As I was preparing to speak at the Preaching and Teaching conference and talk about “Church Planting is for Quitters” as was reading through 1st and 2nd Samuel. It was there that I was getting some amazing inspiration for being a church planter and leader from the lives of Saul, Jonathan, and David. So here is why I see that church planters are quitters and not quitting. (To know what I am talking about go read “Church Planting is for Quitters“.)
Church Planting means that you “Quit focusing on the numbers in the church & focus on the numbers outside the church.” In the story of Saul in 1 Samuel I read 13:8 and this came to life for me as a church planter:
8 Saul waited there seven days for Samuel, as Samuel had instructed him earlier, but Samuel still didn’t come. Saul realized that his troops were rapidly slipping away. (my emphasis)
Saul was so focused on his own troops that he was not able to see the great opportunity that was before him for God to do something amazing. That is why I believe that church planters quit focusing on the number in the church and focus on the number of people outside of the church. Phil Claycomb from Nexus shared this formula for what we are to focus on when it comes to the numbers that are important. (By the way I really suck at MATH.)
a – (b x 2c) = d
a = Population of an area, b = number of churches in the area, c = avg. church size (national average has been said to be 76),
d = number of people who are not in the church.
So church planters quit focusing on the number in the church and more on the outside of the church. Here is the statement that I have been hanging on, “Quit to continue and continue to quit.” If we are going to be the church that God has called us to be that is reaching our communities with the radical grace of Jesus we need to quit.
How are you learning to quit focusing on the number of people in the church and focusing those on the outside of the church?
March 4, 2013 | Categories: church planting | Tags: 1 Samuel, church planting, church size, math, Nexus, Ozark Christian College, Phil Claycomb, Preaching and Teaching Conference, quitters, Saul | Leave A Comment »
It amazes all the time to hear from so many men that they are not doing life with other guys that can speak into their lives. That men today feel that they are tough enough to be able to handle life on their own. One of the things that I have learned over the years is that I need to surround myself with men that are willing to fight. I need to surround myself with men that see that this life lived in a relationship with Christ needs the support of others that are see the need for a battle ready group. Here is a picture for us to look at when it comes to what kind of guys we need in our battle ready group:
1 Chron. 12:8 (NIV)
Some Gadites defected to David at his stronghold in the desert. They were brave warriors, ready for battle and able to handle the shield and spear. Their faces were the faces of lions, and they were as swift as gazelles in the mountains.
David was in the midst of a battle. Saul was hot on his trail and he need to surround himself with men that were battle ready. Well we need the same thing because whether you want to believe it or not there is an enemy and he is seeking to destroy you. So what made the men that are fighting with David so special? Well, just look at how they are described. Read the above verses again. These men are prepared for the fight that means that they have experience (older), these men carry the right weapons for battle (believers in Christ), these men with their faces alone show that they are not afraid of the battle (honorable warriors). The question that I have for you, “Do you have these type of men around you?” If you don’t then you need to find them because with out them you may just not be able to survive the battle. Go today and find the men that will fight with you the battle of life.
November 17, 2009 | Categories: Uncategorized | Tags: 1 Chronicles 12:8, battle, Christi, David, destroy, fighting, gazelles, group, Jesus, lions, men, Saul, shield, spear, stronghold, support | Leave A Comment »
I have been reading a lot lately both the bible as well as other books. But as I was reading there was one story that I thought was very amazing. In fact I was able to watch it be played out in a creative way in the TV show “Kings”. The show “Kings” was written to in a new and modern way paralell the story of King David. In fact my family and I really had a great time seeing how they would modernize the story of course there were things that we weren’t sure about but it made a great show. But it did a great job of showing how David struggled to follow King Saul and still honor who he as a Godly man.
Just like in the following verses:
1 Samuel 24:3-8 (NLT)
At the place where the road passes some sheepfolds, Saul went into a cave to relieve himself. But as it happened, David and his men were hiding in that very cave!
[4] “Now’s your opportunity!” David’s men whispered to him. “Today is the day the Lord was talking about when he said, ‘I will certainly put Saul into your power, to do with as you wish.’ ” Then David crept forward and cut off a piece of Saul’s robe.
[5] But then David’s conscience began bothering him because he had cut Saul’s robe. [6] “The Lord knows I shouldn’t have done it,” he said to his men. “It is a serious thing to attack the Lord’s anointed one, for the Lord himself has chosen him.” [7] So David sharply rebuked his men and did not let them kill Saul.
After Saul had left the cave and gone on his way, [8] David came out and shouted after him, “My lord the king!” And when Saul looked around, David bowed low before him.1 Samuel 24:3-8 (NLT) At the place where the road passes some sheepfolds, Saul went into a cave to relieve himself. But as it happened, David and his men were hiding in that very cave!
[4] “Now’s your opportunity!” David’s men whispered to him. “Today is the day the Lord was talking about when he said, ‘I will certainly put Saul into your power, to do with as you wish.’ ” Then David crept forward and cut off a piece of Saul’s robe.
[5] But then David’s conscience began bothering him because he had cut Saul’s robe. [6] “The Lord knows I shouldn’t have done it,” he said to his men. “It is a serious thing to attack the Lord’s anointed one, for the Lord himself has chosen him.” [7] So David sharply rebuked his men and did not let them kill Saul.
After Saul had left the cave and gone on his way, [8] David came out and shouted after him, “My lord the king!” And when Saul looked around, David bowed low before him.
First of all you have to love how the bible is very real. Saul went into the cave to take a (you know) and while he was exposed (physically and figuratively) David’s men encouraged him to kill Saul. But in that moment David had to make a decision. He could easily kill Saul and become king or he could take the long road to follow Gods planning. David chose to follow God’s plan for his life even though he knew that it would be difficult and could cost him greatly.
What decision do you need to think about that would be easy to make? What that do in the long run? I encourage you to take the time this week to pray and decide what are some decisions that you can make this week that will honor God in the long haul.
August 5, 2009 | Categories: Leadership Development, Uncategorized | Tags: David, decision making, following God, I Samuel, Jesus Christ, Kings, Leadership, Prayer, Saul, tough | 1 Comment »
