Note: This blog entry is part of a series on church planting. If you would like to see all entries that have been posted so far in this series, you can bring them up by doing a search for “church planting series” on this blog. You can also purchase the full 27 page Church Planter Coaching Guide, with multiple coaching questions for each subpoint, in the Logan Leadership store.
- How could your ministry extend God’s kingdom?
- What people and/or organizations do you plan to connect with to expand the influence of your ministry?
- In a series of bullet points, write out the immediate action steps you’ll need to embrace a kingdom focus.
Commit to church multiplication
Don’t think too small. God wants to bless you beyond your wildest dreams and bring in a harvest beyond what you can even imagine. People constitute a church. Multiply the people, not the buildings. Adopt as your slogan: “We will plant before we build.”
Form compassion ministries
Compassion ministries flow out of the Great Commandment and the Great Commission. It is more than evangelism or social action. It’s about giving the cup of cold water in the name of Jesus. It’s about ministry to the poor, the impoverished, the sick and the powerless. Compassion is a mind and heart response of openness to God’s leading.
Network with strategic organizations
Linking with other organizations is a great way to immerse yourself within the culture. Perhaps there are organizations within your own community that you can network with, such as a nearby school or social service group. Perhaps there are other churches nearby that you can affiliate with in some way. Connecting your church beyond itself is essential. Explore what associations would be most appropriate for your situation.
Address social action issues
Ask God to grow in your heart a compassion for those who have experienced social injustice. Seek out people within your oikos and community who feel resentment toward the world or toward Christians. These are often people who might be surprised by the love you show them. Social action issues might include racial reconciliation, discrimination, or advocating for others.
Ask God to transform the culture
Transforming a culture doesn’t mean making it into your culture; it means bringing the presence of God into that culture to renew it in the way God intends. There is no way you can transform a culture alone; only God can do that. Ask for the kind of transformation that’s only possible with the Holy Spirit. “Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his powers that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever!” (Ephesians 3:20-21).