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What does God require? Not success, but faithfulness

As a church, we recently finished a series through the book of Acts. It’s easy to get …

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Two ways to drive our roots deep into the gospel

I’ve recently been reading a new book by Tim Keller, Walking with God Through Pain and Suffering. …

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Finding myself IN the Psalms

One phrase in a powerful sermon completely paralyzed me. Dr. Robert Smith Jr., who serves as …

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How to look at Christian miracles

I know a lot of people who really get tripped up by miracles in the Bible. …

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Stop assuming your neighbors are hostile to your faith

Some of the headlines are ominous. The value of religious liberty is on the decline. Many …

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Sending well: Deploying missionaries from your church

Like most churches, we got our start in church planting slowly. We partnered with several plants …

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Sending well: Developing missionaries in your church

“Lord of the harvest, please send workers! My community is ready…I just need help! In Jesus’ …

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Six ways to teach children about suffering

My oldest son just turned five, and this age is a joy. He understands the world …

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Sending Well: Discovering missionaries in your church

Twenty-six years ago something happened to me that I never anticipated. I found myself believing that …

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Seven things you might not learn in seminary: Part 2

We are talking about the hard parts of ministry [part 1] that you may not have …

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How to share the message of Christ with our neighbors

How in the world do we, as believers, carry out the Great Commission? Jesus wasn’t joking …

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How to understand your neighbor

I was born and raised in the southern part of the United States. South Carolina to …

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How To Write a Sympathy Card

The pen is in your hand, the card opened and yet you are paralyzed. What should …

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Seven things you might not learn in seminary: Part 1

When my husband and I married, we were packed and ready for seminary. I felt prepared …

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Demonizing your neighbor

When I was growing up, I loved watching “Mr. Rogers Neighborhood.” I loved the trolley that …

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The most frequently asked questions regarding race

The following post from Trillia Newbell’s blog gives great insight and wisdom as we continually learn to better …

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Methodology to aid a planter in understanding their context

Gaining an accurate understanding of context is critical to successfully plant a new church. Barry Whitworth …

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Knowing my Father’s heart

Several years ago, I was asked to share with a group of missionaries in Chili about …

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The Quiet Power of Kindness

Proverbs 31:26, “The law of kindness is on her tongue. . .” The Proverbs 31 woman …

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Knowing myself

We all have spiritual heroes. We admire these leaders God has placed in our path, even …

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Community requires vulnerability

For the first eight years of our ministry, I didn’t have a friend to my name. …

Community requires vulnerability Read More »

Send Network Orientation

https://vimeo.com/180065174,https://vimeo.com/180065174 Brotherhood, multiplication, and kingdom all in one three-day package. , Brotherhood, multiplication, and kingdom all …

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Stories from the frontlines: Dustin Nimmo

This week we interviewed three practitioners serving on the field as church planters. These are their …

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Entering the conversation about the racial divide

I grew up in a town stamped and molded by racial issues that were never discussed. …

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Stories from the front lines: Whitney Clayton

This week we interviewed three practitioners serving on the field as church planters. These are their …

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Finding freedom from your own expectations

If you are like most women, you are your own worst critic. Being hard on ourselves …

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Kingdom: building together

When Jesus begins His earthly ministry, He picks up right where John the Baptist left off—proclaiming …

Kingdom: building together Read More »

Why church planters need long-term vision

I’m always stunned by the mess kids can make. Give them 30 minutes alone in a …

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Understanding the economic divide in the Church

I had no understanding, prior to my life in ministry, that socioeconomic class is a powerful …

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Kingdom focused church planting

Have you ever missed something in conversation? You know, times when you’ve assumed something a person …

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The danger in entertaining lies

It would be convenient if Satan would show up as a talking snake. Then, we could …

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Multiplication: Planting churches

The New Testament describes the church’s relationship to Jesus as a marriage. This is a helpful …

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Multiplication: Developing leaders

In his letter to the Ephesians, the Apostle Paul has a lot to say. He speaks …

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When it’s better to be weak than strong

The following is a journal entry I wrote in May on Mother’s Day: Today was Mother’s …

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Multiplication: Making disciples

Disciple making is the foundation of church planting. If you want to lead your church to …

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How to battle discontent and despair

I have known the antagonism of discouragement. In early adulthood I was a newcomer to marriage …

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Brotherhood: God’s prayer for relationships

My phone usually pings around 7 a.m. on Sunday morning. The most recent one read: “Praying for …

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Brotherhood: bear burdens

Christians understand the necessity of burden-bearing relationships. We know that we are broken, sinful men and …

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Brotherhood: Giving encouragement

All ministry is hard and church planting is typically harder. Obstacles abound within the church planting …

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The emotions in a time of transition

Ron Edmonson’s website is rich with leadership and ministerial wisdom. This recent post on moving caught my eye as he …

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Myths of multiplication

After decades of methodological malpractice, we have so rationalized and contorted our understanding of Jesus’ Commission …

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The lost fruit of kindness

I made an observation recently, and found it interesting when a friend said something similar to …

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Five ways to engage: the campus

1. Reach students with depth. As we engaged the campus a generation or two ago, we …

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Five ways to engage: the suburbs

In recent years, increased attention has been given to the city centers of our world. This …

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How to support missionaries on the front lines

One of Christianity’s most compelling mission stories is that of William Carey, called “the father of …

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Five ways to engage: the city

1. Learn the city.Find the best sources for learning about your city. There are likely newspapers, …

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What I wish I had known about moving

Most of us in ministry will move several times during our careers and lifetimes. We will …

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Characteristics of a replanter: Spousal perseverance

Genesis 2:18, Proverbs 18:22, Ephesians 5:22-33 It is significant that of all the creatures Almighty God …

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Characteristics of a replanter: Emotional awareness

John 10:14-15 We have already observed how a replanter is a shepherd of souls when we …

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Characteristics of a replanter: tactical patience

Proverbs 25:15, Luke 8:15, Romans 8:15 The timeline for church replanters differ from church planters and …

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What I wish I’d known about friendship

As a young ministry wife, I was totally unprepared for the requisite sacrifice required of me …

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Characteristics of a replanter: resourceful generalist

Luke 12:41-48 In addition to all of the previously described burdens a church replanter voluntarily carriers, …

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Why you need to talk to your kids about race

“Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he …

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Characteristics of a replanter: multi-generational capacity

1 John 2:1-14, 1 Peter 2:5, 1 Timothy 4:12-6:2 The Body of Christ is a diverse …

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Characteristics of a replanter: affinity for legacy & history

Hebrews 13:7 Among many other duties, a replanter is one who leads a struggling congregation into …

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Characteristics of a replanter: Capacity to suffer

2 Corinthians 4:16-18 The task of a replanter is not an easy one. A replanter is …

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What I wish I had known about forgiving others

I never thought I had an issue with forgiveness. I mean, in my sheltered life, I’ve …

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Characteristics of a replanter: visionary shepherd

1 Peter 5:1-11 “Vision” has become somewhat of a buzzword in evangelical circles. Often, the word …

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Sending well: resourcing

“If you ever see a turtle on a fence post it is because someone put it …

Sending well: resourcing Read More »

Sending well: coaching

Barnabas is a hero to us coach-types. His nickname meant “son of encouragement” and was inspired …

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Sending well: training

Most major sports have preseason, mini-camps and two-a-days. But now that we are a little over …

Sending well: training Read More »

Our motivations matter

I’ll admit it…I care what people think about me. Oh, I talk a big game of …

Our motivations matter Read More »

9 ways to tell the difference between a prayer warrior and a gossip

I love reading anything Chuck Lawless writes. This insightful piece nails something we all know is true. Chuck …

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Planter Killers: Comfort

There are few things that will get you out of your comfort zone more than planting …

Planter Killers: Comfort Read More »

Planter Killers: Approval

For as long as I can remember, I’ve struggled with approval. The question, “What do people …

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How to manage power as a church planter

You will be your own boss. Starting a church is like starting a business. In the …

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Walking alongside the mom of a special needs child

My heart has been heavy for moms who walk that special path—one that seems mostly up …

Walking alongside the mom of a special needs child Read More »

Planter Killers: Control

People with a natural passion and ability to keep plants alive are said to have a …

Planter Killers: Control Read More »

Send Relief: Meeting Needs

In Tuesday’s post, we discussed identifying the needs of your community. Recognizing opportunities to show mercy …

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Send Relief: Identify Needs

Needs are all around us. Some are obvious and overwhelmingly urgent, such as a crisis situation. …

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Send Relief: Introduction

A growing trend in evangelical circles is the emphasis on being socially conscious, which includes caring …

Send Relief: Introduction Read More »

Be mean about the vision

Be mean about the vision. Wondering what I’m talking about, today? Vision. Tenacity. Determination. The ability …

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Preacher Notes: Noah Oldham

I know different planters and pastors have different strategies for the ministry of the Word–topical or …

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Preacher Notes: Dean Inserra

When we first started City Church, we had one weekly worship gathering. I would have a …

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Lessons learned from Amy Carmichael

While looking through some old books recently, I happened across a beloved Christian classic, one I …

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Why family stories are important in ministry

Stories stick. People remember them. Let’s not kid ourselves both as parents and leaders. We may …

Why family stories are important in ministry Read More »

Why Multiply? It Is Beneficial

When an effective church planter engages a community, he has an internal and compelling urgency directed …

Why Multiply? It Is Beneficial Read More »

The city needs christians to dwell in its midst

Living in the city is hard. There are more inconveniences and risks. It’s a fact. (Why …

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Is multiplying biblical?

Our English word church comes from a Greek word ekklesia meaning, “the called-out ones.” The normative pattern in Acts showed …

Is multiplying biblical? Read More »

The life-preserving comfort of a godly friend

“When we arrived in Macedonia there was no rest for us. Outside there was conflict from …

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