Equip and Release by Coaching

Hello everybody, my name is Dean Davis and this is “Multiply,” the podcast that provides a word of encouragement for Village Church Planters. 

Jesus modeled the way for us by spending time with his disciples.  Of course, he enjoyed their company.  And they helped him accomplish his ministry in both practical and spiritual ways.  But Jesus’ disciples were more than simply friends and co-workers.  They were men who were learning to take on great responsibility.  So when Jesus spent time with his disciples, he intentionally worked to develop in them the qualities necessary to fulfill the Great Commission and make disciples of all nations. As a church planter, you too spend time with your disciples to help them become all Jesus wants them to be. Thank you for engaging in this very important work. Thank you for following Jesus’ example. You are appreciated!

Sometimes Jesus taught his disciples directly. He developed his disciples through teaching when he explained the parables and when he gave the Sermon on the Mount. Sometimes Jesus mentored them. He mentored his disciples when he gently guided them and corrected them. An example of Jesus mentoring his disciples occurred when the disciples asked him, “Who is the greatest in the Kingdom of heaven?”  He took the opportunity to help them understand the virtue of humility in the God’s Kingdom by taking the lowly position of a child.

But sometimes Jesus directed open questions to his disciples.   Jesus knew the answers. But he was asking open questions to help his disciples think more deeply and make wise decisions.  A great example is the questions Jesus asked his disciples when they were in the villages around Caesarea Philippi. Jesus asked a series of open questions:

• Who do people say that I am?

• But what about you?

• Who do you say I am?

Jesus asked these open questions to help his disciples access the wisdom that God had put within them so that they could make a good decision.  Peter answered, “God’s Messiah.”  Peter’s recognition of that truth helped him go with Jesus all the way to Jerusalem.  Peter’s answer to Jesus’ question helped him repent when he betrayed Jesus.  Peter’s answer helped prepare him to preach on Pentecost and lead the church at Jerusalem.  All of this grew out of Peter’s answer to an open question Jesus asked the disciples.

That’s what coaching is. In its simplest form, coaching means using open questions to help others make wise decisions. Since you are a church planter, it is very likely that you like to preach and teach.  Preaching and teaching is good, but it is not enough. It is wonderful when you mentor a disciple by giving good advice. But mentoring is not enough. If we are to prepare leaders to take responsibility for fulfilling the Great Commission, we must add coaching to our leadership toolbox. 

Coaching allows our disciples to think for themselves now, just as they will have to in the future when we are no longer around. Coaching calls forth new insights and practical solutions.  My encouragement for you today is to use open questions frequently in your conversations with your disciples. Then, wait for them to respond. As you do so, you will develop leaders for times and places where you will not be present. As you coach others, you will be following the example of Jesus.

This has been “Multiply.” And I’m Dean Davis asking, “Who will you share this encouraging word with today?

#EncouragementForVillageChurchPlanters #Coaching #OpenQuestions

Equip and Release by Mentoring

 Hello, I am Daneille Snowden; and this is Multiply; a podcast to encourage village church planters, pastors, and Christian leaders.  

I learn by DOING! I do listen when someone is trying to teach me something, but I can master what I have learned by applying it with my own hands, so-to-speak.

But, when I do anything for the first time, I want to see how it works by watching others. And then… continue with those individuals walking beside me with their helpful instructions as I go. 

I recall whenever I would start a new job back when I was very young, they gave a person to train me. Their simple instructions through-out the training was what I needed. I already think with a complex mindset, thus the better the trainer or shall I say mentor is when they would simplify each step; making sure I understood as then I would be able to do that task on my own.

When we train others in our discipleship methodology; we want to share with them simply and patiently by doing, and then eventually walk beside them instructing as we go. I feel more at ease when my mentor displays grace towards me; grace is definitely a quality gift to have has a mentor. We share our hearts and words gracefully, with much patience. 

I also am one that desires to know the answer to the WHY we do this or that, to the WHY we say this or that? Not just the HOW, but WHY. In mentorship, we are teaching this effectively. Mentoring means: the practice of helping and advising a less experienced person over a period of time. Giving advice is teaching with grace, biblically. Look at the end of this definition; ‘over a period of time.’  When we devote to equipping others by mentoring; it is a true commitment. More than likely, it is a lifetime commitment. Our student may not need us as much, because hopefully, we have equipped them well; but as we all know; moments in the life of ministry does come when we need our mentors even more. 

Paul was Timothy’s mentor, he graciously had Timothy with him to learn by his example to the place that he could trust Timothy to carry his letters and teach all on his own. We also have Jesus and His disciples; they all did life together. They watched Jesus share His love to the loveless, heal those who were poor and even watch Him turn the other cheek when persecuted. He sent them out, for He knew after they were filled with the power of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2) they were ready to GO and make disciples in every nation. 

This has been Multiply, will you share now and find us on YouTube, Facebook plus on our website https://www.vcpencouragement.org/.

'One Another Series' - Confess Your Sins and Pray for One Another

 

This is Chuck Rapp with Multiply, a podcast to provide a word of encouragement for village church planters and leaders.

This year, in these podcasts, I am focusing upon the “One Another” scriptures found in the New Testament as viewed through the lens of leadership.

Today’s podcast comes from James 5:16. “Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.”

The word “therefore” indicates that we need to first examine the context of this command. We read in verse 13 “Is any one of you in trouble?” Verse 14 says, “Is any one of you sick?” And, in verse 15, we see that “If he has sinned, he will be forgiven.”

From this context, then, we come to understand that prayers for one another are appropriate when someone is in trouble, is sick, or has sinned. That covers a number of circumstances!

Why is it important to confess our sins to one another as James instructs us? Pause and think about that for a moment with me. Let me suggest a few reasons.

 Confession of our sins requires humility and puts us in a right posture before the Lord and with others

 Confession of sin is required for forgiveness of sin as we saw in verse 15.

 Unforgiveness, either in our own lives or toward another person, is often a hindrance to our own healing.

In the next section of this verse, James tells us that we are to pray for each other. Why? Let me suggest three reasons.

 Prayer for others expresses our concern for them

 Prayer for others is part of our privilege and responsibility within the Body. Galatians 6:2 instructs us to

“carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.”

 We are to pray for others toward the desired outcome of their healing. Personally, when I pray for healing for others I frequently quote 1 Peter 2:24. “He himself bore our sins in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; “by his wounds you have been healed.”

The final portion of James 5:16, encourages us with these words. “The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.” What an encouraging promise! Now, it’s not our righteousness; it is His righteousness that is imparted, or given, to us. Yet, as we live and walk in His righteousness, we can be assured that our prayers are powerful and effective. Let us pray for one another. Amen!

This has been a word of encouragement for Village Church Planters.

Equip and Release by Training

Hello everybody, my name is Dean Davis and this is “Multiply,” the podcast that provides a word of encouragement for Village Church Planters. 

I still remember the training I received when I was 15 years old. I got on a bus with people from my church and others from my state.  We traveled overnight and arrived at the place where we would receive a week of training. In June of 1972, I was one of about 80,000 people who went to Dallas, Texas, USA to be trained to share the Good News of Jesus using the Four Spiritual Laws.

I remember sitting in a university auditorium.  On the stage were experienced evangelists telling stories of their experience sharing the Good News. They explained how to share the Four Spiritual laws. Then, on the stage, they demonstrated how to use this tool to lead people to Jesus. After the demonstration, the trainers gave all of us in the audience the opportunity to practice what we had just seen demonstrated.  We did.  Then we prayed. Next, we went out on the streets two by two to find people to talk to. Our goal was to proclaim the Good News using the method we had just practiced in the classroom.  Many people came to Christ all across the city of Dallas.

Each evening, we went to a large stadium where great evangelists like Billy Graham and Bill Bright encouraged us and cast vision for fulfilling the Great Commission among all nations. More than 80,000 people filled the stadium. Can you imagine the crowd, the worship, the energy in that place? 

The next day we were back in the training room, learning more skills through demonstration and practice.  Each afternoon we went back to the streets to evangelize.  Then, in the evening, we were inspired once more by men and women of God in that huge stadium.

If you have spent even one term in a VCP training center, you probably recognize the training pattern I experienced 51 years ago. Teach, demonstrate, practice, minister, stay inspired, repeat. The leaders who trained us equipped us through teaching, demonstration, and practice.  Then, they released us, two by two, for ministry.  When we came back together, they inspired us some more. Then they trained us again.  That was 51 years ago, but the process still works today. This process is working in training centers all over Africa.

You too can equip and release your church members for great ministry. In fact, you have already begun to equip them to minister in the power of the Holy Spirit.  Keep up the good work!

When you train people, you are saying, “I believe in you.  You have potential. God can use you. Let me help you grow in understanding.  Let me share my skills with you.  You are important.” Training church members is a great way to encourage them.  

And when you train others, you are multiplying your impact. Today, Bill Bright is with Jesus. Billy Graham has gone on to his reward. But I am just one of many of the 80,000 people who was trained 51 years ago who is still using what I learned then to minister today. Those men truly multiplied their impact through training!  You too are multiplying your impact for Christ as you equip and release for ministry. Keep up the good work!  To God be the glory!

This has been “Multiply.” And I’m Dean Davis asking, “Who will you share this encouraging word with today?

#EncouragementForVillageChurchPlanters #Explo72 #EquipAndRelease

Resolve Conflicts in the Church

 

Hello everybody, my name is Dean Davis and this is “Multiply,” the podcast that provides a word of encouragement for Village Church Planters. 

One of the best things about eternal life is that in the new heaven and the new earth will be freed from conflict.  Conflicts, small and large are painful.  They remind us that the world in which we live is broken.  Conflict was not a part of God’s original design for people.  But conflict is a part of our everyday existence.

If you have been a church planter for even a short time, you have experienced conflict.  You probably dislike conflict as much as I do.  But since conflict is inevitable in our fallen world, even in the church, we need to be prepared to deal with it in the best way possible.  

As I was growing up, I learned two ways to deal with conflict.  One way was to avoid conflict.  That meant one hid from the conflict until one could not hide any longer. Once the conflict was unavoidable, one would try not to provoke the person with whom one was in conflict.  This was awful.

The other way to try to resolve conflict was to become angry, to raise one’s voice, shouting that the conflict was not one’s fault, that it was completely the other person’s fault and demanding that the conflict be solved by the other person. Immediately! That was also awful!

I have to admit; over the years, I’ve tried both methods to resolve conflicts.  Let me assure you, neither one works very well at all.  I am so glad that God shows us a better way to deal with conflict.  That way is modeled in the New Testament in Acts 15:1-29. The conflict was very serious.  Should Christ-followers from a non-Jewish background be required to keep the Sabbath and obey the Jewish dietary law such as don’t eat pork, don’t eat fish without scales, etc.?  And should non-Jewish followers of Jesus be required to be circumcised just as Jewish baby boys and men who were converted to Judaism?  

The conflict was both important and divisive.  But Paul and Barnabas managed it well.  The conflict was framed as a question. “Should the Gentiles be required to be circumcised and required to keep the Law of Moses?”  They clearly stated the facts related to the conflict. (Acts 15:7-11).  Paul and Barnabas reported evidence of God at work in the midst of the conflict. By quoting from Amos 9, they showed that the conversion of the Gentiles without submission to the Law of Moses was foretold in Scripture.  Humbly, they made a biblical case for their position.  But they submitted the conflict to the elders for a decision.  The elders then wrote a letter giving instructions concerning how to resolve the conflict.  

The letter said, “It seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us not to burden you with anything beyond the following requirements: You are to abstain from food sacrificed to idols, from blood, from the meat of strangled animals and from sexual immorality. You will do well to avoid these things.”  Because Paul and Barnabas managed this conflict well, we, as Gentile believers in Christ experience great freedom. I shudder to think what would have happened if they had not stated the facts, posed the conflict as a question, focused on God at work and on the Word of God, humbly submitting their conflict to the elders of the church. Because they managed the conflict well, we are free.

So my brothers and sisters, I have good news and bad.  First the bad news.  Your churches will experience conflicts.  Now the good news. You can deal with conflict in a healthy way, confident that God will help you resolve your conflicts in ways that honour him and bless you and your people.

This has been “Multiply.” And I’m Dean Davis asking, “Who will you share this encouraging word with today?

Give Recognition and Honor To Church Leaders

 This is multiply a podcast to encourage village church planters and leaders I am

Brad Snowden.

Today I want to look at a subject found in Romans 13:7 “pay unto all what is due”

and it lists somethings and the last thing it talks about is honor. This word honor

looks different depending on our background or culture in which we grew up.

When I was growing up I was taught very clearly that honor meant to fear. To

honor my father and my mother it was to be fearful of what punishment may

come if I did not. I don’t believe this is what was meant by this scripture. I found

the definition in the dictionary very helpful =distinction, High respect, revere as

for worth, regard

I know that sometimes we look at respecting individuals and we say “well they

haven’t done anything to gain my respect” We look at respect as something

earned and that may be right in the eyes of the world. I look at this honor due

someone not by what they do or haven’t done, but that everyone is created by

God just like me the only difference is they haven’t received his nature yet but,

they are created just like me and to show respect to God because of His love for

them.

Respect is something that is shown outwardly, if I respect someone it’s not

enough to simply think it I must show it outwardly however it can be done.

Psalms 119:6 says “Then I will not be ashamed when I look with respect to all your

commandments”. I won’t be ashamed when I do what God’s word tells me and

giving honor is part of God’s word. Loving one another is part of God’s word.

Respecting one another is God’s word. One of the greatest joys for me is when we

can encourage church planter, pastors, and leaders by honoring them. They have

answered God’s voice and obeyed this is worthy of honor because they have

distinguished that God’s voice is worth honoring. When we honor leaders in the

church realm we are recognizing the worth of that calling in which God has called.

This can’t be taken lightly and it is our place to honor God by honoring them. This

is important to prefer or honor and Reverence God by respect and honor Him

through honoring leaders that follow after God. This has been a word of

encouragement for village church planters. Lord bless you and I ask who will you

share this with today?

Name A Treasurer and A Bookkeeper

 Hello everybody, my name is Dean Davis and this is “Multiply,” the podcast that

provides a word of encouragement for Village Church Planters.

Many times, I’m asked, “What is the difference between a church and a cell

group? I tell people, “A church is a group of people who are committed to

Christ and to one another. Together, they seek to obey all that Christ

commanded.” We know the seven basic commands of Christ: Repent and

believe the Good news. Baptize. Love God and neighbor. Pray and feed on

God’s word daily. Participate in the Lord’s Supper. Give. Make disciples.

Jesus commands his followers to give. This means, that in addition to keeping

the other six basic commands of Jesus, churches are groups of people who also

practice giving. Church members give tithes and offerings. Tithes are gifts to

God that represent 10% of a person’s income. Offerings are other gifts given

for the Lord’s work. When church members give money, grain, produce, or

animals to the church to advance the cause of Christ, they honor God and

strengthen the church. Giving back to God a part of what he has enabled us to

earn through creativity and hard work is an act of worship. The gifts that are

given to God through the church are sacred. They are devoted to God. They

must be treated with respect and managed well.

It is not wise for the church planter or the church planter’s spouse to manage

the money and other gifts given to a church. They are busy with ministry

activities including prayer, Bible study, and making disciples. And many times,

the gifts given to the church will be used by the church planter or his spouse

for transportation, ministry events, or caring for needy church members. If the

same persons who receive tithes and offerings spend the tithes and offerings,

suspicions can grow. People begin to ask, “Did they spend all the money they

received like they said they did? Or are they keeping some of it for

themselves?”

As a church planter, you can avoid that problem by naming a treasurer and a

bookkeeper. A church treasurer holds the money given to the church until it is

needed. He or she holds the money in a strong box under lock and key or in a

bank. A bookkeeper keeps track of money and other gifts received by the

church as well as money spent by the church. When money comes into the

church, the bookkeeper records the amount. The treasurer puts the money in

the strong box or bank until it is needed for ministry authorized by the elders.

When money is given out for ministry authorized by the elders, the bookkeeper

makes a record and keeps receipts. Bookkeeper give regular reports of church

income and expenses.

When a treasurer and bookkeeper manage the funds given to the church, the

church planter and the church planter’s spouse are freed to focus on spiritual

ministry. When a treasurer and bookkeeper manage the funds given to the

church, the church planter, elders, deacons and other church leaders know

exactly how the people’s tithes and offerings are being used. This creates

trust. So church planter, name a trustworthy treasurer and bookkeeper

without delay. This will lighten your load and help you walk in the light.

You’ve been listening to “Multiply.” And I’m Dean Davis asking, “Who will you

share this encouraging word with today?

#EncouragementForVillageChurchPlanters #WalkInTheLight