Hey there Bootcampers! We’re back from our Holiday break, we’re jumping right in and getting down to business and discussing the important awareness of how you live your life as a leader. Our good friends at First Coast Churches hosted an annual meeting where Lance Witt presented some great info on how Pastors can move beyond the grind.
Every leader lives on two stages:
The front stage-everyone sees
The backstage-clutter, curtains, chaos not many ever see this
The challenge many Pastors face is staying connected to and loving Jesus, the Shepherd, more than the sheep business. How do you do that? Witt, provides some helpful framework for us from Psalm 23
Create space and time for unhurried time with God
Pay attention to what you are paying attention to
Let rest – restore you
Grab your calendar by the throat-don’t let life or ministry plan you-proactively plan with the Lord’s guidance.
Engage good self-care rather than self-medication
Practice a Sabbath (you need a day off)
Let your time with God give embolden you with courage
Receive the voice of God’s blessing
There’s a whole lot more packed into this EP, check it out!
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Welcome back Bootcampers. As we’re heading toward the new year we wanted to take a few minutes to talk about the importance of looking back (reflecting upon the past year) and then looking ahead the the new year which is approaching. We’re finding the twin disciplines of reflection and futuring extremely helpful in life, leadership and serving the local church. Our good friend, Bob Bumgarner developed a helpful sheet to guide this practice.
Here are some questions to guide this process:
What were you attempting for Jesus in 2022?
What progress did you make?
What were some of the highlights or turning points?
What will you carry over (actions steps) into the coming year?
What challenges did you face? How did the Lord see you through?
We would love to hear from you Bootcamper! Is there something that made a difference for you? Have some wisdom to share or a question to ask? Drop us a line, voicemail-we would love to hear from you.
Maybe you’ve been looking at your web presence and realize you need to do something different in the coming year. Our awesome sponsor, One Eighty Digital, can get you headed in the right direction. Contact them today and let them know you are a Bootcamper!
Merry Christmas Bootcampers! We know that this time of year can a huge challenge for Pastors/Planters/Replanters-and we want to encourage you, amidst all the hustle to connect with the truth behind our celebrations at Christmas time.
Jesus’ birth reminds us of God’s great love
The most simple story is also the most profound-Jesus came into the world to save sinners
Don’t feel the pressure to be unique-just be clear, the biblical account stands on its own
In all seriousness, we pray you have an incredible Christmas. We’re thankful for you, Bootcamp listener.
Welcome to this Nashville version of the Bootcamp. The guys got down to recording an EP while doing some Replant work in the big music city. In this installment they guys address how to deal with “stiff-necked” change resisting members of the congregation.
How do you deal with people who resist change?
How do you deal with folks who just vote no?
How do you handle people who stand in the way?
He is the one we proclaim, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone fully mature in Christ. To this end I strenuously contend with all the energy Christ so powerfully works in me. Colossians 1:28-29
The dynamics of a dysfunctional church can be incredibly difficult to deal with, Bob addressed this in a long “Bart Barber-esque” tweet you can view here.
Here are some alternative ideas to consider when you are working to Replant/Revitalize a declining church.
Be willing to “get fired” in order to stand up to those who resist change.
Understand the nature and process of attacks.
Radical change always requires a definitive battle
This is a spiritual battle
Be gracious and endure, but be firm and don’t hesitate to warn.
Engage in church discipline. Know this, church conflict doesn’t go away, it often goes under ground.
Trust the Lord to guide and provide.
Remember the three B’s: Bible, Bylaws and Buddies
We’re praying for you as you lead in the trenches, it’s difficult, we know it. Drop us a line, leave a comment or voice mail, we’d love to hear from you.
Our awesome sponsor One Eighty Digital can help your church renew its web presence and branding, contact them for help today and let them know you are a bootcamp listener.
Welcome back Bootcampers! In this EP we get down to the important topic of Stewardship-our focus is on how we are stewarding our gifting, leadership opportunities and the foundational questions: 1) Who does the church belong to and 2) What is my role as a Steward.
Sit back listen in and we’d love to hear your feedback-drop us a line, a voice mail or a comment.
“When we believe that the things we possess are actually ours or exist because of us, they begin to control and define us rather than the other way around. Consequently, our security and identity becomes rooted in them. And then, we are unable to separate ourselves from them, or release them, or trust God with them because to do so would mean to lose our selves. This was never God’s intention for the gifts He gives His creation.” – Mike Ayers, Stewardship, not Ownership
The Parable of the talents is a great place to establish a biblical basis for this – Matthew 25:14-30
We have been entrusted with gifts
Not everyone gets the same amount
What do we have to do to be told; “Well done!”
How should we live in order to be good and faithful servants?
What does the third servant teach us?
Get the help you need for your church website, connect with our good friends and great sponsor, One Eighty Digital, they can get your web presence in shape.
Welcome back Bootcampers! This is a bonus EP on the stages of Replanting is a contribution from one of our Bootcamp team members, Caleb Duncan. He serves as the Associational Missional Strategist for the West Florida Baptist Association.
In our series, we’ve looked at four stages in a replant: Plowing, Planting, Watering, and Growing. Now we turn our attention to the last stage, Harvesting.
Harvesting – The process of identifying, training, and utilizing leaders from your congregation to assist and carry on the work of the ministry. As spiritual growth occurs, leaders are actively engaged in intentionally discipling and raising up new leaders.
Here are some biblical examples:
Biblical Rationale:
Apollos: To use the example of Apollos in Acts 18:24-28, Apollos was instructed in the way of the Lord. He already had some background being trained as a leader.. But Priscilla and Aquilla identified him as a leader, and taught him more accurately. Here are some ways he was a natural leader:
Competent in the Scriptures: Spoke and Taught accurately (v. 24-25)
Fervent in Spirit: speaking boldly (v. 25-26)
Greatly Useful to Ministry: (v. 27)
Jesus’ Inner Circle: Jesus’ intentional discipleship of Peter, James and John. These scriptures show Jesus pulling aside Peter, James, and John to minister to others, to reveal himself to them, and to teach them to pray
Healing of Peter’s mother in law: Mark 1:29-31
Healing of Jairus’ daughter: Mark 5:21-43
Mount of Transfiguration: Mark 9:2
Garden of Gethsemane: Mark 14:32-33
When you read the book of Acts, the only disciples mentioned by name out of the original twelve are Peter, James, and John. They took a leadership responsibility. Peter preaches, Peter and John heal a lame beggar, Peter and John are brought before the council, Peter and John were sent to the Samaritans, James – pastor of the church in Jerusalem, is martyred for his faith.
Paul’s development of leaders like Titus and Timothy
2 Timothy 2:1-2, “You then, my child, be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus, 2 and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.”
Titus 1:5 “This is why I left you in Crete, so that you might put what remained into order, and appoint elders in every town as I directed you”
Here are some practical helps:
Keep your eyes always open – to see how people interact with you and with others. Who are the people that your church members talk about on a regular basis? Who do people go to for advice and biblical questions?
Spend time personally with those individuals.
Show them the way you do ministry
Give them opportunities to model your example
Delegate responsibility to them with oversight
Thanks to Caleb for the great content and for joining us on the Bootcamp. We’ve love to hear from you, drop us a comment, email or voicemail on the Bootcamp hotline and don’t forget to leave us a review on your favorite listening platform.
Get the leadership you need for your website and church branding by contacting our great sponsor, One Eighty Digital. They do great work and we’re glad to recommend them to you!
As promised-here’s the pic of Bob in the LSU Pajama Top
Happy Thanksgiving Week Bootcampers! We’re back with another EP on the Stages of Replanting, today’s EP focuses on the work God does of growing the church. We’d love to hear from you, drop us a comment, email or voice mail. Listen in and share your thoughts and don’t forget to leave us a review on your favorite listening platform.
In our series, we’ve looked at three stages in a replant: Plowing, Planting and Watering. Now we turn our attention to the last stage, Growing.
Growing: The fully developed seed of the gospel springs up and is evident in the life of those inside the church. It is marked by changed thinking and living, and is evidence of God’s work in the lives of the people – spiritual growth.
What then is Apollos? What is Paul? Servants through whom you believed, as the Lord assigned to each. I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth. (1 Cor. 3:5-7)
If you are faithfully fulfilling your assignment in plowing, planting and watering, you, brother pastor, are doing what God requires. He will grow His church. It may be numerically, doctrinally, spiritually, relationally.
You may not be nominated for the church magazine’s top-growing church list; that’s OK. Don’t seek a reward from men; seek the reward that comes from faithfully fulfilling the assignment God has given you.
It may be time to update your website, if so, check out our sponsor at one eighty digital, they can get you up and running with a site, branding and a whole lot more, let them know you are a Bootcamper!
Welcome back to the Bootcamp! We’re jumping back in on our series Stages in a Replant. Dial in, sit back and reflect on what success in ministry looks like! Let us know your comments, thoughts and insights-we’d love to hear from you.
In our examination of the stages in replanting a church we began with the hard work of plowing—which prepares the ground to receive the seeds of the gospel. In the next stage, planting, we highlighted the work of embedding the gospel intof every life and activity of the church.
Today we look at the important work of watering the implanted gospel seeds.
Paul, writing in 1 Corinthians 3, provides us with insights into the unique roles he an Apollos shared in the spread of the gospel.
What then is Apollos? What is Paul? Servants through whom you believed, as the Lord assigned to each. I planted, Apollos watered… 1 Corinthians 3:5-6a
What was Apollos’ work of watering? Acts 18 may provide some insight: Now a Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria, came to Ephesus. He was an eloquent man, competent in the Scriptures. He had been instructed in the way of the Lord. And being fervent in (the) spirit,he spoke and taught accurately the things concerning Jesus… he greatly helped those who through grace had believed, for he powerfully refuted the Jews in public, showing by the Scriptures that the Christ was Jesus.
Apollos’ assignment was the clear proclamation of the gospel, rooted in the scriptures, empowered by the Spirit for the practical help and edification of believers and the defense of the faith to skeptics and doubters.
A church that has been in decline may have been lacking:
Consistent and clear communication of the gospel message
Exegetical teaching from God’s word
Spirit empowered preaching
Practical application of God’s truth to everyday life
A powerful apologetic for Jesus in the culture
Replanters and Revitalizers must be fundamentally committed to:
Sermon preparation and evaluation
The centrality of the Gospel in their teaching
The devotion to and reliance upon The Spirit in all of the processes involved in preaching (Prayer, Planning, Preparation and Proclamation)
Equipping and challenging the congregation to respond in obedience in everyday life
Listen on for some practical tips on how to increase your effectiveness in watering the congregation with the word of God through preaching.
If you’ve been wanting help with your website check out our sponsor One Eighty Digital. They are leading experts in helping churches get their message out in an authentic and clear way. Tell them you are a Bootcamper!
Today we look at the important work of watering the implanted gospel seeds.
Paul, writing in 1 Corinthians 3, provides us with insights into the unique roles he and Apollos shared in the spread of the gospel.
What then is Apollos? What is Paul? Servants through whom you believed, as the Lord assigned to each. I planted, Apollos watered… 1 Corinthians 3:5-6a
What was Apollos’ work of watering? Acts 18 may provide some insight: Now a Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria came to Ephesus. He was an eloquent man, competent in the Scriptures. He had been instructed in the way of the Lord. And being fervent in (the) spirit,he spoke and taught accurately the things concerning Jesus… he greatly helped those who through grace had believed, for he powerfully refuted the Jews in public, showing by the Scriptures that the Christ was Jesus.
Apollos’ assignment was the clear proclamation of the gospel, rooted in the scriptures, empowered by the Spirit for the practical help and edification of believers and the defense of the faith to skeptics and doubters.
Q: Why do you think churches long in decline have an issue with transformation from preaching?
A church that has been in decline may have been lacking:
Consistent and clear communication of the gospel message
Exegetical teaching from God’s word
Spirit-empowered preaching
Practical application of God’s truth to everyday life
A powerful apologetic for Jesus in the culture
The public proclamation and skilled teaching of the gospel are central to the development of a healthy and vibrant church.
Q: What commitments do we need to make to ensure we’re watering the congregation through the ministry of the word?
Replanters and Revitalizers must be fundamentally committed to:
Sermon preparation and evaluation
The centrality of the Gospel in their teaching
The devotion to and reliance upon The Spirit in all of the processes involved in preaching (Prayer, Planning, Preparation and Proclamation)
Equipping and challenging the congregation to respond in obedience in everyday life
Q: Okay, let’s say we’re committed to improving our “watering skills” what are some practical steps we can take to improve our preaching?
Sermon Helps
Prayer/Personal Devotional life-preaching from the overflow
Frequent breaks
Improved study resources/methods
Listening to others (for inspiration, not copying)
Counter Intuitive-less time spent preparing, more time pastoring
Hey Bootcampers, we’re kicking off a new series, The Stages of a Replant. We’ve found this, church planting is like construction. Church replanting is more like farming. You labor away, plowing the fields, sowing the seeds and watering the rows you planted. And then you wait…..for the growth. One of the keystone verses for Replanters is Paul’s description of his role and work in the church.
“What then is Apollos? What is Paul? Servants through whom you believed, as the Lord assigned to each. I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth. He who plants and he who waters are one, and each will receive his wages according to his labor. For we are God’s fellow workers. You are God’s field, God’s building.” 1 Corinthians 3:5-9
Here are there are four stages:
Plowing—the work of God in preparing the ground through the preaching of the Gospel with the power and conviction of the Holy Spirit.
Planting–the work of the Pastor and Leaders to sow the Gospel deeply into the softened ground of the Church body.
Watering–the continual teaching and application of truth from God’s word that gives much needed refreshment so the seed can grow.
Growing–the fully developed seed of the Gospel springs up and is evident in the life of those inside the church. It’s marked by changed thinking and living and is evidence of God’s work in the lives of the people—spiritual growth.
What does the work of “plowing” look like in a Church RePlant ?
The Cessation of the “Well Worn”
The introduction of a disruptive force
Persistent Plodding
A Christ Centered Commitment
Listen in and give us your thoughts, we’d love to hear from you.
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