#317 - OUR MAIN THING

Because the gospel is endlessly rich, it can handle the burden of being the one “main thing” of a church. -Tim Keller

As a church planter, one of my distinct roles is to lead the formation and development of our church’s culture.

In other words, I have the responsibility of deciding the behaviors that our church will value and the behaviors that our church won’t value. It is up to me to determine the things that our church will be known for and it is up to me to make sure we avoid the things that our church won’t be known for.

And the options and labels are plenty.

Missional. Attractional. Organic. Biblical. Acts 2. Purpose-Driven. Seeker-sensitive. Spirit-filled. Discipleship-focused. Relevant. Modern. Creative. Hipster. Contemporary. Traditional. Affirming. Accepting. Open. Inviting. Multi-Cultural. Multi-Generational. Family-friendly. Cutting-edge. Etc.

But as great as many of the above labels are. I’ve settled on a different one.

Gospel-Motivated.

I am convicted and compelled to lead our church in such a way that everyprogram we run, every initiative we back and every service we provide must be a result of and a response to our faith in the glorious Good News thatJesus Christ came into the world to save sinners. (1 Timothy 1:15)

Why? Because I am convinced…

A true Gospel root bears quality Gospel fruit.

It is only by recognizing what Jesus has already done, that we can faithfully do what He wants us to do. It is only by realizing who we already are in Christ, that we can freely become more like Christ. It is only by receiving what God already achieved for us, that we can fully achieve for God.

Our motivation for loving is because, through Christ, God loved. Our motivation for giving is because, through Christ, God gave. Our motivation for sacrificing is because, through Christ, God sacrificed. Our motivation for forgiving is because, through Christ, God forgave.

It is for this reason that, as it relates to the “main thing” or foundation thattheMOVEMENT is going to be built upon, I am “betting the farm” on the depth, width and breadth of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

When it comes to the gospel, I am “all-in.” And I sure hope it pays off because this gospel is not only the motivation of this church…it is the motivation of my life.

What is the “main thing” in your line of work?

#316 - 3 TRAPS I MUST AVOID

As I set out to plant the church that I believe God has called me to plant, I must be careful to avoid the following traps that I will be prone to fall into:

The Comparison Trap. I must plant the church that God has called me to plant, and I must be the pastor that God has called me to be. I can learn from and be inspired by other churches and pastors, but I cannot let what they are doing or experiencing be the ultimate measuring stick for my success. I must define my success as a church planter by how obedient I am being to what God is calling me to do.

The Church-olatry Trap. I must keep Jesus first. Jesus is my God and I shall have no other gods but Him — ministry included. The attendance, the offerings, the testimonies — these things cannot be the source of my joy. Though these things may be good and of God, the moment my source of fulfillment is found in them, they have become my idol.

The Celebrity Trap. I must focus on making Jesus the hero. I am not planting a church to make a name for myself. I am not planting a church to build a platform for my agenda. I am not planting a church to extend my kingdom. I am planting a church to extend the Kingdom of God on earth. If what I am doing in leading the church becomes a greater focus than what Christ is doing in building the church, I have failed.

What traps must you avoid in your vocation?

#315 - 3 WAYS I KNEW I WAS CALLED

Though I avoided my call to plant a church for some time, the following three incidences confirmed my call to plant and gave me the confidence I needed to pursue the call boldly:

Spouse Cooperation. My wife lovingly agreed to the call. She looked me in the eyes and stated that she knew that this was God’s call on my life and that she didn’t want to miss out on God’s great plan for our lives. That day is a day I will never forget.

Pastor Affirmation. Several pastors I respect affirmed my call. They told me that I had the gifting and making of a church planter and affirmed that I would be able to plant a successful church. They also said they would support the church plant in any way that they could. Those were very empowering days.

Team Formation. Six dear friends committed their lives to the call. When three different couples said they were all-in, when I could make them no promises at all, my heart was filled with joy. On those three separate days that each couple committed, I knew that God had already began to build His church.

What circumstances, experiences or incidences confirmed your “calling” into your vocation?