Darrin Patrick from the Acts 29 networks gives us some great inspiration. If you are a church planter or want to plant this video is a must watch. If you are interested in planting we have tons of opportunities in the State of Indiana. Hit me up if you want more information. Also here are some great questions to ask if you are praying about planting a church.

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Apart from the obvious, my relationship with Jesus, incredible wife and daughter (and the one on the way), I wanted to tell you why I am so excited that our Grand Opening is just days away.  Here they are in no particular order:

• We moved back to this area just for this day.
• I have been waiting for this day for three years.
• I personally believe God is going to move in such a huge way on September 12 that the only explanation is Him and that is AWESOME!
• I get floored every time I see people from journey sharing Jesus with people and ministering to their needs and on September 12th that will happen.
• September 12th we go public and our community will see Jesus through our church…WOW!
• Jesus promises that if we elevate Him, He will draw all men to himself!!
• September 12th will be the clearest Gospel presentation I have ever preached and people are going to place their faith in Him that day.
• I couldn’t imagine fighting this battle with different people…journey you ROCK!!
• God is awesome, has the power to save and willing to do so!!!!
• September 12th will not only be significant for journey church but also will mark spiritual transformation for those who place their faith in Him

I could go on and on but you get the picture.  Now let me know what floats your boat?  Why are you excited about our Grand Opening?

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The reality is American evangelicals close more churches each year than we open new ones.  Like it or not, we are a post-christian nation.  This is why it is so important to plant churches.  I have read stories and met guys that had all the good intentions in the world for their church plant but for some reason or another they failed.  Here are three reason that contribute to the closure of new churches:

1.  Lack of Vision - Habakkuk 2:2-3 tells us to write the vision clear so it is easily understood and able to spread.  There are churches that I have walked into and no one knows the vision of the church.  No one can even articulate a version of the church’s vision.  Problem?  YES!  Vision is key to any church growth but vital for a church plant.  I heard once that if your staff is tired of hearing about the vision then your people will get it and if your people are sick of hearing the vision then your community will get it.  We want our communities to GET IT so preach it until you are blue in the face.

2.  Moral Failure - want to ruin your church plant?  Then have a moral failure.  NOT only you but your staff’s moral failures can ruin your plant.  It is important to have accountability in place to keep you clear of immorality.  Also since your staff can bring it down be slow to hire and give titles.  Your church  plant will thrive without fancy titles.

3.  Lack of Execution – Church planting is fought and won in the trenches.  This is probably one of the hardest components to church planting.  Most church planters are 60 foot view guys.  Let me explain, most guys are entrenched with vision and forget to seek and identify the steps to take to complete the vision which gives them a 60 foot view.  If you are a big picture thinker then you need to surround yourself with execution people, clipboard nazi and self proclaimed bean counters.

Church planting is our only hope so make sure you are ready for the pressures of church planting and educated yourself on the things that can bring it down.

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Most of the time we go through life not expecting anything to happen. The sad culmination is that when God does show up unexpectedly we are so caught off guard we miss the blessing.  What if everyday you started with the thought, “Today God is going to reveal Himself to me.” Would your prayer life change?  Would your weeks become shorter because you wouldn’t be drawn down but the mundane things in life?  I believe that we would be set free to serve our Lord to our greatest capacity if we prayed and lived with expectant hearts.  Every ordinary day has a miracle waiting to happen and I want to experience everything that God has to offer.

As we move closer to our Grand Opening at Journey Church we need to expect God to show up and take care of business.  Lives are at stake here.  Decide to change, to be different and experience God in the fullness of His Glory.

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I believe there is an element where we have forgotten our own personal freedoms whether we’ve forgot the freedom the American Solider fought for or the freedom in Christ we have from the Cross. We have to balance the fact the we are dead in sin and that we have been set free in Christ through His sacrifice on the cross. Its easy to camp out on one side of the spectrum but I find it is difficult to live a balance between man’s sinful nature and the freedom of the cross.

My fear is that we live content with the vanishing thought of those who fought and paid the ultimate price for our freedom and an eternal tragedy if we forget the freedom found in Christ. What are your thoughts?

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Well…no surprise but this Sunday way huge. It never gets old to hear people talking about ways to reach people for the Gospel. Here are some of my thoughts on Sunday

• 2 Corinthians 5:17-21 is probably the most convicting scripture that I have ever read, let alone preached
• We need to serve the nonbelievers in out community by proclaiming the Gospel
• Jesus, not having sin became sin for us.  THAT BLOWS MY MIND!
• The old is gone and we are new creations IN CHRIST
• We prayed for a Journey group that will be elevated Jesus on Wednesday…AWESOME!
• We we place our Faith in Christ we are brought into harmony with THE CREATOR
• Jesus Messiah…great worship song for today
• Our children’s team rocks.  I walked into a room full of leaders planing our first VBS
• If we aren’t about 1 Corinthians 5:17-21 we need to go flip burgers
• If you weren’t excited about the Gospel after church today then you need to check your pulse

The best is yet to come.

Pastor Jeff

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We finished the Foundation Series this Sunday and it was apparent that God was at work.  People were coming up to me after the services talking about ways they are going to reach our community, that pumps me up!! Here are some thoughts about Sunday:

• Its time to make BOLD moves for the Kingdom
• Jesus will always be there to bring us to safety
• There is a passion for the Gospel that is starting to stir in our church!!
• Fear sometimes keeps us in the boat
• We are going to intentionally reach our community
• When we make BOLD moves JESUS is elevated
• People experience JESUS when we make BOLD moves
• Jesus is inviting us to make BOLD moves like he invited Peter to walk on the water
• You guys gave the most in the history of our church!

This week was awesome and the best is yet to come.  Be faithful and available!

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Week two of Foundation and we unpacked Acts 1:8.  It was an awesome day as we started to understand just who we are going to reach as a church.  Here are a few thoughts.

• We have access the Holy Spirit (that’s the Spirit of God!!)
• We are going to rock our community
• God is stirring the hearts of our people to reach the unreached
• We all have a Jerusalem
• I love our new building
• Watch out IUS (go Lara and Heather)
• We have an awesome Youth Ministry team
• We have TONS of Kids
• Our volunteers ROCK
• Next week is going to be awesome as we unfold our plan to reach our community

Hold on tight Journey.  God is a work and he is going to use us in a big way but we must be willing a ready to go!

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We have so many talented people at Journey Church.  This week I had the distinct privilege to read  a very creative rendition of the Great Commission found in Matthew 28 by one our many talented people, Cole Harper.   I was talking to Cole prior to Sunday and we started talking about how the church in America has lost its first love and how we have distorted what the Great Commission embodies and have deduced the commission from our Savior Jesus Christ to something that is more focused on buildings, lights and HD videos cameras and a passionless life not focused on people who need Jesus.  Before all the emails and comments start coming in, I am not suggesting we can’t use buildings, lights and HD video cameras to promote the Great Commission but what is our motive, OUR kingdom or HIS Kingdom?  Without further ado, the American Spoiled Version of the Great Commission by Cole Harper.

Go therefore and make disciples of already lukewarm Christians, baptizing them in the name of cool buildings, consumerism and the fear of lost people, teaching them to ignore both the Gospel and that lost people go to hell. And behold, I am with you always [assuming your sound system is sweet] even as you pogo-stick aimlessly from church to church for the duration of your anemic, passionless lives.

Lets keep Jesus the main thing, shall we?  I can speak for myself and for Journey Church, we will not subscribe to this idea.  In fact, we will die flying the banner of Jesus Christ.  Who is with us?  The time is now.

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