

After taking almost a month off (my wife said I couldn't do it), I've decided to go ahead and start blogging again. However, I am working on determining what reason I'll have for this blog. So as time goes on, I'll try to be clear in what my intentions are for this blog. As of right now, I think the emphasis will be primarily related to church planting, though I will continue to share other thoughts and quotes as I have before. Posts will also be light since I am now working early in the morning, keeping Abigail throughout the day, and going to school full-time. Thanks for being patient and I look forward to more interaction again soon.

Taking Time Off

I have actually been considering closing this blog down, but for now I have decided to take August off. God-willing, after taking a break I'll be ready to blog some more in September. I hope I didn't disappoint you 3 or 4 readers.

Philippians 2:12-16

Tonight, God-willing, we are going to discuss Philippians 2:12-16. This is a beautiful reminder that we are commanded to work, and yet it's not us who works. It is God who is working within us both to will and to work for His good pleasure. This is a glorious truth that I'm looking forward to seeing with friends tonight. It looks like we ought to have a good crowd tonight. If you are interested, you can be here at 7:00. If you need directions, just reply with your email and I'll send them to you.

Why Preach?

Over the past several days I have told many people that I am really struggling because I miss preaching on a regular basis. However, as I was praying last night and thinking through some Scriptures, I realized that I was preaching pridefully. Here's what I mean (in way of confession). There is a joy for me to get up and proclaim the Word of God (which is not a bad thing). However, the Bible says that some are called as preacher/teachers to equip the saints. Here's where the Lord really convicted me last night and throughout today. Do I really love God AND people? Actually, if you truly love God you WILL love people. But is my motivation for preaching based on that. In other words, do I preach just to get the point of the text across (obviously of great importance)? Or do I love the people enough to seek their understanding of the text so that it will be applied to their lives and they will be conformed into the image of Christ? It seems like such a fine line there, but it's there nonetheless. If I get up and preach week in and week out, but care not about the affect it has on those who hear, am I really preaching with the right motives? I think the answer is clear. I want to confess that I have preached too many times without thinking and hoping for the proper application of the Word of God. I have preached too often with the desire to hear that it was good and that I handled the text accurately (again, very important). But I have not desired enough to see the Word of God enter into the hearts of men and women so that they would change as a result. So, why preach? For the glory of God! For the salvation and sanctification of His people. Lord help us all to preach Your Word with passion and accuracy so that many more will worship You because of it.

Welcome Wil

A while back I wrote a post of gratitude for my good friend Wil Owens. I have also posted on one of his sermons here. You can go here to see more of his sermons and to learn more of him. However, I just found out today that he is also on blogspot now here. So with that being said, I say welcome my friend.

How to Plant a Church

Okay, I have heard that John Piper has preached a sermon that I think is called You Don't know how to Plant a Church. I have no idea if that is the name of it or not. It could be that he just talked about that. Either way, I don't know how to find it. Can anyone point me in the right direction?

Christ Alone

From The Valley of Vision

"Christ Alone" 

O God,

Thy main plan, and the end of thy will is to make Christ glorious and beloved in heaven, where he is now ascended, where one day all the elect will behold his glory and love and glorify him for ever.

Though here I love him but little, may this be my portion at last.

In this world thou hast given me a beginning, one day it will be perfected in the realm above.

Thou hast helped me to see and know Christ, though obscurely, to take him, receive him, to possess him, love him, to bless him in my heart, mouth, life.

Let me study and stand for discipline, and all the ways of worship, out of love for Christ; and to show my thankfulness; to seek and know his will from love, to hold it in love, and daily to care for and keep this state of heart.

Thou hast led me to place all my nature and happiness in oneness with Christ, in having heart and mind centred only on him, in being like him in communicating good to others;

This is my heaven on earth,

But I need to the force, energy, impulses of thy Spirit to carry me on the way to my Jerusalem.

Here, it is my duty to be as Christ in this world, to do what he would do, to live as he would live, to walk in love and meekness; then would he be known, then would I have peace in death.

Gathering a Core Group

Since Shannon and I have resolved that, as far as we know, we are planning to plant a church, I would love some wisdom from others. How would you go about establishing a core group of people for the church plant? What things would you stress during the time of meeting before the new church "launches" publicly? What would you determine as the primary reasons for choosing a particular place to plant? I ask all of these questions, and there are plenty more, because I truly want to hear from others. I'm looking forward to hearing your thoughts.

Will you Pray?

I have had several conversations with people lately about our city, Rocky Mount. The bottom line is that there are several lost people within our city limits who are not consistently hearing the gospel. It is real easy to assume that someone else is taking the gospel to people. I want to call on us all to pray and to seek for opportunities to take the gospel to everyone in Rocky Mount. Sure that is a high goal, but it is also a lofty one. Would you commit to praying for our city and seeking to find ways to take the gospel to everyone within our city limits?