New Churches Podcast

Latest Episodes:

Creating a Culture of Prayer Aug 29, 2023

Show notes

Episode 764

Hosts Vance Pitman and Noah Oldham spend some time with Strategic Renewal President Daniel Henderson to discuss the role of prayer in the pastor’s life and in the life of the church as a whole. Discover how you can grow your own appetite for prayer and lead your people to do the same.

In This Episode, You’ll Discover:

The transformational nature of prayer within Scripture
How the prayer life of the early church was cultivated
Why corporate prayer is essential to your congregation’s spiritual growth
Steps for incorporating sustainable prayer rhythms into your Sunday services
How the culture of the church begins with you as the pastor!

Helpful Resources:

Strategic Renewal’s Pastoral Network: The 6:4 Fellowship
Interested in learning more? Start the free Preaching Masterclass
Check out our Church Planting Primer.

Please subscribe to the podcast and leave a rating and review on iTunes.

Sharable Quotes (#NewChurches):

It has to be birthed in our own hearts that if we aren’t a praying church, we aren’t going to honor Christ, accomplish supernatural gospel advancement, or experience transformation. — Daniel Henderson

We watch people pray and see the Spirit of God move in power, and we’re like, “Wow! What is this?” But then we read the Bible and realize that’s what New Testament Christianity looks like. — Vance Pitman

There’s a difference between seeking revival from God and seeking God for revival. The only enduring motivation for prayer is that God is worthy to be sought, and that never changes. — Daniel Henderson

There has to be a worship-based motivation in our prayer that keeps us in the fight. — Daniel Henderson

When lost people attend a Christian church service, they actually expect us to talk to God and show them how they can do the same. When we relegate prayer to eloquent professionals on the stage, prayer becomes something unattainable for the average person. — Vance Pitman

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Building a Theological Vision Aug 24, 2023

Show notes

Episode 763

Host Ed Stetzer teams back up with author, pastor, and leadership expert Eric Geiger to discuss the church’s responsibility to engage hard questions with applicable theological truth. Here’s how you can intentionally shepherd your people as they examine God’s Word and seek His heart for them in the process.

In This Episode, You’ll Discover:

Ways to effectively navigate cultural shifts and philosophies
How you can train your staff on pressing theological issues
The gift that tension brings us in our most difficult pastoral moments
Which topics to preach from the pulpit (or to save for your next discipleship class)
Helpful advice for reaching the “unchurched” people in your pews

Helpful Resources:

Interested in learning more? Check out our Church Planting Primer.
Are you ready to enroll in our Church Planting Masterclass?

Please subscribe to the podcast and leave a rating and review on iTunes.

Sharable Quotes (#NewChurches):

We find ourselves in a time when we can’t assume our people have a basic understanding of the gospel or on what the Bible teaches. — Ed Stetzer

I want our people to know I’m responsible before the Lord for them to be discipled, to have a Christocentric view of the world, and to be theologically conversant in understanding key doctrines of the Christian life. — Eric Geiger

What the church can offer now in a world that is so confused is to actually connect with the questions the culture’s asking; this is both theological and practical. — Eric Geiger

We’re not just screaming at the culture; we’re equipping our people to answer questions with both truth and grace. — Eric Geiger

Be careful before jumping into more complex topics because you want to walk your people through it wisely, biblically, and also in pastorally appropriate ways. — Ed Stetzer

Approach hard conversations with tenderness and compassion the way Jesus approaches us. Say the truth but also show it in a beautiful and gracious way. — Eric Geiger

The post Building a Theological Vision appeared first on New Churches.

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Small Groups for Men Aug 22, 2023

Show notes

Episode 762

Hosts Vance Pitman and Noah Oldham join with small group guru, leadership expert, and church planter Spence Shelton to dissect the issues faced within small groups, specifically pertaining to men’s involvement. Tune in to learn more about engaging the men in your church plant and creating spaces for authenticity within your discipleship models.

In This Episode, You’ll Discover:

The ways gender-specific groups benefit men within our congregations
How simplicity aids us in discipleship planning
Steps you can take to guide your layleaders well
How you can address your men’s anxiety about joining a small group
The secret to providing childcare within your church plant!

Helpful Resources:

Interested in learning more? Start the free Preaching Masterclass
Check out our Church Planting Primer.

Please subscribe to the podcast and leave a rating and review on iTunes.

Shareable Quotes (#NewChurches):

The Scriptures clearly taught that Paul wanted to make sure there were older men training up younger men in the church, pulling them aside and training them to walk as godly men. The same is true with older women needing to train up younger women. — Spence Shelton

If nothing else—just out of obedience to God’s Word—if you’re a man with no male influences helping you walk with the Lord, you have to turn, look at Scripture, and recognize the deficit you’re missing. — Spence Shelton

Men need to be in spaces with other men dealing with God’s Word. — Spence Shelton

What were the disciples but a small group of 12 men who Jesus did life with for three-and-a-half years, raising them up, multiplying them out, and pouring into them? — Vance Pitman

We want everybody to be involved in intentionally gospel-centered relationships. So, depending on our people’s demographics in life, we provide different groups because discipleship is what matters for us; it’s the product, not the methodology, to get there. — Noah Oldham

The post Small Groups for Men appeared first on New Churches.

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Lead Your Church Through Change Aug 17, 2023

Show notes

Episode 761

Host Ed Stetzer meets with author, pastor, and leadership expert Eric Geiger to discuss the inevitability of change in church planting. Tune in to learn how Christ’s transformational power impacts us personally as believers as well as within our leadership roles.

In This Episode, You’ll Discover:

How naivety can benefit our younger leaders
The importance of adjusting our approaches to change
What the COVID-19 pandemic taught us about pivoting
How to relate to layleaders through the lens of change
Why encouragement is absolutely essential in leadership

Helpful Resources:

Eric’s book: Simple Church: Returning to God’s Process for Making Disciples
Interested in learning more? Start the free Preaching Masterclass
Check out our Church Planting Primer.

Please subscribe to the podcast and leave a rating and review on iTunes.

Sharable Quotes (#NewChurches):

You must begin with a really careful diagnosis of what needs to be changed, not thinking that all change is created equal. — Eric Geiger

We’re talking about the body of Christ, the family of God, and the bride of Jesus. The images that Scripture gives us aren’t for just any organization; this is the church, so we want to approach change very carefully. — Eric Geiger

Sometimes, as a leader, the need for change is intuitive to you in ways that are not intuitive to everybody else. — Ed Stetzer

Change is part of what it means to be a Christian. We were changed when we became Christ’s, but we weren’t just once-and-for-all changed; we are being changed and transformed. — Eric Geiger

In a church plant, you tend to attract more change-attracted people. They want to be there, but you must learn how to pastor them well. — Ed Stetzer

The post Lead Your Church Through Change appeared first on New Churches.

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Starting Small Groups in a New Church Aug 15, 2023

Show notes

Episode 760

Hosts Vance Pitman and Noah Oldham spend some time with pastor, author, and discipleship consultant Spence Shelton to uncover the role community groups play in the life of the local church. Tune in to discover how you can cultivate more group-centric rhythms while furthering the gospel’s reach within your own community.

In This Episode, You’ll Discover:

How NOT to start up a groups ministry in your new church plant
The importance of meeting and empowering your people where they are
Three qualities to look for in your small group leaders
Why your plant needs a disciple-making mentality
What you can do to avoid lay-leadership burnout!

Helpful Resources:

Interested in learning more? Check out our Church Planting Primer.
Are you ready to enroll in our Church Planting Masterclass?

Please subscribe to the podcast and leave a rating and review on iTunes.

Sharable Quotes (#NewChurches):

Clarity creates confidence, so give leaders clarity on what their expectations are. That’s going to give them the confidence to carry it out. — Spence Shelton

We plant because healthy churches plant churches and healthy groups plant groups. — Spence Shelton

We want to keep reaching people with the gospel. So, whenever you want to make disciples and reach lost people, that’s when you plant community groups. — Spence Shelton

We have to think multiplication at every level, and that’s not just multiplication of churches. It’s multiplication of disciples, which means multiplication of groups. — Vance Pitman

It’s not driven just by a systematized approach; if we’re not careful, we can make this a math equation. This is the activity of God in making disciples and multiplying churches for the expansion of His kingdom. — Vance Pitman

That’s what we’re after: making disciples. The Lord is the One who gives the growth. We are just here to seed and water, and as we see the Lord growing, we harvest. — Spence Shelton

The post Starting Small Groups in a New Church appeared first on New Churches.

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Leadership Development for the Next Generation Aug 10, 2023

Show notes

Episode 759

Host Ed Stetzer meets with Lifeway’s Director of Leadership Todd Adkins to explore the relationship between the body of Christ—the church—and its next generation of young leaders. Tune in to discover so much more about the church’s responsibility in leading and serving its Gen Z counterparts.

In This Episode, You’ll Discover:

The importance of growing young leaders’ competence and confidence
How to help Gen Z-ers navigate the uncertainties of ministry and leadership
What the next generation desires from their church leadership
Why we’re called to pave the way forward for the future church
What you can learn from the Next Gen members in your congregation!

Helpful Resources:

Interested in learning more? Check out our Church Planting Primer.
Are you ready to enroll in our Church Planting Masterclass?

Please subscribe to the podcast and leave a rating and review on iTunes.

Sharable Quotes (#NewChurches):

Gen Z seems to lack the confidence of older generations. They’re just as competent, smart, and bright, but they need more encouragement. They need to be brought along and encouraged to lead. — Todd Adkins

We are finding that the next generation is slower to commit to a local congregation, and part of that is their negative perception of the scandals and struggles of the church. — Ed Stetzer

Gen Z-ers don’t often see the church as a healthy place to exercise their spiritual growth, nor do they see it as a place to grow and develop as a leader. We have to seize that opportunity relationally, authentically, and in community. — Ed Stetzer

We’re coming from a completely different generation and perspective. We have to understand that they’re not going to take the same path we did and that the expectations they feel are different as well. — Todd Adkins

We need to be personal and patient with the next generation as we bring them along. If we’re not taking them anywhere, they’re not just going to show up anymore. — Todd Adkins

The post Leadership Development for the Next Generation appeared first on New Churches.

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Warning Signs for Leadership Failure Aug 08, 2023

Show notes

Episode 758

Hosts Vance Pitman and Noah Oldham team back up with author, speaker, and church planting director Scott Thomas to dive even more deeply into the role that failure plays in leaders’ lives. Tune in to discover how you can be on guard against your sin and the havoc it wreaks in ministry.

In This Episode, You’ll Discover:

The four steps to take when faced with your own failures
Which signs to watch for in your personal life as a leader
How pride precedes our greatest pitfalls as followers of Christ
The difference between disappointing versus disqualifying defeat
Why security in Christ is pivotal to flourishing in ministry

Helpful Resources:

Scott Thomas’s newest book: The Gospel Shaped Leader
Scott Thomas and Tom Wood’s book on coaching: Gospel Coach: Shepherding Leaders to Glorify God
Interested in learning more? Check out our Church Planting Primer.
Are you ready to enroll in our Church Planting Masterclass?

Please subscribe to the podcast and leave a rating and review on iTunes.

Sharable Quotes (#NewChurches):

When you as a leader admit to making a mistake, it creates an atmosphere that allows others to know failure is okay and that we all make mistakes. — Vance Pitman

I think too often in the realm of spiritual leadership, we embrace the idea that we have to be Superman with the “S” on our chests. We don’t allow for the reality that we all make mistakes, fail, and hurt other people, but we have to be willing to admit that. — Vance Pitman

If you have built a culture of gospel and grace, you can freely put your mistakes forward, knowing that you’ll receive the gospel in return. It’s super important to build that out in your ministry. — Noah Oldham

The mistakes that disqualify leaders don’t happen overnight, and they’re not out of nowhere. There are often warning signs for months, if not years. — Noah Oldham

Pride is the complete anti-God state of mind. — Scott Thomas

To love your neighbors as yourself comes second, as opposed to what is first: To love the Lord your God. Even our ministries must come second to loving the Lord. — Scott Thomas

The post Warning Signs for Leadership Failure appeared first on New Churches.

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Mistakes that Leaders Make Aug 03, 2023

Show notes

Episode 757

Hosts Vance Pitman and Noah Oldham team up with pastor, author, and church planting director Scott Thomas to discuss the lessons they’ve learned throughout their years in ministry. Tune in to hear more about how prayer, desperation, and the health of your family can aid you in your calling to plant churches and make disciples.

In This Episode, You’ll Discover:

The power of desperation within your leadership and prayer life
How a gospel culture impacts the church today
The correlation between birthing a church and birthing a family
Why you should take steps toward financial planning now
The reason your church’s leadership structure needs more than just you

Helpful Resources:

Interested in learning more? Start the free Preaching Masterclass
Check out our Church Planting Primer.

Please subscribe to the podcast and leave a rating and review on iTunes.

Sharable Quotes (#NewChurches):

The biggest mistake we make comes from the natural tendency of our flesh to do something when Jesus has invited us be something so that He can do something through us. — Vance Pitman

The reason we don’t pray is because we aren’t desperate. We’re not desperate because we’re just comfortable. We’re comfortable because we’re not trying to attempt something huge for God that He can only accomplish, and we don’t do that because we know our insufficiency. — Scott Thomas

God has chosen in His sovereignty to limit His activity to the prayers of His people. I’m not saying that God needs us, but God has chosen sovereignly to work in response to His people’s prayers. — Vance Pitman

A gospel culture describes a church that teaches and lives the gospel of grace, love, honesty, vulnerability, joy, and forgiveness. — Scott Thomas

The apostle Paul said the church should be like a functional family coming together in love. — Scott Thomas

That which is unhealthy can’t reproduce that which is healthy, and one of the reasons a lot of churches are not healthy is because they’re not planted by healthy families. — Vance Pitman

The post Mistakes that Leaders Make appeared first on New Churches.

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Leadership Challenges Post-Pandemic Aug 01, 2023

Show notes

Episode 756

Host Ed Stetzer meets with leadership extraordinaire Todd Adkins to dive into the ways the pandemic has impacted our leaders’ discipleship and development. Tune in to learn how you can empower your people to better lead through intentional relationships.

In This Episode, You’ll Discover:

What culture, leadership, and the weather all have in common
The importance of interpersonal connection within the church
How to move your people toward personal and congregational growth
The ways you can intentionally sow seed for a harvest season
Why honing in on discipleship and development is a must!

Helpful Resources:

Interested in learning more? Start the free Preaching Masterclass
Check out our Church Planting Primer.

Please subscribe to the podcast and leave a rating and review on iTunes.

Sharable Quotes (#NewChurches):

We’re living in a world where criticism is at a higher level. We’re also having to set different patterns and rhythms and are needing reservoirs of resilience at higher levels. — Ed Stetzer

People kept talking about a new normal, but it never came. The normalization is really inconsistency, not the predictability that we once had. — Todd Adkins

The challenges of leading in chaotic times mean that the levers you used to be able to pull to move things have shifted, so the structure and systems that were familiar to you and that you relied on are gone. — Todd Adkins

At the end of the day, it’s about relationship. I’m a result of good and godly people who couldn’t have asked you a good coaching question to save their lives. — Todd Adkins

The fruit of a volunteer is another volunteer; the fruit of a leader is another leader. — Todd Adkins

Men were Jesus’ method, and it really hasn’t changed that much. We think that we need to shift everything, but we just need to find a different way to do what we know has worked in the past. — Todd Adkins

The post Leadership Challenges Post-Pandemic appeared first on New Churches.

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The Ever-Learning Preacher Jul 27, 2023

Show notes

Episode 755

Host Ed Stetzer meets with writer, professor, and missionary Trevin Wax to discuss the responsibility of preachers and teachers to further the knowledge of their craft. Listen to learn why the congregation, culture, and context you shepherd deserve more of your intellectual attention.

In This Episode, You’ll Discover:

How to grow your mental stamina
The importance of diversifying the content you consume
Why your “shortcuts” assist your greatest gains
How to capture the hearts, minds, and imaginations of your people
The biggest self-assessment question to ask yourself

Helpful Resources:

Interested in learning more? Start the free Preaching Masterclass
Check out our Church Planting Primer.

Please subscribe to the podcast and leave a rating and review on iTunes.

Sharable Quotes (#NewChurches):

Spiritually, emotionally, mentally, and intellectually, there’s a workout required for preaching, so you must have the right calorie intake for the right kind of output. — Trevin Wax

An ongoing intellectual stimulation is helpful for anyone who is teaching and preaching God’s Word. — Ed Stetzer

Part of the learning process is having something to offer through reading and listening to other great preachers and podcasts, while also getting to know the people God has called you to teach and shepherd. — Trevin Wax

Do we want to be wise and experienced with sermons that are fresh, full of insight, marked by the fragrance of Jesus, and with truth beautifully expressed? If so, then we must take steps now. — Trevin Wax

Not everyone’s a missiologist, but we should all be missionary-minded and inclined. — Ed Stetzer

Just like we’ve got to take care of our bodies, we must take care of our minds. We may have to shuffle our priorities to make it happen, but if we want to be ever-learning, we will prioritize it. — Trevin Wax

The post The Ever-Learning Preacher appeared first on New Churches.

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