Prepare Your Fields

S-Scripture: Proverbs 24:27, “27 First, finish your outside work and prepare your fields.  After that, you can build your house.”

O-Observation:  Solomon states that we must do our work before we do our work.  We must take care of the minor details, prepare the fields (the people, the location, etc.).  Then, we build a house for the Lord!

A-Application:  I immediately thought of our current situation as a church.  We have been meeting in a theatre for the past four and a half years.  It has worked well for us up until now.  We are approaching the five year mark of our church, our numbers are growing, and our children’s ministry is maxed out.  Russell and I have been racking our brains, trying to think “outside the box” on what to do, but have only a few thoughts.  The thing I take from this verse is to get ready, prepare the fields (the plans), reach more people, continue to grow numerically and spiritually, then you can build a “church building” to house the assembly.  In the meantime, I must continue to cast the vision of StoneBridge Baptist Church.  Our vision is to be a church where:

• People are passionate about Jesus Christ, sharing the good news of the gospel to the hundreds of thousands of residents in Monongalia County.
• Unchurched people will feel welcome, where the hurting, the broken, the frustrated and the confused can find love, acceptance, help, hope, forgiveness, guidance and encouragement.
• All members are involved in ministry, working to glorify Jesus Christ in everything we do.
• All the members are working together with the same mind, purpose, and heart.
• We establish like-minded churches in the the I-79 Corridor and beyond.
• God raises up church planters  within the local church to carry out the Great Commission.
• All members are active in the services of StoneBridge Baptist Church.
• We develop people to become fully developing followers of Jesus Christ through Life Transformation Groups, HomeTeams, seminars, retreats and a Bible school offered through our church.
• Multiply our Church Staff to produce more leaders who in turn will meet the needs of people in Monongalia County.

P-Prayer:  Dear Father, we are at a crucial time period in the life of our church.  Many of the folks within our body are wrestling with a permanent location.  Lord, please direct our paths, show us when, where, why, what, and how we will do this for you.  In the name of Jesus.  Amen.

Leave The Tree

S-Scripture:  Mark 4:30-32, “30 Then He said, “To what shall we liken the kingdom of God? Or with what parable shall we picture it? 31 It is like a mustard seed which, when it is sown on the ground, is smaller than all the seeds on earth; 32but when it is sown, it grows up and becomes greater than all herbs, and shoots out large branches, so that the birds of the air may nest under its shade.”  (NKJV)

O-Observation:  Often times Jesus would use parables (Earthly stories with a heavenly meaning) to get His message across to those who would gather to hear.  Jesus begins verse 30 by talking about the kingdom of God.  Again, He always looked for word pictures or stories to illustrate His point He was trying to make.  He said the kingdom of Heaven is like:

• A Mustard Seed – The smallest of seeds! 
  • When it grows, it is greater than any other herb in the fields.
  • The purpose of the growth:
    • The Birds of the air could rest from the cares of the world.
    • The Birds of the air could “GO”. 

A-Application:  As a new church is planted, it begins to grow.  The core group may be small, but continual watering and attention helps establish a strong, self-supporting church.  As the church grows, many disciples are developed and taught to “leave the tree” and go plant more and better churches for Christ.  Another application which can be applied to these verses is:  Everything large, once started out small!  The purpose of of the Lord’s churches is to take the gospel of Jesus Christ , make disciples, baptize them, teach them, and send them forth to plant more and better churches!

P-Prayer:  Father in Heaven,  help StoneBridge Baptist Church to be a place where people can attend, learn, grow, and be sent out to make more and better disciples of You!  I pray this in Jesus name!  Amen!

The Simplicity Of Making Disciples

S-Scripture:  Acts 17:2-4;18, “2 Then Paul, as his custom was, went in to them, and for three Sabbaths reasoned with them from the Scriptures, 3 explaining and demonstrating that the Christ had to suffer and rise again from the dead, and saying, “This Jesus whom I preach to you is the Christ.” 4 And some of them were persuaded; and a great multitude of the devout Greeks, and not a few of the leading women, joined Paul and Silas.”  verse 18, “18 Then certain Epicurean and Stoic philosophers encountered him. And some said, “What does this babbler want to say?” Others said, “He seems to be a proclaimer of foreign gods,” because he preached to them Jesus and the resurrection.”  (NKJV)

O-Observation:  Paul and Silas preached the gospel.  The gospel of Jesus Christ is the answer to all of our problems.  Notice what Paul and Silas did:

• They went to the lost, as was their custom.
• Sharing Christ is what they lived, not just did.
  • They used the Scriptures.
  • They explained the Scriptures.
  • They demonstrated the Scriptures.
  • They preached the Scriptures (especially the gospel).
  • People joined them in discipleship.

A-Application:  Reading the newest books on Evangelism, Discipleship, church planting is good, but the best book to read is the book of Acts, the Bible!  For in it, we see the strategies of the early disciples.  Their mission was pretty simple:

• Go to the lost.
• Preach the gospel.
• Explain the Word.
• Demonstrate the Word.
• Make more and better disciples of Jesus!

P-Prayer:  Father in Heaven, help me to remember the simplicity of the strategy.  Remind me, that even though the strategy is simple, the work is hard, long, and rewarding!  Thank you for calling me into the ministry and counting me faithful.  In Jesus Name!  Amen!

A Biblical Church Planting Strategy

S-Scripture:  Acts 14:21-22, “21 And when they had preached the gospel to that city and made many disciples, they returnedto Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch, 22 strengthening the souls of the disciples, exhorting them to continue in the faith, and saying, “We must through many tribulationsenter the kingdom of God.”  (NKJV)

O-Observation:  Barnabas and Paul (notice the order which Acts 14 places these men, Barnabas usually came first) were Ministry Partners.  In Acts 13, these men were God called, Spirit led, church sent Missionaries (Disciple Makers, Church Planters) on a mission to make more and better disciples of the Lord.  Because of this, they made many disciples, and the Lord organized many churches.  Notice what they did when they entered the cities:

• They preached the gospel.
• They made disciples.
• They revisited the cities where the churches were established.
• They strengthened the believers.
• The exhorted them to remain faithful to Christ and his system of beliefs and doctrines.
• They assured them that they would be persecuted for their belief in Jesus Christ.
• They appointed elders/pastors in the churches.

A-Application:  As a church planter, I am not sure how effective I have been in this strategy.  When I look at their strategy, I can check mark a few of these things, but not all of them.  I think this is a Biblical model of planting churches.  We must:

• Preach the Gospel.
• Make Disciples.
• Report to the churches.
• Strengthen, and Feed the Disciples.
• Exhort them to be faithful to Christ and His doctrine.
• Remind the disciples of the hardships of following Jesus.
• Train men to lead (Acts 14:23; 2 Tim. 2:2).

P-Prayer:  Father in Heaven, please help every church planter, missionary, disciple maker in the world.  Help us to be faithful in preaching the gospel, making disciples, etc. etc.  We thank you Lord for calling us into the ministry and counting us faithful to carry out Your work.  Please strengthen us, and enable us to do amazing things for You.  In Jesus Name.  Amen.