Church Plant Lessons 101 – Page 4

Isolation is not just distance from God’s people

2021-07-04T17:59:08+00:00By Sam Ford|Church Plant Lessons 101, Note to Self...and Others|

It continues to sadden, but not surprise me, when people deny, reject, or otherwise abandon that which the Bible says they need. I am talking about biblical, gospel-centered, community. There have been many times that shepherds, like myself, have "left the 99" to chase after the one sheep who has wandered. Sometimes this proves fruitful. Most of the time, it is disappointing and draining. Then if, after much time and energy spent, the exasperated shepherd decides to stop actively chasing (even though his hope for return remains), things go from bad to worse. With no shepherd around, the lying wolves come out from hiding in the woods. And if the wandering sheep stops running long enough to look around, they become frightened. They look back to see that the once "chasing" shepherd has returned to his flock--and the now lonely sheep begins to listen to the lies of the prowling [...]

From The Pursuit of God

2012-02-20T07:30:54+00:00By Sam Ford|Church Plant Lessons 101, Note to Self...and Others, Random Thoughts|

The doctrine of justification by faith—a Biblical truth, and a blessed relief from sterile legalism and unavailing self-effort—has in our time fallen into evil company and been interpreted by many in such manner as actually to bar men from the knowledge of God. The whole transaction of religious conversion has been made mechanical and spiritless. Faith may now be exercised without a jar to the moral life and without embarrassment to the Adamic ego. Christ may be "received" without creating any special love for Him in the soul of the receiver. The man is "saved," but he is not hungry nor thirsty after God. In fact he is specifically taught to be satisfied and encouraged to be content with little. The modern scientist has lost God amid the wonders of His world; we Christians are in real danger of losing God amid the wonders of His Word. We have almost [...]

Friday Fresh WORD…

2012-02-17T09:30:48+00:00By Sam Ford|Church Plant Lessons 101, Random Thoughts|

http://youtu.be/6NYp_il0Qzc

Searching for Community not Fellowship

2021-07-04T17:59:41+00:00By Sam Ford|Church Plant Lessons 101, Note to Self...and Others, Theology 101|

http://vimeo.com/30891621

I enjoy listening to Francis Chan's heart. His words challenge me to be more concerned about moving on mission and less concerned about standing in community. I appreciate how he, and men like David Platt, approach the Word of God with simplicity. They just want to do what it actually says and not complicate it with what we (or others) think it says.

Are pastors making it too easy?

2012-02-14T16:41:56+00:00By Sam Ford|Church Plant Lessons 101, Random Thoughts|

A word to pastors... As I am reading through the gospel of Mark, I am struck by many of the things that Jesus says. Without fail, a careful reading of Jesus' words will blow every predictable stereotype or expectation we might have for what a "good pastor" should or should not say. There are many times when I think to myself, "Wow, that wouldn't go over well" or, "I don't think I could say that...at least not that way" We are much more willing to overlook what we'd consider "verbal slips" by Jesus' ( being God incarnate), but seems that we wait like doctrinal-mercenaries to pounce on any pastor who might try the same thing. For example, consider what Jesus says in his encounter with the "Rich Young Man" as well as the words to his disciples following the conversation (See Mark 10.17-24). After this young man tells Jesus how [...]

Paul &_______ (Monday Morning Pastor…on Tuesday)

2012-02-14T10:33:28+00:00By Sam Ford|Church Plant Lessons 101, Random Thoughts, Re:Sermon|

For the month of February, we are preaching a series entitled PAUL &. It is an important sermon series designed to remind our church of its "family traits" or core values: Gospel Truth, Gospel Community, and Gospel Living. Instead of three sermons with those titles, we've decided to examine four different relationships Paul had over the course of his ministry. The first Sunday in our series we preached about Paul & Barnabas. This text emphasized gospel-encouragement. Although we'd love to be known as a church full of good people who say good things to make you feel good, we believe the Bible. And the Bible says that we are a church full of bad people who put their faith in the goodness of Jesus who helps us, by grace, encourage others. In other words, if we are not encouraging by, for, and to Jesus, then we are not encouraging the [...]

Some Christmas Perspective

2021-07-04T18:00:31+00:00By Sam Ford|Church Plant Lessons 101, Re:Sermon|

"From the Christian point of view there is no special about Christmas in a prison cell. For many people in this building it will probably be more sincere and genuine occasion than in places where nothing but a name is kept. That misery, suffering, poverty, loneliness, helplessness, and guilt mean something quite different in they eyes of God from what they mean in the judgment of humans, that God will approach where men and women turn away, that Christ was born in a stable because there was no room for him in the inn--these are things that a prisoner can understand better than other people; for him they really are glad tidings, and that faith gives him a part in the communion of saints, a Christian fellowship breaking the bounds of time and space and reducing the months of confinement here to insignificance." - D.Bonhoeffer from Letters and Papers from [...]

You’re No Superman

2021-07-04T18:00:41+00:00By Sam Ford|Church Plant Lessons 101, Note to Self...and Others, Random Thoughts|

Sin is sinister. Our trials come in many different shapes, sizes, colors and shades. But when the trial overwhelms us, when the temptation overcomes us, it seems that we are led in one of two directions--pride or despair. Both pride and despair comes from a rejection of the savior. Both pride and despair is rooted in the conviction (however momentary) that Jesus is not quite enough. Sometimes we despair. That means we start to believe that Jesus is not powerful (or loving) enough to remove my guilt, heal my brokenness, or to free me from some plaguing sin. Sometimes we become prideful. That means we that, though we may say we believe all those things about Jesus, secretly we slip on the messiah-cape do our own work to fix the problem, restore "it" to health, or otherwise save the world from sin (including ourselves). It is difficult to remain Christ-centered when you believe [...]

Mega Church Pastors & the New Monarchy

2011-10-28T14:06:31+00:00By Sam Ford|Church Plant Lessons 101, Random Thoughts|

4 Then all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah 5 and said to him, “Behold, you are old and your sons do not walk in your ways. Now appoint for us a king to judge us like all the nations.” 6 But the thing displeased Samuel when they said, “Give us a king to judge us.” And Samuel prayed to the Lord. 7 And the Lord said to Samuel, “Obey the voice of the people in all that they say to you, for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected me from being king over them. 8 According to all the deeds that they have done, from the day I brought them up out of Egypt even to this day, forsaking me and serving other gods, so they are also doing to you. 9 Now then, obey their voice; only you shall [...]

Of Trees, Transplants, and Tumbleweeds…

2011-10-25T12:08:46+00:00By Sam Ford|Church Plant Lessons 101, Random Thoughts|

6 Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, 7rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just las you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving. Colossians 2.6-7 The book of Colossians is a book about spiritual maturity. In the first chapter, Paul explains that his mission, whether it comes through his persecution or his prosperity, is to bring others to maturity in Christ. Of course, he does not presume that people will in fact "attain" maturity, rather, he puts forward an image of a lifelong struggle where a believer actively fights against sin and fights for delight in Jesus--all by energy God provides (Col. 1.29). He is arguing against some false teachers in Colossae who have taught that spirituality begins IN Jesus, but grows IN something (or someone) else. Paul's heart on the matter is made most clear in Colossians 2.6-15. Nine times Paul says [...]