Five-Star Mental Food

I don't get to eat out at many fancy restaurants, but when I do, the same thing happens. I enjoy flavors that I forgot existed. I eat less than I do at most other meals. I leave the meal completely satisfied, and swearing that I will never eat at a fast food restaurant again.

There is no comparison between eating the best of food and eating what passes for food at many so-called restaurants.

This week I'm sitting under the ministry of Bruce Waltke and Haddon Robinson as they work through the Psalms. It's like eating at a five-star restaurant. The richness of the biblical text has nourished us, and I find myself not wanting to feed myself with anything less than what we're getting here.

Here's the thing: the quality of study that we're experiencing this week is everywhere. The problem is, it's lost in the avalanche of tweets, posts, and flavor-of-the-month books that will never see a second printing.

It's time to prioritize what's best. There are good books on the shelf begging to be read. There are works of literature and theology that will be far more nourishing than what you'll read if you're not intentional.

Say no to mental and spiritual junk food. You can't afford to eat at a five-star restaurant every night, but you can't afford not to read the best books and theological material out there. A lot of it is free if you look for it. Free, but priceless.

Review: It's Personal

I spoke to someone recently who first pastored an established church, and then became a planter. The level of spiritual attack intensified greatly when he became a church planter. It's hard to explain this, but he doesn't seem to be the only one. There are risks inherent in starting a church, and you'd better be prepared for what's coming if you go down that road.

It's Personal: Surviving and Thriving on the Journey of Church Planting is about surviving and thriving in the midst of planting a church. The authors, Brian and Amy Bloye, sound a warning: "Church planting will expose every weakness in you. It will bring every flaw to the surface and put it on public display. Check your pride at the door." Later, they repeat the warning: "Planting a church will magnify every weakness you have." Still want to plant a church?

The Bloyes write from their own experience, having planted a church. Their experience is similar in many ways to what many planters will face: lack of money, spiritual attack, and a very uncertain future in the early days of planting. Their experience is also very different from what many planters will experience. Not every planter will have served under Jerry Falwell before starting their own church, and not every church will grow as rapidly as the one described in this book.

Still, everyone can learn from the topics that the Bloyes cover: discerning whether you're called to plant a church, protecting your marriage and family, dealing with growth and change, building friendships, and maintaining authenticity and spiritual vitality. There's lots of solid and practical wisdom in this book from planters who have been there and remember what it was like.

This book offers two things to two different groups of people. First, if you're not a planter, it gives you a taste of what's involved in planting. Jesus said something about counting the cost, and this book will help you do just that. Second, if you are a church planter, this book will give you the assurance that you're not alone, and it will give you some strategies on how to survive what you've signed up to do.

Church planting is personal. To plant a church, you need to know you're called, and you need to know how it's going to affect your life, marriage, kids, and pretty much everything else. You also need to know what to do to survive. It's Personal offers a taste of what it likes, and provides valuable wisdom on surviving and even thriving as someone who is planting a church.

More from Amazon.com

Having a Family or Sucking Us Dry?

This is a friendly response to Paul Levy's article at Reformation21. You may want to read it first.

We are in the full flush of married couples becoming parents here in the UK. It's a great thing that so many babies are being born in the last 10 years and over that we rejoice. There's no doubt that it's something of a fad and at the moment it's the trendy thing to do but that doesn't mean it's not the right thing to do. I expect in 5 years time there will be something else that is popular.

My question, having met a children in the last few weeks, is, when a baby is being born, is that code language for they're going to suck their parents dry? That isn't a criticism but I think we need to call a spade a spade. Of course those of us who are adults need to think of the next generation and be generous but I think we also need to give the kids a bit of a slap. To be an adult in this country is hard, hard work and to run a home is tough and so somebody turning up and demanding to be fed and changed can be somewhat trying. I'd love it if I met with a child and, when I asked him what stage are you at, he replied "I'm going wake you up at night and cry and demand to be fed, and in a few years I'll need a drive to soccer practice too." I'd at least give him points for honesty.

Saturday Links

Why Seth Godin Might Be More Pastoral Than You

There are two kinds of pastors in the world: those who are good at following up, and those who aren’t. Which one are you?

Before you claim to be at the “good” level, let me set the standard.

Gospel Diagnostic Questions

Preaching the gospel to ourselves and to others is an art all of us must grow in if we seek real, lasting change in our lives…

Here are twenty gospel questions to ask ourselves.

What Sermon Prep Really Looks Like

Monday – I’m so glad it’s my day off. Yesterday’s sermon was terrible. Maybe this week will be better…

Bigger on the Inside

Here’ the good news: If I am bigger on the inside than I am on the outside, then I won’t worry about the outside! When the outside changes, the inside will still be solid and secure.

Don't Over-Complicated It: An Interview with Adam Sinnett

When I began the process of planting a church, I looked for planters who could offer me good counsel. One such planter is Adam Sinnett, pastor of Downtown Cornerstone Church in Seattle. I've appreciated Adam's insights and I've enjoyed hearing about the growth of that church, which just celebrated its first birthday in April.

Today it's my privilege to interview Adam about his life and ministry, and the advice that he'd offer to church planters.

How did you end up as a church planter?

I met Jesus at the University of Washington and felt a call to urban ministry leadership early on. I first sensed a call to church planting, about 10 years ago, as I studied the book of Acts and saw the centrality of the local church to God's mission as never before. So, I devoted myself to my family, my Jesus and my local church. After a decade invested in a solid Jesus-loving church, much prayer, lots of counsel, significant ministry experience, and an ever-growing fire-in-the-soul to preach the gospel and see others connected to Christ, we followed Jesus' lead in transitioning in May of 2010 to plant this church.

Tell us a little about the early stages of Downtown Cornerstone.

It was messy. Still is. We started with about eight committed folks in June 2010. We met on Sunday nights as a launch community and throughout the week to engage the city (serving, happy hours, art walks, etc). Throughout that summer, we prayed, networked, moved and shared the gospel. We built out our vision, mission and values. I had high hopes that we'd have a Billy Graham-esque launch community that would spread the gospel like wildfire downtown. That didn't happen. I thought we'd multiply ten missional communities before starting a Sunday gathering. That didn't happen. I thought we would launch in the fall of 2010. That didn't happen. i thought we'd find more Christians, more quickly, who would be excited about a new work. That didn't happen. I thought we'd grow more quickly. We didn't. Yet, amidst all of that, Jesus continued to be faithful to us. We launched the first Sunday of April 2011 and just celebrated our first birthday. You can watch our first birthday video here:

What do you know now about church planting that you wish you had known earlier?

Don't overcomplicate it. Love God, love others and make disciples (equip).

• Pray as though it all depends on the Father (i.e. love God).
• Network with others as though it all depends on you (i.e. love others).
• Pour into those you have, through the Word (i.e. make disciples).

Then watch Him work.

Knowing that would have been helpful.

What encourages you as you continue to see this young church develop?

Jesus. Seriously. And watching the gospel do its thing in my life and the lives of His people.

What advice would you give to someone who is just starting out as a church planter?

Other than #3 above. Planter:

• Know that God is 100% for you in Christ and has uniquely gifted you to be who you are and equipped you for His work to His people. Be yourself, in Him. Lead out of that.
• Love your family more than your church. Demonstrate your trust in Jesus to your fledgling church by taking time off with them. No one, except you, will be impressed with working too much.
• Find a band of brothers to speak into your life and decision-making.
• Be patient. Be patient in planting. You'll never regret waiting another couple years to plant, though you may regret planting too early. Be patient while planting. It takes time.
• Be realistic. Do you love Jesus? Do you genuinely love others? Is anyone following you right now? Are you engaged with non-Christians right now? Don't make the mistake of thinking those things happen when you plant. Planting should be the overflow of who God is already creating you to be.
• Fight to remain Jesus-centered, not planting-centered. It is easy to make planting the focus, and miss God.

Thanks, Adam.