Church planting is hard, holy work. When the numbers dip, people leave, and the weight feels heavy, it’s easy to live as if God’s love depends on your performance. But 2 Samuel 9 reminds us what God’s covenant kindness looks like in these 4 ways. ⬇️ --- 1️⃣ You are sought. - God’s love initiates. - In 2 Samuel 9, David asks, “Is there anyone … to whom I can show kindness?” - God isn’t waiting for you to prove yourself. His grace moves toward the undeserving. - Church planter, you are sought out—not because of your performance, but because of His great kindness. 2️⃣ You are found. - Your place at the table is secure. - Mephibosheth wasn’t looking for a promotion. He was an unexpected recipient of the king’s kindness. - David restored his inheritance and welcomed him to the table. - Your place in God’s family isn’t earned by ministry success. So, sit down, eat, and receive. 3️⃣ You are known. - Being known doesn’t mean being sent away. - Mephibosheth called himself a “dead dog.” Ministry leaders know that inner voice: Imposter. Not enough. Liability. - God already knows your fears and failures. But in Christ, your deepest identity isn’t your ministry performance. - You are known, redeemed, and loved by Him. 4️⃣ You are held. - Grace holds you when ministry gets messy. - Mephibosheth lost land, but the king remained his treasure. - Psalm 23 promises God’s people a table even in the presence of their enemies—not a life without them. - God’s grace doesn’t always remove the hardship. Instead, it holds you through it. --- Still limping. Still planting. Still loved. Your seat at the table isn’t secured by your performance; it rests on God’s covenant kindness. You are sought. You are found. You are known. You are held. We are weak—and that’s a good thing, because He is strong. --- Want to read more? Check out the full article from Dan Steel here. ➡️ newchurches.com/article/chur…

Sunday’s sermon may be the last that a congregant hears. It may be the last time they sing on this side of eternity. An eternal mindset brings about a sense of sobriety and urgency in our leadership. From ep. 7 — Wisdom and Humility Full episode here: i-sml.mtrbio.com/public/smar…

Feeling weighed down lately? Spiritual warfare often targets your joy and your confidence in God’s love. Save this as a reminder to guard both.

Don’t rest where the devil plays. The enemy doesn’t always need to destroy you. Sometimes, he just needs to distract you. What we turn to for rest can quietly become what pulls us away from God. Not everything that helps you escape is helping you rest. Be intentional about where you turn for peace. --- Full episode with @jonathanparnell here 👇 i-sml.mtrbio.com/public/smar…

Here’s what it looks like to do God’s work the Devil’s way ⬇️ Choosing productivity > prayer. Choosing a book > your Bible. Or seeing people as attendees to retain > souls to shepherd. Just because you are busy doing God’s work doesn’t mean you are doing it God’s way. Don’t take the shortcut. Start with this: “Jesus—what would honor You most?” Check out the full episode on spiritual warfare with @jonathanparnell 🔗 i-sml.mtrbio.com/public/smar…

Many have turned social media into an arena for mocking their Christian brothers and sisters. Let it be a place where we practice charity and self-control. James 3:9-10 “With the tongue we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in God’s likeness. Blessing and cursing come out of the same mouth. My brothers and sisters, these things should not be this way.” ✳️ Full episode here: i-sml.mtrbio.com/public/smar…

Preach with the aim of winning souls? Yes. Preach difficult passages that challenge your context? Yes. But preach pastorally — with great care for the individual souls in your flock. Episode 5 — Wisdom with Words 👇 i-sml.mtrbio.com/public/smar…

Why do church plants need small groups? Small groups create space for discipleship, Christian community, meaningful relationships, and healthy church growth beyond Sunday worship. Here are 4 reasons small groups matter for church plants. 👇 --- 1️⃣ Church is more than Sunday worship. Sunday worship is essential—but it isn’t the whole life of the church. Small groups create space for people to: - grow in discipleship - encourage and care for one another - build Christian community - live out the gospel throughout the week. 2️⃣ Relationships are the fabric of the church. Small groups give people a place to: - build trust and deeper relationships - practice honest vulnerability - pray for and encourage one another - cultivate a culture of welcome. Healthy small groups create a healthy church culture. 3️⃣ Small groups extend your Sunday ministry. - For a young church, small groups reinforce your doctrine, values, and culture beyond the Sunday gathering. - When groups discuss and apply the sermon together, people move from hearing God’s Word to being shaped by it. 4️⃣ Small groups prepare your church for growth. - You may not need multiple groups... yet. - But starting early helps your church prepare for the people God will bring. - It’s easier to welcome people into existing groups than to build a groups ministry from scratch. --- Small groups may seem counterintuitive for a church plant. They aren’t foolproof. Or easy. But they create space for discipleship, community, and growth. And they’re worth the work. --- Want to go deeper? Check out the full article from Barbabas Piper here ⬇️ newchurches.com/article/why-…

Church planting comes with no shortage of urgent priorities... But some things shouldn’t get pushed to the margins. Baptism and the Lord’s Supper aren’t just elements of a worship service. They are vital to the life of the church—and especially to your church plant. --- In the early days of church planting, it’s easy to think that your other concerns are more pressing: - building teams - reaching people - developing leaders - growing the church So, what role do baptism and the Lord’s Supper play in the church? --- Most church planting books, talks, and trainings focus on other things. Not baptism. Not the Lord’s Supper. But these practices aren’t just fodder for theological debate—they’re critical to the health of your church plant. Here are 3 ways these ordinances shape a healthy, gospel-centered church. 1️⃣ They mark the people of God. - Baptism declares our faith and serves as a sign of our entry into the church. - The Lord’s Supper reminds us of the same gospel we proclaim in baptism. - Together, they mark us as the people of God—from the moment we enter the church to the day we gather around the heavenly table. 2️⃣ They create community. - Baptism and the Lord’s Supper are ordinances of the church, meant to be observed by the gathered people of God. - Together with the Word, they cultivate a gospel-centered, Christ-exalting community. - We pass through the same waters and gather around the same table—united by a shared faith in the same Savior. 3️⃣ They anchor us in the gospel. - In baptism, we are buried with Christ and raised to walk in newness of life. - In the Lord’s Supper, we remember, reflect on, and proclaim the gospel. - These ordinances aren’t merely elements to fit into a worship service; they’re practices at the heart of Christian worship. --- Want your church plant to be more gospel-centered? Start with what Christ has already given His church: - Receive the gifts of God for the people of God. - Give baptism and the Lord’s Supper their proper place. - Trust God to use them to shape His church. --- Ready to take a deeper dive? Check out the full article from @maseballard ⬇️ newchurches.com/article/two-…

Even the demons believe — but the difference between demonic understanding and Christian faith is a belief that produces good works. James 2:18-19 says “But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without works, and I will show you faith by my works. You believe that God is one. Good! Even the demons believe—and they shudder.” *neophyte theologues = new theologians Full audio/video here: t.mtrbio.com/new-churches