LESSON #21:  You will want to feel discontent and threatened...so don't. I have always liked the passage in John 3.  Up until this point, John the Baptist has been the only good preacher in town.  And though he is fully aware of his role as the "voice in the wilderness", his disciples have other ideas.  When Jesus eventually shows up and begins his ministry, John's disciples are a bit confused--even threatened--because the crowds seem to be gravitating toward the new show in town: John 3.26-30 26 And they came to John and said to him, “Rabbi, he who was with you across the Jordan, to whom you bore witness—look, he is baptizing, and all are going to him.” 27 John answered, “A person cannot receive even one thing unless it is given him from heaven. 28 You yourselves bear me witness, that I said, ‘I am not the Christ, but I have [...]

LESSON #19:  Know why you're doing it. We must always check our motivations for serving.   When you first begin as a church planter, it's much easier to talk about pure motivations than it is to actually maintain them.   The planter has an opportunity to pass or fail the "trial of motivation" every Sunday morning.  Even if the planter claims not to care how many people show up, or that anyone said anything about his sermon afterward, or that he hasn't seen a "decision for Jesus" for a while...he's lying.  Every gathering is an opportunity to feel good or bad about himself, to boast in what he is doing or in what Jesus has already done. Attitudes reveal motivations. When a Sunday morning, Bible Study, or similar gathering does not go as expected ("they" don't show up, "they" don't respond, "they" don't sacrifice) you will be tempted to self-pity, self-righteousness, or [...]