No partner is more important than prayer partners. Planting a church is a big deal. Satan does not want you to succeed. Surrounding yourself and your team with prayer partners is the single best thing you can do to ensure success.
Many church planters underestimate the amount of spiritual warfare they will face over the six to twelve months leading up to opening day. Prayer must be a priority for the church planter. In addition to personal prayer, the Church Planter should solicit a growing prayer team.
As a top priority, the Church Planter should form an initial prayer team with at least 10 people praying regularly for him. The Church Planter should especially approach those individuals who are known to be consistent prayer warriors.
To recruit the first 10 prayer team members, consider the following:
• Brainstorm at least 10 people who would be committed to praying for you and the new church
• Contact them about being on your prayer team
• Initiate some form of weekly communication with them with specific prayer requests.
Suggested initial prayer requests:
• You - You need God's wisdom, patience and strength
• Your family - specifically balance and health in your marriage and family
• Protection - Satan will attack you, your family, and anyone who wants to join you
• Vision - that God would guide your planning and give you a clear vision for the new church
• Launch Team - that God would provide the right people to form the core of the new church
• Finances - only God can provide
Friday, May 14, 2010
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
1. Don’t apologize for preaching God’s Word about money.
You don’t apologize when you preach on prayer or grace or marriage. The only reason we preach on any of this is to help people.
Preach it with confidence!
Luke 16: 9-15
Jesus mentions “mammon” three times here.
If we don’t teach about money, who will?
Mammon is the spirit that rests on money. It promises what only God can give: security, peace, joy. All money has a spirit on it; either mammon or the spirit of God. The way we get the spirit of God is to redeem it by giving the first 10% to God.
It’s either cursed or consecrated. We need to teach our people there are consequences for disobedience to God.
2. Don’t apologize for preaching God’s Word about tithing.
I’m amazed when people say they’re not sure this is biblical. If I get mad at you, I can shoot you. I’m a Christian, and “thou shalt not kill” was under the law, so I don’t have to follow it.
NO!
The righteousness of grace always exceeds the righteousness of the law. Law says don’t kill, grace says don’t even be angry.
And tithing was around 2500 years before the law. It goes all the way back to the Garden of Eden (you can have all the trees except that one).
Its about your heart. Exodus 23:19, Proverbs 3:9-10, Exodus 13:1-13
Jesus was both firstborn and first fruits. He is the clean animal for our uncleanness, sent to redeem us. Jesus is God’s tithe. He gave Jesus in faith that we would believe. Tithing is all about giving in faith.
Galatians 4:3-5: Cain didn’t bring first fruits.
God is not legalistic and neither am I. It’s about your heart.
3. Don’t apologize for preaching God’s Word about giving.
Tithing is not giving, it’s returning. You can’t give a tithe because it doesn’t belong to you.
(By the way it goes to the church where you’re being fed. And you can’t designate it, because it’s not yours.)
Tithing is returning to God what’s already his–it’s the training wheels of giving.
Matthew 7: the main topic is judging, not money “for with the same measure you use, it will be measured back to you.”
Luke 6:37-38: the main topic is judging; the word money isn’t here, either. But when people preach on this it’s on money. Can it apply to money? Secondarily. Primarily it’s about the attitude of your heart.
My pet peeve is not that we don’t know Greek, it’s that we don’t know English!
If you judge, you’ll get judgment back….pressed down and running over.
Luke 6:38 is not the motive for giving: we don’t give so we’ll get. It’s the reward for giving with the right heart.
Jesus is the noun of the Bible. Giving is the verb.
John 3:16…….you’re here today because Jesus gave his life for you. You’re here today because you gave your life to Jesus.
Exodus 13: giving your firstborn. When your son questions this, you remind him we weren’t always ranchers; we used to be slaves. But God delivered us, so we gladly give God the first of everything.
You don’t apologize when you preach on prayer or grace or marriage. The only reason we preach on any of this is to help people.
Preach it with confidence!
Luke 16: 9-15
Jesus mentions “mammon” three times here.
If we don’t teach about money, who will?
Mammon is the spirit that rests on money. It promises what only God can give: security, peace, joy. All money has a spirit on it; either mammon or the spirit of God. The way we get the spirit of God is to redeem it by giving the first 10% to God.
It’s either cursed or consecrated. We need to teach our people there are consequences for disobedience to God.
2. Don’t apologize for preaching God’s Word about tithing.
I’m amazed when people say they’re not sure this is biblical. If I get mad at you, I can shoot you. I’m a Christian, and “thou shalt not kill” was under the law, so I don’t have to follow it.
NO!
The righteousness of grace always exceeds the righteousness of the law. Law says don’t kill, grace says don’t even be angry.
And tithing was around 2500 years before the law. It goes all the way back to the Garden of Eden (you can have all the trees except that one).
Its about your heart. Exodus 23:19, Proverbs 3:9-10, Exodus 13:1-13
Jesus was both firstborn and first fruits. He is the clean animal for our uncleanness, sent to redeem us. Jesus is God’s tithe. He gave Jesus in faith that we would believe. Tithing is all about giving in faith.
Galatians 4:3-5: Cain didn’t bring first fruits.
God is not legalistic and neither am I. It’s about your heart.
3. Don’t apologize for preaching God’s Word about giving.
Tithing is not giving, it’s returning. You can’t give a tithe because it doesn’t belong to you.
(By the way it goes to the church where you’re being fed. And you can’t designate it, because it’s not yours.)
Tithing is returning to God what’s already his–it’s the training wheels of giving.
Matthew 7: the main topic is judging, not money “for with the same measure you use, it will be measured back to you.”
Luke 6:37-38: the main topic is judging; the word money isn’t here, either. But when people preach on this it’s on money. Can it apply to money? Secondarily. Primarily it’s about the attitude of your heart.
My pet peeve is not that we don’t know Greek, it’s that we don’t know English!
If you judge, you’ll get judgment back….pressed down and running over.
Luke 6:38 is not the motive for giving: we don’t give so we’ll get. It’s the reward for giving with the right heart.
Jesus is the noun of the Bible. Giving is the verb.
John 3:16…….you’re here today because Jesus gave his life for you. You’re here today because you gave your life to Jesus.
Exodus 13: giving your firstborn. When your son questions this, you remind him we weren’t always ranchers; we used to be slaves. But God delivered us, so we gladly give God the first of everything.
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
Grow
Acts 2
1. Grow yourself first
This brings the balance. If you’re not growing yourself, you will get it out of whack. But if God is working in your life and you get away from numbers for their own sake and ministry is an overflow of the work God is doing, now you have something good.
2. Grow for the right reasons
Church growth has gotten a bad rap, because mixed in has been the egos and logos. But if we keep our hearts pure, the job our master has given us is to grow.
Luke 17:7-10: we are unworthy servants. The growth isn’t for us.
No one is more astonished about what’s going on at my church than me….because I know me. And I think that’s why God likes it–he’s looking for someone doing what they’re told to do.
3. Grow!
God needs us as his workers. This is not a game–we’re on assignment to make the biggest difference we can for eternity’s sake.
So how do we get it back in balance?
—-refocus on the Great Commission.
The social justice flow has gotten off kilter; we’re feeding bellies that are going to go to Hell. If you help someone, even in Jesus’s name, and we never win them to Christ, we lose! It is a tool to bring people to Christ.
—-keep score.
If people matter and people are numbers, then count everything. Measure it. Your team needs to know what matters and how to win.
—-if it’s not working, change it.
We cannot be committed to style, tradition, culture–we must be focused on results. I’m not saying results for us. It’s because Heaven and Hell are realities.
Here are three ways to change it:
1. Get rid of sacred cows
2. Learn from working models
3. Focus on the environment
You have to make sure you change the right thing. You can use methods and say it didn’t work; but without the right environment, nothing grows.
1. Grow yourself first
This brings the balance. If you’re not growing yourself, you will get it out of whack. But if God is working in your life and you get away from numbers for their own sake and ministry is an overflow of the work God is doing, now you have something good.
2. Grow for the right reasons
Church growth has gotten a bad rap, because mixed in has been the egos and logos. But if we keep our hearts pure, the job our master has given us is to grow.
Luke 17:7-10: we are unworthy servants. The growth isn’t for us.
No one is more astonished about what’s going on at my church than me….because I know me. And I think that’s why God likes it–he’s looking for someone doing what they’re told to do.
3. Grow!
God needs us as his workers. This is not a game–we’re on assignment to make the biggest difference we can for eternity’s sake.
So how do we get it back in balance?
—-refocus on the Great Commission.
The social justice flow has gotten off kilter; we’re feeding bellies that are going to go to Hell. If you help someone, even in Jesus’s name, and we never win them to Christ, we lose! It is a tool to bring people to Christ.
—-keep score.
If people matter and people are numbers, then count everything. Measure it. Your team needs to know what matters and how to win.
—-if it’s not working, change it.
We cannot be committed to style, tradition, culture–we must be focused on results. I’m not saying results for us. It’s because Heaven and Hell are realities.
Here are three ways to change it:
1. Get rid of sacred cows
2. Learn from working models
3. Focus on the environment
You have to make sure you change the right thing. You can use methods and say it didn’t work; but without the right environment, nothing grows.
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
We are a mobile church…a church without a permanent home.
It comes with both pro’s and con’s. Let’s look at them…
Pro’s…
1. It helps us stay focused on “being the church”. Relationships are stronger and our sense of mission is strong. Our view of
what church is, is “people”, not “buildings”.
2. There is a natural anti-polarizing effect when meeting in a school, or a theater, or any public place. It’s neutral ground. It
challenges the view of what church is to the unchurched. Church buildings sometimes polarize “the Church” from “the
World” and the two don’t naturally collide with each other.
3. It forces us to be resourceful and creative. How do you create atmosphere in a high school cafeteria. It takes work to
eliminate distractions and create an environment where people can come and meet God. It’s amazing what curtains can
do!
4. It raises the bar of commitment in the people who are serving. It takes a lot of commited people that are willing to show
up several hours before the service to set everything up and then tear everything down, for a service that lasts 1 hour and
15 minutes. The volunteers understand that without their hard work and commitment, we wouldn’t be able to pull off
what we pull off.
5. It keeps us from being too comfortable. The more comfortable we are, the more complacent we become. It keeps us on
our toes, knowing that at any moment we might have to find a new meeting place.
Con’s…
1. It costs a lot of money to rent a school for a 1 hour and 15 minute meeting each week.
2. It costs even more money to have an office space or a place for ministry to happen during the week.
3. Unfortunately, sometimes your reputation as a viable church is measured by…if you have a building or not.
There are probably more pro’s & con’s, but these are the main ones for me.
Pro’s…
1. It helps us stay focused on “being the church”. Relationships are stronger and our sense of mission is strong. Our view of
what church is, is “people”, not “buildings”.
2. There is a natural anti-polarizing effect when meeting in a school, or a theater, or any public place. It’s neutral ground. It
challenges the view of what church is to the unchurched. Church buildings sometimes polarize “the Church” from “the
World” and the two don’t naturally collide with each other.
3. It forces us to be resourceful and creative. How do you create atmosphere in a high school cafeteria. It takes work to
eliminate distractions and create an environment where people can come and meet God. It’s amazing what curtains can
do!
4. It raises the bar of commitment in the people who are serving. It takes a lot of commited people that are willing to show
up several hours before the service to set everything up and then tear everything down, for a service that lasts 1 hour and
15 minutes. The volunteers understand that without their hard work and commitment, we wouldn’t be able to pull off
what we pull off.
5. It keeps us from being too comfortable. The more comfortable we are, the more complacent we become. It keeps us on
our toes, knowing that at any moment we might have to find a new meeting place.
Con’s…
1. It costs a lot of money to rent a school for a 1 hour and 15 minute meeting each week.
2. It costs even more money to have an office space or a place for ministry to happen during the week.
3. Unfortunately, sometimes your reputation as a viable church is measured by…if you have a building or not.
There are probably more pro’s & con’s, but these are the main ones for me.
Sunday, March 28, 2010
Foods to include in your diet during the Daniel Fast
All fruits. These can be fresh, frozen, dried, juiced or canned. Fruits include but are not limited to apples, apricots, bananas, blackberries, blueberries, boysenberries, cantaloupe, cherries, cranberries, figs, grapefruit, grapes, guava, honeydew melon, kiwi, lemons, limes, mangoes, nectarines, oranges, papayas, peaches, pears, pineapples, plums, prunes, raisins, raspberries, strawberries, tangelos, tangerines, watermelon
All vegetables. These can be fresh, frozen, dried, juiced or canned. Vegetables include but are not limited to artichokes, asparagus, beets, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, celery, chili peppers, collard greens, corn, cucumbers, eggplant, garlic, ginger root, kale, leeks, lettuce, mushrooms, mustard greens, okra, onions, parsley, potatoes, radishes, rutabagas, scallions, spinach, sprouts, squashes, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, turnips, watercress, yams, zucchini, veggie burgers are an option if you are not allergic to soy.
All whole grains, including but not limited to whole wheat, brown rice, millet, quinoa, oats, barley, grits, whole wheat pasta, whole wheat tortillas, rice cakes and popcorn.
All nuts and seeds, including but not limited to sunflower seeds, cashews, peanuts, sesame. Also nut butters including peanut butter.
All legumes. These can be canned or dried. Legumes include but are not limited to dried beans, pinto beans, split peas, lentils, black eyed peas, kidney beans, black beans, cannellini beans, white beans.
All quality oils including but not limited to olive, canola, grape seed, peanut, and sesame.
Beverages: spring water, distilled water or other pure waters.
Other: tofu, soy products, vinegar, seasonings, salt, herbs and spices.
Foods to avoid on the Daniel Fast
All meat and animal products including but not limited to beef, lamb, pork, poultry, and fish.
All dairy products including but not limited to milk, cheese, cream, butter, and eggs.
All sweeteners including but not limited to sugar, raw sugar, honey, syrups, molasses, and cane juice.
All leavened bread including Ezekiel Bread (it contains yeast and honey) and baked goods.
All refined and processed food products including but not limited to artificial flavorings, food additives, chemicals, white rice, white flour, and foods that contain artificial preservatives.
All deep fried foods including but not limited to potato chips, French fries, corn chips.
All solid fats including shortening, margarine, lard and foods high in fat.
Beverages including but not limited to coffee, tea, herbal teas, carbonated beverages, energy drinks, and alcohol.
All vegetables. These can be fresh, frozen, dried, juiced or canned. Vegetables include but are not limited to artichokes, asparagus, beets, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, celery, chili peppers, collard greens, corn, cucumbers, eggplant, garlic, ginger root, kale, leeks, lettuce, mushrooms, mustard greens, okra, onions, parsley, potatoes, radishes, rutabagas, scallions, spinach, sprouts, squashes, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, turnips, watercress, yams, zucchini, veggie burgers are an option if you are not allergic to soy.
All whole grains, including but not limited to whole wheat, brown rice, millet, quinoa, oats, barley, grits, whole wheat pasta, whole wheat tortillas, rice cakes and popcorn.
All nuts and seeds, including but not limited to sunflower seeds, cashews, peanuts, sesame. Also nut butters including peanut butter.
All legumes. These can be canned or dried. Legumes include but are not limited to dried beans, pinto beans, split peas, lentils, black eyed peas, kidney beans, black beans, cannellini beans, white beans.
All quality oils including but not limited to olive, canola, grape seed, peanut, and sesame.
Beverages: spring water, distilled water or other pure waters.
Other: tofu, soy products, vinegar, seasonings, salt, herbs and spices.
Foods to avoid on the Daniel Fast
All meat and animal products including but not limited to beef, lamb, pork, poultry, and fish.
All dairy products including but not limited to milk, cheese, cream, butter, and eggs.
All sweeteners including but not limited to sugar, raw sugar, honey, syrups, molasses, and cane juice.
All leavened bread including Ezekiel Bread (it contains yeast and honey) and baked goods.
All refined and processed food products including but not limited to artificial flavorings, food additives, chemicals, white rice, white flour, and foods that contain artificial preservatives.
All deep fried foods including but not limited to potato chips, French fries, corn chips.
All solid fats including shortening, margarine, lard and foods high in fat.
Beverages including but not limited to coffee, tea, herbal teas, carbonated beverages, energy drinks, and alcohol.
Daniel Fast
Step 1: Be Specific Daniel was not vague in his objection to the Babylonian diet. He defined the problem immediately.
1. The king's food was against dietary laws.
2. Daniel and his friends had vowed against wine.
3. The king's food had been offered up to idols/demons.
Step 2: Fast as a Spiritual Commitment The Daniel Fast involves a spiritual commitment to God. "Daniel proposed in his heart that he would not defile himself" (Daniel 1:8).
Step 3: Reflect Inner Desire by Outer Discipline Many people have an inner desire for better health, but they can't discipline themselves to avoid junk food, and other foods that are not good for their health. The physical health you seek from God may be more than an answer to prayer. Your physical health can be linked to any of the following factors:
1. Your food choices.
2. The level of your spiritual commitment as reflected in constant prayer during the fast.
3. Your time commitment. If you determine to fast for a certain time, keep it. For example, if you determine to fast 10 days, don't stop on Day 9.
4. Your testimony commitment. Your fast is a statement of faith to God that you want Him to heal your body, and faith is foundational to the Daniel Fast.
Step 4: Pray to Perceive Sin's Role in Poor Health Notice James 5:13-16:
• Sin is something related to the cause of sickness.
• Lack of health/healing may be the result of spiritual rebellion.
• Lack of health/healing may be due to sin of wrong intake, i.e. drugs, pornography.
• Repentance is linked to health according to James.
• Elders have a role in healing both spiritual and physical health.
• Sick people must desire to be well
• The anointing oil could mean
1. Medicine for healing,
2. Symbolic of the Holy Spirit, or
3. It could be baptism
• Prayer alone may not gain healing, faith is the major factor.
• In Greek there are several words for "sick". James uses "Kanino", which not only includes disease, but also means weak or weary.
• Attitude is important. James said, "are there any among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing psalms."
Step 5: Fast as a Statement of Faith to Others Daniel was making a statement of faith when he asked for only vegetables to eat and water to drink, then dared the overseer to compare the appearance of the four sons of Israel with the young men who ate the king's food.
Step 6: Learn the Effects of the Food You Eat Why are some foods good for us, and other foods not? What does certain food do to your body? If we really knew, there would likely be some things we would never eat again.
Step 7: Yield All Results to God Daniel said, "as you see fit, deal with your servants" (Dan. 1:13).
1. The king's food was against dietary laws.
2. Daniel and his friends had vowed against wine.
3. The king's food had been offered up to idols/demons.
Step 2: Fast as a Spiritual Commitment The Daniel Fast involves a spiritual commitment to God. "Daniel proposed in his heart that he would not defile himself" (Daniel 1:8).
Step 3: Reflect Inner Desire by Outer Discipline Many people have an inner desire for better health, but they can't discipline themselves to avoid junk food, and other foods that are not good for their health. The physical health you seek from God may be more than an answer to prayer. Your physical health can be linked to any of the following factors:
1. Your food choices.
2. The level of your spiritual commitment as reflected in constant prayer during the fast.
3. Your time commitment. If you determine to fast for a certain time, keep it. For example, if you determine to fast 10 days, don't stop on Day 9.
4. Your testimony commitment. Your fast is a statement of faith to God that you want Him to heal your body, and faith is foundational to the Daniel Fast.
Step 4: Pray to Perceive Sin's Role in Poor Health Notice James 5:13-16:
• Sin is something related to the cause of sickness.
• Lack of health/healing may be the result of spiritual rebellion.
• Lack of health/healing may be due to sin of wrong intake, i.e. drugs, pornography.
• Repentance is linked to health according to James.
• Elders have a role in healing both spiritual and physical health.
• Sick people must desire to be well
• The anointing oil could mean
1. Medicine for healing,
2. Symbolic of the Holy Spirit, or
3. It could be baptism
• Prayer alone may not gain healing, faith is the major factor.
• In Greek there are several words for "sick". James uses "Kanino", which not only includes disease, but also means weak or weary.
• Attitude is important. James said, "are there any among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing psalms."
Step 5: Fast as a Statement of Faith to Others Daniel was making a statement of faith when he asked for only vegetables to eat and water to drink, then dared the overseer to compare the appearance of the four sons of Israel with the young men who ate the king's food.
Step 6: Learn the Effects of the Food You Eat Why are some foods good for us, and other foods not? What does certain food do to your body? If we really knew, there would likely be some things we would never eat again.
Step 7: Yield All Results to God Daniel said, "as you see fit, deal with your servants" (Dan. 1:13).
Saturday, January 30, 2010
We Are Excited!
Church at the Park is a brand new church location right here in the RTP
Area! On February 7, 2010 we will be kicking off our new launch series
entitled "Dream Again." We are so excited about the impact it will have
on your life and the RTP community!
Area! On February 7, 2010 we will be kicking off our new launch series
entitled "Dream Again." We are so excited about the impact it will have
on your life and the RTP community!
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