I went by one of my favorite missionary blogsites, Guy Muse’s blog, and found this post, where Guy was sharing something he had read here. I had never visited Bill Lollar’s blog before, but these six principles for church planting were brilliant. Really, I’d just call them steps on following Jesus (or in the common vernacular - being a Christian).
Here are the six steps [with modifications to numbers 2 and 3, indicated by brackets], but check out the original post at the above links!!!
1. Recognize that every Christian is “called†to communicate the Gospel message wherever they currently live and work. That’s the “Great Commission,†so why look for a lesser one? You don’t need anyone else’s permission, since God trumps everyone, and you certainly don’t need an assessment to share the Gospel.
2. Continue in your present occupation (1 Corinthians 7:17-23) [unless God clearly calls (or called you previously) to another], so you can meet your obligations, particularly the one that requires YOU to take care of your family (1 Timothy 5:8) and share with those in need (Romans 12:13; Ephesians 4:28). Ministry [to which all followers of Jesus are called] is not a career path for those seeking a comfortable salary, benefits, and a retirement plan!
3. Act on principle number one and begin sharing the Gospel with your neighbors, friends, co-workers, and family members. There is usually no need to go anywhere else [again unless God tells you to do so], because your world is already full of people who don’t know Jesus! Yes, it’s okay to relocate, as long as you remember principle number two OR a group of believers voluntarily agrees to support you as a missionary in another culture where it is unlikely that you would be allowed to take jobs away from the indigenous people group to whom you are being sent.
4. Since God has promised to provide a harvest for those who labor like this in His vineyard, begin to disciple/teach those who express an interest in spiritual things, expecting the power of the Gospel and the work of the Holy Spirit to bring them to repentance and faith.
5. Meet together with these new believers on a regular basis (Hebrews 10:24-25), thinking of creative ways in which you can stimulate one another to love and minister to others, as well as encouraging each other in the Christian journey.
6. Teach every new believer how to follow the above principles!
