101 Nuggets for Church Planters

Dear Church Planter,

As I write, we are just over two weeks out from going public with Project Church. I’ve spent the last two or three years preparing for this.  I’ve read loads of church books,  listened to some amazing church leaders, and swapped stories with some very bright church planters.

And now that I’m standing on the edge of the next phase of this journey, I felt compelled to share some things with you that I’ve learned (so far).  Some of them I learned the hard way. For what it’s worth, here are some nuggets that might help you as you take your next steps in your calling.

1. Jesus is the big deal.
2. If you are called, you have permission.
3. These are your first three priorities: 1) Follow Jesus 2) Love your wife 3) Be a good daddy.
4. Don’t just plant a church; start a movement.
5. You’re not called to grow a church; you’re called to grow missionaries.
6. Don’t make the church your idol.  It’s easier than you think.
7. Study your Bible.  I shouldn’t have to say this, but…
8. Be able to explain the Gospel simply and clearly.  Start now by writing it down.
9. You have what it takes.
10. Don’t be a poser. A graphic tee, ripped jeans, and Starbucks isn’t what makes you cool.
11. In other words, be yourself.  People smell fake a mile away.
12. Read books and blogs but don’t get caught in the formula trap.
13. Speaking of reading, don’t just read church planting books.
14. There’s a lot of wisdom in the words of dead guys.
15. Meet with guys who are getting it done.
16. Ask questions, shut up and listen, & take notes.
17. The core task of any church is to go and make disciples.
18. You’re not an event planner. You’re a pastor.
19. Church isn’t a big show or a building; it’s a people.  Don’t lose sight of that.
20. Make friends with people who are far from God.
21. Have church planting buddies. You’ll need them.
22. Don’t talk about church all the time to your wife.  Pace yourself.
23. What are you going to say to someone who just lost their baby?
24. Blog.  It’s a way for people to get to know you and a chronicle of your journey.
25. Don’t be an arrogant prick. Be teachable.
26. You should be able to explain the vision on the back of a napkin.
27. Go with what God gives you whether much or little.
28. Be careful what (and who) you criticize.
29. You’ll get criticized for things you never even said or implied. Get used to it.
30. Check your motives. Why are you starting this church?
31. Understand that starting a church is odd to outsiders.
32. Rarely are your options this OR that. Often it’s this AND that.
33. Local pastors are not your competition.
34. That being said, don’t be surprised if some of them are jerks.
35. If you have a launch team/core group; love them, don’t use them.
36. Do you have a theological framework?
37. Your words are more powerful than you realize.  Even the ones you say in passing.
38. Your heart will break and people will let you down.
39. Be a man.
40. Start a church where it’s okay to be a dude.
41. Be a leader who develops leaders.
42. Pray without ceasing.
43. The stress will be great, how will you deal with it? (I gained weight).
44. Don’t go it alone. Surround yourself with a support system.
45. Practice loving people where they are and not just as they should be.
46. If you don’t give a rip about people far from God- do something else.
47. Careful not to feed the consumerism monster with your church.
48. Lighting, sound systems, computers, projectors, etc. are great tools.
49. But if your church depends on them to be a church then you’re not a church.
50. You starting this church is an act of worship to God.
51. Fight the temptation to do everything yourself.
52. You can’t force community.
53. Timing matters.
54. The DNA of your church is determined early on. Get it right.
55. Would Jesus agree with your mission statement?
56. Can people easily remember your mission statement?
57. By the way, you are a missionary.
58. Don’t take yourself too seriously.
59. God loves to use unlikely people.
60. If it all fails, at least you went for it.
61. Be resilient and tenacious.
62. Your kids will say, “My dad had a dream and went for it…maybe I can too!”
63. Evolve.
64. Here’s an equation: Love God + Love People = _________________
65. Figure out what you’re going to do with the kiddos.
66. Typical is boring.
67. Love your city. Love your world.
68. Your vision is probably too small.
69. Studying the culture is more than just watching TV.
70. Would you do this for free?
71. People are watching you.
72. Get used to asking this question: “What the next step?”
73. Just when you think you have all the answers, the questions change.
74. Be intentional.
75. Some people will laugh at you but others will be inspired by you.
76. Watch your assumptions.
77. Prepare- but understand that you’ll never been prepared enough.
78. GO!
79. Stand up for the ones who can’t stand up at all.
80. Time alone with a notebook, a pen, and a Bible often lead to something special.
81. Authentic people are led by authentic leaders.
82. Dwell in your city.
83. R-E-P-E-N-T often.
84. You will become very familiar with your strengths and weaknesses.
85. Don’t forget that a large part of what qualifies you for ministry is how you manage your family.
86. Laugh a lot and get your mind off churchy stuff.
87. It will be messy.
88. When was the last time you went to a bar or sat in the smoking section of a restaurant?
89. Be big on grace AND truth.
90. We are accountable to God for our churches.
91. Say no to good things and say yes to the right things.
92. Repeat after me, “I heart simplicity.”
93. Don’t stop dreaming.
94. Borrow ideas but hear from God.
95. There’s never enough money.
96. Only the Holy Spirit can change people’s hearts.
97. Sometimes you just need to unplug.
98. Where does your city hurt?
99. Despite what you’ve read, church is not all about Sundays.
100. Church all boils down to relationships.
101. Again, Jesus is the big deal.

There is so much more but that’s all I could come up with off the top of my head.   What would you add? What are you learning? What questions do you have?

Tags: Church, Church Planting, missional church, movement

8 Comments to 101 Nuggets for Church Planters

Blendahtom
Thu, August 21, 2008

Freaking Awesome!!

david
Thu, August 21, 2008

Wow!!

I will have to copy this so I can look at it every week to keep it fresh.

soomah » Archiv » Tipps für Churchplanter
Fri, August 22, 2008

[...] hier ne Liste von Jason Salamun gelesen, ein Gemeindegründer aus den USA. Er schreibt 100 Dinge, die er während dieser [...]

Greg Simmons
Mon, August 25, 2008

Wow! That list is AWESOME.

You’ve covered pretty much everything. I lead our volunteer Tech Team at our church (sound/video/lights). One thing I drive home to them. Message over method. If we ever do anything to make the method (how the message is delivered) more noticeable than the Message, we just screwed up.

Do you mind if I print these off and keep them where my team can see them? I can see how much of this list can apply to anyone working in the church - called staff or volunteer.

Jason
Mon, August 25, 2008

@Greg- Print away. I posted it to share with anyone who was interested. Also, I 100% agree with the “message over method” mantra.

Greg Simmons
Tue, August 26, 2008

I shared with a number of people with a link back to your site. The response was “wow…I needed to read that”.

Just wanted you to know.

Jasonisms for church planting at daveingland.com
Fri, August 29, 2008

[...] Perryisms, I’m totally digging on some Jasonisms. Jason Salamun posted a list titled “101 Nuggets for Church Planters” and it’s very awesome! All 101 are necessary, but here are some that really made me say [...]

Bookmarks about Edge
Thu, November 6, 2008

[...] - bookmarked by 3 members originally found by jexplink on 2008-10-20 101 Nuggets for Church Planters http://thinkinginprogress.com/2008/08/21/101-nuggets-for-church-planters/ - bookmarked by 6 [...]

Leave a comment