by Nelson Searcy and Tommy Duke

We’re looking at the lessons that can be learned in “Bootstrapping” a Church Plant (starting with little or no outside financial support).  Click here to read the first,  second, and third posts in this series.

Here are today’s lessons:

4. FOCUS: YOU’LL STAY FOCUSED ON YOUR CHURCH’S VISION
Bootstrapping will force you to drill down on the two or three things you feel called to do in order to fulfill your God-inspired vision. You won’t have time or money for rabbit chasing. For example, at The Journey we’ve chosen to focus on the weekend worship services and small groups. Anything that doesn’t support or flow through those two activities is a distraction from God’s vision for our church. We can attest that not having that pesky funding floating around will keep you from heading off in too many different directions.

3. BE BOLD: YOU’LL LEARN TO TEACH WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS ABOUT GIVING
God isn’t shocked by the fact that your church needs resources to fulfill its purpose. He set the church up to be supported in a specific way, and he lays out the plan for that support in his word. During this bootstrapping process, take time to dig in and confirm your understanding of what the Bible says about money, on both a personal and corporate level.

One of the primary reasons pastors don’t teach on finances is that they’re not sure what they really believe. But once you have settled your theology of money (and are modeling the way of biblical generosity), you’ll have the confidence to teach your people about giving boldly, passionately and in a way that resources the church as God intends (Mal 3:10). Stewardship is discipleship. If you shy away from teaching on money, you are doing both your people and your new church a disservice. (For more on this topic, be on the outlook for Maximize: How To Develop Extravagant Givers In Your Church, coming in October.)

Tune in tomorrow for the final two lessons from bootstrapping a new church!

P.S. If you’re starting a new church, I’d like to give you over $115.00 in FREE Church Planting Resources – Click Here for More Info and to Sign Up