Celebration

Learning To Lead In A Church Plant

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Every church and context is different. Whether an established church with large resources, and a deep bench of skilled musicians, or a church plant that is scrappy and industrious, every church and context has strengths and challenges.

As I have reflected on my experience serving in a number of church plants, here are a few things I wish I would have been able to learn sooner:

What Sustains You

Energy, momentum, adrenaline, and enthusiasm can take you farther than you would expect. But ultimately they are insufficient in their ability to sustain the long-term discipleship work of planning a church and making disciples. Once the energy is spent, moment wains, adrenaline empties and enthusiasm turns to routine - if love is not the undercurrent animating and motivating your service, you will be hollowed out.

The People

The chaotic, entrepreneurial nature of church planting is often attractive to people who enjoy starting something new. Many people who join you in the beginning will not be those who stay for the long haul. And that is okay. Some people will be with you for seasons. If and when people leave does not negate the very real investment they made in the church, or that you as a leader made in them.

Learning

As a worship leader, it takes time to learn your people. But this can be challenging when you do not even know the people who will be showing up at your church! Take time to learn about your church, your people, and the songs and liturgy that will resonate with your people. Be consistent - bordering on stale - as you plan your gatherings. There is enough uncertainty for people arriving at a church plant, keep songs familiar and regular as things take shape.

Encourage

Set up and tear down, evangelism and discipleship, learning on the job, building a team - planting a church is relentless and can be exhausting. If God in his kindness has provided one or two other people to serve on your team with sound, lyrics, musicians, or vocalists, thank him! And thank them. Notice, celebrate, and honor your people for the way they serve and sacrifice. I have been on the receiving and sending end of thank you notes, and I am always surprised how valuable these can be in feeling seen and appreciated. Buy a stack of cards, and write to your team regularly.

What would you add?

17 November: Liturgy & Set List

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  • CREATOR

    Call to Worship: Psalm 27

  • LAMB OF GOD

  • WE FALL DOWN

    Sermon: 1 Corinthians 13:4

    Scripture says, greater love has no one than this, that they would lay down their life for their friend. How do we know what love is? We look to the cross. But Scripture also tells us that when Christ died for us, we were not God’s friends, we were his enemies. And if you are here this morning as someone who has received the saving love of Christ through the cross, you have been called not just to love your family, friends, and the people you like, but your enemies. If God is able to reconcile sinners to himself as a holy God, what a small thing for him to reconcile one sinner to another. But that is not something that we can do in our own strength and ability, we need God’s help to love God, and love others. Let’s respond in song as we ask him to help us do that…

  • JESUS PAID IT ALL

  • YET NOT I BUT THROUGH CHRIST IN ME

    Benediction: Romans 5:8-11

4 August: Liturgy + Set List

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Our church is celebrating its tenth birthday this Sunday. We had normal morning services, along with a birthday celebration in the evening with some liturgical moments:

  • CREATOR/GLORIOUS DAY

    Call to Worship: Psalm 24:1-6

  • GREAT ARE YOU LORD

  • ABIDE

    Sermon: Psalm 145

    The Apostles’ Creed

    Baptism Affirmations

Trusting in the gracious mercy of God, do you turn from the ways of sin and renounce evil and its power in the world? I do.

Do you turn to Jesus Christ and accept Him as your Lord and Savior, trusting in His grace and love? I do.

Will you be Christ’s faithful disciple, obeying His Word and showing His love? I will, with God’s help.

Baptisms

  • LIVING HOPE

Benediction

SUNDAY EVENING

  • Welcome & Prayer

Father, we are gathered here because we believe that we are called together into a work we cannot yet know the fullness of. Still, we trust the voice of the One who has called us.

And so we offer to you, O God, these things:

Our dreams, our plans, our vision.

Shape them as You will.

Our moments and our gifts.

May they be invested toward bright, eternal ends.

Richly bless the work before us, Father.

Shepherd us well lest we grow enamored of our own accomplishment or entrenched in old habit.

Instead let us listen for Your voice, our hearts ever open to the quieter beckonings of Your Spirit.

May our love and our labors now echo your love and your labors, O Lord.

O Spirit of God, now shape our hearts.

O Spirit of God, now guide our hands.

O Spirit of God, now build Your kingdom among us.

Amen.

Adapted from “A Liturgy for the Labors of Community”

Every Moment Holy, Douglas McKelvey

  • 10,000 Reasons

  • RAISE A HALLELUJAH/WAITING HERE FOR YOU/O PRAISE THE NAME/DOXOLOGY

    Sermon

    Celebration

31 December: Liturgy + Set List

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  • WONDER AND GIFT

    The Church calendar says that Christmas is more than a day, it is a season. So we are still in the season of Christmas, remembering Christ’s coming, and anticipating His return. As we sing together this morning, I want to encourage you to look back over the past year and search for ebeneezers - remembrances of God’s care, help, and provision. Hold those things in your heart and mind, and sing from that place, sing from that remembrance this morning.

  • BEHOLD

  • HARK THE HERALD ANGELS SING

Almighty God, you have poured upon us the new light of your incarate Word: Grant that this light, kindled in our hearts, may shine forth in our lives; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one god, now and for ever. Amen.

  • ONLY A HOLY GOD

    Readings: Luke 1:26-33, Matthew 1:1, 12-16

    This is the word of the LORD. The kind of people Jesus came from reveals the kind of people Jesus came for. Thanks be to God. Thanks be to God.

    Sermon: Luke 1:26-56

    Writer Frederick Buechner says, ‘The grace of God means something like: "Here is your life. You might never have been, but you are, because the party wouldn't have been complete without you. Here is the world. Beautiful and terrible things will happen. Don't be afraid. I am with you. Nothing can ever separate us... I love you." If you are here this morning as a follower of Jesus, as you look back over 2023 and as you look ahead to 2024 you have nothing to fear, because the Lord who loves you says in His Word: ‘I will never leave you or forsake you.’ God is so kind, so good, so gracious, he can work all things for our greater good, and His greater glory. As we close out our morning and our year, we’re going to sing about God’s glory with a song that will have a familiar melody, but maybe words which are unfamiliar. Would you stand if you’re able…

  • All Glory Be To Christ

24 December: Liturgy + Set List

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  • WONDER AND GIFT

  • O COME LET US ADORE HIM

  • O COME O COME EMMANUEL

    If you have been with us this Advent season you know that we have been looking at the mothers of Jesus - women in the genealogy of Jesus. And we have said throughout this series, ‘The kind of people Jesus came from reveals the kind of people Jesus came for.’ And what Scripture tells us is that Christ came to win for Himself, to purchase with His blood, a bride made up of people from every tribe, tongue, nation, and language on the earth. This is part of what the angels say to the shepherds, ‘This is good news of great joy which will be for all the people.’ And this morning we get to hear some of our people - who call Life Church home - read us the story of this good news in a few of the languages representing the people Jesus came for:

    Luke 2:1-7 (in Spanish), Luke 2:8-13 (in Vietnamese), Luke 2:14-20 (in English)

  • COME THOU LONG-EXPECTED JESUS

    Sermon: 2 Samuel 11:1-27

    I love what the Psalmist says - even the darkness is not dark to you, for the night is as bright as the day. This is Jesus, the Light of the World illuminating the darkness of our sin, the darkness of our lives, the darkness of the world. Let’s sing about Him, and to Him, and to one another - would you stand if you’re able…

  • LIGHT OF THE WORLD (SING HALLELUJAH)

    Reading: John 1:9-18

    We light a candle to remember that Jesus is the Light of the World. And if you are here this morning as a follower of Jesus, you carry the very life and light of Christ in you and with you as you walk into a darkened world.

  • SILENT NIGHT (SON OF GOD, SON OF MAN)

  • O COME ALL YE FAITHFUL

16 April: Liturgy + Set List

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  • ALL CREATURES OF OUR GOD AND KING

    Call to Worship: Psalm 121

    Life Church, what is your only hope and help? It is not found within yourself. It is not your ability to pull yourself up by your bootstraps, try harder, be better, or do more. No, your help and hope is always and only the person of Jesus. And that reality should thrill our hearts and fuel our worship this morning. We opened our Easter gathering last week with this song, and we are going to sing it together. It moves quickly, so we’ll teach you the chorus first:

  • REJOICE

  • THE GREATNESS OF OUR GOD

    Sermon: Mark 6:30-44

    God always meets us in the desolate places. Sometimes with loaves and fishes, always with the blessed, broken, and given life of Christ. Only a Holy God, only a Holy God, only a Holy God. Would you stand if you’re able, we’ll sing together:

  • ONLY A HOLY GOD

  • RAISE UP THE CROWN (ALL HAIL THE POWER)

    Benediction

Tuesday Refocus: April 11

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“The resurrection of Jesus is the 'Amen!' of the Father placed upon the 'It is finished!’ of the Son.” - Herman Bavnick

“Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through Him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God.” Romans 5:1-2

“But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, waiting from that time until his enemies should be made a footstool for his feet. For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified.” Hebrews 10:12-14

Finally, fully, completely forgiven. 

There is no work left to be done.

Rejoice!

Lord, we echo the amen! Amen and amen.

Rejoicing,

AB

9 April: Liturgy + Set List

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REJOICE

Welcome + Call to Worship: Psalm 111:1-4, 9

  • AND CAN IT BE

  • ALL HAIL KING JESUS

    Let’s confess what we believe and what we celebrate this morning. I will read the parts marked ‘Leader,’ and together we’ll read the parts marked ‘All’:

Corporate Prayer:

Leader: Alleluia! Christ is risen.

All: He is risen indeed. Alleluia!

Leader: Praise the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. 

All: He has given us new life and hope.

He has raised Jesus from the dead.

Leader: God has claimed us as his own.

All: He has brought us out of darkness.

He has made us light to the world.

Leader: Alleluia! Christ is risen.

All: He is risen indeed. Alleluia!

—based on 1 Peter 1:3-5 [From the Worship Sourcebook]

Sermon: Ephesians 2:4-7

Scripture tells us that we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Let’s sing this morning in light of that day - the further up, and further in revelation of God’s glory. Would you stand if you’re able:

  • O PRAISE THE NAME (ANÁSTASIS)

  • SON OF SUFFERING

    Benediction: 1 Peter 1:3-4

Good Friday: Liturgy + Set List

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  • TRISAGION

Welcome + Invitation to Rest

God, it is good to be near You. Would you help me become aware of your presence and nearness in this moment?

Psalm 46:10

  • I SHALL NOT WANT

  • MY JESUS I LOVE THEE

Invitation to Remember

God, where was I far from You today? Whether in thought, word, or deed?

Hebrews 8:12

  • GOODNESS OF GOD

  • O PRAISE THE NAME (ANÁSTASIS)

Invitation to Rejoice

God, would you show me how to endure in light of the fullness of joy, and pleasures forevermore promised to me as a follower of Christ?

Psalm 16:11

  • NOTHING BUT THE BLOOD

Message: Ephesians 2:1-3

Invitation to Repent

God, in Your kindness would You lead me to repentance?

Mark 1:14-15

  • OUR JESUS

  • ALL HAIL KING JESUS

Corporate Confession

Merciful God, We confess that we have sinned against You in thought, word, and deed, By what we have done, and by what we have left undone. We have not loved You with our whole heart and mind and strength. We have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. In Your mercy forgive what we have been, help us amend what we are, And direct what we shall be, So that we may delight in your will and walk in Your ways, To the glory of Your holy name. Through Christ, our Lord. Amen. [From the Book of Common Prayer]

Communion

Invitation to Request

Father, would You give me the ability to respond like Jesus: requesting of You honestly, while also in humility surrendering to Your will?

Matthew 26:39

  • FORGIVEN FOREVER

Thank you for being here with us tonight. If you’d like to use this space to continue to Rest, RememberRejoice, Repent, or Request, the band will continue to play for the next moments. As you go, please leave the auditorium and the lobby in silence, carrying the hope and anticipation of the resurrection. We’ll see you on Sunday.

Tuesday Refocus: January 31

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“To fold one’s hands in prayer is the beginning of an uprising against the disorder of the world.” - Karl Barth

Scripture tells us to pray without ceasing (1 Thessalonians 5:17). Can there be any other response when we recognize that we are engaged in a battle that is not against flesh and blood but against the rulers, authorities, cosmic powers over this present darkness, against spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places (Ephesians 6:12)? We are people who live in humble dependence for our very breath (Acts 17:25).

If our very breath is a need we cannot supply in our own strength, how much more do we need to be people to are anxious for nothing but pray about everything (Philippians 4:6-7)?

When I pray, I acknowledge my dependence on God both to God and to myself. When I fail to pray I acknowledge my attempts at self-sufficiency both to God and to myself.

Lord, may prayer be the language of my dependence upon you. May it be the beginning of an uprising in the disorder of my own heart, and life, and in the world. Let it be so, amen.

Dependent,

AB

Tuesday Refocus: January 24

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“The day is coming when there shall be a congregation that shall never break up, and a Sabbath that shall never end, a song of praise that shall never cease, and an assembly that shall never be dispersed.” - J.C. Ryle

On this side of eternity, we see everything in part. Everything is as though looking through a dim glass (1 Corinthians 13:9-12). This is the place where familiarity and ache collide as we recognize our citizenship is another kingdom (Philippians 3:20). 

This is the place where we say ‘Come quickly, Lord Jesus.’ 

This is the place where we cry ’Save us!’

Here all things are fractured and yet still reflect a sense of glory - a sense of what has been and what will be.

So we give ourselves to the Bride knowing that the Groom will soon return. We rest knowing that one day our labor will be joy and fulfillment. We sing today knowing that one day there will be a new song, an everlasting song of praise to our God. We stand shoulder to shoulder week after week with those against whom we sin, and who have sinned against us knowing that one day our lives will no longer bear the marks of pain we have experienced or inflicted.

God, for that day we live with expectation and hope. May we practice now what will give us a glimpse, and a taste of what will one day be. Hallelujah, amen.

With expectation,

AB