Resource Library

Explore reliable resources to start your new church well.

Filter All Resources
Found 664 resources
Article

I’m the Problem, It’s Me

Dan Steel

Taylor Swift’s “Anti-Hero” from the 2022 Midnights album is a self-reflective track dealing honestly with her insecurities, quirks, foibles, imperfections, and flaws—seeing herself as her own worst enemy. It’s catchy and light-hearted (and I apologize if you’re singing it for the...
Podcast Episode

Spiritual Formation of Women

New Churches Podcast Season 2 Episode 7

Discover how you, like Paul, can serve, engage, recruit, and commission the women of your congregation by casting an intentional vision for their growth and development as disciples of the Word.
Article

9 Best Practices for Leading a Residency

Gus Hernandez Jr.

On a recent trip to Legoland Florida with my family, I came across a mind-blowing stat about Lego brick combinations. A Danish mathematics professor, Søren Eilers, calculated that with only 6 identical 2×4 Lego bricks of the same color, you...
Article

4 Ways to Create a Culture of Prayer

Jon Kelly

Prayer is as essential to the life of the Christ follower and the work of God as blood is to the body. It was the practice of the ancient church to regularly pray together. Scripture states that the apostles, “with...
Podcast Episode

Spiritual Formation of Men

New Churches Podcast Season 2 Episode 6

Uncover the exhortations and encouragements needed for your congregation through the lens of Paul’s care for Titus and his flock.
Article

The Planters’ College

J.A. Medders

Charles H. Spurgeon (1834–1892) is often referred to today as “the Prince of Preachers” for being one of the best preachers of Christ in church history. In addition to his strong preaching and teaching, Spurgeon should also be known as...
Article

What Church Planters Can Learn from the Global Church: Reflections from Lausanne 2024

Trevin Wax

Church planting can often feel like a solitary endeavor. It’s easy to become consumed by local challenges, unaware of the broader context of what God is doing around the world. That’s why it’s a good practice for those on the...
Podcast Episode

Planters are Preachers

New Churches Podcast Season 2 Episode 5

Learn how preachers are made, what the elements of sound teaching are, and why it is essential to set an example through preaching.
Article

3 Reasons Why Your New Church Needs Deacons

Noah Oldham

Christian leadership author and speaker John Maxwell has famously said, “Everything rises and falls on leadership.” The sovereignty of God assumed, and making ample room for hyperbole, I mostly agree. This is true especially in the earliest days of a...
Article

How to Endure in Church Planting

Matt Carter

How important is a personal calling from God to church planting? While there’s no question we’re all called to the Great Commission, how critical is it that you have a personal calling from God before you plant a church? I...
Podcast Episode

Challenges in the Planting Context

New Churches Podcast Season 2 Episode 4

Discover how you can grow as a public theologian and apologist in your community as you discern and address the differences between sound teaching and false teaching, wrong teaching, and different teaching.
Podcast Episode

Churches Need Strong Leaders

New Churches Podcast Season 2 Episode 3

Tune in to discover why character is so essential to the health and longevity of your church plant.
Article

How the Culture of Your Church Makes or Breaks the Doctrine

Barnabas Piper

If I asked you what the most defining, crucial aspect of your church is, what would you say? I’m guessing it would be “doctrine.” Doctrine is the most important thing about your church—at least that’s what most of us implicitly...
Article

Why Pastors Need to Practice a Lifestyle of Renewal

Ronnie Martin

I was recently in this fancy pants board meeting at a consulting firm, and they had me and the team I was working with throw a bunch of ideas related to pastoral ministry on the whiteboard. I promise I wasn’t...
Podcast Episode

Planters as Servants of God

New Churches Podcast Season 2 Episode 2

Discover how Paul’s God-centered, Christ-exalting mindset shaped him as a planter and pastor.
Article

Quick to Listen?

Dan Steel

My dear brothers and sisters, understand this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger. — James 1:19 In a world saturated with social media that’s way too often characterized by being slow to listen,...
Article

Introducing Our New Churches Columnists

J.A. Medders, Dan Steel, Barnabas Piper, Ronnie Martin, Noah Oldham, Jon Kelly & Mark Lee

As part of our ongoing commitment to bring you diverse perspectives, expert insights, and fresh ideas, we’ve added some talented voices to our roster of contributors. Each of them brings a unique background and set of experiences that we’re confident...
Podcast Episode

Wise Church Planting

New Churches Podcast Season 1 Episode 835

In this bonus summer episode, host Jeff Medders meets with researcher, preacher, and church elder Dan Steel to discuss many of the very real pitfalls experienced by church planters today. Tune in to discover how you can wisely navigate the...