Archive for the 'Pastors' Category
Established Churches Should be Involved in Planting New Gospel Churches
I believe once a church celebrates five years of existence, they are an established church. With this premise, the vast majority of churches in America are established churches. Many of these churches are in need of revitalization.
When you look at the status of churches in America, you may read reports that seventy or even eighty percent are plateaued or declining. When a church gets outside of itself in a missional focus like planting new gospel churches, this can serve as a major part of revitalizing their own established church.
Among even the largest evangelical denominations and conventions in America, only a small percentage of established churches are involved directly in planting new gospel churches. This needs to change if we desire to reach North America and the world for Jesus Christ.
Gospel Churches Plant Gospel Churches
When you read and study the book of Acts, you discover that gospel churches are involved in planting gospel churches. Again and again, we see the biblical precedent of planting churches. When the apostles went into towns, cities, and regions where the gospel had never been before, they won people to Christ and planted a gospel church immediately.
Gospel advancement and gospel community were significant parts of the churches discussed in the book of Acts. It appears, at times, that it is difficult to separate the advancement of the gospel and the planting of a new gospel community or church. Since established evangelical churches strive to live out Holy Scripture, these gospel communities must be involved not only in gospel advancement, but planting new gospel churches nationally and internationally.
Planting New Gospel Churches will Help Revitalize Your Church
As a local church pastor for over thirty-eight years, I know the deep need for seeing an established church become revitalized and reinvented to be more relevant contextually. Since I have pastored the same church for over twenty-eight of these years, I fully understand the importance of our existing churches being revitalized – given new life and vitality. We have experienced this several times through the years in our own fellowship.
From personal experience, I can tell you that it helps our fellowship when we are involved directly in planting new gospel churches! In church life, you cannot wait until you have it all together to become involved in planting new gospel churches. That may never happen! Yet, one of the greatest ways to lead revitalization in your church is to get people involved beyond themselves in a biblical endeavor like planting a new gospel church.
ALL Churches can Plant New Gospel Churches
Church planters and their churches receive monies from all sizes of churches. It doesn’t matter if it is $500 a year, $1,000 a year, or $100,000 a year. Church planters count all contributing churches as serious partners. From the smallest to the largest church, we can all find our place in planting new gospel churches.
Partnering with other churches to help plant new gospel churches is the future. Church planters do not have one sending church that supports their needs completely; they need several partners. Any church of any size can be involved in church planting. This will help you revitalize your church!
Our Commitment at Cross Church
Since 2002, our Cross Church Family has planted 101 new gospel churches locally, nationally, and internationally. Right now, we are in an ongoing partnership with 7 new gospel churches across the entire world. This is possible because our people came on board with a mighty vision to plant new gospel churches and through partnerships with other gospel churches.
Your Church can find a Way
Your church can find a way to participate in planting new gospel churches. I promise you, it will help contribute to your church being revitalized! This will result in new life, more excitement, and increased support in your church. New life sparks new life!
When established churches experience this, they will recapture a greater vision of reaching their own community for Christ. Their eyes will begin to again see what is around them in their own community.
Let’s help push back the lostness of our world through planting new gospel churches. Your church can do it!
Yours for the Great Commission,
Ronnie W. Floyd
Dr. Ronnie Floyd is the President & CEO of the Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee.
2 Decisions That Help Me as a Pastor Daily
I was asked a very interesting question the other day that really moved me to evaluate the answer. A pastor asked, “Ronnie, I look at your challenging schedule, and I want to ask: How are you doing this and keeping up with everything?” After thinking a moment, I told him there are two decisions I make daily that have helped me in every way.
The same things I told him, I share with you today. Please know before I continue, I am where I am and do what I do by the grace of God and the prayers of God’s people. Knowing this, here are the two decisions I make daily that help me continually.
Decision #1: I Never Compromise My Daily Time With God
It does not matter if my flight is early or my schedule has caused me to be out late the night before, I never compromise my daily time with God. For those who know me and have kept up with me through the years, I always give my mornings to God. While some of this can be challenging due to appointments and speaking engagements that occur in the mornings, I never compromise my daily time with God.
In my time with God, I focus on reading and meditating on God’s Word, and read through it at least once annually. I focus on a strong commitment to prayer, developing and changing my prayer list and priorities continually on my iPad. Toward the end of my time with God, I always journal a one-page prayer.
My time with God is the way I start my day. He is my priority, above all else. Whether it begins early, as it does usually, or a little later, it is always the way I begin my day.
God is my strength. His Spirit is the wind that lifts me up continually. As I wait before Him daily, He renews my strength.
Decision #2: I Do Not Compromise in Taking Care of My Body
Six days a week, I spend an hour in physical exercise, fitness, and training. Typically, I run four days a week. The other two days, I spend an hour with my trainer. He challenges me greatly, never taking it easy on me.
The advantage of developing a “jogging lifestyle” is that you can do that anywhere, at any time. Most hotels have treadmills if the weather is bad outside, but nothing refreshes the body and relieves the stress more than a run outside. Whether you are traveling or at home, running will help you. If you cannot run, walk. Develop a pattern in your life. It will help you.
When I am exercising alone, I listen to podcasts of sermons or on subjects that will help me fulfill my calling more effectively.
Pastor, it is Your Decision Daily
Daily, you decide what you will do with your time. This is not a matter of busyness, but a matter of priority.
Daily, I prioritize my time with God, never compromising it. And daily I choose to take care of myself physically. As a side note, on a typical morning, I spend at least 3-4 hours in my study preparing for my Sunday sermon, writing, and preparing for other speaking engagements.
You have to decide what will help you. May God lead you to work through all you have upon you as a pastor.
Yours for the Great Commission,
Ronnie W. Floyd
Dr. Ronnie Floyd is the President & CEO of the Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee.