Resources on Multi-Site

One of the growing phenomena in church multiplication over the last 20+ years has been multi-site. According to Wikipedia, in 1990 there were 10 multi-site churches and in 2012 there are more than 5,000 in North America alone. If you are interested in learning more about how to multi-site, here are a few of the more prominent resources you may find helpful.

The Multi-Site Church Revolution

A Multi-Site Church Road Trip

Multi-Site Churches

Ways to Distribute Authority

Team leadership from day one. This is one of my goals for church plants, even in the earliest development stages. This upholds both a Biblical model of leadership and is strategically smart for the church planter and pastor.

In this article we see how Mark Dever empowers team leadership by distributing authority to others. In the second part of the article Jonathan Leeman helps us to also see how Dever’s leadership creates a positive church culture. Below are a few highlights of the article. To read the whole article go here.

Ways to Distribute Authority

• Build the church on the gospel. 
• Establish a plurality of staff and non-staff elders. 
• Limit the percentage of main-slot preaching. 
• Give young teachers the chance to make mistakes.
• Let others steal your ideas. 
• Be willing to lose elder votes. 
• Be devoted to one thing in the church and give freedom elsewhere.
• Don't micromanage. 
• Review weekly services. 
• Be willing to receive criticism. 

How Giving Away Authority Shapes a Church Culture

• It helps to keep the gospel uppermost. 
• It promotes "real" relationships. 
• It destroys natural social hierarchies.
• It cultivates teachability and the willingness to receive criticism. 
• It helps a church to be outward focused. 

Top 10 Church Planting Tips from 2013

In this article Aaron Damiani identifies his top 10 church planting tips from 2013. Some helpful thoughts for those of us in the trenches of planting. Here’s a summary.

1. Sustain high learning agility.
2. Go slow to go fast.
3. Gather a Launch Team instead of a Core Group.
4. Jesus builds his church, so stop watching the door and start feeding your people.
5. Finding worship space is an uphill spiritual battle; start praying.
6. Identify your motives for church planting, and be vulnerable enough to communicate them.
7. Collaborate with your fellow planters and pastors; don't compete with them.
8. Don't be afraid to ask for money and people.
9. Be flexible with how people grapple with your vision.
10. Follow Jesus on the journey he has planned for you, and invite your people along.