Multiply

The life of a farmer is hard, but the life of a farmer is good. He or she cooperates with God who provides the soil and brings the rain for the crops to grow. But is not easy to prepare the ground for planting, or to sow the seeds and protect them from birds and cattle and goats that want to eat the growing crop. 

The life of a church planter is hard, but the life of a church planter is good. It is not easy to go to a new village and find persons of peace.  Its not easy to grow a church.  Sometimes its hard to observe growth.  What do you look for?

Today’s episode of Multiply answers this question with insights from Paul’s letter to the Colossians.

Why would the Apostle Paul write this?  Apostle Paul is encouraging the church planter, and followers of Jesus, that prayer is the key ingredient to living out our lives pleasing to the Lord. Praying for one another is a powerful part of how we can serve one another 

The world we live in is broken.  All around us people are giving themselves to more and more sin. As we observe the world around us, it would be easy to believe that no one can live a holy life. 

Paul lived in a world much like our world today.  Even so, Paul had the audacity to believe that God could make people holy. And because he believed that God could change sinful people and make them good and kind and devoted to God, Paul gave his life to work with God to see the people of his day transformed.

In our world today, there are plenty of people who want to be the big man or the big momma.  You know what I mean.  There are plenty of leaders, men and women alike, who want everyone to know that they are in charge.  They love to give orders and expect everyone else to obey without delay.

Sometimes people with the big man delusion or the big momma delusion decide to become church planters. But let me say that there is a way to lead a church without acting like you are the big man or the big momma that everyone needs to fear and obey.

To say someone has a good character we are meaning; features that make up and distinguish an individual, who most of time are exhibiting moral excellence.

“By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

I challenge myself and all of us who are chosen and loved by God to put on these characteristics and continue to let them flow through all our lives.

As church planters, you and I have the wonderful privilege of proclaiming the Good News of salvation in Jesus Christ.  We confidently tell people that, although the world we live in is broken, Jesus, by his death and resurrection, has made a way for us to be restored to God.  It is our privilege to help men and women, boys and girls put their trust in Christ.  When they do, they experience forgiveness from sins and begin a new life.

As God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.  Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.  And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.

As you follow this example of Paul, as you help new believers be transformed by Christ, wonderful change will come to the communities where you plant churches.

People in this world have all sorts of rules they think will deliver us from corruption and lead us to a better life.  Some of the rules they live by are mere superstitions.  For example, some people in my country never walk under a ladder.  They think if they do so, it will bring them bad luck.  I have walked under ladders many time.  It never brought me bad luck.  Even so, many people live by that rule.  This rule seems harmless, but when people follow a lot of rules like this they struggle under unnecessary burdens.

As a church planter, Paul wanted to set people free from human superstitions, religious practices, and harsh rules that seemed smart but did nothing to set people free to enjoy their new life in Christ.

The Apostle Paul gives us what is needed for Spiritual fruits to be harvested: the fruits
of love, joy, peace, hope, strength and the ability to be a witness to who Jesus is in our
life. Church Planters are witnesses to the world that is in great need and that need is to
see Jesus at the center of our lives.

Many temptations come to church planters. One temptation is to make our own name great. Another is to make the church we have planted famous. I’m sure Paul, a model church planter, was tempted in those same ways too. But he overcame them by constantly giving honor to Jesus.  He did just that when he wrote to his spiritual grandchildren in Colossae. What a great example for church planters to follow today.

Most people think that God is far away and unconcerned about the problems they are going through. Animists spend a lot of time trying to protect themselves from evil spirits. They use charms and curses to try to influence the spirit world because they believe that God the creator is very far away and won’t protect them. Muslims believe that God is transcendent and unknowable. Even many people who take the name Christian think that God is far away.

But when God sent his only Son, Jesus, to live among us, Jesus identified with the people.  As a disciple-maker, some of the most important steps you can take are the steps you take to identify with the people you know outside your church and inside your church.  When you spend time with them, listen to their stories, eat meals together, work together, and play sports together, you identify with them.  You say without words, “I know you, I like you, I respect you, I want what is best for you.”