Calvary Nexus just hosted a luncheon called a Connection Gathering attended by 89 leaders from Calvary Chapel and other like-minded evangelical churches from Los Angeles, Ventura, and Santa Barbara Counties. The purposes were bridge building and learning how to better create a disciple-making culture. I would like to share the nature of the event as a potential model to others and to offer hope for a better way regarding both purposes.

Bridge Building

We invited the Calvary Chapels and other evangelical churches to bring their ministry leaders (Kids, Students/Next Gen, Administration, Small Groups, Care, Women’s Ministry, Executive Pastors, Worship, Tech, Lead/Sr. Pastors). The idea was to connect these leaders from different churches with others who do the same ministry. This would connect them as well as develop better-connected leaders who can share ideas, resources, best practices, and potential pitfalls. During dessert, we invited people to move to another table since many of our team members wear multiple hats. Thus, in one sense, bridges were built between these ministry leaders who share a calling, but in different local contexts.

Yet, in another very refreshing sense, there was beautiful bridge building that was perhaps more subtle. We had a panel Q+A featuring pastors David Guzik, Lance Ralston, Tommy Schneider, and myself. Lance and Tommy are the CCA reps for Ventura and Santa Barbara Counties, respectively. I have the privilege of being the CGN representative for Los Angeles and Ventura Counties. Here, a bridge was being built to connect two forks in the Calvary Chapel stream. Here, a large group of evangelical leaders, from various local churches in three counties, came together to encourage, support, and learn from one another because there is no good reason, nor any biblical basis, not to.

Creating a Disciple-Making Culture

Pastor David and the panel offered some practical insights on how to create a disciple-making culture.

1. We tend to be better at making converts but are called to make disciples (Matt. 28:18-20):

Disciples are lifetime learners of God’s word, students and followers of Jesus. Unfortunately, a relatively small percentage of people in our local churches are actually making disciples of others. Jesus’ model of mentoring His disciples was relational and intentional. Similarly, our approach to making disciples who make disciples of others should be relational and intentional. Bible learning, small groups, books and podcasts, and mentor/coach relationships are extremely helpful. Be aware of obstacles such as busyness, lack of margin, and inconsistent church attendance.

2. Some practical steps to shift toward in making disciples:

The mentor should be a growing disciple. Like Paul, we are pressing on to be conformed to the image of Christ (Phil. 3:12). The mentor should provide instruction in the Basics of Christian Living. Focus initially on foundational spiritual disciplines. Instruct and be an example: this is how to pray, this is how to learn the word of God, this is how I serve, here is how I share the faith with others, here is how I support the gospel financially. The mentor is modeling in the sense of I do, you watch; I do, you help; you do, I help; you do, I watch; and you do, someone else watches.

Whether the mentoring relationship is one-on-one, or one with a few, the mentor seeks to help the disciple learn how to live as a follower of Jesus in their home, neighborhood, and school as well as where they work and recreate. So, the mentor wants to instruct, be an example, and create a high degree of trust so that questions are encouraged without reproach and meaningful answers are provided with humility and gentleness.

Some potential pitfalls include assuming that people are becoming disciples simply because the Bible is being taught on Sundays. Another is parents tending to abdicate their responsibility to the church to be the primary disciple makers of their children. Equip and train mentors to disciple others to limit unhealthy practices (aka weirdness).

3. How to create a disciple-making culture among your team:

First, talk about it frequently. Do not assume that it is happening. Second, talk with other members of your team about what you are learning. Third, acknowledge those who are making disciples of others well. What you affirm reflects what you value. Fourth, and perhaps most important, pray that you and your team are making disciples who are making disciples.

Some recommended resources and best practices to consider include the following: small groups, especially sermon-based, with trained leaders who have coaches available to them; A School of Discipleship curriculum (https://calvarynexus.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/School-of-Discipleship.pdf); and RightNow Media’s sound, age-appropriate resources for young children, adolescents, and adults. The Bible Project and Enduring Word provide abundant biblical resources to help create disciples who love God supremely, love neighbors as self, and can make other disciples who do likewise.

Bridges Crossed

Leaders developed relationships with other evangelical leaders who share their calling. For example, Children’s Ministry leaders with varying levels of experience became friends. They exchanged contact information. They talked about curriculum, ideas for recruiting volunteers, and ways to train volunteers. They discussed best practices and potential pitfalls related to equipping and encouraging parents to be the primary disciple-makers of their children.

Similarly, every area (Kids, Students/Next Gen, Administration, Small Groups, Care, Women’s Ministry, Executive Pastors, Worship, Tech, Lead/Sr. Pastors) shared an identical experience of being encouraged, cared for, equipped, and empowered as they were connected to others in the Calvary Chapel family and other like-minded evangelical leaders.

The Calvary Chapel family is best and healthiest when we are together rather than divided without biblical cause. We are best when we are building bridges and actually crossing them, rather than blowing up bridges and building walls. The Calvary Chapel family is best when we, in humility, recognize that we do not have a monopoly on evangelical wisdom, insight, and effectiveness; and we can learn from other like-minded evangelicals.

At the end of the day, literally and figuratively, every single person in attendance declared their gratitude for the gathering, how blessed they were to participate, how excited they are for the next occasion, and how good and pleasant it is for the family to dwell together in unity.

Editor’s Note: This is the third article in a series on rest for our souls. Click here to read the first article, “Jesus Offers a Greater Rest,” and here to read the second article, “Five Obstacles to Christ’s Rest.” Also, Bruce Zachary will lead a workshop on Intentional Relational Leadership at the CGN International Conference on June 23-26 in Costa Mesa, California.

Life in this world can be very discouraging, but today we find a hope that will be sure, steadfast, and provide encouragement and comfort for your soul! Your greatest need is rest for your soul. The night that I received Jesus, I experienced rest for my soul for the first time. Being reconciled to God, and receiving spiritual life, produced an awareness of wholeness, indescribable peace, and contentment.

The essence of a person is their soul. In effect, you are a soul with a body, rather than a body with a soul. We may be keenly aware of when our bodies are exhausted, our emotions are frayed, or our minds are spinning and we can’t continue with the weight. Nevertheless, most of us don’t tend to contemplate that the primary issue may be a restless soul. We are a restless people, with restless souls.

In two earlier articles, I sought to demonstrate why Christ’s rest (rest for our souls) is greater than any other rest that can be imagined — and some of the obstacles to experiencing Christ’s rest. Here, I hope to reveal how you can experience Christ’s rest. Again, we revisit Hebrews 3 to glean lessons from a familiar friend.

1. Hear His Voice (7, 15)

Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says: “Today, if you will hear His voice …” (Ps. 95:7-11). Twice, we see this phrase repeated (7, 15). It’s a quote from the 95th Psalm, written about 1,000 years before Hebrews. So, just as Jewish Christians in the first century were being urged to hear His voice, Christians in the twenty-first century are being urged by the Holy Spirit to hear His voice. Jesus’ sheep hear His voice, He knows them, and they follow Him (Jn. 10:27).

Many of us have little margin for reflection and contemplation, personal Bible learning, and prayer. We tend to be uncomfortable with quiet. We are busy consuming content and perhaps creating it, but we aren’t very good at being still and knowing that He is God, and knowing God.

2. Examine Your Heart Today (7, 13, 15)

Three times in this passage, we see “Today.” So often, we approach life with the attitude of, “one day” (e.g., One day I’m going to get healthy. One day I’m going to start going to the gym. One day I’m going to stop “X.” One day I’m going to start “Y.”) Your greatest desire is to be whole (i.e., complete, content, shalom). When your heart is tender to God, and when your heart is characterized by gratitude, devotion, and love for Jesus more than anyone or anything, you’ll discover what you’re looking for — a soul at rest with your Creator.

So, take a moment to pause, slow down, and do a simple heart exam. On the one hand, consider five objects of your affection besides Jesus. One finger at a time, name them. Consider parents, spouse, children, friends, school, career, calling, recreation, pleasure, wealth … Then ask yourself, “Do people who know me well think that I love Jesus more than these?”

3. Trust Jesus (Believe) (12, 19)

In contrast to the problem of an unbelieving heart, the remedy is believing or trusting Jesus. Faith is hearing God speak and responding with attitudes of obedience and actions of dependence upon Him. Understand that God is sovereign and has everything under control as proven by fulfilled prophecy. Know that God is good, as proven by Jesus going to the cross and giving His life, just as the prophets foretold. He was resurrected on the third day, just as foretold, and chose to trust Him even when circumstances were difficult or confusing.

Christ’s rest for your soul is directly proportion to your level of trust. As you grow in your knowledge of Jesus and your experience with Him increases, so will rest for your soul. The night I received Jesus, I experienced rest for my soul for the first time. Being reconciled to God, and receiving spiritual life, produced an awareness of wholeness, indescribable peace, and contentment. It was a foretaste, but it would be years before I’d experience rest for my soul as a general condition.

4. Know His Ways (10) and Know Him (Matt. 11:28-30)

An indictment against those who didn’t enter God’s rest was that they always go astray in their heart, and they have not known My ways (10). The remedy prescribed by Jesus is to yield to Him, learn of Him, and learn from Him, and you’ll find rest for your soul. The Sabbath isn’t only to cease from the burden of work but to create rhythms for communion with God, contemplation of Him, recalibration of perspective, and worship. We need these rhythms for rest.

The hope of life with God in this life and the life to come is available for us to lay hold of. This hope we have as an anchor for the soul (Heb. 6:18-19). This hope is sure and steadfast and a refuge for the soul. As you grow in Christ that hope and rest for the soul becomes a greater reality. This is the beauty of a mature follower of Jesus!

5. Exhort One Another Daily (13)

Exhort one another daily, while it is called “Today,” lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. Here, the emphasis relates to the believers’ relationship with other believers or a community of faith. The Christian life is experienced in communion with God and community with others. The community encourages, edifies, and urges one another to grow in Christ. Those without meaningful community often feel stuck in the wilderness: they are no longer in Egypt, but they haven’t entered the Promised Land and experienced Christ’s rest for their soul as their condition. Today, Jesus invites you to cross the Jordan River, trust Him, and enter His rest.

We need one another because life in this world can be very discouraging. I feel pretty confident in saying that each of us will think of someone, as God’s Spirit guides us, who needs to be encouraged with the truth that there’s rest available for their soul. And I can’t speak for y’all, but I know that I need people in my life to encourage me about this hope.

So, today we find a hope that will be sure, steadfast, and provide encouragement and comfort for your soul! Your greatest need is rest for your soul. So, let’s experience Christ’s rest.

Editor’s Note: This is the third article of a three-part series on how to develop disciples who will, in turn, make disciples of others. Click here to read the first article and here to read the second article. Bruce Zachary will provide an overview of this process during the workshop on Intentional Relational Leadership at the CGN International Conference June 23-26 in Costa Mesa, California. In addition, you can read Bruce’s free ebook on “Intentional Relational Leadership” ahead of time by clicking the link here.

“And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful people who will be able to teach others also” (2 Tim. 2:2).

There are some disciple-making principles that are effective and replicable regardless of culture. The essence of developing disciples who will disciple others requires each of us to engage, equip, empower, and evaluate. In an earlier article, we considered how to engage and equip, now let us learn how to empower and evaluate.

A. Empower:

Here, a more experienced leader is contemplating how to strengthen a developing leader to take steps of faith to grow as a leader who will develop other leaders.

1. Clearly communicate the mission (responsibility). When Jesus sent out the twelve for the first time, He clearly communicated their mission to proclaim the kingdom, heal the sick, cleanse lepers, raise the dead, and cast out demons. There was a clear understanding of their responsibility. Jesus gave instruction and guidance about how to do what He called them to do, and warnings about some of the challenges they would encounter (Matt. 10). Thus, we discover some general principles:

a. Help people discover what God has called them to do.
b. Help them to appreciate their responsibility to God.
c. Provide some guidance and instruction re how to do.
d. Advise about some known challenges.

2. Confirm authority. When Jesus sent out the twelve, He conferred power and authority to do what He called them to do (Matt. 10:1). Responsibility without authority is a hindrance and obstacle to developing leaders. Experienced leaders encourage developing leaders to discover experiential knowledge of the theological truth that whatever God commands, He empowers.

Creating leadership cultures where people move from micro- to macro-management as quickly as reasonable involves conferring authority commensurate with responsibility, and track record. Development will require releasing authority beyond proven ability, but with an awareness of projected capacity (present and future).

For example, imagine I have 100 eggs that I want to get to the farmers’ market on a particular day, and specific time, and most important, without cracking. You offer to deliver the eggs. If you and I have never worked together, I am very unlikely to trust you with all 100 eggs. On the other hand, if you have some good references confirming your work, I am likely to trust you with more eggs, yet perhaps not all 100. If we begin our relationship without a reference, and I put some eggs in your basket and you get the job done on time, without breaking the eggs, I am likely to put more eggs in your basket. Through our interactions, I am trying to assess: Are you a 25, 50, 75, or 100 egg person? If I have concluded, relatively early, that you have 100 egg capacity, then I want to empower you to move from 10 towards 100 level responsibility and authority as quickly as reasonable.

As an aside, when Jesus sent out the twelve, He gave authority to proclaim the kingdom, heal the sick, cure diseases, and exercise authority over demons (Lu. 9:1-2). That is some significant authority for a group that was not fully proven. Matthew’s account notes authority conferred to cleanse lepers and raise the dead (Matt.10:8-9, emphasis mine).

3. Encourage. The people that you are helping to develop are likely to struggle with their insecurities, feelings of inadequacy, fears, and doubts. Sincere words of affirmation are life-giving and empowering to developing leaders.

The Father affirms the Son as “well-pleasing” at the beginning of His earthly ministry and as He transitioned towards Jerusalem and the cross (Matt. 3:17, 17:5). These significant rite of passage moments were showered in affirmation, approval, and acceptance.

Similarly, when Jesus gave His “commencement address” in the Upper Room, He assured His disciples that they would do greater works than He (Jn. 14:12). This was not hyperbolic fluff to make them feel good about themselves, but prophetic. Presumably, at the time these words were declared, their significance could not be apprehended, but undoubtedly those words encouraged, affirmed, and helped empower them for the work their Master had ordained.

B. Evaluate:

1. What progress has been made? It is necessary to evaluate progress to ensure accountability; however, progress is not perfection. In a healthy discipling relationship there are agreed upon reasonable expectations. The expectations are not etched in granite and can be adjusted. Nevertheless, they are not to be ignored.

Luke records Jesus sending out the seventy, and them rejoicing when they returned and reported the results. Yet, in the midst of a very successful performance of the tasks, Jesus reminded them of spiritual truths that were more important than their performance of the tasks (Lu. 10:1-12, 17-20). So, as you evaluate tasks, do not neglect spiritual growth.

Action Items that are to be performed between meetings provide a means to measure progress. Whether there is one task that was 75% completed, or three of four tasks that were accomplished, there is meaningful progress. On the other hand, a neglect of tasks, or failure to perform Action Items, without a reasonable justification may reveal issues. For example, the tasks may be too complex or too burdensome for the disciple during this season of their life; or the disciple did not manage their time as well as they hoped, or did not appreciate the amount of work required. Similarly, repeated neglect, or failure to make meaningful progress, may reveal a lack of motivation or passion to develop as a leader. There may come a time when a repeated lack of effort, and lack of progress justifies withdrawing from the process, but there should be ample opportunity given to demonstrate progress.

Frequently, there is a reasonable justification for hindered progress. Life is complex, and the leaders that you are developing are navigating their expanding responsibilities as growing kingdom leaders in addition to all of the other competing claims to their time, attention, and affections. Seek to be sensitive and compassionate as you discover and evaluate.

As an experienced leader, especially those who are more task-oriented and adroit at accomplishing tasks, there is likely to be a greater focus on tasks and development of proficiency as opposed to cultivating relationship between the disciple and mentor. Celebrate progress, encourage development, and continue to create accountability without abandoning the process.

2. Where is continued development a priority? During the process of development, targeted areas of growth will shift. The disciple may have gained proficiency in certain areas and no longer need to focus upon those areas. Similarly, their ministry context may have changed, and new contexts create new priorities to target for development. Evaluating progress, needs, and contexts will help to determine priorities for development. Thus, assessment should influence where energies and efforts are allocated moving forward.

3. Desired new destinations? As you evaluate, you may discover that at the end of the proposed term (e.g., one year) that you actually arrived at the desired destination. As an aside and a reminder, it generally takes longer than expected. So, when you arrive at the proverbial mountaintop, consider if there is another summit that the disciple wants to scale with your assistance.

Upcoming Workshop on Intentional Relational Leadership

So, as we contemplate a disciple-making process, we need to better understand how to effectively engage, equip, empower, and evaluate like Jesus did with His disciples. If you want to learn how to make disciples more effectively, please join me for a workshop at the Calvary Global Network (CGN) International Conference, and we can discover together the personal and kingdom benefits of intentional relational leadership.

Editor’s Note: This is the second article of a three-part series on how to develop disciples who will, in turn, make disciples of others. Click here to read the first article, published on March 22, 2024. In addition, Bruce Zachary will provide an overview of this process during the workshop on Intentional Relational Leadership at the CGN International Conference June 23-26 in Costa Mesa, California. You can read Bruce’s free ebook for “Intentional Relational Leadership” by clicking the link here.

“And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful people who will be able to teach others also” (2 Tim. 2:2).

There are some disciple-making principles that are effective and replicable regardless of culture and the relative spiritual maturity of the persons involved. The essence of developing disciples who will disciple others requires each of us to engage, equip, empower, and evaluate. Let us begin to consider the elements of engage and equip.

A. Engage:

Generally, when you begin to develop disciples, you will engage them. As you continue to develop disciples, you may discover that you are being engaged by others to share your wisdom, insights, experience, and expertise. Nevertheless, the considerations related to engagement are consistent regardless of who initiates the relationship.

Here is an overview of considerations that you will likely address in the engagement phase:

1. Create a group to develop: Focus on developing the disciples who are most likely to create kingdom influence. Generally, meet one-on-one, or one-on-few, because their goals will differ.

2. Clarify goals and desired outcomes: Identify no more than four desired outcomes (targeted goals) that are likely to create the greatest impact.

3. The frequency, length, and duration of meetings: Will you meet weekly, twice a month, or monthly? A helpful rule-of-thumb is 90 minutes every two weeks. In regard to duration, plan to meet for at least 6 months. You want to focus on developing proficiency for meaningful and significant desired outcomes and these take time. For example, if you are mentoring someone to be proficient (e.g., 7 or better on a scale of 1-10) in Bible learning, Bible teaching, prayer, administration, delegation, communication, etc.) and you only meet twice a month for 90 minutes, it will take at least six months. So, plan accordingly.

4. The use of Action Items: At the conclusion of every meeting, agree upon work that the disciple will perform between meetings. These may include reading, listening to a podcast, online research, or other exercises. The Action Items should be targeted towards the disciple’s desired outcomes and be deemed reasonable to the disciple and mentor. For example, if the disciple has 3 hours to devote to gaining proficiency between meetings, then the Action Items should be presumed to require 2.5 hours. This leaves some margin for the unexpected. These should be agreed upon at the conclusion of each meeting and discussed near the start of each subsequent meeting. Evaluate progress made, and whether the workload was too heavy, light, or just right for the disciple.

5. Cultivate a relationship and make progress related to tasks: The desired outcome is cultivating a relationship between mentor and disciple and developing proficiency for a targeted task. Relationship forging takes time and is unlikely to flow according to schedule. You can plan to devote 15 minutes to forging relationship, but if the disciple (or mentor) is struggling with life, the boundaries are going to shift. Make sure that you are making progress related to task, but do not forsake relationship in the quest to reach a desired destination as quickly as possible.

B. Equip:

It is critical to remember that a mentor-disciple relationship is intended to equip a developing leader to be more proficient. You want to prepare them to ultimately reach a desired destination. This might be accomplished through providing helpful resources and tools, and imparting perspectives. Here are some considerations:

1. Character is foundational. Be sure to model Christlike character (1 Cor. 11:1; 1 Tim. 3). Be an example of character worth following. As you work with developing leaders, there will undoubtedly be multiple occasions where a character issue arises. Do not neglect to address character issues simply because you are focused on developing task proficiency. Christlike character will always be the foundation for healthy, effective ministry. So, when issues arise, speak the truth in love to ensure Christ-honoring development (Eph. 4:15).

2. Communicate care, compassion, and commitment to the developing leader. The most effective mentors understand that the relational component of development is likely more significant than training for task proficiency. If character is the foundation for developing a leader, then empathy is the next layer in the proverbial pyramid. Mentors who effectively communicate care, compassion, and commitment to help develop disciples are modeling likely the most important characteristic for healthy long-term leaders. If you model this well, your relationship with the disciple will continue past the planned time of engagement, and they will likely reproduce healthy disciples and leaders.

3. Determine strengths. Help developing leaders determine their strengths or God-given gifting (Rom. 12:6). Where does this leader get “A” results without extraordinary efforts? What gifting or abilities do those who work regularly and closely with the leader recognize? What are they passionate about? What are they highly motivated to do? How does/can this disciple leverage their strengths to get to the desired destination? Focus on developing strengths and areas approaching proficiency rather than trying to improve areas of weakness.

4. Help disciples to create roadmaps. Avoid the temptation to tell them every step of the map, and instead help them to map out a course that they believe will get them to the desired destination. Asking questions and cultivating self-discovery will generally be better in the long run.

5. Model task proficiency when mentoring. When mentoring you are likely to be modeling as a means to equip. An effective model to equip can be described as follows:

I do, you watch.
I do, you help.
You do, I help.
You do, I watch.
You do, someone else watches.

This is a model that Jesus utilized with the disciples. The end result is that the disciple will often replicate their mentor’s approach. For example, we see Peter being used to restore life to Tabitha (Ac. 9:36-41) and adopting a methodology that he had seen demonstrated by Jesus related to the restoration of Jairus’ daughter (Mark 5:21-24, 35-43). When mentoring for task proficiency, help people to see what you do, and help them to learn why you do it.

So, as we contemplate a disciple-making process we need to better understand how to effectively engage and equip. In the next article, we will explore how to empower and evaluate like Jesus with His disciples. If you want to learn how to make disciples more effectively, please join me for a workshop at the Calvary Global Network (CGN) International Conference and we can discover together the personal and kingdom benefits of intentional relational leadership.

Editor’s Note: This is the second article in a series on rest for our souls. Click here to read the first article, “Jesus Offers a Greater Rest,” published on January 1, 2024.

Your greatest need is rest for your soul! The night that I received Jesus, I experienced rest for my soul for the first time. Being reconciled to God, and receiving spiritual life, resulted in an awareness of wholeness, indescribable peace, and contentment.

The essence of a person is their soul. In effect, you are a soul with a body, rather than a body with a soul. We may be keenly aware of when our bodies are exhausted, our emotions are frayed, or our minds are spinning and we cannot continue with the weight. Nevertheless, most of us do not tend to contemplate that the primary issue may be a restless soul. We are a restless people, with restless souls.

In the first article of the series, I sought to demonstrate why Christ’s rest (rest for our souls) is a greater rest than any other rest that can be contemplated. Here, I hope to describe some of the obstacles to experiencing Christ’s rest.

Beginning in Hebrews 3, the author observes that the Jews did not enter God’s rest (11, 18, 19). The term rest has several references associated with it, such as God resting on the seventh day of the Creation account, Sabbath rest from labor, and the Promised Land (Deut. 12:9). Hebrews 3:7-4:13 contains eleven references to the term rest. The author’s argument is that God has a better rest available for His people in Christ through the New Covenant gospel of grace. In developing the case, the author of Hebrews also reveals some obstacles to Christ’s rest; the heart of the problem is the problem of the heart:

1. Hardened Heart (8, 13, 15)

“Do not harden your hearts…” (8, 13, 15).

This is the second warning in this book. The first came in chapter two about the danger of drifting away (Heb. 2:1). A good heart receives the word of God and is transformed by the Holy Spirit to be more like Jesus. A hardened heart refuses to receive from God or yield to God.

The author of Hebrews refers to the rebellion in the day of trial in the wilderness (8). When the Jews were traveling through the desert wilderness, they camped in a place where there was no water (Ex. 17:1-7). The people were being tested to see what was in their hearts, and they began to doubt God and complain that they were better off in Egypt. But God provided water from a rock because He is good and cares for His people (Cf. 1 Cor. 10:4). Note that some of the first symptoms of a hardened heart are murmuring and complaining and doubts about the goodness of God or whether He cares.

2. Wandering Heart (9-10)

^{9 “}Where your fathers tested Me, tried Me, And saw My works forty years ¹⁰ Therefore I was angry with that generation, And said, ‘They always go astray in their heart…’”

During the Exodus, God brought His people to Kadesh. He instructed scouts from each of the twelve tribes to inspect the Promised Land (Num. 13). They returned with a report that the land was indeed good, abundant, and desirable but also reported that the inhabitants of that land appeared mighty. So, rather than trusting God’s promise to give them the land, their hearts wandered astray and longed for Egypt (the world). As a consequence, that generation did not enter the Promised Land (except for Joshua and Caleb, who believed) (Num. 14:40). They wandered in the wilderness for forty years, freed from the world but longing for this world more than God.

A wandering heart is an obstacle to a soul at rest because it vacillates between seeking contentment primarily from this world and primarily from God. God has given us this world to enjoy, but it does not provide rest for the soul. Looking to the things of this world to make our soul whole keeps us from discovering the sufficiency of Jesus.

3. Unbelieving Heart (11-12)

^{11 “}So I swore in My wrath, ‘They shall not enter My rest.’ ¹² Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God…”

Why is God so angry about unbelief? Unbelief has at its root a misunderstanding and mischaracterization of God’s nature. Unbelief produces hardship for humanity and is an obstacle to experiencing life with God and Christ’s rest. God warns us, beware (12). He wants us to appreciate the severity of this condition and the dangers it poses. God equates an unbelieving heart with evil (12). Unbelief is the most deadly heart condition of all.

4. Deceived Heart (13)

“Exhort one another daily, while it is called ‘Today,’ lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.”

Sin deceives because it promises something that it can never deliver. A hardened heart is insensitive to God and sin. By definition a person deceived does not know they are deceived. Sin deceives: First, it promises something that it will not deliver. Second, it deceives people into thinking that what happened to others will not happen to them. Third, it deceives by creating a desire for something we know will hurt us. Fourth, sin is a form of escape from pain, and trying to escape pain keeps people from receiving God’s restoration.

5. Rebellious Heart (8, 15, 16)

Rebellion often occurs when a basic desire is unmet and a person believes that God has neglected them. The downward spiral moves from ingratitude for God’s provision to establishing alternative leadership, then to open rebellion, and eventually they stop believing in God.

A Glimmer of Hope:

If you are like me, these heart conditions are discouraging, convicting, and familiar. In my next article, I would like to share how we can experience Christ’s rest. But like a compassionate cardiologist, I want to ensure you that there is hope. It is only a few chapters later that we discover this hope: “Who have fled for refuge to lay hold of the hope set before us. ¹⁹ This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast …” (Heb. 6:18-19).

Editor’s Note: This is the first article of a series on how to develop disciples who will, in turn, make disciples of others. In addition, Bruce Zachary will provide an overview of this process during the workshop on Intentional Relational Leadership at the CGN International Conference June 23-26 in Costa Mesa, California.

“And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful people who will be able to teach others also” (2Tim. 2:2).

The Greek philosopher Archimedes is attributed with the principle, “Give me a lever long enough and a fulcrum on which to place it, and I shall move the world.” The underutilized lever, in this instance, is the influence of accumulated knowledge, wisdom, and experience of followers of Jesus; and the fulcrum is the Church. The transmission of knowledge, wisdom and experience from mature followers of Jesus to less mature followers is the essence of discipleship. Discipleship creates leverage to multiply Jesus’ followers, multiply leaders, and move the world.

The gospel is the hope of the world, and the world needs more effective gospel-centered disciples who engage in making disciples of others. The multiplying influence is not merely exponential, but creates leverage by tapping into “expotential.”

It is reasonable to believe that the essence of our purpose is to fulfill the Great Commandments and Great Commission. If you distill all that Christ instructed and intends for His people to be and do, it would likely sound like this: “Love God supremely, love neighbors as you love yourself, and make disciples (of Me) who do likewise.” This is a life-changing, world-changing, eternity-changing, desired destination. Despite a relatively simple desired outcome, the target appears to be elusive. Simply stated, the problem is that most followers of Jesus, who presumably genuinely love God and neighbors, have neglected to make other disciples who do likewise.

Let me pause your thinking for a moment … You likely read the last sentence in less than ten seconds and had no visceral response.

I recognize that only the Holy Spirit can effect transformed attitudes and actions. Yet, please bear with me as I try to illustrate. I was at a conference a dozen years ago when the speaker referenced the Great Commandments (Matt. 22:37-40), and it was a coming to Jesus moment. I had been a pastor for more than twenty years and was familiar with the commandments of loving God supremely and loving neighbors as self (Deut. 6:5, Lev. 19:8). Still, at that moment, the Holy Spirit was impressing upon me that I did not even know my neighbors (people I live in proximity with), let alone love them, and certainly did not love them as I love myself. I could try to deny that reality, justify myself by my love for others, deflect the conviction, or I could confess and repent (which I did, and it has been life-transforming in the best of ways).

Thus, the failure to make disciples should not be casually neglected like foregoing flossing after meals, proper diet, or exercise. At some point, you, me, and the Church need a coming to Jesus moment since we are rebelling against a fairly significant commandment. We can try to deny, deflect, or justify. We can assert that no one discipled us, or it seems too daunting, or I can’t disciple someone. Or you can confess and repent and experience life transformation in the best of ways.

So, before contemplating how we might go about making disciples more effectively let us consider some of the benefitsyou will experience from making disciples (i.e., the value-added proposition). You will grow as a follower of Jesus. You will be more confident in your identity as Jesus’ disciple. You will experience satisfaction as God’s kingdom is advanced. You will accelerate your appreciation and appropriation of spiritual disciplines. You will develop meaningful relationships with others. You will be affirmed, equipped, and empowered as a disciple and disciple-maker. You will experience Jesus working in you and through you anew.

The need for a better model: Intentional Relational Leadership

Jesus’ method of making disciples is intentional and relational. The intentionality is reflected in the reality that He is forging Christlike character, infusing kingdom values, and transforming thinking about God, people, ritual, authority, etc. And He is preparing them for the tasks of fulfilling the Great Commandments and Great Commission (apprenticeship). The relational aspect is demonstrated through the revelation of seemingly countless hours spent together during three years—and Jesus’ declaration that His disciples are His friends (Jn. 15:12-17).

In contrast, it seems that much of our mentoring efforts focus on either relationship while neglecting intentionality, or training for tasks (intentionality) while neglecting the relationship. Furthermore, the typical paradigm does not encourage the mentor to be discipled by another. Nor does the process generally ensure the disciple can replicate the process by discipling another.

Until relatively recently, I did not know a better way. For example, I would meet with less experienced leaders either in person or via Zoom once a month for about an hour. The meetings were primarily relational. We would chat about personal and ministry matters they were challenged with at that time, and I would offer my best counsel. Although I suspect that all would say that our meetings were helpful, they lacked intentionality in regard to the development of these less experienced leaders. This ad hoc approach imparts insight into particular situations but tends to neglect strategic, intentional development toward targeted goals.

In a series of articles, I intend to describe a process of intentional relational leadership that will explain how to develop disciples who will, in turn, make disciples of others. The goals of the process are:

1. Experienced disciples will experience greater contentment, fulfillment, and kingdom influence.

2. Experienced disciples will help equip, enable, encourage, empower, and evaluate
less experienced disciples.

3. The less experienced leaders will be developed and committed to developing other disciples.

4. Relationships between the participants are forged, strengthened, and continue beyond the duration of training.

Upcoming Workshop on Intentional Relational Leadership

I have the privilege of leading a workshop providing an overview of this process at the Calvary Global Network (CGN) International Conference at the end of June. I hope to discuss these matters with you in person at that gathering.

I came to faith at the College and Career study at Calvary Chapel of Costa Mesa. The pastor was sharing an overview of the Book of Hebrews and highlighting how Jesus is greater than every aspect of ritual Judaism. I was raised in an observant Jewish home, and this theme struck a chord as God’s Spirit plucked my heartstrings. That was the night I recognized Jesus as my people’s Messiah and received Him as my Lord and Savior.

I recognize that each person’s subjective experience when they are saved is varied. Yet, I also vividly recall how I felt. The feeling is remarkably simple to define, but perhaps so nuanced that I could never describe the fullness of the experience—like being in love. So, bear with me as I try. For the first time in my life, I felt whole, complete, content, at peace, and what my people describe as shalom.

I had gone through life trying to experience that feeling through various failed efforts. The usual suspects were all part of the pursuit. Achievement, accolades, success, drugs, alcohol, money, sex, and pleasure. Nevertheless, it was like trying to fill a bathtub while the drain is unplugged. No matter how much you pour in the tub, it is never full.

The underlying theme of Hebrews is encouragement to Jewish Christians not to drift from Christ and their faith despite hardship, scorn, and ridicule. The author is systematically showing Christ’s superiority to any claimed substitute. The relevance to a first century audience is equally applicable to a twenty-first century person contemplating deconstructing their faith.

What I hope to reveal is your greatest need, a need that you are likely unaware of. I say this with a relatively high degree of confidence. For example, at the church where I serve, we gather hundreds of prayer requests weekly. Through the decades, I have reviewed more than a quarter million prayer requests, and I have never seen the one I am going to disclose.

Your greatest need is rest for your soul!

The night that I received Jesus, I experienced for the first time rest for my soul. The result of being reconciled to God, and receiving spiritual life, produced an awareness of wholeness, indescribable peace, and contentment.

The essence of a person is their soul. In effect, you are a soul with a body, rather than a body with a soul. We may be keenly aware when our bodies are exhausted, our emotions are frayed, or our minds are spinning and we cannot continue with the weight. Nevertheless, most of us do not tend to contemplate that the primary issue may be a restless soul. We are a restless people—with restless souls.

I seek to describe some of the obstacles to this rest, and Jesus’ remedy to receive His rest later, but for the purpose of this article, I want to focus on the idea that Jesus offers a greater rest.

Beginning in Hebrews 3, the author observes that the Jews did not enter God’s rest (11, 18, 19). The term rest has several references associated with it such as God resting on the seventh day of the Creation account, Sabbath rest from labor, and the Promised Land (Deut. 12:9). Hebrews 3:7-4:13 contain eleven references to the term rest. The author’s argument is that God has a better rest available for His people in Christ through the New Covenant Gospel of grace.

Let us contemplate four reasons why it is a greater promise of rest:

1. The blessings depend on the Person of Christ (Eph. 1:3).

The blessings transcend material place, prosperity, and moral performance. The message of the Gospel reminds us that our access to God and His blessings, including rest for our souls, is based on Christ’s work.

2. The promise of life with God (spiritual life) is better (1Jn. 2:25).

The material blessings associated with the Promised Land are significant and should be appreciated as a tremendous gift from God. Nevertheless, the promise of spiritual life is greater. The Apostle John writes, “And this is the promise that He has promised us—eternal life” (1Jn. 2:25, emphasis mine). John is describing spiritual life with God. More than duration, it is a reference to nature and quality, and John is placing this promise at the apex. God was with the Jews in the Promised Land, but He is in believers providing life (and rest for souls).

3. Jesus gives His kingdom.

Jesus reverses the land-exile cycle. First, man is given the Garden and Creation, but rebellion leads to exile. Then the land promised to the Patriarchs is given to the Jews, but rebellion leads to exile. Jesus reverses the cycle and fulfills God’s redemptive purpose through the cross where He became an exile, and offers His kingdom which is greater than the land of promise. Citizens of His kingdom shall not be exiled and thus rest in the presence of the king and kingdom.

4. Jesus provides unique rest for souls (Matt. 11:28-30).

Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. ²⁹ Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. ³⁰ For My yoke is easy and My burden is light” (Matt. 11:28-30, emphasis mine).

This is Jesus’ only autobiographical declaration. Thus, if you scour all the “red letters,” this is the only autobiographical statement. Accordingly, it is likely significant. It is an invitation to come to Jesus addressed to all of humanity—we are the burdened, weighed-down, weary. He is not offering just a rest, but a greater rest. A rest that we are generally unaware, rest for the soul.

We may be hesitant, reluctant, or even intimidated at the prospect of what it might cost to experience this rest. So, He assures us of His gentle nature and that He is lowly of heart—He puts our interests before His own. Our greatest need is for our souls, the essence of who we are, to be at rest with God and in Christ.

The key to experiencing this rest is trust in Jesus.

As a concept, rest for your soul is directly proportional to trust in Christ. As noted, for the purpose of this article, I want to focus on why it is a greater promise and will seek to explain in subsequent articles some of the dynamics of obstacles and the remedy to receive.

“Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father” (Jn. 14:12).

You’ve got the right stuff …

A. The Father’s Blessing for a New Season

My teenage son and I were driving back from a retreat we attended together. It had been one of those memorable father-son experiences, the kind you know you’ll remember for the rest of your life. During the afternoon, we had gone for a hike up a mountain and talked along the way about life, God, hopes, dreams, etc.

As we left the retreat center and drove home, we talked together, and I sensed God’s desire for me to “bless” my son. This was something very different than a simple pronouncement after a sneeze, or merely saying, “You’re a blessing to me, son” or even something along the lines of, “Here’s some money; I just want to bless you.” No, this was something of Biblical proportion.

Allow me to briefly digress. I was raised as an observant Jew and came to faith in Jesus as Messiah as an adult. I had experienced Bar Mitzvah as a rite of passage. Our sons similarly experienced this rite of passage as I their father, rabbi, and pastor led them through Deuteronomy 6:4-9 and explained they were now men before God, sons of a New Covenant with God and sons of God’s blessings. Yet the day that I drove home with my son from the retreat, I sensed that God wanted me to bless my son again for a new season in his life … a new blessing to prepare for a new passage.

The Father blesses the Son in various important seasons of life and ministry.

This might seem a novel concept in a New Testament context, but consider that presumably Jesus experienced Bar Mitzvah in the Hebrew tradition.

Yet, when Jesus began His earthly ministry, a rite of passage, again His Father pronounced a blessing over His Son, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased” (Matt. 3:17).

Again, at the Mount of Transfiguration: The quest to the cross began in earnest, and another rite of passage is discovered. The disciples Peter, James, and John would be encouraged by the discovery of His glory as they were being prepared for their unique leadership roles. Jesus was far greater than their understanding of Messiah as declared at Caesarea Philippi (Matt. 16:16). The blessing of the Father would also encourage the Son, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased” (Matt. 17:5).

The Father’s blessing is highly valued.

The concept of the father’s blessing was critical to the Patriarchs. The yearning for the blessing caused Jacob to scheme in an attempt to secure his father Isaac’s blessing (although God had assured him of the blessing), and caused Esau to lament the loss of something that he had previously neglected. The importance of the blessing caused Joseph to attempt to guide his elderly father Jacob to pronounce a blessing over Joseph’s oldest son when Jacob was directing the greater blessing of God upon his younger grandson.

The twelve sons of Jacob gathered at their elderly father Jacob’s bed as the patriarch pronounced blessings that foretold the destiny of each of these twelve tribes of Israel. The blessing of a father is a critical event to help prepare for the passage into adulthood and for various seasons of passage in life ministry and discovery and fulfillment of calling.

As I drove with my son from that retreat, I too sensed that I was to bless my son. Then the words came forth, “I believe that God wants me to encourage you and bless you that you will do greater works than I ever have or will do.” These were words that I had never previously spoken to my son. They were words of great weight and were spoken with conviction. The experience was profound.

A father is a source of great influence for his children. When they become adults, he’s to be a mentor as he continues to train equip and encourage them for the seasons they encounter and prepare them for the ones that lie ahead. He’s to assure them that they have the right stuff!

The blessing, “In whom I am well pleased” is not conditioned upon perfection or performance but flows from the relationship of father and son or a mentor and disciple.

It’s only natural for parents to want their children to have a good life. But to want them to truly do greater things, especially greater Kingdom work, is supernatural. Unfortunately, that blessing can be impeded by a father’s competitive nature. A father who competes with his adolescent son in sports, resisting the son’s desire to beat (do greater than) his father, might find it difficult to yearn for his son to do greater than he has done. The difficulty pronouncing that blessing might say more about the nature of the father than the nature of the son.

B. The Son’s Blessing for a New Season

Nevertheless, a blessing apparently flowed easily from the lips of Jesus as He prepared the disciples for their rite of passage in the Upper Room when He declared,“ Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father” (Jn. 14:12).

The commencement address: You will do greater works …

Imagine the disciples hearing those words in the Upper Room. They were being prepared to continue the Kingdom work Jesus had groomed them for. The work would continue through them, and this was the time for their rite of passage. Certainly they would be confounded by the idea that they could possibly do greater works than Jesus. They had witnessed miracles performed by Jesus.

As they considered their own frailties and insecurities, they likely couldn’t imagine these encouraging words as an actual declaration of prophetic truth. Yet, true were the Savior’s words. For indeed the scope, magnitude, and influence of Christ’s disciples would in some respects be greater works. In the span of about fifty days, three thousand converts would enter the Kingdom at Pentecost in response to Peter’s anointed proclamation of the Gospel.

This sum would represent more than all of the recorded converts in Jesus’ entire earthly ministry. Soon thereafter, the number of converts would measure five thousand. Today the total is estimated in excess of two billion—a far greater number than the 120 who gathered in the Upper Room awaiting the gift of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. Similarly, Jesus’ earthly ministry was essentially within a thirty-mile radius of His home at Galilee. The Book of Acts records the spread of the Gospel to the known world, and today, the four corners of the globe.

Jesus’ declaration that they would do greater works is the outpouring of the blessing of a Kingdom leader to prepare Kingdom leaders.

He was letting them know in no uncertain terms that they had the right stuff because they were His disciples (he who believes in Me). He not only blessed them to prepare them for their calling, but He would help and strengthen them for that work by sending forth the Holy Spirit who would be with them just as Jesus had been with them.

C. The Need for Blessing Leaders

Church leaders who are focused on developing their personal kingdom are generally more like the competitive dad with his adolescent son. They are okay with their disciples doing good, and maybe even great, but are reluctant to bless encourage and help their disciples to do greater than their mentor. Again, this dynamic may speak more in regard to the nature of the church leader as opposed to the disciple. Kingdom leadership requires a transition from the competitive mentor to the blessing mentor who truly desires his disciples to do greater works.

The need for greater works to be done to accomplish Christ’s commission

Here’s an interesting concept that can help motivate church leaders towards Kingdom leadership: the success of the disciple enhances the reputation of the mentor. For example, the success of Joshua in regard to bringing God’s people across the Jordan River and leading the conquest of the Promised Land actually enhances Moses’ reputation. Similarly, the many miracles of Elisha are connected to his mentor Elijah. Certainly the works of the twelve elevate the reputation of Jesus. Yet, this reality is not the proper motive for being a blessing leader.

What should motivate us to bless like Jesus is a genuine love for God and others—and an understanding that greater works are needed to accomplish Christ’s commission locally and globally.

The desire to bless leaders to do greater works than their mentors leads to action in regard to the allocation of resources.

Time, talent, and treasure are focused on emerging growing Kingdom leaders to equip, encourage, and empower them to do greater works.

I began to seek to live this principle during the last few years in the context of training disciples and teachers and preparing church planters. I began intentional training with a group of men who had Kingdom potential as Bible teachers and church planters. It required some hours a week of my time and theirs. I encouraged them as their growth as teachers and leaders became evident during the course of training.

Furthermore each of them sought to discern their calling for the next season of ministry in the Kingdom. Some of them went on to plant churches, some were called to significant teaching and leading roles at our local church, but all of them were blessed with the words, “I pray that you will do greater works than I have ever done or will ever do.”

Presently, I have committed time, talent, and treasure resources to continue to coach these men (and others) and support the work God has called them to. And I’ve discovered the wonderful experience and contentment of yearning to see these men whom I disciple do greater works than me, their mentor.

Remember, not only do they have the right stuff, but so do you!

Contemplate and Consider:

1. Who in your sphere of influence do you see as having Kingdom potential (the right stuff)?

2. How can you encourage prepare and assist them to walk in their Kingdom calling?

3. How can you communicate blessing to encourage them that they will do greater works than you and that you desire to assist them to do so?

So many words have been printed, published and proclaimed to honor Pastor Chuck. My tribute seems hardly worth disseminating when others with greater eloquence or experience have expressed so many memories.

My first significant conversation with Pastor Chuck occurred more than thirty years ago. I was a new believer, who had been following Jesus about eleven months. I taught a home Bible study with about 45 people in attendance. I had started reading through the Bible in Genesis, and when I got to James 3:1, and the warning that those who teach will be judged more strictly, I was panicked. I called the church and asked to speak to Pastor Chuck, and although I’d never met him, he graciously came on the line.

I explained my situation—that I’d never gone to Bible college or seminary and there were all these people coming to my house, and how I’d just read James 3:1, and … In the midst of my discourse, Pastor Chuck started to laugh, and walk me off the ledge. He encouraged me to participate in the School of Ministry (SoM) at CCCM. I explained that I was an attorney and although I had a pretty flexible schedule, there would be court appearances where I’d have to miss class. Pastor Chuck told me that he would ask Pastor Carl be gracious and work with me. That was the first hand-upthat I received from Pastor Chuck.

When Pastor Chuck was teaching through the Book of Acts at SoM, he reserved time towards the end of class to answer questions. One student asked, “Pastor Chuck, what do you do when Sunday comes and you’re not prepared?” Chuck simply closed his Bible, and walked out of class. I never asked him about it, but I presume that he was offended that someone would think that he ever came to his calling as a Bible teacher unprepared for God’s noble work. That was another hand-up. In thirty-plus years of teaching, I’ve made sure to be diligent to be prepared.

Pastor Chuck had a tendency to walk down the center aisle to greet congregants as they were leaving the services. One day, an elderly looking woman, perhaps in her 80s, approached. I was next to Pastor Chuck when I heard him excitedly shout, “Lois!” I later learned that when Chuck was a boy, Lois was his Sunday School teacher in Ventura, California. It was another remarkable hand-up. I purposed to remember the people who influenced me for Jesus, and remember the people I was privileged to serve for Jesus.

Pastor Chuck gave me opportunities to teach at the School of the Bible at CCCM, opportunities to serve, and his ear (attention). He encouraged me to plant a Calvary Chapel in Camarillo, California and prayed for my wife and I and our infant son, commissioning us. Being vertically challenged, he towered over me, but I remember him looking down and his broad grin. There are three great smiles in the universe, the Mona Lisa, the Cheshire Cat, and Chuck Smith. That was another hand-up, he encouraged me, empowered me and helped me to believe that God could use me—not because I was an attorney, but because He had counted me worthy.

Seven years after the church in Camarillo was planted, we had an opportunity to purchase a two-acre parcel of land. In the city where I serve, open land is rare and expensive. There has only been one Protestant church built from the ground up in the last twenty-five years. That one church is yet another example of a hand-up from Pastor Chuck.

Our fledgling church had no way to qualify for a loan even with my willingness to use our home as collateral. I reached out to Chuck to explain the situation, and the opportunity, and he graciously approached the CCCM Board about giving us a hand-up, not a handout, to help us to qualify. We were able to get the loan and quickly remove CCCM’s involvement in their gracious assistance to us.

As the blueprints and construction drawings were developed, Pastor Chuck invited me to share them with him. There in his office at CCCM, he opened the voluminous pages. He had clearly done this countless times before. And like so many abilities, he clearly had a knack and knew what he was doing. I recall that he affirmed the design, and words to the effect that we had done good. But what really stood out to me was Pastor Chuck asking about our proximity to the fields. In our community, there is fertile open agriculture space between the city and the ocean. It is generally a lovely verdant space, but when broccoli or cauliflower are harvested the odor can be noticeable. Chuck had grown-up nearby in Ventura, California and was very familiar with the phenomenon. He wanted to give me a hand-up so that I would be careful how the campus was designed.

When the building was finished, Pastor Chuck agreed to come and speak at the dedication service. I got to make some opening remarks, and encouraged people to open their Bibles to the Book of Jeremiah (people had printed Bibles in those days rather than their phone or tablet). Chuck was in the front row sitting with my wife, Karen. Chuck had heard me refer to my wife as, “The godliest woman that I know.” That evening, Karen didn’t have her Bible, so our pastor leaned over and said, “Can I share my Bible with the godliest woman Bruce knows?” My wife’s face was crimson, but it was just another hand-up.

As I reflect, I had a very comfortable life in Orange County. I had ample opportunities to teach, serve, and was being used by God. I never aspired to be a pastor, but when it was obvious that it is what God had called me to be and do, I left my career to embrace my calling. As I reflect, the single most influential human being in that process is Pastor Chuck. I have no regrets in my decision, and love what I get to do in God’s kingdom. So, in gratitude for what Pastor Chuck has done for me, I’m submitting these words as a tribute to him, his memory, his incredible legacy, and the very tiny part I play in it.

No other human being will have greater influence in a new church than the church planter. In seeking to determine who should plant, what are some key qualifications? Let us aspire as followers of Jesus, and as church planters (aspiring and existing), to see these traits demonstrated in and through our lives.

1. Christ-changed:

First and foremost, a church planter must be yielded to Jesus and regenerated by the Holy Spirit. This would seem so axiomatic that it need not be articulated. Nevertheless, as liberal streams flow into the Church, it is wise to ensure this foundation. R. Albert Mohler, Jr., president of The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, has lamented the increasing numbers of people leading churches who do not believe the Christian faith and have not been born again. The first qualification is that the church planter be Christ-changed.

2. Christ-called:

A planter must have a sense of calling in his heart head and hands. C.H. Spurgeon advised his ministry students that if they could pursue any other occupation besides ministry, they should leave the pursuit of ministry and do so. The issue was not how many other options the prospective planter had at his disposal. It was that the ones who were truly called could not follow any other course for their life regardless of how attractive it might objectively appear to others.

Church planting requires faith: hearing God speak and responding with attitudes of dependence upon, and acts of obedience to, Him (Heb. 11:1-39). Planting is like the trapeze, the first bar represents security. But when God sends a second bar, a call to plant, the first must be let go of in order to grasp the second. The call is generally characterized by confirmation in prayer and Bible study, holy discontent, burden for pre-believers, and affirmation by mature godly counsel. Spiritually mature leaders will recognize God at work in the church planter, what Barnabas described as “The evidence of the grace of God” when he visited the church at Antioch (Acts 11:23).

3. Christ-like character:

It is remarkable to read a passage like 1Timothy 3 regarding the qualifications of elders and deacons and discover that the only qualification dealing with ability relates to the requirement that elders be able to teach. Otherwise, all the qualifications deal with character. Integrity is the key! Whatever the leader is, the followers will become. Jesus declared, “A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone who is perfectly trained will be like his teacher” (Luke 6:40). People rarely rise above their leaders.

The tendency is to review a list of character traits (e.g., 1 Tim. 3) and fail to allow the Holy Spirit to work in your heart. One wrong attitude is to review the list and praise your own sense of character—and that is simply spiritual pride. A second error is reading the list sensing the Holy Spirit begin to reveal an area in your life and ministry where you need to grow, and moving on without adequate reflection. A third error is seeing a list of traits as an insurmountable standard that no one can attain.

4. Christ-confident:

Depend on the power of Christ rather than your own ability. Your confidence is either in Christ or yourself. Effective spiritual leaders have discovered the need for dependence on the power of Christ rather than the strength of man’s flesh. Sooner or later, preferably sooner, you will discover and rediscover that apart from Him, you can do nothing that will bring forth spiritual value. Nevertheless, Jesus assures us that if we are connected with Him, that we will bear much fruit (John 15:5). The church planter will be and must be emptied of self-confidence (e.g., Moses in Ex. 2-3; Peter in Matt. 26-33, John 21:1-17) to become Christ-confident.

5. Christ-capable:

Church planters generally have some or most of the following gifts: apostolic, prophetic, evangelistic, teaching, and pastoring (Eph. 4:11-12). Apostolic leaders tend to embrace large-scale initiatives. Prophetic leaders tend to be a clarion voice urging people to yield to God. Evangelistic gifting is characterized by a burden to see souls saved. Teaching relates to the ability to help people understand and apply God’s truth. Pastors tend to nurture and protect God’s people. In addition, gifts of faith and leadership are often displayed among effective church planters. Assessments, both formal and informal, that reveal strengths and areas to be developed (either by the church planter or the team) help ensure capability.

6. Christ-committed:

Church planting is exhausting: The work of initiation, soil preparation, planting, cultivation, and harvest are difficult, but you reap what you sow. The best additive for a healthy garden is the gardener’s shadow—time and your presence. Thus, you commit to Christ, commit to the work, commit to the people, and allow the process of church planting to unfold naturally, supernaturally.

Like Paul, we want to be able to say, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Henceforth, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award me on that Day, and not only me but also to all who loved His appearing” (2 Tim .4:7-8). What did Paul know that would help us to be Christ-committed and finish our race?

First, he understood that it was a fight, albeit a good fight, but nonetheless a fight. Be prepared for a battle; this is not going to be a walk in the park. Second, Paul saw the relation between finishing the race and keeping the faith. If you depart from sound doctrine and thus a healthy relationship with Christ, you are likely to fail to finish your race. Third, Paul understood that although his primary motivation for ministry was love for God, he was confident that there were eternal rewards waiting. Please remember that Christ desires to greet you with the words “Well done good and faithful servant, enter into the joy of your Lord” (Matt. 25).

Here is another insightful experience from the life of Paul. When Paul gathered with the elders from the church at Ephesus, they implored him not to go to Jerusalem as great hardship was awaiting him. Paul knew that he was called to go and also knew that he would suffer. But he replied, “None of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God” (Acts 20:24). Paul decided, before he went to the city where he would serve, that he would not be moved. He asserted none of these things move me.

In context, these things related to arrest and mistreatment. Ask yourself, what might move you from your commitment to your call? Would you depart from the call if people treat you like the servant you are trying to be? Would you be moved if people did not express appreciation for you? Would you be moved to quit if you did not have influence over as many people as you were hoping to influence? Would you be moved to quit if you had to work long hours each week in ministry and a marketplace job for years?

Let us aspire as followers of Jesus—and as church planters (aspiring and existing)—to see these traits demonstrated in and through our lives.

Originally published on March 1, 2016

I’m not a huge pastry fan, but I do enjoy a fresh, hot slice of apple pie with a generous scoop of rich vanilla ice cream.
The rich, creamy ice cream, luxuriously melting over the warm, flaky, buttery crust is pretty much irresistible. Pie a la Mode was invented about 1885.

Fruit pies were common in the Roman Empire as early as the 5th Century B.C., and ice cream was available to the general public by 1660. Yet, the world would wait more than 200 years before ice cream and pie were combined to offer something wonderful—pie a la Mode. The moral of the story is that sometimes “both and” is better than “either or.”

What Is the “both and” of making disciples?

We need to be both filled with the Spirit and intentional in making disciples. Some might assert that not being intentional is organic, thus led by the Spirit. But that’s not necessarily the case. Similarly, one could argue that if a process is intentional (strategic), it’s of man (flesh) and not of the Spirit.

But again, a review of the Scripture reveals that the claimed divide between organic and strategic is a false dichotomy. In fact, a review of Paul’s ministry at Ephesus demonstrates the “both and” principle (Acts 19:1-7; Eph. 5:18).

Have you ever met people who claimed to be followers of Jesus, but there just seemed to be something missing that made you wonder if they were really submitted to Him? When Paul returned to Ephesus, he found some disciples and asked the curious question “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” On no other occasion do we have a record of Paul making this inquiry. What prompted him to ask?

Presumably, there appeared to be something missing in their spiritual lives that prompted the question. Perhaps they didn’t seem to be submitted to Christ as Lord, or empowered by the Spirit for Christian living, or perhaps Paul had some discernment about what was lacking. These disciples at Ephesus confessed their ignorance of the Holy Spirit (verse 2).

Yet, the text indicates they were disciples and implies they were believers. They understood the need for repentance and desired to follow Jesus (verse 4). But they were apparently seeking to become mature followers of Christ by either the power of self-discipline or man’s efforts rather than the power of God’s Spirit.

And Paul recognized the problem. Subsequently, the Holy Spirit came upon them and was manifest (verse 6).

Jesus declared that His followers would receive power to represent Him when the Holy Spirit came upon them (Acts 1:8). He likened it to being baptized with the Holy Spirit or being filled with the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:5, 2:4).

We believe that the baptism, or filling of the Spirit, is distinct from salvation, but it may occur at the same time or subsequent to being saved. The work of the Holy Spirit empowers Christian living. Jesus affirmed that the Holy Spirit was available to those who sought this gift from God and were yielded to Him (Luke 11:9-13).

When Paul wrote to the Ephesians, he instructed them as follows: “Be filled with the Spirit” (Eph. 5:18).

The Greek reveals that it’s a commandment, and the tense can be translated “Being constantly filled with the Spirit.” The terminology of being filled might cause some to assume that we can leak the Holy Spirit, like a car engine can leak a quart of oil. Or we might think that the issue is how much of the Holy Spirit a believer has. Nevertheless, the issue isn’t how much of the Holy Spirit we have, but how much of us the Holy Spirit has.

Being filled with the Holy Spirit flows from being submitted to Jesus. We need to be filled with the Holy Spirit in order to be disciples and to make disciples.

Once the believers at Ephesus were filled with the Holy Spirit, Paul began an intentional process of mentoring them to become mature followers of Christ (Acts 19:8-10). Paul taught the Scriptures daily to make disciples and develop leaders at Ephesus.

The Bible helps us to understand God and know His commandments. Thus, Bible learning is critical to being a disciple. For example, it is through the Scriptures generally, and Ephesians specifically, that we learn how being filled with the Spirit is manifest in praise, gratitude, mutual respect, marriage, family, and the workplace (Eph. 5:17-6:9).

But having knowledge, apart from the power of the Spirit, to apply the lessons is futile. So, making disciples requires us to be both filled with the Spirit and intentional (“both and”).

The filling of the Spirit is so critical to disciple-making that Paul issued a sober warning: “And don’t be drunk with wine in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit …” (Eph. 5:18). Please pardon the pun about “sober” warning, for the issue is not limited to excessive alcohol consumption. Paul’s exhortation is connected to the earlier cautions to live carefully in wisdom, redeem the time, and understand and do the will of God (Eph. 5:15-17).

Excessive alcohol consumption is an obstacle to being controlled by God, and is sin. And Paul notes that being drunk is dissipation. Dissipation relates to squandering energy, time, money, or other resources.

The only way to avoid wasting resources and wasting a life is to be intentional to live as Christ’s disciples, disciples who make disciples. And the only way to be a disciple is to be controlled by God or filled with the Spirit.

Thus, the moral of this story is that sometimes “both and” is better than “either or.”

Lifework

1. How can disciples neglect the need for the filling of the Spirit?
2. Why is it helpful to have an intentional process, along with the filling of the Spirit, to help become a disciple?
3. How do you believe that being filled with the Spirit and intentionally going through the discipleship process would help you in making disciples?

One of the values of our local church is “We create margin for what matters most.” We have observed, discovered, and experienced that life is too complicated. As individuals, as families, as groups, and as a community of faith, we need to create margin for what matters most. How can you cultivate new rhythms that help you to flourish in community and grow healthier—spiritually, emotionally, and even physically?

1. What are the priorities?

First, we need to determine what matters most. Presumably, Jesus would not leave us without direction, guidance, and important clues to figure out what are the priorities. We presume the great commandments to love God supremely and love your neighbor as yourself provide valuable insight.

When Jesus was asked the greatest commandment, He responded by quoting Deuteronomy 6:5: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength.” Jesus’ Jewish audience would associate this verse within the premier prayer of Judaism, the Sh’ma. Israel is exhorted to “Hear” (Sh’ma), that is, to listen, understand, and apply God’s truth and wisdom. Israel is reminded that there is no other God besides YHWH, and they are in a sacred covenant relationship: “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one!” Then, what follows is the instruction that God’s commands are to be observed in the home, taught to your children, and observed when you leave the home. Thus, we could conclude the first priority is God and the second is family. Note, God has to be first because you cannot properly love your family or others without receiving and responding to God’s love.

Imagine the many spheres of life that people are trying to juggle: personal health, recreation, school, career, friends, family, God, etc. As you juggle those spheres, keep in mind that most of them are “rubber” in the sense that if you drop them, the consequences are manageable. On the other hand, the marriage and family spheres are like “glass,” so you don’t want to drop them. Making God the priority will allow you to balance and maintain the other spheres properly without damaging them.

Jesus helped us to discover the third priority when He volunteered the second greatest commandment: “And you will love your neighbor as you love yourself’ (Lev. 19:18). The second great command was like the first in that they cannot be separated. Not only do you need to love God to properly love others, but your love for neighbors is evidence that you truly love God. Therefore, the third priority is to love neighbors. We must remember that Jesus made clear that a neighbor is often someone that you have little in common with including religious beliefs, and affinity (Luke 10:30-37). They are people God has called you to share His love with where you live, work, study, play, and worship. Thus, we could say neighbors include friends and those whom God brings into your sphere of influence. The priorities arewho matters most: God, family, and neighbors.

2. Discover discretionary time and create margin.

Each of us has 168 hours in a week. Very few people are fully free or independent in the sense that they have no time-consuming responsibilities or commitments. The largest commitments of time are often related to parenting, being a student, work, and sleep. Anecdotally, life seems very busy and complicated. There does not seem to be a healthy margin, and where there is margin, we often neglect what matters most.

Take a week or month to consider how you use your time. Consider entering in a calendar your actual use of time to see the patterns and rhythms that emerge. Discover how you use time before work or school, after work or school, and on your days off. What time do you generally wake-up, and what time do you generally go to sleep?

The greater the margin, the greater your freedom to enjoy what matters most to God. Paul exhorted the Corinthians not to worry about being a servant (cf. employee), but if they gained freedom to use it: “Were you called while a slave? Do not be concerned about it; but if you can be made free, rather use it” (1 Corinthians 7:21). In an effort to gain freedom, you can discover discretionary time and create margin. I would recommend adjusting the pendulum intentionally, but gradually, to avoid unintended consequences. For example, in most instances the answer is not to quit your job, or stop all recreational activities to create margin. If you are married or have a family, there should be a team approach to decisions. What changes need to be made to free-up time? Begin by identifying changes that create margin of a few hours every day or week.

3. Discern how God would have you redeem the time.

Prayerfully seek to discern how God would have you reallocate time. Consider spiritual disciplines to enhance your relationship with God. These might include, but not be limited to: Bible learning, prayer, contemplation and reflection (e.g., journaling), weekend worship gatherings, service in a local-church or para-church ministry, fasting, or generosity.

Consider relational disciplines to enhance your relationships with spouse, family, friends, and neighbors. These might include, but not be limited to: date nights, family devotional and/or prayer, family meals, weekly time spent with friends and neighbors talking, sharing a meal, or recreation.

Consider personal disciplines to enhance your health. Consider sleep, diet, exercise, content consumption, alcohol, drugs, or recreation.

Cultivate new rhythms resulting in new habits. Our habits, good or bad, can generally be established or broken in about a month. You are engaging in time-leadership more than management. Schedule new practices for what matters most and zealously protect that time from intrusion. Learn to say “No” to non-critical encroachers. Evaluate at the end of a month or two (or three). If you need to adjust the rhythms, try something new.

In addition, create some margin generally to provide flexibility for divine appointments. Create margin to talk, to listen, to pray, to observe, to hug, and to spontaneously play. Learn to recognize God’s leading of how to use that margin on any given occasion. Passionately protect margin, because in the margin is where you discover and enjoy what matters most.

Originally published on June 10, 2016

When a husband or a wife says, “I want us to be intimate,” their expectation may be substantially different, whether it was the man or woman who spoke. I have never met a married person who didn’t want more intimacy in marriage. God designed a husband and wife to become one (Genesis 2:24), but intimacy can seem so elusive. Here are three keys to unlock the intimacy enigma:

1. Emotional Intimacy

The primary tool to develop emotional intimacy is communication. Communication is necessary for understanding. We know that husbands are to dwell with their wives with understanding (1Peter 3:7), but we need to communicate to understand. Consider the spouse who says, “If they really loved me, they would know how I feel without me having to tell them.” They are blaming their spouse for their lack of communication, and they are making their spouse be a mind reader. I need to share my feelings as well as facts, and I need to listen better. “…Be swift to hear and slow to speak” (James 1:19). My wife may simply want to be heard. So I try to ask before offering a solution or suggestion to see what she is looking for from me. Part of communication is asking simple probing questions. For example, “What was the best part of your day? What was the most difficult? How did that make you feel?”

Compassion is necessary for connection. Feeling what your spouse is feeling creates intimacy. “Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep” (Rom. 12:15). Sometimes it is difficult for us to weep with someone who is weeping. We may feel overwhelmed by their emotions or uncomfortable with our inability to bring comfort. We may even resent that someone continues to be sad when we feel they should have gotten over it by now. A person who connects with their spouse during the difficult times and good times demonstrates compassion, empathy and emotional intimacy.

Conflict is an excellent opportunity to develop emotional intimacy. Remember to respect the rules for handling conflict (i.e. “fight right”). “Let no corrupt communication proceed out of our mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers” (Ephesians 4:29). Focus on the issue at hand, and avoid words like “always & never” and bringing up the past. Express feelings rather than fault, “I’m frustrated” not “You’re so frustrating.” Give your spouse time to process, but seek to resolve conflict speedily. “Be angry, and do not sin, do not let the sun go down on your wrath” (Ephesians 4:26).

2. Spiritual Intimacy

Couples that regularly go to church together, read their Bibles and pray report 91% satisfaction in marriage and divorce rate of less than 10% (Lifeway Research). Seek Christ together. Remember, spiritual intimacy with our spouse results from time together pursuing God. But unless we want to have a relationship with God as an individual, we cannot truly seek God together. Worship together by regularly attending weekend worship services. Read the Bible together, or create time to share what you’ve read independently. Praying together or alone is a spiritual discipline and can be challenging. Prayer helps to establish hunger for God, humility and honesty. Here are some practical suggestions about your prayer time as a couple: Set aside time for prayer. Agree on a start time and end time. Start off with a brief period. Take turns, and keep the prayers short. Go back and forth after about a minute. Keep the prayers personal. Pray for your marriage, your spouse, your kids and whatever else moves you personally. Also, take time to thank God for your spouse and children.

Emotional intimacy and spiritual intimacy create the foundation for physical intimacy.

3. Physical Intimacy

Sex in the marriage relationship; “Let the husband render to his wife the affection due her, and likewise also the wife to her husband. The wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does. And likewise the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does. Do not deprive one another except with consent for a time that you may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again so that Satan does not tempt you because of your lack of self-control” (1Corinthians 7:3-5).

Physical intimacy helps to satisfy desires and helps to discourage adultery. Sexual intimacy is a right as well as a responsibility in a marriage. In considering sexual relations, we need to keep in mind the big picture of seeking to develop intimacy. In an ideal world, both partners would have the same level of sexual desire, would find each other totally satisfying in every way and would be comfortable with their partner’s sexual fantasies. The reality is that, often times, the expectations of the partners differ. Sexual intimacy is not imposing your will upon your partner at the expense of their feelings. In light of these differences, what should a couple do?

Elevate: Place your spouse’s needs before your own. Sexual intimacy flows from God’s love. God’s love is pure and never exploits. Avoid exploiting your spouse. In seeking to experience physical intimacy, place your spouse’s needs before your own.

Navigate: Sexual intimacy can be a complicated process. Be patient in the process of navigating overlapping emotional issues. Allow God the time to get you to the desired destination as He works in both you and your spouse.

Communicate: Communicate your desires to one another. Seek to learn from your spouse some of the emotional issues connected with their sexual desires. Avoid passing judgment. Sometimes certain desires in sexual relations flow from emotional issues outside of the marriage context. Perhaps one of you was sexually molested as a young person. This will certainly impact your feelings about sexual relations in the context of marriage. Other issues may arise from a desire for control. Still, other issues can arise from a sense of rejection and a desire to be wanted. And other issues relate to hormonal or other physical aspects. By communicating about these issues, we can better learn how to minister to needs in regard to physical, emotional and spiritual intimacy.

Consummate: Passion, romance and desire are an ideal for marriage. The verb tense of “consummate” is defined as making a marriage complete by having sexual intercourse. God doesn’t view sexual desire between a husband and a wife as dirty or profane. Song of Solomon is full of passion. When God saw Adam and Eve naked in the Garden of Eden there was purity of sexual intimacy. They were not ashamed, and God did not tell them to put clothes on. Everything was very good (Genesis 1:31). Enjoy sexual intimacy as part of intimacy with your spouse. God intends marriage to be an intimate relationship. Intimacy between a husband and wife contemplates an emotional, a spiritual and a physical bond that typifies God’s desire that the two shall become one flesh.

What are some other keys that you have discovered to unlock intimacy in marriage?

If you are interested in seeing God’s kingdom expand and local communities transformed, then this article is for you. Whether you are a church leader, an aspiring leader, or simply a catalyst for positive change, please read on. The hope of the world is the gospel, and the world needs more gospel-centered churches!

Church planting, like many activities of the local church, became somewhat dormant in the midst of the pandemic. As local churches attempt to navigate a post-pandemic ecosystem, many feel there is a shortage of qualified leaders. Thus, there is a reluctance to send out top-tier talent to plant another church. So, I would like to consider four tools to cultivate church plants in a post-pandemic ecosystem, tools that are adaptable in almost any size church anywhere in the world.

Before discussing the tools, it is helpful to understand the following: planting churches benefits the kingdom and the local sending church. It creates excitement and attraction. Gifted leaders and future leaders are drawn to churches that plant churches. Training future church planters is arguably the most holistic leadership training. Most ministry training is silo-specific (e.g., youth or children’s ministry), but conversely, training church planters encourages a 360-degree understanding of the local church. So, while some trained leaders will actually go and plant churches, others will remain and greatly help the local church where they are trained.

So, here are 4 tools to cultivate better disciples, better leaders, and church plants in any season and any ecosystem:

1. School of Discipleship (aka School of Ministry):

A School of Discipleship (SoD) is a means to provide a more formalized method of making disciples, developing leaders, and leveraging a leader’s time. At Calvary Nexus, we use a curriculum that covers devotions, worship, servant leadership, use of time, Bible teaching, ministry and people, missions, equipping, evangelism, church history, planning, vision, and Calvary Chapel philosophy of ministry and systematic theology. A link to our curriculum is available here:

http://calvarynexus.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/School-of-Discipleship.pdf.

We offer a class one evening a week, for one hour and fifteen minutes. Each participant is expected to complete one hour a week of “lifework” (really just homework, but it sounds more spiritual). Each participant volunteers an average of one hour a week (four hours a month) in an area of ministry at the local church or a para-church organization. The curriculum takes about fourteen months to complete.

Each module is independent, which allows you to enroll new participants every six months. Participants who excel are recruited (after they graduate) to grade papers and mentor new students. This SoD model creates tremendous leverage, because the primary leader spends less than ninety minutes in class and can train a relatively large group. Each mentor disciples up to ten students and provides feedback on papers and helps participants grow as they learn to follow Christ and serve Him.

The SoD approach develops a broad foundation of growing disciples and leaders. Like a pyramid, this foundation will support narrowing tiers of future leaders and prospective church planters.

2. Teacher Training Class:

The Calvary Chapel movement has a rich history of expositional Bible teaching. We recognize that making disciples, developing leaders, and preparing church planters is more than training to teach the Bible. Yet, a class that teaches participants how to more effectively proclaim biblical truth is an important tool.

Expositor’s Collective (https://www.expositorscollective.com/) has an abundance of wonderful resources. Their training events are effective at helping Bible learners communicate gospel-centered truth so that people can understand and apply the Bible to their lives and glorify Christ.

At Calvary Nexus, we offer a class usually every other year. The class will generally have eight to twelve students. Most of the participants have roles teaching in youth ministries, kids’ ministry, small groups, or another ministry context, but some aspire to teach and want to be trained beforehand. We spend about four to eight sessions explaining principles of biblical hermeneutics (interpretation) and homiletics (communication). The students learn elements of Bible teaching and become aware of some traits that can make teaching more or less effective.

Then the participants begin to present thirty- to thirty-five-minute messages and receive feedback from their peers regarding what they did well, and then, what they (and the class) can work on to be more effective. A seasoned pastor-teacher or two will provide a more nuanced or sophisticated level of critique. We seek to provide critique that is sensitive to the experience level of each individual participant. The Teacher Training Class is explained at length as a step-by-step process in the Appendix of the Calvary Church Planting Manual:

http://calvarynexus.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Calvary-Planting-Manual.pdf.­­­­

3. Internship:

Internship provides an opportunity to grow as a disciple and leader in the context of a healthy local church. Internship provides participants who are interested in ministry an opportunity to glean practical experience in a local church that can help prepare them for a future of full- or part-time vocational ministry. Internships are often useful to college students and recent graduates as many internship programs provide college credit rather than an hourly pay rate. Yet, older interns can also benefit from the experience. Internships may also offer individuals insight into a particular church’s culture and daily operations.

At Calvary Nexus, we offer six-month and one-year internships. The primary ministry areas are kids, youth, young adults, tech, worship, and administration. Yet, any area can be ripe for an internship. At the beginning of the internship, we generally define three to four ministry objectives that seek to align the gifts and passions of the intern with the needs of the ministry. Then we identify three to four spiritual growth goals that are related to the ministry objectives. For example, a Children’s Ministry intern may have objectives to see a new classroom started, recruit volunteers, or discover new ways to express appreciation to volunteers. The spiritual growth goals could relate to attending a Children’s Ministry conference, listening to podcasts related to children’s ministry, researching appreciation, and identifying ways parents can better disciple their children.

The great majority of staff positions at Calvary Nexus have been filled by people who attended our School of Discipleship and participated in an internship. They proved themselves as having Christlike character—and being capable, faithful, and interested in vocational ministry. The internship is also explained at length in the Appendix of the Calvary Church Planting Manual.

4. Church Planter Training:

Cultivate by CGN has created a somewhat distinct approach to cultivate church plants:
https://cultivatechurchplanting.com/. The primary garden to train church planters is a local healthy gospel-centered church. A healthy gospel-centered church of almost any size anywhere in the world is an ideal environment to be trained. A disciple who has demonstrated proven Christlike character, gifting as a Bible teacher, and leadership qualities can discover a 360-degree understanding of the local church by being trained in the local church.

Cultivate is not a para-church planting organization meant to take the place of the local church. Instead, we are part of an expanding global family of churches that provides resources and coaches to help local church leaders serve as mentors to aspiring church planters.

Cultivate offers training videos that provide a comprehensive understanding of the vision, values, philosophy, and theology of the CGN family of churches. Cultivate provides effective assessment tools that help an aspiring church planter discover ministry gifting as well as theological understanding, strengths, and areas where development can be targeted. This also helps a planter recognize the value and benefits of building a team of people with a common mission and complementary gifting. Online classes provided through Western Seminary enhance theological training. The Calvary Church Planting Manual serves as a comprehensive resource for a pastor-mentor to train a prospective planter in the local church.

At Calvary Nexus, we offer a class where we primarily invite disciples to participate who are interested in church planting. They are often people who have proven themselves in the School of Discipleship, teacher training class, and internships, but invitations need not be limited to only those with these experiences. We include men and women because there are several roles on a church’s team, and we have found that spouses of church planters are better prepared for challenges as a result.

We use the manual as a resource/curriculum for the class and simply walk through the step-by step training described in the manual. Those who continue to feel called, and are recognized as being qualified by God to plant, will then be sent through Cultivate’s assessment process to refine, equip, and further mentor, coach, and prepare them to church plant and transform a community for Christ.

The class does not create any undue burden for the teacher-mentor (I spend less than two hours a week), and it ensures growing disciples and leaders for the kingdom and the local church.

We, along with several other churches, have discovered that these are effective tools to cultivate church plants in any ecosystem. So, whether you are presently a church leader, an aspiring leader, or a catalyst for positive change, contemplate how you can use these tools—or share these tools with others. The hope of the world is the gospel and the world needs more gospel-centered churches!