The Work of a Planter: Plant Team

Over the next few weeks, we'll discuss the work of a church planter.  We'll talk about the developmental steps from concept to "launch" and even to sending out from your body of believers to plant another church.

When we consider the work of a church planter, we quickly realize that the work is tough.  Not only is the work tough, but it can also be very solitary.  Many young planters take off with only their family and their passion, two great things to be sure, but might they be better prepared if they had a team?

Team ministry is very common in North America.  Many churches have a preaching pastor and a youth minister.  Sometimes a worship leader is part of the team as well.  The issue for church plants is that they often do  not have the funds to plant with with more than one paid staff position.  And truthfully, that staff position is almost always part-time until a large enough tithe base is built up.

Often church planters must rely on members of a plant team to provide the team aspects of their ministry at their plant site.  A team not only provides support and encouragement for the planter and his family, they also allow the planter to delegate certain tasks so that his time can be more devoted to prayer, the Word, and the mission of gathering God’s lost sheep from the city.

In developing a team, a planter must be very clear about the non-negotiable aspects of his vision for the church God has called him to plant.  It is true enough that this may scare some team members off, but we must remember that a unified team (think John 17) is going to be more effective and more supportive of one another...even if it is slightly smaller.  In church planting teams, quality trumps quantity every time.

A second consideration is gifting.  A planter who is administratively challenged may need to seek out a team member who has some administrative gifting.  A team member who is musically gifted AND theologically astute can be a great asset for a church plant.  The truth is that no planter, in and of himself, is gifted in every area for ministry.  We all need help and support from the people that God has put into our lives and into the lives of our church.  These are the ones who will stir US up toward love and good works.

So, planters should be praying for their team members (even before you know who they are).  Pray that the Lord would give you wisdom in recruiting and humility in your evaluations of what you need to enhance your ministry abilities.  Those who are not called to plant should pray about their involvement in future plants.  If we really believe that the local church is God’s vehicle for spreading his fame from neighbors to nations, we should be supportive of biblically faithful church planting endeavors.  Sometimes that means finances, but for team members, it’s time and willingness to follow the Lord out on a limb...in all Judea and Samaria, and to the very ends of the earth!

Soli Deo Gloria

Planting Sites and Links

Today I'd like to share some links that I think are helpful.  


Church Planting Village is the North American Mission Board's primary planting site.  It's a great place to learn how you can help partner with current planters through the cooperative baptist systems that are already in place.  Through the Cooperative Program of the Southern Baptist Convention many church planters are supported and resourced throughout the world.


The North American Mission Board website is a great place to keep up with the work of the SBC specifically in North America.  Linked on that site, the Send North America information is very informative and was a key resource in forming the Justification of Church Planting document posted earlier.


The Resurgence is a site that is full of resources for planters and pastors.  


9 Marks is a great site for pastors and laymen.  A biblical theology drives their authors and a desire to see biblically faithful churches is something that resonates with us here at Neighbors to Nations.


Finally, Desiring God is one of my favorite sites on the web.  Not only do you have access to articles and sermons by John Piper for the past several decades, you also have access to any book produced by Desiring God ministries for FREE in pdf format.


I hope you find these sites edifying.


Soli Deo Gloria

Qualified to Plant Part 4: Instructor and Defender of the Faith

Our final post in the series on the qualifications of a pastor/planter will deal with Titus 1:9.  It is interesting that Paul now shifts from character qualifications to some competency considerations.  Of course, at the root of the competency is the commitment to the Word which could certainly be considered a character trait.  Paul writes:

He must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it. (Titus 1:9)

So the qualified planter must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught.  There is so much truth in this clause.  My eye is first drawn to Paul's declaration that what he has taught to Titus and Timothy has been trustworthy.  Just as the Lord taught it to Paul, Paul has taught the men that he sent out to shepherd the churches.  The theological term for what Paul is referring to is apostolic authority.  That means that those who were taught by Christ have been given authority to deliver His words to the Church.  This was one of the three qualifications for canonization.

Paul is concerned that they hold firmly to the trustworthy word AS TAUGHT.  Back then, just like today, there were men who were diverging from the Gospel in many different ways.  Many taught that righteousness was achieved through works of the law.  Some taught that there was a higher or hidden knowledge that was required to understand the text.  Paul is saying that what he said was trustworthy exactly as he said it.  Many of his letters are written to combat regional heresies.  In Galatians he writes:

I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel--not that there is another one, but there are some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed. For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ. (Galatians 1:6-10).

The Gospel must be held firm because it will be attacked.  It was attacked in the first century and it is attacked today.  The Gospel is scandalous to the watching world because we're saved not of works and effort, but of faith and grace.  The hero dies for the villains.  We are totally dependent upon Him for our salvation and sanctification.  The Gospel obliterates the self-centeredness that society (then and now) thrives upon.  

So a qualified pastor/planter will be able to uphold the Gospel even through attacks.  And the end goal?  He'll be able to teach those under his care.  It's not enough to grasp sound doctrine, an overseer must be able to instruct in sound doctrine.  This is integral in the development and maturity of Christians at ever stage of their walk.  We are to be constantly delving into the depths of the text and our guide on this journey is a biblically qualified pastor.  A high calling with great responsibility to be sure.  And when the attacks come, the pastor/planter is able to defend right doctrine and edify those in his care.  When public attacks are made, public defenses are necessary.  This is a task for which the Lord, in His grace, equips His children.

For a refresher on the Gospel: What is the Gospel?

For a great discussion on how the Gospel is to be defended, please see Albert Mohler's A Call for Theological Triage and Maturity.

May the Lord bless us as we strive to hold fast to the trustworthy word, teach sound doctrine, and defend the faith.

Soli Deo Gloria

Qualified to Plant Part 3: Vices and Virtues

 In our last entry, we discussed the vital importance of home management for someone who aspires to be a pastor.  Clearly, the pastor must be a faithful man with faithful children.  In today’s portion of the Titus text, we’ll examine some of the personal attributes of a pastor, but first we must see why Paul believes the home management of a pastor is so important.

For an overseer, as God’s steward, must be above reproach (Titus 1:7a).

“Above reproach” came in loud and clear in part one of this series and the home management aspect of being above reproach certainly makes sense, but here Paul tells us why it is so important.  The man who pastors becomes the steward or manager of God’s people and resources.  If a man is unable to manage his own family and resources, it is a good indication that he will not be a wise steward with God’s. 

What follows is a list of vices to be avoided and virtues to be possessed.  We must remember that this all falls under the heading of being above reproach.  It is good to desire to be a pastor.  Those who have that desire must be marked as above reproach.  That means that they are faithful to their wives and they have faithful children.  It also means that they avoid the following:

He must not be arrogant or quick-tempered or a drunkard or violent or greedy for gain (Titus 1:7b).

This list, while not exhaustive, sets out some clear excluding characteristics.  The list isn’t shocking to anyone who has read the Scripture.  Pride, greed, drunkenness, and (unrighteous) anger are condemned elsewhere.  Clearly anyone whose life could be characterized by any of these vices would be disqualified.  But I think Paul is giving us more than a list of “do’s and don’ts”.

As a pastor, when I look at this list, I am not looking at it as something to hand a search committee or a rubric for evaluating potential employees, but as a list of sins that are tempting for someone who is in a steward’s position over God’s resources.  Anyone who has ever preached a sermon, even an awful sermon, knows how quickly the approval of men can foster pride and arrogance.  Where pride is allowed to thrive, the other vices follow quickly.  Proud people are entitled people.  Entitled people get angry when they don’t get what they want.  When anger is unchecked, it can easily lead to violence.  Entitled people are also given to the self-indulgence that leads to drunkenness and greed.  When we begin to boast (externally or internally) in anything other than the cross, we’re dealing in idolatry. May it never be!

Thankfully, Paul doesn’t just tell us what is wrong, but what is right.  We’re not legalistically going through a list and patting ourselves on the back if we pass the test.  We are striving to be the kind of man that as accurately as possible reflects the glory of the Father to the world around us and leads and guides the Father’s people in spreading His fame to the ends of the earth.  What does that man look like?

…but hospitable, a lover of good, self-controlled, upright, holy, and disciplined (Titus 1:8).

Pride gives way to hospitality.  Greed yields for the good of others.  Drunkenness and violence are swallowed up by disciplined, self-controlled holiness.  We’re not this way by nature, but we are no longer left to our natural devices.  By the grace of God, the man of God gently and kindly loves the people of God sacrificially.  He strives for their good and relies upon the grace of God to humbly remain above reproach.  It’s a tall order, but we have a great God!

Soli Deo Gloria

Qualified to Plant Part 2: A Faithful Man with Faithful Children

In discussing the qualifications of a pastor, the text we’ll discuss today has often raised quite a few questions.  While the overarching message is clear enough, the details (and who they may disqualify) can dominate discussion on these two passages.   Let’s take a look at the passage in question:

if anyone is above reproach, the husband of one wife, and his children are believers and not open to the charge of debauchery or insubordination. Titus 1:6

Let’s begin with the “husband of one wife”.  At the very least, this rules out polygamists.  Polygamy was practiced at the time of this letter.  Evangelicals are somewhat divided on whether or not this text rules out one who has been divorced.  If it does, it is the only description that deals with a past offense.  Further, there are other ways that Paul could have clearly ruled out those who have been divorced, yet he chose this language.  Each church must search the Word and pray for guidance as they work through this issue.

I do not wish to evade the issue presented above.  I have my personal feelings, but I think our time is better spent examining what it means, biblically to be a husband.  Ephesians 5 shows us that husbands are to love their wives as Christ loved the Church.  We are exhibit patient, compassionate, leading, and sacrificial love to our wives.  We are to point our wives to the Father and disciple them into greater knowledge and affection for God.  We are to put their spiritual well being ahead of our personal comfort or safety.  These are no small tasks and the calling to be an elder is no small calling.

The other hotly debated topic is whether or not the children of elders have to be saved.  In 1^st Timothy 3, the term for “believing” is not used.  There the elder is to have children who are submissive and well managed.  It should be noted that the word translated “believing” can just as easily be translated faithful which would seem to support the overall idea in 1^st Timothy 3.  Even in Titus, Paul further explains “believing” as those who are not open to the charge of debauchery or insubordination.  Lastly, the term used here for children in the Greek is reserved for those children who are still living in the home of the Father.  At least, a qualified elder must have children who are faithful and subordinate.  And why? For if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for God’s church? (1^st Timothy 3:5).

So the picture of a biblically qualified elder is that of a faithful husband with faithful children.  In our culture faithful usually means monogamous.  In our text today, it means so much more than that.  Fidelity is more than sexual commitment (though it is not less).  A faithful man loves his wife sacrificially and takes her spiritual and emotional well being seriously.  He is an intentional father who intends to raise his children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.  These tasks are fundamental for the man of God.  May we all endeavor to be faithful.

Soli Deo Gloria

Qualified to Plant Part 1: Above Reproach

In previous posts, we’ve discussed the popularity of church planting.  Major denominations and networks in the evangelical world are turning their attention to planting in an effort to spread the Gospel.  I think that’s great.  The heightened awareness of planting has resulted in a higher number of men wondering whether or not planting is for them.  At the same time, there are many organizations that would like to put support (financially and otherwise) behind men who are called and equipped for the work of church planting. 

In the following series, we would like to put together the profile of a good church-planting candidate.  In our estimation a church planter MUST be a qualified pastor first and foremost.  Now, it is true that there may be qualified pastors who would not be great church planters, but a great church planter must be a qualified pastor.  This conviction directs us to the qualifications for edlers/overseers/pastors in Titus and 1 Timothy.

In both passages Paul describes an elder as above reproach.  In part one of this series, we’ll try to delve into the meaning of this phrase.  In 1 Timothy 3:2-3, Paul writes, “Therefore an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, hospitable, able to teach, not a drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money.”  In Titus, we read many of the same things while Paul is describing the elders he wishes to appoint in every town.  He writes, “—if anyone is above reproach, the husband of one wife, and his children are believers and not open to the charge of debauchery or insubordination.”

One thing that struck me is where my mind goes when I read “above reproach”.  Where does your mind go?  It’s likely that being above reproach may mean more than what popped into your head, but it’s unlikely that it means less.

Paul goes on to further explain what he means by “above reproach”, but I think there is value in evaluating our gut reaction to the phrase.  We’re all keenly aware of how we’re viewed.  A qualified church planter is a man who understands that he is a public representative of Christ is a lost and dying world.  As such, conducting oneself as “above reproach” is a necessity.  That may mean restraining certain freedoms for the benefit of a weaker brother. 

What else might it mean?  We’ll dig further into being “above reproach” in the following posts.

Soli Deo Gloria

He is risen indeed! Now what?

 The celebration of the resurrection of Christ has come and gone.  We mourn and celebrate the great injustice that left our King dead, but saved us, on Friday and Saturday.  We joyously celebrate our King’s return on Sunday.  But what are we to do on Monday and thereafter?

There are many texts in the Scripture that inform the “now what” of the resurrection, but one of my favorites has always been Romans 12:1-2.  Paul has just given an astounding account of redemptive history in the first 11 chapters culminating in this great ending in 11:36: For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be glory forever. Amen.  That is exactly how I felt after our resurrection day services yesterday.  I was awestruck by the grace of God and the overwhelming admiration of what Christ accomplished on the Cross.  Now, we need what follows.

Therefore, I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual act of worship. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.

In light of God’s faithfulness to us from creation to Abraham to David to Christ, here is what we are to do:

1. Submit our bodies as living sacrifices to God.

2. Don’t be conformed to the world, but be transformed by the renewing of our minds.

And the power for these two monumental tasks…the mercies of God.  God mercifully makes us alive in Christ so that we may love and serve him, expanding his kingdom as we preach the gospel to the lost.  When we sacrifice ourselves to God as an act of worship, His priorities become our priorities.  We no longer strive for the things we, in our flesh, want most, but we strive to bring Him glory.

As we regularly prioritize the things of God above our desires and pleasures, the Spirit not only gives us the power to change the priorities, but he renews our mind.  As we kill our desires and flesh, we embrace His desires.  His priorities become our priorities not out of obligation, but out of love and worship.

So what are we to do on post resurrection Monday?   We are to worship our Savior by giving ourselves to His mission.  We have been purchased, set apart, chosen, to live holy lives, which honor Christ and bring Him glory.

May the Spirit empower us to do just that.

Soli Deo Gloria