How do you “start” a church?

Its an interesting question! And although I don’t claim to know the final, definitive answer to that question, I do have some thoughts of the subject. I think Jesus gives us an idea when some of the teachers of the law asked Him what the “greatest commandment” was?  His response is found in Matthew 22:37-38:

“Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment.  And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

In less than fifty words, Jesus gives us the secret of leading a healthy church and living a healthy life.  Love God completely and put others first.  Pretty simple… huh? 

I sometimes think that in many ways we have made the church much more complicated than it was ever designed to be.  Especially in starting new churches we get so caught up in the details of DOING church that we fail to BE the church.  The essence of church planting and of life is to love God by serving others.  Everything else that we do must be driven by this pursuit. 

There are many important details when it comes to starting a new church, but they must never take the place of loving God completely and putting others first.  It is a simple process and one that Lifesong will seek to live out every day!