Questions to Ask Yourself
QUESTIONS TO ASK YOURSELF BEFORE CONSIDERING STARTING A CHURCH
- Is my main reason for wanting to start a church positive or negative? Do I want to follow God’s calling and reach people for Christ or do I just want to leave a bad situation?
- Do I share the gospel with non-believers on a regular basis and can I point to people who have made professions of faith and are still walking with Christ as a result of my witness?
- Am I comfortable relating with non-believers and building a relationship with them?
- Is my wife willing and enthusiastic about starting a new church?
- Am I willing to have training and coaching to help me be more effective?
- What gifts, personality characteristics, and experience do I have that would help me to be an effective church planter?
- Have I seen any success in seeing growth in a Sunday School class, youth group, or church?
- Have I seen any evidence that my preaching and teaching are received well?
- Am I considered someone who is a people person? (good listener, empathetic, patient, easy to get along with)
- Do I have a daily time with God and operate from the strength of this relationship?
- Is my life above reproach? (free from pattern of besetting sin, pay my bills, a good name in the community)
- Does my life instill trust in others? (keep commitments, get work done, honest, consistent, follow through with announced plans)
- Have I been thinking about my values, philosophy, and strategies in starting a new church?
- Have I talked this over with spiritually mature people who know me and have they encouraged me in this direction?
- Is there a growing feeling that this is God’s call and I must do this?
