In your mind make a list of what you need to start a church. Just think big and general for a second. You’re probably going to come up with the two things that I thought of when I did this exercise.

Continue reading “How to Start a Church: Confronting the Misconception” »

church building · church building essentials · church planting · how to plant a church · how to start a church · what is church · what is the church

One of my seminary profs recently told me a story. He met up with an old friend who recently became the pastor of a certain church. “Oh?” the seminary professor asked his friend, “What’s the name of the church?” “It’s such-and-such Church,” the friend responded. Being a Hebrew linguist, the seminary professor said, “Did you know that your church name means ‘House of Iniquity’ in Hebrew?” Obviously the pastor didn’t know that. Neither would most people. Nonetheless, the pastor returned to his church, called a business meeting, and promptly changed the church name. Thus, the “House of Iniquity Church” moniker was replaced with something more innocuous. Continue reading “What Should I Call My Church? Best Practices for Naming Your Church” »

church names · church naming · church planting

There’s no arguing with the fact: church planting is on the rise. With every movement, trend, issue, or fad that comes down the pike, it helps to just slow way down, sit back for a moment and ask the question: why? More people are planting churches, but is it necessary? Resourceful? Wise? Strategic? To answer this question, we queried a prospective church planter, Andrew Warde for his insights. What better person to answer the question than someone who has done his research, picked his field, and planned his approach. In the article that follows, he answers the question, “Why church planting?” See if you agree.

Continue reading “Why Church Planting? Ditching Comfort for a Greater Commission” »

andrew warde · apostle paul mission · church ministry · church planting · church planting resources · great commission · missional · pastoral ministry · why church planting

Today’s post is provided by Dustin Neeley, a church planter and lead pastor. He ministers in Louisville, Kentucky at Crossing Church, part of the Acts 29 Church network. Dustin also has a ministry with his family–wife and four kids under the age of six. He maintains a blog, Church Planting for the Rest of Us, and is a frequent contributor to the Resurgence blog. Anyone who knows Dustin Neeley probably recognizes his iconic plaid shirts and insightful interviews with church leaders. Dustin knows what it’s like to be a lead pastor, to oversee four church plants, to host conferences, to work with major networks, to travel widely, to keep up with correspondence, and at the same time to love his family like they’re really important (because they are). Dustin Neely talks about the importance of family in this article.

Continue reading “The Pastor’s Family – Nourishing the Ministry of Family in the Ministry of Everything Else” »

acts 29 · church planting · dustin neeley · family · family ministry · ministry family · ministry of family · resurgence

Churches are dying. Today, at least ten churches will die. Today, fifty pastors will resign or retire. As a whole, the church appears to be on the decline. Fifty years ago, so the aged saints intone, churches were exploding with growth. People were heading down the aisles in droves to get saved; crowds would stand outside the open windows just to hear the preaching; the church was sending new missionaries overseas nearly every week. But as the decades rolled on, the church quieted down. And now, in a cavernous auditorium with a capacity of 600+, there are 34 people in attendance on any given Sunday morning. The church, it would seem, is dying.

Continue reading “Does Your Church Need to Die?” »

church closing · church leadership · church planting · dying church · pastoral leadership

Someone asked me the other day, “So, can you tell me what ‘missional’ is?” My mind raced, and I hesitated for a second. I knew what missional was. In fact, I hear the word, read the word, and often use the word in my writing. But a concept like “missional” is hard to describe, explain, and articulate, especially in any succinct way. But since missional is a bedrock concept in the Bible and is central to what the church does, it is worth investigating a little bit.

Continue reading “What is “missional,” why it’s a big deal, and how you should respond” »

church mission · church planting · culture · emerging · missio dei · missional · missionary · missions · social justice