Christlike Character and the Church Planter

       Hello everybody, my name is Dean Davis, and this is “Multiply,” the podcast that

provides a word of encouragement for Village Church Planters.

When Village Church Planting leaders tell church presidents and bishops about

VCP, we often say, “VCP is a practical training program for church planters.”

And that is true. In the New VCP program, students learn to apply the Four

Fields Model as they work to start and multiply churches. They learn to look for

and find persons of peace. They become experts in using the Four Seed Sowing

Tools to communicate the Gospel and make disciples. VCP students learn to

teach others to obey the Seven Basic Commands of Christ by telling Bible

stories and asking open questions. And, of course, church planters learn to

equip church members to make disciples and start new cell groups and

churches. All of these practical skills are essential for Christians who long to

fulfill Jesus’ Great Commission to make disciples of all peoples. It’s good to

describe VCP as “practical training for church planters.”

But if you look carefully, you’ll notice that VCP is far more than just a course

on practical skills needed to form new churches. The New VCP program is also

a practical course in Christ-like living. From the very beginning, VCP students

learn to depend upon God in prayer. You pray for persons of peace. You pray

for God to use your testimony and help you share the 3 circles. You pray for

your disciples. Many, many VCP lessons end with focused prayer. We just can’t

make disciples and start healthy churches in our own strength. Instead, we

learn to depend on the goodness of God in every circumstance.

Early on, in the lessons on the Seven Basic Commands of Christ, you were

challenged to overcome ethnocentric ways in order to show respect for all

persons regardless of tribe or country of origin. As you prepared to teach your

disciples to love God and neighbor, you were challenged to personally show

respect to both men and women, adults and children, to people who speak

your language and to people who do not. Yes, even to respect people who do

not share your faith in Christ. Even as late as Term Seven, you considered how

to respect fellow church leaders whose spiritual gifts differed from yours.

A Christ-like character is so important for VCP students that you spent a whole

term, Term 5, learning to access the power of the Holy Spirit to live a holy life.

Of course, we all know that we cannot live a righteous life or a truly good life

in our own strength. But it’s not always easy to receive the Spirit’s

empowerment to turn away from selfishness and put on love. The good news is

that the Holy Spirit delights to produce his fruit of love, joy, peace, and

patience in our lives.

So, my beloved VCP students, my word of encouragement to you today is to

always remember the unconditional love of Jesus. Thank him for his grace at

work in your life. Trust Him to produce his character in you so that your words

and deeds will be filled with his love. In this way, the churches you plant will

be far more than human groups and gatherings; the churches you plant will

truly be communities of the Kingdom of God where love is the law and

goodness is the norm.

I’m Dean Davis, asking, “Who will you share this encouraging word with today?

#EncouragementForVillageChurchPlanters #Christ-likeCharacter