Articles – New Churches

Kingdom Character: Proximity Before Power

Being with Jesus is more important than the work we do for Jesus. Rediscover what it means to be with Jesus and how our misconceptions can be corrected.

Moving Toward Sustainability in Your Church Plant

How you teach, model, and celebrate generosity impacts the sustainability trajectory of your plant. Here’s how you can help create a lasting culture of stewardship.

Loving Your Family While Living on Mission

Following your calling and caring for your family are not mutually exclusive. Here are 5 ways to love them as you lead them on mission.

Teaching the Bible Faithfully in Small and Large Settings

What do Bible teaching and meal prepping have in common? The right ingredients matter. So, here are 3 ways to nourish your people with the Word of God.

6 Lessons on Fundraising for Your Church Plant

“Fundraising” doesn’t have to be a bad word. Here are six lessons to keep in mind as you plant the church God has called you to and trust in His provision along the way.

From Guest to Invested: 7 Tips for Engaging Prospective Church Members

So you’ve got a new church guest… Now what? Here are 7 ways to move your guests from casual visitors to partnering church members.

4 Ways to Equip Your Church in Biblical Hospitality

Biblical hospitality transcends cultural norms with a tangible picture of the gospel. Here’s 4 ways to lead your church in this practice as you draw nearer to the saints and strangers in your midst.

5 Steps to Cultivate Your Church’s Multiethnic Kingdom Culture

The kingdom of God is comprised of people from all different walks of life engaged in the same mission. Here’s how your church can take steps toward cultivating a multiethnic kingdom culture, from the parking lot to the pulpit.

A Biblical Vision for Children’s Ministry

Jesus said to them, “Let the little children come to me.” Here’s how your kids ministry can create opportunities for the next generation of children—and their families— respond to the gospel.

A Quick Theology of Money for Church Planters

Money, money, money. Church planters have to have it. Here’s how the gospel impacts our stewardship, generosity, and peace of mind regarding finances.

Planting Churches with Friends

Relationships are essential. This is especially true in the context of church planting. Here’s why leaning into the relational connections of your congregation and community is a game changer for planters.

How to Lead Your Church in Planting Partnerships

Planting a church is hard; trying to plant one alone is even harder. Here’s how you can lean into community by pursuing partnership.

Kingdom Character: Suffering, Service, and Sacrifice

We all want to be great in ministry. But greatness in Christ’s kingdom comes at a cost. What is it that you desire from Him?

Qualities of Peacemakers

The Prince of Peace calls us His own. Here are the 3 ways Christ calls you to extend peace as you make His name known.

Discovering Future Leaders

“Future leaders do not simply appear; they are discovered.” Here are the 4 traits to look for for in the future leaders of your church.

5 Ways to Pastor Your Family Flock

Your family is your first church plant. Here’s how you can invest in your household as you share your love for the Lord and the joy of His church.

Death: The Beginning of Spiritual Formation

From death comes new life. Here’s what dying to self looks like for the church planter as you grow in the area of spiritual formation.

12 Traits of a Healthy Church

There are so many ways to build your church, yet God calls His builders to multiply by His design. Here are 12 ways to gauge the health of your church plant.

Why Church Planters Need to Innovatively Engage Unbelievers

Connecting with your community is no easy feat. Yet it’s the example Paul gave us throughout the New Testament. Here’s how–and why!–God has called you to be creative as you engage the lost around you.

Best Practices for a Pastor’s Day Off

Pastor, we know you need rest. Here are three simple ways to better care for yourself emotionally, physically, and spiritually as you invest in what matters most.

Why Scriptural Knowledge is Essential for the Church Planter

Planters and pastors are called to share God’s word with those they shepherd. Here’s how your understanding of Scripture directly impacts your leadership.

Church Planters Must Value and Develop Friendships and Brotherhood

You weren’t made to live–or lead–solo. Here are four ways to engage in healthy, biblical community as a planter and pastor.

Cultivating Rich Community in the Church

We all want to experience belonging. And as Christ followers, we get to experience this belonging within the family of God. Here are four ways to cultivate the type of biblical community that you and your congregation need.

The Power of Humility in Ministry

The difficulties of Christlike humility are not new to the modern age; the early church had to grow in this area of discipleship, too. Here are three reasons to pursue humility as you lead others to pursue Christ.

Preparing Sermons for Takeoff and Landing

Preaching the Word is a big task. Here are a few ways to stick the landing as a means of edifying your congregation while giving God the glory He is due.

Time Management for Planters

Our time in the office is not the infinite resource it seems to be. Here’s how you can reign in your priorities as you seek to serve God well as you shepherd His people.

Pastor, Go Overseas

Global missions isn’t a back-burner task we go back to when all the stars align. Here are four ways you and your church will benefit as you live out the great mission as Christ has called you to do.

The Christ-Centered Life

What does it mean for your life to be marked by true Christlikeness? The Apostle Paul highlights what genuine devotion to Jesus means in his letter to the church in Colossae.

Six Practices of Proactive Member Care

People are not obstacles we navigate in our ministry; they are our ministry. Here’s how you can build intentional relational equity with the people God has called you to shepherd.

Living as a Missionary in Your City

Living on mission requires intentional community engagement. Here are three principles to live by as you seek to plant your new church to the glory of God.

Why (and When) Your Church Needs a Student Ministry

We as the Church are called to reach the next generation with the gospel. Here’s why God wants your new church plant involved in His mission to engage the young people in your midst.

Pastors Need Friends

As leaders, we thrive when we cultivate support systems with meaningful friendships. Here’s why God calls us to expand our inner circles and allow others to invest in our lives.

3 Characteristics of a Healthy Student Ministry

There’s more to student ministry than youth camp and foosball tables. Here are the markers of a thriving youth group and how you can steer your congregation towards whole-family discipleship.

From Groups to Gatherings

There are so many ways to plant a church. Here’s one method to ensure your church’s multiplication DNA impacts each new step of the planting process.

How Caring for the Widow and Orphan Impacts Your Church

Scripture calls us to care for those in need. Here’s how our service sanctifies our churches as we offer our gospel hope to the world.

Emotional Health for Church Planters and Their Spouses

The transformational power of the Holy Spirit brings maturity and growth to us in our emotional health. Here’s why ministry leaders, as well as their wives, need to grow in this area of discipleship.

5 Questions for Resolving Conflict in a Church Plant

Though conflict remains present in world today, Christ has equipped us with the ministry of peacemaking. Here are 5 ways to engage the conflict in your midst as you seek to instill gospel truth and peace.

When Your Spouse is Suffering

The call to plant churches includes a call to suffering. But what does this mean for our spouses? Amid hardship and heartache, how do we lead our spouses toward the God of all comfort? Here are 4 ways to navigate suffering in your household.

6 Steps for Sermon Prep

Your sermon prep process is uniquely your own. Consider adding these tools to your toolbox as you seek to proclaim the gospel faithfully to your church.

The Life Cycle of a Church

From launch to legacy, the phases and stages of a church plant are like those we experience as humans. So, where’s your place in this mission of making new churches?

What Makes a Church Plant a Church?

To understand your role as a church planter, you must first understand the role of the church. Here are the primary marks of the church and what its people have in common.

Church Planting in the New Testament

Where did the practice of church planting begin? What scriptural basis do we have for the work of planters and pastors? Here’s what we’ve gleaned with the New Testament as our guide.

4 Ways to be Fit for Ministry

To press on in ministry requires a measure of holistic fitness. Here are four areas of your life that can be surrendered to God for His glory and for your good.

4 Ways to Prep Your Expositional Sermon

We all approach sermon prep differently, yet we should feel confident in our processes of getting our sermons ready. Here are four ways to prepare your heart and mind for Sunday morning.

4 Ways to Engage Sabbatical as a Church Planter

Rest doesn’t exactly come natural to the church planter. Here’s why we are to engage sabbatical rest for the good of the planter, his congregation, and fellow ministry leaders.

How to Normalize Church Planting for Kids

The culture of church planting begins at home. Here are five ways to immerse your children in the “how”s and “why”s of planting new churches.

5 Ways to Love Your Family While Planting a Church

Church planting can be difficult for the whole family. So, here are five ways to navigate ministry while investing in your primary ministry—your household—first.

How to Start Small Groups in a Church

Small groups ministries aren’t just thoughtlessly launched. So, here are four steps for cultivating groups at your church, from prayer to trial runs to the launch of this new discipleship opportunity.

Making the Bible Accessible

Are you preaching to impress or to imprint God’s Word upon the hearts of your people? Discover three ways to offer gospel truth in such a way that your people live out what they learn.

Identifying Marks of a Disciple

We want our churches and communities filled with identifiable followers of Christ. So, how can we make this a reality? J.T. English unpacks three steps to growing disciples within your congregation.

4 Ways to Find Your Place as a Church Planter

We’re all called to play a part in planting new churches. But how? Here’s what you need to know as you pursue this call to live on mission.

How to Create Vision through Preaching

So, you’re called to be a preacher. But what are the implications of this calling? Here are 4 reasons it matters for your church’s vision.

The Contribution of John Chrysostom

How much do you know about the greatest preacher of all the early church fathers? Trevin Wax expounds on why the Archbishop of Constantinople’s ministry has been more impactful to you than you may realize.

How to Fund Your Church Plant

Money is a touchy subject but a necessary part of the church-planting conversation. Here’s how you can wisely and effectively maneuver this integral part of starting your new church.

Three Most Important Lessons I’ve Learned in Preaching

There is an art and science to preaching. But the power behind preaching comes from the Word of God.

How Church Planters Should Think about Theological Education

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.

What to Expect in a Church Planting Assessment

So, you want to be a church planter… Now what? Here are three things that church planting networks are looking for in their next lead planter and how you can be ready to take your next steps in faith.

Why Preaching Toward Mission is Effective

Your church doesn’t more pew warmers. So, here are three reasons to lead your people on mission and to see the gospel grow in your midst.

3 Ways to Face Hardship on Mission

Discouragement, challenges, and trials are guaranteed realities amid our church planting journeys. Through it all, here are three ways God accomplishes His mission through us as we live on mission for Him.

Sent and Sending: Church Planting in The New Testament

We are all called to live life on mission—whether locally, across our nation, or overseas. Discover the role you’re called to play within the body of Christ, living out the Great Commission near or far.

How to Create Systems that Work in Your Church Plant

You probably didn’t become a planter because you love logistics… Even still, here’s how implementing these intentional systems can allow you to further the gospel more effectively.

How to Create a Culture of Evangelism in Your Church

Your role as a ministry leader is to share the gospel and guide your people to do the same. Here are four ways to cultivate a church culture where your congregation is faithfully leading others to Jesus.

Fundraising 101 for Church Planters

Money is perhaps one of the largest stressors in church planting. So, here are seven things to keep in mind as you seek out financial partners for the sake of the gospel going forward in your community.

6 Tips for Effective 1-on-1 Meetings

Meetings shouldn’t be your entire ministry, but they can play a huge role in what you do! Here’s some helpful advice as you make appointments with the church members you shepherd.

How to Train Your Launch Team

If you’re new to church planting, you’re likely coming onto the scene with just as many questions as you have ambition. So, here are some tips, tricks, and guidance to help you consider the best ways to lead your launch team in this new season.

4 Things to Look for in Your Next Ministry Partner

You can’t pursue the work of a fruitful, healthy ministry on your own… but you can make a wise, informed decision about who will walk alongside you as you lead. So, here are some tips for picking your ministry partner well.

3 Ways Rest Rewires Us

The work of pastors and planters is often grueling work. So, how are we to navigate the difficulties of ministry life professionally while still pursuing the Lord personally? The answer isn’t as counterintuitive as it may seem: through rest.

5 Pointers for Preaching to Small Crowds

Scripture says to be prepared to preach the Word in season and out of season. So, here are a few things to remember in those slower seasons when feeding a smaller flock.

3 Church Planter-Friendly Jobs You’ll Thrive In

You can’t exactly clock in and out of your work as a church planter. If your role in ministry entails bivocational pastoring, then this occupational guide for planters may be for you.

5 Characteristics of a Good Children’s Ministry Director

Your congregation and its families play an essential role in the life of your church. As a result, the man or woman who equips them in the ways of the Lord is crucial. So, here are 5 things to look for as you determine the next leader of your children’s ministry.

10 Steps to Cultivate More Engaged Listeners During Your Sermon

In the age of small screens and attention spans, it’s harder than ever to maintain the interest of an audience. So, here are 10 steps you can incorporate into your sermon preparation and presentation to captivate your congregation as you proclaim the name of Jesus.

Type: Articles