From time to time, a church planter will ask me, “What do you wish someone would have told you before you began?” Here’s a list of 15 things I came up with …
#1—Everyone will not understand you … so stop trying to explain yourself. Cast vision … and move forward!
#2—Everyone will not like you … so stop trying to be popular.
#3—You don’t have to be the person who actually solves every problem. Admit you are not the smartest person, and let your experts be your experts.
#4—Spend way more time talking about who you are rather than who you are not.
#5—A leader is always an easy target because they are … a leader. So, get over yourself and get on with what God called you to do!
#6—When the Holy Spirit presses something into your heart … don’t ignore Him.
#7—Do not expect God’s next step to make sense.
#8—You can’t plan a move of God … but you must be prepared for one!
#9—Do not resist something just because you do not understand it!
#10—People who claim you “are not deep enough” are obsessed with information but have no desire to live out transformation.
#11—You don’t need to listen to everybody … but you had better be listening to somebody because God didn’t ask you to take this journey alone.
#12—Never apologize for asking people to commit to something. Jesus didn’t!
#13—The church has been underachieving for way too long … so dream big and don’t apologize for it.
#14—There will be days when you want to quit. Don’t. Jesus didn’t! (Remember … DON’T GIVE UP … if you are discouraged, take a second and read this!)
#15—The Gospel Changes Lives … PREACH Every Sermon Like It’s Your Last!!!
