New Churches Podcast | Season 1 | Episode 798

Disciplines to Start in Early Ministry

Vance Pitman & Noah Oldham

Episode 798

Hosts Vance Pitman and Noah Oldham share an encouraging word with Ray Ortlund, the author, pastor, and founder of Immanuel Nashville. Together, they discuss the significance of forming Christ-exalting personal habits within the earliest days of ministry. Tune in to discover how you can create safeguards for the long-term health of your ministry as well as your own personal spiritual walk with Christ.

In This Episode, You’ll Discover:

  • What sets church planting apart from other vocations
  • The tried-and-true basics of spiritual discipline within the Christian faith
  • Why your understanding of prayer may need some recalibration
  • The role of confession within the church today
  • Why theological accountability and alignment matter in your ministry from day one

Helpful Resources:

  • Are you part of a new church plant? Learn more about our new church offer here.
  • Interested in learning more? Check out our Church Planting Primer.

Please subscribe to the podcast and leave a rating and review on iTunes.

Sharable Quotes (#NewChurches):

There’s a lack of theological accountability in the world we live in today because denominations were the buttresses of theological accountability. — Vance Pitman

How can you preach a crucified Savior with personal, showoff-y, “Look at me. I’m so cool” kind of preaching persona? It doesn’t fit. — Ray Ortlund

The Holy Spirit entered into Paul’s ministry and created converts, not because they were impressed by him, but because they were enthralled by Jesus. Now that’s church planting like an apostolic work. — Ray Ortlund

Dear brother, to whom do you confess your sins? The answer cannot be nobody or “I only confess my sins to God.” There’s a reason James 5:16 is in the Bible. — Ray Ortlund

I don’t use the word “accountability” because I’ve seen it used in a coercive way, but “transparency” is mutual. I don’t believe we can go too far wrong if we’re living in transparency and in honest brotherhood together. — Ray Ortlund

We can face anything if we will walk with God. And if we don’t have a real, honest, moment-by-moment walk with the Lord and we’re just great at church planting, that is total failure, brilliantly disguised as massive success. — Ray Ortlund

Published on January 23, 2024

The Heart Theology Pre-Launch Growing Multiplying
About the Podcast

New Churches Podcast

The New Churches podcast offers practical answers to your real ministry questions. We aren’t going to provide lofty pie-in-the-sky theories. Instead, we are going to help you in your real ministry context, with your real thoughts, questions, and issues.

See All Episodes

Subscribe

Meet the Authors

Vance Pitman

President Send Network

Vance Pitman is president of Send Network, founding pastor of Hope Church, and author of UNBURDENED: Stop Living for Jesus So Jesus Can Live Through You and The Stressless Life: Experiencing the Unshakable Presence of God’s Indescribable Peace. As a seasoned church planter and now leader of the largest church planting organization in North America, Vance seeks to inspire people to join in God’s eternal, redemptive mission of making disciples, by multiplying the Church all over North America, that the nations may come to know Him.  Vance and his wife Kristie have four children and four grandchildren, and live in Georgia.

More Resources from Vance

Noah Oldham

Executive Director Send Network

Noah Oldham is the Executive Director of Send Network. He served as the founding and lead pastor of August Gate Church for 15 years and the Send City Missionary to St. Louis for almost 10. In both these roles, he led his church and dozens of others to plant churches throughout the St. Louis region and beyond. He holds master’s degrees in Biblical Studies and Christian Leadership and is a certified personal trainer and nutrition coach. He writes, speaks, and trains in the areas of two of his greatest passions: the local church and physical fitness. Noah and Heather have been married since 2005 and have 5 children.

More Resources from Noah
Related Content
Podcast Episode

Ministry Safeguards

New Churches Podcast Season 1 Episode 800

Episode 800 Hosts Vance Pitman and Noah Oldham team back up with pastor and planter Ray Ortlund to share the internal and external measures you can take as a church planter to keep your leadership and ministry healthy and guarded...
Article

3 ‘Worst Practices’ to Knock Your Church Off-Course

Justin Orr

Two years ago, a wonderful church called me serve as their senior pastor in the aftermath of scandalous pastoral failure. Here's what I can tell you about the three “worst practices” that had knocked the church off-course.
Article

How Church Planters Should Think about Theological Education

Jared Bumpers

Learners make the best leaders, and this saying applies to the work of your ministry, too. Here are four reasons—plus, some helpful resources!—to help you consider the role of education as you live on mission.