Reports from the Jungle
Hey All.
From here on out I’ll be sharing some of what is going on at the Java Jungle with our readers. Obviously, not everyone who reads the blog is coming to our gatherings.
In case you don’t know, the Java Jungle is a coffee shop located in Port Orange on Clyde Morris Blvd. Restoration Church is currently meeting there twice a month on Monday nights.
This past week we asked Larry Kirk (the Pastor of Christ Community Church, Daytona Beach, Florida) to share some of the lessons he learned while planting his church.
Here is a summary of what we talked about
1. Be focused. Starting a new church is an incredible opportunity that requires faithful workers. We were all challenged to think through how we can faithfully invest our lives into Restoration Church. (Hebrews 12:1)
2. Be flexible. Starting a new church involves a great deal of adventuring. This can be a very exciting and frustrating reality because we all come to the table with certain expectations. It is very likely that some of our expectations will look different than we expected. We were challenged to think through how we will respond to each other when expectations meet reality. (1 Corinthians 9:21-23)
3. Be prepared. Starting a new church is both a rewarding and challenging endeavor. We were all challenged to think through how we will prepare ourselves for the potential difficulties that lie ahead. (Acts 20:17-19, 28-32)
4. The Importance of Submission. Wow! That one sounds kind of rough; however it is in the Bible. Truthfully speaking, everyone in the church is accountable to someone. Everyone to God, the Pastors and Elders to each other and the church, the church to the Pastors and Elders. This is the way God has designed the New Testament Church to function. (Hebrews 13:17, 1 Timothy 5:17, 3:1)
5. Dependence on God. While there are many “lessons” we can learn in regard to church planting, none is as valuable as learning to depend on God. While we should plan, pray, and work hard, God tells us in the Bible that he is building His church and Kingdom. This is a truth we should find peace and comfort in. (Psalm 33:16, Acts 20:32)
So, what do you think?
outside the gate 
I think you guys are in for an exciting adventure. Not without its difficulties, but I can’t help but believe that God will bless and empower your efforts.