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…

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…

James 3 says... “Consider how a small fire sets ablaze a large forest. The tongue is a fire.” The big explosions aren’t the threat. It’s the small, careless words that start fires. Consider Proverbs 15:4 “A gentle tongue is a tree of life.”

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…

A growing relationship with Christ should lead you to live missionally in the city to which you have been called! *Quote attributed to The Church of Irresistible Influence by Professor Robert M Lewis Full episode linked in the replies!

Great advice from @noaholdham on serving your city in a way that even non-believers would celebrate! Full episode on Discipleship from the book of James linked in replies!