Are Church Plants a threat to existing churches?

No!  In fact, we need to educate people across denominational lines of the importance and necessity of church planting.  Many people might say, "Why do we need a church plant?  There's already a church on every corner.  We just need to get more people in them".

Yes, there are a lot of churches out there but sadly most are declining and/or dying because truth be told they either don't want to do what is needed to reach the unchurched; they don't want to change "who they are" to meet the unchurched "where they are"; they don't know how to reach the unchurched (although the Bibles gives clear directions regarding this);  or they actually believe they are "reaching" the unchurched just by being there. 

Folks, the days of "Here we are, come and join us" are long gone!  IF WE WANT TO REACH THE UNCHURCHED AND IN DOING SO FULFILL THE "GREAT COMMISSION" WE HAVE TO FOLLOW THE EXAMPLE OF CHRIST AND HIS DISCIPLES AND "GO"!  And I'm not talking about overseas or on a short term mission trip, I'm talking about our own neighborhoods, cities, and towns. Many churches do a great job of reaching people "out there" but where we really need to focus our ministry is "right here".  We must step out from our big buildings and get our hands and feet dirty on a daily basis if we genuinely want to see people come to know the Hope that is Christ.  That's the facts as recorded in scripture.  I'm just the messenger.

So many startling statistics clearly show us that church plants are needed and that they do work. An example: "One study revealed established Southern Baptist churches baptized 3.4 people per 100 resident members, while new churches baptized 11.7". THAT'S HUGE!! Church plants are reaching the unchurched because church planters and their congregants meet people where they are, they don't ask or expect people to come to them.  And they relate to them, by being honest, transparent, and by saying things such as "If not for the grace of God there go I".  They don't pretend to be something they're not, they simply take off the "church" mask and point people to the Hope they have... JESUS!

Not everyone is called to plant a church or to serve a church plant, but everyone can and should be involved.  Prayer, local congregational support, and financial support are needed for most if not all church plants and church planters.

Church planting is not a threat; it's an opportunity!  An opportunity to see more people come to know the Hope that is Jesus Christ!  Now, who that is "in Christ" (a Christian) wouldn't want to do or support that?

I encourage you to take a minute to educate yourself regarding church planting if you aren't already.  Here are a few of several websites that can do just that.

NAMB.net

Acts29Network.org

Exponential.org

ChurchPlanters.com

SendNetwork.com

ArcChurches.com

Matthew 28:19 (NLT)

"Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit".

Blessings,

PCW

#churchplanting

#churchplant

#churchplanter

10 things I've Learned Since Becoming a Dad

1. I'm more like my own father than I ever realized.

2. My kids look up to me and need me to be proud of them.

3. Telling my kids what I did wrong at their age doesn't always deter them from making similar mistakes.

4. There are some stupid things I did in the past that are better that my kids don't know about.

5. No one will ever be good enough for my daughter.

6. I want my children to have everything I never had and more.

7. I would do anything to protect my children although I can't always do so. 

8. I want to be a great dad but I am well aware I oftentimes fall short.

9. My kids are genuinely great kids and I am honored to be their dad.

10. The greatest thing I can ever teach my children is how much Christ loves me and how much I love Christ.

I can think of many other things but I have to stop at 10 because of the title I created when I started this list.

Christian Dad Watts

What do you do when God tells you to build an ark?

When God tells you to build an ark, you build an ark!  Some will question your sanity, others will question your motives...

Some will ask questions like, "Is this really necessary?", "How can you afford the necessary tools, wood, and laborers?".  

Some will even question whether you really heard from God.  Others will laugh at you, make fun of you, even scorn you for what you truly believe God has called you to do.  

However, when God calls you to build an ark, you build an ark!

You may even find yourself questioning God.  Questions like: God, are you sure about this?  I mean, if this is the right thing to do, why is everyone mocking my name, making fun of me, calling me crazy, telling me that there's no need for such a vessel??

In these moments, it all comes down to this: Who do I trust more, God or man?

When God tells you to build an ark, you build an ark!

Why? Because one day the rains will come, and when it does people will no longer call you crazy.  In fact, they will want to get on the boat with you as they see thousands being saved because you listened to God, you honored His call.

God's not looking for perfect people to do His will.  He's not looking for those with a flawless testimony to carry out His plan... He's looking for those with a pure heart and a willingness to do what He asks us to do.  Those willing to pick up the hammer and get to work even while others say out efforts are unnecessary.

When God tells you to build and ark, you build an ark!

God always proves faithful.  We just need to be willing to build the ark! 

Let's get to work!

Pastor Christian Watts

The rest of your life comes down to this…

CHOICES... Life is all about choices.  There are those who look back on their life and see a history of poor choices, and their life in turn reflects this.  There are others who look back on their lives and see a history of good choices and their life in turn reflects this.  Some will continue making poor choices which will continue leading them down a dark and dreary path.  Some will continue to make good choices which will continue leading them on to better days and better things. 

Now, the kicker in all of this is that either one of the above persons can choose to change and in an instant their life can be turned upside down or right side up. 

I have seen many who after years of good choices fall into temptation, maybe making even just one poor choice that in turn alters their lives forever.  On the other hand I have seen some, and I say “some” because not many will choose to do so, who after a life of poor choices put a stake in the ground and say, "No more!"  They turn from making poor choices and begin making good choices and their life path is altered for the better.

Lamentations 3:23 tells us that “Gods mercies are new every morning”.  Joshua 24:15 says that we must “choose this day (meaning every single day) who we will serve”.

God’s mercies are new every morning, and today is a new day.  I want to encourage you to choose wisely in all you say and all that you do.  Some of you are facing HUGE choices.  Others are facing small choices that will have HUGE implications. Either way, before this day is over you will be faced with countless choices.

So how do we choose wisely? We can begin by asking ourselves questions like: What does scripture say about this choice?  Would I be ok if my spouse, family, friends, knew of my choice?  Would God be pleased with this choice?  How will this choice affect me, my family, and others around me in the years to come?  Did I pray about this choice?  Did I “listen” for God’s answer concerning this choice?  What is your “gut” feeling about this choice you are making?  What have others said about this choice I am making? Could this choice possibly hurt those I love most either indirectly or directly? And finally, using your brain God gave to you, simply ask yourself, “Is this a good choice or a bad choice?”

Life is about choices.  And what you choose today… everyday… will make all this difference!  So choose wisely.

PCW

2 TYPES OF GARBAGE (LIES) THAT CAN FILL OUR MINDS…

1. THE GARBAGE SOMEONE ELSE PUT IN OUR MINDS

• You’ll never amount to anything
• You’re not good enough
• You’re not smart enough
• You’re too short, too fat, too ugly, too skinny, too loud, too quiet, too old, not old enough, too weird, not weird enough
• You’ve made too many mistakes. 3 strikes you’re out and you’ve had 5, 6, or more!
• What you did disqualifies you from being able to do that, or from being that… 
• That failure was too big  
• That sin was too great
• You can’t recover from something like that! A mistake like that! Might as well go ahead and put on the old scarlet letter.
• I’m just a complete failure!

You know what all that is? A BUNCH OF GARBAGE THAT SATAN HAS BEEN FILLING YOU WITH AND IT’S TIME TO EMPTY THE TRASH, SEAL THE LID, AND GIVE SATAN A GOOD KICK IN THE TAIL AND REMIND HIM, AND YOU THAT HE HAS NO PLACE IN YOUR LIFE!

Romans 8:1-3a - 1Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, 2because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death. 3For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering. (My sin offering, your sin offering… Christ paid our debt 100%. There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus! His grace is sufficient for you, for me, no matter who we are or what we’ve done!

Satan doesn’t want you to believe this though. And he is looking for every opportunity he can to remind you of your sin, your failures…to feed you lies about how bad you are, how unworthy you are. But remember, Satan has no power over you. And the key is to resist him, to not give in to his lies, and the scripture says that he will flee from you. 

1 Peter 5:8-9 - Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings.

 

James 4:7 - Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

2. THE GARBAGE YOU YOURSELF PUT INTO YOUR MIND

Ephesians 5:1-12 - Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children 2 and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. 3 But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God's holy people. 4 Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving. 5 For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person—such a man is an idolater—has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God's wrath comes on those who are disobedient. 7 Therefore do not be partners with them. 8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light 9 (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) 10 and find out what pleases the Lord. 11 Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. 12 For it is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret.

HOW TO GET RID OF YOUR GARBAGE…

 

1. Claim who you are in Christ!

2 Corinthians 5:17-21 - Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! 18All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: 19that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. 20We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God. 21God made him who had no sin to be sin[a] for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

2. Quit letting the devil have the victory.  

James 4:7-10 - Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. (Whatever it takes… 10Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.

3. Let go of the garbage of the past and live in the grace of your future!

 

Philippians 3:12-18 - Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. 13 Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. All of us who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you. Only let us live up to what we have already attained. Join with others in following my example, brothers, and take note of those who live according to the pattern we gave you.

 

4. Quit putting garbage in there!

 

Ephesians 4:17-24 - So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking (a lot of thoughts that lead to nothing). 18 They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts. 19 Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, with a continual lust for more.
20 You, however, did not come to know Christ that way. 21 Surely you heard of him and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. 22 You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; 23 to be made new in the attitude of your minds; 24 and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.

 

5. Pray and Believe!

 

James 5:13-17 - Is any one of you in trouble? He should pray. Is anyone happy? Let him sing songs of praise. 14Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord. 15And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven. 16Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.  

James 1:5-8 - If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. 6 But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. 7That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; 8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does.

Grading Sin?

When we begin putting sin (Sin being our rebellion against God's will and/or His ways) on a grading scale (one sin is worse than another) we might as well be saying that God's grace isn't sufficient (or enough) to cover ALL sins. Now, certainly sins consequences will vary depending on the sin, but God's grace is always the same, always consistent. Bottom line: It doesn't matter what you've done ...or how bad your past might seem, God's grace is sufficient for the worst of sinners. Therefore I encourage you today to live in His wonderful, undeserved, yet overabundant, grace!

Romans 3:20-24 (NLT)
20 For no one can ever be made right with God by doing what the law commands. The law simply shows us how sinful we are.
21 But now God has shown us a way to be made right with Him without keeping the requirements of the law, as was promised in the writings of Moses and the prophets long ago. 22 We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. And this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who we are.
23 For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. 24 Yet God, with undeserved kindness, declares that we are righteous. He did this through Christ Jesus when He freed us from the penalty for our sins.

God is Faithful!

Proverbs 3:5-6 (NLT)

5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding.

6 Seek His will in all you do,

and He will show you which path to take.

Key Points....

1. Trust God fully! 110% surrender to His best plans for you.

2. Don't trust what you "think" is right.  In other words, seek His Word, Godly counsel, pray, and listen for His voice.

3. Ask, "How does this decision line up with God's will? Would His Word support it? Would you do "it" (whatever it is) if He were literally standing beside you? (Example: If I do this will I go further in debt and be a greater "slave to the lender"?)

4. Trust that God has your best interest in mind.  Trust that He loves you, you are His, you are His child, and He wants the very best for you.

Bottom line: God's ways are not our ways.  His ways, His plans, His purposes can always be trusted.  The One who created you, loves you more than anything and has a best plan for you.  Trust His Will, His Word, and His ways and He will always prove faithful!