Five Lessons I Learned From Church Planting This Week

Remember when you came back from summer break in elementary school? The suntanned skin, the classroom windows were open, the chalk was brand new? One of the more common writing assignments to kick off your school year was probably some sort of question to get you thinking. Maybe it was like, "My favorite thing that I did this summer" or "Three new things I did this summer". Maybe you went to Disney World with your family. Maybe you caught a fish for the first time. Maybe you kissed a girl during a late night game of flashlight tag.

Well, I think this can be a healthy assignment in life sometimes. (Not kissing random girls in the dark, but rather a time of personal reflection) Church planting can be so daunting and serious, that from time to time, we should be willing to reflect and maybe even laugh at our condition a bit. So as I dwell on my week (which may be a bit like yours) I want to share the five lessons I learned from church planting this week:

1. I'm skilled at the art of very little. I sometimes want to change my business card to say "Jack of all trades, Master of none". Perhaps it works to my benefit as a church planter that I know a lot about a little because most days you have a little to work with. Maybe my business card should say, "Swiss Army Pastor".

2. I can do sermon prep anywhere. This week it was in a youth room at another church. In weeks prior it has been at the park, on my porch and even in the front seat of my car while I wait to pick up my daughter from a function at another church.

3. Our space is so small that sometimes when I preach I can hear loud children's voices through the wall behind me. It's not the volume that makes preaching difficult, it's that sometimes I'm as equally interested in what they have to say as I am with what I have to say. Eavesdrop on a child's conversation sometime, it will bless your heart. Especially when they're discussing Jesus.

4. I have no idea what I'm doing most days in the midst of COVID. I feel like I'm trying to nail jello to the wall. One week I have a game plan and I am juiced about our strategy going forward. The next week I'm scrambling to see that strategy through because I failed to consider those who need to "self-quarantine". I actually get physically nauseous now when I hear the word "quarantine".

5. Every time I see a young adult in our small church my heart soars and I want to publicly cheer them. I can't do this, however, because it might send them out the back door. But if you're like me you know the feeling of seeing young adults choosing to prioritize Christ each week.

This list is not exhaustive by any means but rather a simple list of 5 things on the top of my brain. How about you? What have you learned from church planting this week? I'd love to hear.