4 Obstacles To Church Planting And The Myths Behind Them

Occasionally, I experience difficulty hearing due to an accumulation of earwax obstructing my ear canal. It is an annoying hindrance that limits my hearing in the physical sense. Thankfully, my wife Carolyn is an RN and helps me by extracting the blockage. The result is I am able to hear well again.

CC Image courtesy of Justin Brown on Flickr

In a similar way, Christians can have their spiritual hearing blocked through “spiritual wax buildup” resulting in incorrect mindsets. The world, the flesh, and the devil all reduce our ability to hear God’s call.

Our hearing can be blocked from God’s call to fulfill the “Great Commission” (Matthew 28:19-20).

“He, who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” (Revelation 2:7 NIV)

Here are 4 common obstacles to hearing the call to church planting and the myths behind them:

1. We must be Successful

The world, the flesh and the devil tell us:

• You must be successful

• You must never fail

• You tried it before and it flopped

But in the Book of Acts, as Paul and Barnabas set out to plant new churches, they had:

Three immediate church planting failures (in Salamis, Paphos and Perga, see Acts 13:1-13), before one success (in Antioch of Pisidia Acts 13:14 and 14:21-23)Great opposition and persecution.Strife and division (Acts 15:39)

Success in church planting is: “Sharing the Good News with a view to starting new churches in the power of the Holy Spirit and leaving the results to God.” (This is an adaption of Bill Bright’s definition of evangelism.)

We don’t have to always be “successful,” just faithful.

2. God can use Other Ways

We live in a day of fantastic evangelistic advances such as:

• The internet which is being used by ministries such as Global Media Outreach to lead multitudes to Christ

• Printing presses which churn out Bibles at amazing rates

• Christian radio and television

But Jesus said, “I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.” (Matthew 16:18)

While other ministries are significant, Jesus clearly wants to build His church.

Planting local churches is vital because:

• Evangelism without discipleship is “Hit and Run” evangelism. We are called to make disciples or learners and followers. The goal is disciples, not just decisions.

• Discipleship happens best in churches.

This is why Dr. Peter Wagner and others agree that, “The single most effective evangelistic methodology under heaven is the planting of new churches.”

God gives no better method to fulfill the “Great Commission” than planting new churches.

3. We can’t Afford it

This is another lie that Satan wants us to believe. Scripture tells us that he is called, “…a liar and the father of lies.” (John 8:44)

It is normal to question whether we should plant churches out of our own church, and wonder what we will receive back from our investment. It does cost us:

• Financial expenses

• People leaving in order to plant the church

• Time and work

But in Revelation 2:19 (NIV) Jesus says, “I know your deeds, your love and faith, your service and perseverance, and that you are now doing more than you did at first.”

Jesus knows our sacrifices and He is the one worth pleasing.

People come to faith in Christ in new church plants and that is what really matters.

It actually costs too much NOT to plant churches.

4. God can use Someone Else

Isaiah said, “Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?” And I said, “Here am I. Send me!” (Isaiah 6:8 NIV)

God wants to write many more eternal stories and all Christians are called:

• Some are called to GO

• Some are called to SEND

Jesus calls us to a radical commitment: “Then he said to them all, ‘If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.’” (Luke 9:23 NIV)

Take up your cross = death to self!Deny yourself!Follow Jesus!

Pray and ask God if He wants you to be one who goes or one who sends others.

God calls some to plant churches and others to give financial, prayer and other support. The bottom line? Ask God and do whatever He tells you to do to help with church planting.

5 Outstanding Qualities Of True Friends And How To Be One

In 1981, Carolyn and I moved to Vista, California to start a new church. Through mutual friends we met Phil and Virginia Feliciano and asked them to pray about joining us as founding members.

CC Image courtesy of Jose Tellez on Flickr

They prayed and made a commitment. Soon we met in their living room with 13 people for the first Sunday of our church.

The next three years proved to be quite challenging as conflicts erupted and many left the small church. However, the Feliciano’s remained faithful. I would not have blamed them if they had left. But, they kept their commitment and in time the church grew. What faithful friends they were.

They stayed until Virginia died and Phil moved away almost thirty years later.  

We are more connected than ever through the internet and social media. Yet many live lonely, isolated lives. God created us to be relational yet it seems that true friendship is uncommon.

Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 says “Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work: if one falls down, his friend can help him up. But, pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up!”

Friends pick each other up and strengthen each other. The lonely and friendless have a distinct disadvantage.

But how can we develop true friendships? The best way is to be a true friend, like Barnabas whose remarkable friendship qualities are recorded in Scripture.

Here are five qualities of true friends we can learn from the life of Barnabas and apply:

1. Be an Encourager

“One of the believers was named Joseph. The apostles called him Barnabas (this name means ‘one who encourages.’) He was a Levite, born in Cyprus. His real name was Joseph but he was called Barnabas which means “one who encourages.” (Acts 4:36 NCV)

Barnabas had a reputation and was therefore nicknamed “the encourager.”

Like him, God wants us to encourage others: “Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another.” (Hebrews 10:25)

People crave encouragement. If we encourage sincerely, we will make friends and be a great friend.

2. See Potential in Others and Reach Out

When the great Apostle Paul first became a Christian it was Barnabas who introduced him to the other apostles (Acts 9:26-27). They were afraid because Paul had been a well-known persecutor of Christians. Barnabas believed in Paul’s potential, befriended him and vouched for his transformed life.

Great friends see the potential, the good, and the reasons to believe in others. They reach out in friendship.

3. Share Generously

Barnabas was remarkably generous: “Joseph [Barnabas] owned a field. He sold it and brought the money, and gave it to the apostles.” (Acts 4:37 NCV)

Barnabas realized a need and responded sacrificially. Imagine selling a piece of property and giving all of the funds to others. That’s what he did.

“While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, ‘Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.’ So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off.” (Acts 13:2-3 NIV)

This first missionary trip began the spread of the Gospel westward. Barnabas, along with Paul, sacrificed by leaving his familiar surroundings and suffering hardships and persecution so that others could learn about Jesus.

Many reading this article are part of this heritage of the spread of the Gospel westward. We are eventual beneficiaries of Barnabas’ generously by sacrificially spreading the Gospel!

“For he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a great many people were added to the Lord.” (Acts 11:24 ESV)

4. Put Friends First

In Acts 13 when Barnabas and Saul first set out on their journey, it is clear that Barnabas was the missionary team leader. His name is mentioned first. He had been Paul’s mentor and he led the way.

However starting in Acts 13:13 Paul’s name comes first and that order continues through the rest of the account.

Barnabas willingly took second place as he recognized the leadership gifting of his mentee Paul. He exhibited true grace and humility.

In his famous book How to Win Friends and Influence People, Dale Carnegie wrote six practical actions for being a great friend by putting others first:

• Become genuinely interested in other people

• Smile

• Remember a person’s name and use it

• Listen well and encourage others to talk about themselves

• Talk in terms of the other person’s interest

• Make the other person feel important—and do it sincerely

5. Be Faithful Even when it Costs You Greatly

Eventually Paul and Barnabas went their separate ways in ministry (see Acts 15:36-41). Interestingly, they parted company over Barnabas’ insistence on welcoming back a missionary team deserter named John Mark.

Barnabas’ faithfulness as a friend to John Mark cost him his friendship with Paul.

Was such faithfulness the right thing to do? Yes, as proven by the fact that later John Mark once again assisted Paul in ministry (see 2 Timothy 4:11) and wrote one of the four Gospels, the Gospel of Mark!

Which of these five qualities do you want to put into practice today? (You can comment below.)

How To Find Confidence In A Critical World And Stay Humble

While completing my college studies many years ago, I wanted to obey God’s call to enter ministry but lacked the confidence to do so. My roommate’s father was Dr. George Sweeting, president of the Moody Bible Institute in Chicago. I decided to ask for a meeting with Dr. Sweeting to get his advice.

Dr. George Sweeting

We discussed several areas that I might pursue but the most important one to me was ministry. That is what I wanted to do, however my feelings of insecurity resulted in indecision.

During that lunch, Dr. Sweeting addressed my concerns and gave me confidence that I needed to move forward. I am so thankful for his mentoring that day.

I know I am not alone in insecurity. The great Apostle Paul also felt insecure, apprehensive, self-doubting, and unsure of himself. He wondered if he was competent to spread the Gospel message.

He viewed himself as “the chief of sinners” (1 Timothy 1:15). He severely regretted his former persecution of the followers of Jesus.

Feelings of insecurity, inadequacy and incompetence are all part of being human. And living in a sometimes criticizing world can cause us to have adverse reactions if we allow it.

These feelings can result from crises such as:

• Losing a job

• Unfulfilled goals and dreams

• A health scare

• Rejection

• Loss of a loved one

• Fear of public speaking

Here are 2 ways that we can overcome a lack of confidence:

1. Identify Confidence Busters

When we know what is eroding our confidence, we can better combat it.

What shakes our confidence and creates insecurity? Paul points to three things:

Concern about the wellbeing of those we love

“Now when I went to Troas to preach the gospel of Christ and found that the Lord had opened a door for me, I still had no peace of mind, because I did not find my brother Titus there. So I said good-by to them and went on to Macedonia.” (2 Corinthians 2:12-13)

Paul had “no peace of mind” because of concern for his friend Titus. He did not know where he was or if he was safe.

The responsibility of representing Christ

“For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. To the one we are the smell of death; to the other, the fragrance of life. And who is equal to such a task?” (2 Corinthians 2:15-16)

Often we feel unequal to the tasks of ministry for Christ such as:

• Teaching a class

• Witnessing for Christ

• Leading in ministry

 When people say hurtful things

“Unlike so many, we do not peddle the word of God for profit. On the contrary, in Christ we speak before God with sincerity, like men sent from God.” (2 Corinthians 2:17)

People can make ridiculous and hurtful accusations that have no basis in truth as they did to Paul. He was accused of being in ministry for the money. If that was the case, he wouldn’t have needed a second job as a tent maker and would have left long before atrocities occurred such as:

• beating

• imprisonment

• stoning

• shipwrecked

• going hungry

2. Develop Confidence Builders

“Such confidence as this is ours through Christ before God. Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God.” (2 Corinthians 3:4-5)

Gain confidence in Christ

True confidence is found when we embrace Christ. We gain an advocate, defender and faithful Friend. He uniquely gifts and gives a sense of worthiness to all who will receive Him.

Seek out true Christian friendship

Choose friends who are walking with the Lord – friends who will pray with and encourage you through God’s Word.

Remember your victory in Christ

Jesus conquered sin and death on our behalf. Christ has won the war on our behalf. We are winners even though sometimes we feel down and defeated. We are victorious in Christ!

Faithfully minister to others

Ministry to others relieves insecurity. We become confident when we are useful, and value ourselves as we are valued. Through ministry we lose our self-focus as we help others.

JOY = Jesus, then Others, then You.

Stay humble

Our competence comes from Christ who makes us competent. We can boast about God working through us but not about ourselves.