Why church plants Fail…
As I have said before, that not everyone should plant a church I do believe however that everyone should be involved in church planting! While it is the one of the most difficult tasks any of us could be involved in, it is also a huge privilege to be called to shepherd His flock! There are many benefits to planting a church just as there is a price to pay. We can never forget about the price as it holds so many lessons for us to learn as well as keeping us from falling prey to the enemy.
Yes, there is an enemy that would love to see us fail at providing the only plan God has to evangelize this world: Church Planting!!
There are some pitfalls we can avoid when planting churches.
These are some of those pitfalls and why church plants can often fail:
1)Being “PRAGMATIC”
Seeking “Imitation” Rather Than “Revelation”!
As church planters, we should be asking God for direction not just permission! We should want to live and lead out of revelation not observation!!
Our observation is merely an imitation of what we see others doing. We should want to be like Jesus and do what we see our Father in heaven doing!!
2)People “PLEASING”
The Vision will quickly Get Hijacked if we try to Keep Everyone Happy!
Go to God for HIS vision, let Him Speak it in your heart…and then go for it and don’t let anyone talk you out of what God has clearly spoken into you.
One thing is for certain when we try to please everyone, we will end up pleasing no one. The only One we should be concerned about pleasing is Jesus!
3)No”PRICE”
We must get People To Commit.
Someone said, “The problem with the modern Church is that we have too many people pretending they are guests when they need to be hosts.”
Everyone has a role and responsibility in the church. By keeping people from fulfilling these in their lives we rob them of their blessing and their opportunities to grow in God!!
4)Being “PASSIVE”& Lacking Courage!
Leadership requires courage.
We are NOT going to be loved by everyone and to face that reality takes courage.
If we lack courage and are back footed then we won’t make it!!
5)”PRESSURE” To Do It All By OURSELVES
When we church plant there isn’t always a large team around us. However, we have to understand that God has sent the people that surround us. We cannot neglect the gifts God has given them and we cannot cheat them out of opportunities to grow in their capacity.
WE’VE GOT to delegate ministry to others.
WE’VE GOT to listen to the people God intentionally places around US.
WE’VE GOT to admit when the load is too heavy so those who care about US can take things off OUR plate.
Jesus will send the right people along side of us to make sure HIS vision becomes reality.
We are NOT called to do it alone!!!
6)”PRAYER-LESSNESS”
James 4:2-3 – You do not have because you do not ask God.
3 When you ask, you do not receive; because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures…
Someone said, “One should never initiate anything that he cannot saturate with prayer.”
“Men may spurn our appeals, reject our message, oppose our arguments, despise our persons, but they are helpless against our prayers.” – Sidlow Baxter
“Prayer is where the action is.” – John Wesley
Someone also said, “Talking to men for God is a great thing, but talking to God for men is greater still.”
“Satan trembles when he sees the weakest Christian on his knees.” – William Cowper
7)”PRAISE-LESSNESS”
OFTEN Our breakthrough comes in the place of worship!!!
JUST REMEMBER…
-Every church is large in God’s eyes.
There is no such thing as an insignificant church according to Him!!
-There is no correlation between the size and the strength of a church.
Neither big nor small is better.
…Healthy is better.
…Strong is better.
-Never compare your ministry to anyone else’s.
-Live for an audience of One.
-Never criticize nor envy another ministry.
-Be humble or you’ll stumble.
-Ministry is a marathon not a sprint
-Learn from everyone.
-ALL growth is seasonal.
-NEVER confuse PROMINENCE with SIGNIFICANCE!!
Let’s focus on the privilege but understand the price so we can thrive as church planters, as sons and daughters of the King and as co-laborers in His Kingdom.
Making Much of Jesus 