So how do you guard yourself from the schemes of Satan and protect yourself from “the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life”? Allow me to offer three suggestions that may help you guard your heart against the schemes of Satin.

Clothe Yourself with Humility – Many pastors talk as if they are experts on the Christian life. They don’t speak honestly about their own struggles with sin and pride. They don’t ask others to pray for them, they don’t ask for advice or council from members of their congregation. This type of relationship with the church is harmful.

• Don’t only give answers to the questions other people have about God. Be sure to ask questions and be willing to learn from others.
• Don’t only speak to others about areas of sin and pride in their lives, but be willing to speak honestly about your own issues and seek wise council from other Christians.
• Don’t speak to your congregation as if you are not a member of it.
• Don’t seek to be viewed as a “professional Christians” but as a regular Christian with heightened responsibilities.

Since we are all “priests” to one another and we are to “submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.” It is necessary for us to clothe ourselves in humility, especially before those in our congregations.

Surround yourself with Accountability – Surround yourself with trusted advisers who are faithful to the Lord, committed to your well being and the well being of your congregation. Seek men who know you well, understand your weaknesses and are confident enough confront you when they see unhealthy patterns forming in your personal life or your pastoral ministry.

Serve in Plurality – For the protection of the church it is wise to begin with a team of competent and qualified pastors. If this isn’t a possibility, be sure to find at least one partner to join you in your church planting efforts. A partner in the ministry will assist you in wise decision-making, will share the workload and will give validity to your work.

As a church-planting pastor you will be spending countless hours investing other people. Be sure to spend ample time nurturing your own relationship with Christ so you have valuable wisdom a to dispense to others. These measures of accountability will not insure your survival as a church planter but they will certainly increase the odds that you and your family remain healthy through the process of starting new congregations.

A little series of posts here on moral Failure

Imagine for a moment that your family moves into a new home situated on a major highway. Traffic on the highway is steady at 55 mph for most of the day. When you meet your neighbors for the first time they warn by telling you that that many accidents have happened on the road and that dozens of family pets have fallen victim to the dangerous highway. One neighbor even tells you the tragic story of a boy who was hit by a car while he was riding his bike near the road. Your previous house was safe and you were in the habit of sending your kids out to play without supervision; you let the dog out to run without a concern.

How would you protect your family at this new home? Would you make adjustments to your lifestyle? Would you build a fence in the front yard? Would you stop sending the kids out to play unsupervised? Would you get a leash for the dog? Of course you would! The heightened danger would cause you to be extra cautious.

Becoming a church planter is like moving into this home. The highway is sin and temptation, the fence and leash are measures of accountability, and I come to you as a concerned neighbor with a sobering warning. As a church planter the temptation to sin is great and so is the wake of damage left behind by sinful choices.

Words of encouragement to a wife are like water to a plant.

“When I read that quote recently, I thought about how true that statement is, how every wife needs and craves encouragement from her husband.

My husband is masterful at showing me love: he plans date nights, he gifts me with a box of Junior Mints just when I’m withdrawing, he lovingly engages our children, and he leads our home well. But there is nothing like a well-timed word of encouragement from him! Hearing Kyle say that I’m a good mom, that he appreciates my cooking, that I’m beautiful, that he sees God using me—those words reenergize me for days.

There is another reason why his words of encouragement are necessary: my husband is a church planting pastor. For the past three years, God has used us to build a church from the ground up, work that has been both grueling and rewarding. The first year of church planting was especially difficult for me because of the uncertainty, instability, and magnitude of the work. Without my husband’s verbal encouragement and attentiveness, I could not have made it through.

Your wife too will face unique challenges in your first year of church planting. At times, she will feel discouraged, overwhelmed, and even resentful of the time and energy your job requires of you. As you seek to nurture your wife, there are many things you can do: draw clear boundaries between ministry and home life from the very beginning, protect her from essentially becoming a second staff member, and strive to ease your own worry and distraction so you can give her your undivided attention. But there is nothing you can do that equals the effect of your encouragement.

After a sermon or a church outreach event, my husband receives a pat on the back or words of affirmation at how God has used him. But who encourages me in my role as the pastor’s wife—the one with the focus on the needs of the pastor? That opportunity primarily belongs to my husband. When he acknowledges and affirms my ministry to him and to others around me, he waters my soul, helping me grow and blossom in my role.

This need that pastors’ wives have isn’t irrational or the result of a wrong focus. Proverbs 31 describes a husband who is well known in the community sitting among the elders of the land. At the gates of the city, he receives respect and affirmation. His wife also offers him her admiration and honors him by how she lives. But where does the godly wife receive encouragement? “Her children rise up and call her blessed; Her husband also, and he praises her: ‘Many daughters have done well, but you excel them all.’”

Just like the Proverbs 31 husband, water your wife through specific praise:

• “I was feeling discouraged but your words helped me persevere.”
• “You and your gifts are vital to our ministry.”
• “You are more important to me than the church.”
• “Thank you for the sacrifices you make that allow me to do my job well.”

Church planters, like you, your wife continually gives to others. Many people don’t think about or understand her needs or the demands on her life. You may be the only source of encouragement your wife receives on a continual basis and her well-being will have profound influence on your success. Through your words of blessing, you have an opportunity to minister to your wife in a way that no one else can, especially through the first grueling year.”

Christine Hoover and her husband, Kyle, planted Charlottesville Community Church in Charlottesville, VA in 2008. Along with rearing three boys, she writes a blog for church planting wives: www.gracecoversme.com.