Why I Engage in the SBC: D.A. Horton
This past SBC annual meeting After the conclusion of the last session at this past SBC …
Resources for Leadership
Whitney Clayton: Why engage in the Southern Baptist Church?
Two and a half years ago, a meeting with a friend led to one of the …
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Matt Rogers: Why engage in the Southern Baptist Church?
Yesterday, my friend Jeremy Westbrook shared two compelling reasons why many pastors should partner with the …
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Why I engage in the SBC: Jeremy Westbrook
Growing up in Memphis, Tennessee, also known as the heart of the Bible belt, I had …
Planting, and then pastoring that church in the years that follow, is an ever-shifting role that …
Five years after being planted, Valley Life Church has given birth to three other churches, which …
When I think about the things I wish I would’ve known prior to launching WALK Church …
Qualifications for a church planter: Part 2
In part one, I indicated how Jeff Foxworthy has entertained audiences across North America by poking …
Qualifications for a church planter: Part 1
Jeff Foxworthy is a nationally recognized comedian who combines Southern charm with a touch of soft …
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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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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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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Why church planters need long-term vision
I’m always stunned by the mess kids can make. Give them 30 minutes alone in a …
Multiplication: Developing leaders
In his letter to the Ephesians, the Apostle Paul has a lot to say. He speaks …
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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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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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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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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“If you ever see a turtle on a fence post it is because someone put it …
There are few things that will get you out of your comfort zone more than planting …
For as long as I can remember, I’ve struggled with approval. The question, “What do people …
How to manage power as a church planter
You will be your own boss. Starting a church is like starting a business. In the …
People with a natural passion and ability to keep plants alive are said to have a …
Discipleship is messy because our lives are messy. One size certainly doesn’t fit all. How can …
What discipleship is Christian discipleship is what happens when people live daily with Jesus. Jesus drew incredible, …
Developing leaders to multiply the ministry
One of the reasons developing leaders is so critical for a church is the multiplying result. …
Yesterday I was talking to a good friend about his next ministry assignment and what is …
Wise leaders understand the importance of words. They grasp the importance of language in describing the …
Nine Ways To “Pay” Your Volunteers
I recently spent some time with long-time pastor Steve Stroope, who’s been in the ministry now …
When You are Sick of Saying It, Your Leaders Have Just Heard It
The following is a modified excerpt from Gaining by Losing: Why the Future Belongs to Churches that …
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Church Discipline: The Outcome of Church Discipline
THE OUTCOME OF CHURCH DISCIPLINE As we have faithfully practiced discipline as a body, we are …
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A Process for Multiplying Disciples
By Jeff Christopherson We like to say to “make disciple-making disciples” to inspire a vision for …
Church Discipline: The Process of Church Discipline
The elders of The Austin Stone have studied, prayed and labored over the process of discipline …
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Generosity: Building a Generous Church
Encouraging generosity in the church is a matter I believe I can speak to because it …
John Bunyan once said, “You have not lived today until you have done something for someone …
What to consider when hiring and firing team members
“We need him at the table! He has got to go!” The following post is a …
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How to build a team of volunteers for your church
You’re a church planter and have answered the call, raised the money and launched with a …
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Qualities of a senior pastor: Boss or friend?
One question that rarely gets asked in church leadership is whether the senior pastor, as the …
Team Matters: Conflict Dynamics
Imagine a world without conflict. Two political candidates bound onto the stage in front of a …
How to fund a church planting team
My son wants to be a professional soccer player when he grows up. For several years …
Why gender diversity is mission critical for your plant
One of the best moves I ever made as a young church planter was seeing the …
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Choosing your church planting team
Two summers ago, another pastor and I landed on Knoxville, Tennessee as our city for planting …
Kingdom First: Leading God’s People
The Apostle Paul, gave this charge to the Ephesian church leadership: “Pay careful attention to yourselves …
Why Give To The Cooperative Program
Do not, under any circumstances, give your money to the Cooperative Program (CP). Seriously. I mean …
“I wanted to change the world, but I couldn’t find a babysitter,” said a mother. Motherhood …
10 Ways to Drive Away First-Time Guests
If you attend a church regularly, you’ve probably noticed the phenomenon. A guest shows up for …
Ten Unique Challenges of Ministry
In an earlier post I wrote that seminary cannot prepare anyone to be a pastor. Only a church, …
10 Tips to Becoming a More Productive Pastor
The work of pastoral ministry is a joy, but it’s also demanding. Every pastor is on …
Send Network: What is the vision of Midtown Fellowship? Allen Tipping:Our vision statement is, “A Jesus-centered …
Make Your Church Adoption-Friendly
When I pastored Highview Baptist in Louisville my friend David Melber and his wife, Tera, started …
Sending Church – Commissioning
When you begin to rattle off the names of the great characters of the Bible, there …
We’ve all heard the epitaph of the Church Planting Graveyard…80% of church plants fail in the …
SENDING Church: How to Prepare Your Planter
One of the most often asked questions from pastors who have never planted is, “what do …
Many churches admit they’re hesitant to get involved with church planting because they believe the failure …
Challenges to being a sending church
There’s a missions thread that runs through Taylors First Baptist Church. Launched at the time of …
5 Reasons Why I Want My Husband to Have a Coach
Coaching Reflections from a Church Planting Wife By Heather Bond I am a church planting wife. …
This week Jeddidiah Coppenger shared five ways to lead a local church towards effective engagement in …
How to create a culture of international missions
I love shortcuts. Whether it’s a hidden road to get to work 30 seconds faster, some …
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How to identify and recruit team members
The question I get most often from church planters is: Where do I find people for …
Characteristics of a healthy team
One of the first fears many church planters face is finding people for their team. You …
Understanding context when planting a new church
Gaining an accurate understanding of context is critical to successfully plant a new church. Barry Whitworth, …
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Counseling tools: Recoverig from addiction
The Darkness Runs Deep I’ve done recovery ministry for six years, and it didn’t take long for …
Counseling Tools: Premarital Plan
For almost a decade I’ve been pastoring a church plant in the heart of downtown Columbia, …
Radically Unprepared I was in the 10th grade when I had my first real brush with …
Porn wreaks havoc on every church. Some people cower in shame and fear, hoping that they …
Addictions are typically associated with alcohol and drug abuse, but when we dig deep into the …
Counseling Tools – The Pastor as Counselor
I imagine you or someone you know has said or thought one of the following statements …
Planting healthy: The gift of rest
The Lord gives good gifts. Few people would likely disagree with this claim. He gives love, …
It has been said that pride is the original and underlying issue for any sin—a willful …
Six surprising traits of effective pastors
I have looked at characteristics of effective pastorsfrom different perspectives over the past few years. But this …
7 helpful tips for using social media for church
Organizations across the world have integrated social media into their culture at a breathtaking rate. I …
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How to Create an Online Presence
Never has there been easier ways for local churches to get their messages out to more …
How to Brand Your Church Plant
I think most of us would agree that a logo is far from the most important …
Nuts and Bolts – Constitution and Bylaws
Is there any less desirable task for a church planter than writing a Constitution and Bylaws? …
Details, details, details. There are people for whom details come naturally. I am not one of …