“Church planting” is a beautiful analogy because it expresses that the power for a church's inception, growth, and sustaining power ultimately lies in God, not in human effort or resources. It's a charge to rely on God and to trust in his power and sovereignty as we seek to be a part of the miraculous work that only he can do.

The apostle Paul’s explanation of the planting of the Corinthian church is a huge reminder for us as we start this endeavor.  

I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. 1 Corinthians 3:6

Simply put, we are called to be faithful to carry out God’s mission to make his name and salvation known to all that we meet, but it is God who ultimately brings the fruit. It is my passionate desire and prayer that you are fruitful in at least three ways:

1. The Fruit of the Harvest. Take a moment to be encouraged by what Jesus says in John 4:35: “Don’t you say, ‘There are still four more months, and then comes the harvest’? Listen to what I’m telling you: Open your eyes and look at the fields, because they are ready for harvest.” This passage reminds us that God is already at work. God has already tilled the ground in peoples’ lives to come to him. Now is the time to be fruitful in our evangelism! We must trust in the promise that God has been and is already at work to bring people to himself, we are called to be prayerfully dependent on him for this increase. It baffles me that we have the privilege to be a part of God’s work as we bring people to him through church planting! 

2. The Fruit of the Spirit. God wants you to be fruitful! Galatians 5:22–23 says, “ But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.” As we walk in the Spirit and depend on him through faith, he will make us more loving, more joyful, more patient, more kind, more gentle, and more self-controlled. The Holy Spirit is on a transforming mission to change us from the inside out. These qualities and values in return not only affect us but everyone we come in contact with!

3. The Fruit of Faith. Listen to this powerful truth in John 14:12. Jesus speaks to his disciples saying, “Truly I tell you, the one who believes in me will also do the works that I do. And he will do even greater works than these, because I am going to the Father.” As believers in Jesus, we have the opportunity to participate in the work that he did on earth, and to even do greater things in his name. This is especially the case in church planting! It will be a challenging and demanding journey, but it will be a deeply fruitful one empowered by the promise of Jesus that he is with us growing both our faith and the faith of the lives of those around us! 

You did not choose me, but I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce fruit and that your fruit should remain, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he will give you. John 15:16

Jesus has chosen us. He has appointed us to bear much fruit that will last. In our efforts as we spread the good news of Jesus Christ and lovingly serve those around us, Christ has promised to bring lasting, fruitful impact. May we all experience newfound and fresh fruitfulness as we seek to be faithful in our calling to plant and water seeds for the kingdom of God.

A Song of Encouragement

Church planting (just like anything good and meaningful in life) takes time, labor, and the mundaneness of the ordinary. As I write this devotional, I know many of you are going through personal trials, tribulations, and spiritual warfare. Please receive this song as an encouragement that the toil you go through is not in vain.

A Prayer for Fruitfulness in our Lives

Heavenly Father,

We thank you for the opportunity to be a part of your plan to bring salvation to all people. We recognize that it is your power and sovereignty that bring about the growth and fruitfulness of your church.

We pray for the fruit of the harvest, that you would bring many people to yourself through our efforts to evangelize and share the good news of Jesus Christ. Help us to trust in your promise that you are already at work in the lives of those around us, preparing their hearts to receive your love and salvation.

We pray for the fruit of the Spirit, that you would transform us from the inside out, making us more loving, joyful, peaceful, patient, kind, good, faithful, gentle, and self-controlled. May the qualities of the Holy Spirit be evident in our lives, affecting not only us but also those around us.

We pray for the fruit of faith, that you would grow our faith and the faith of those around us as we participate in the work that Jesus did on earth and even do greater things in his name.

Thank you for choosing us and appointing us to bear much fruit that will last. We pray that in all our efforts to plant and water seeds for your kingdom, we would experience newfound and fresh fruitfulness as we seek to be faithful in our calling.

In Jesus' name we pray, Amen.