Church Planters tend to start with mission, focus on mission, cast a vision for mission, and live the mission. And, subsequently most of their churches are mission driven. I think this is both good and bad. While mission is important, even crucial to our lives as followers of Christ, and to our churches; mission can’t be the starting point or the central focus. That position must be occupied by Christ.

In this book Planting Missional Churches Ed Stetzer writes:

Our Christology (understanding of Jesus) shapes our missiology (our understanding of mission) and creates our ecclesiology (how we function as a church).

We must start with Jesus and focus on Him.

This is where I find myself in my Church planting journey. I want to read the gospels. I want to understand not only what Jesus did, but why and how He did it. I want to know Him historically (what He did in the Bible) and presently (what He is doing now in the world) and personally (what He is doing in my life and family right now). I want Him to be at the center of my heart and consciousness, constantly seeking to honor Him, grow in Him and love Him.

It’s all about Jesus.