Community
There are 4 components that will set off Explosive Church Planting. It starts with “Call” and moves to Community.
There is power in numbers; 1 + 1 is not 2! It is at least 3 every time, when dealing with people. Amy, my wife, plus me, equals Amy and Nick – way more than just each of us by ourselves. The two of us together is another entity. We make up a small community of Amy by herself, me by myself, and Amy and me together! I think you get what I mean, but let me give you an example.
Amy works as a Chief Strategist for Logistics Planning and is extremely capable at her career. During my 20-year stint in the corporate arena I did a lot of Strategic Planning. So, over the last several years she has asked me to review some of her work and give my input. She often brings home critical documents she is authoring and asks for my editing and input of her work and then the two of us sit down and craft a final version that is a combination of her thinking, my input and our final draft based on mutual agreement; 1 + 1 = 3!
You simply cannot plant a church alone – you must do it in community. The leadership community you launch with will be a powerful reflection of your values and will communicate loudly to all those who attend the church. Is it a diverse combination of gifted people who love one another and humbly serve in their specific “calling”? Is there unity of purpose and mission? Is there a sense that, every person is important and that their contribution matters? Think about it, that’s what people really want to be a part of – community!
In Colossians 4:7-17, Paul lists 11 people by name and also refers to the brothers at Laodicea, the Church at Laodicea and the Church at Nympha’s house. Paul operated in a called community as a church planter, not as a “lone ranger”. In fact the only lone ranger’s I read about in Scripture are Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and the list goes on – the Prophets. We’re not Prophets. Instead, we are called to be in community and on mission together. How’s your community?
