Footstep Ministry Podcasts

Samson’s story is one of strength, failure, redemption, and ultimately, God’s purpose. But let me say this upfront: Samson’s greatest enemy wasn’t the Philistines. No, Samson’s greatest enemy was himself. And isn’t that true for so many of us? The problem isn’t that God lacks the power to do great things in our lives. The problem is that, all too often, we are our own worst enemy.

God uses the broken, the flawed, and the unlikely to fulfill His purpose. From outcasts to cowards, He sees what we often cannot—our potential through His eyes. Will you trust His vision for your life?

Is God calling you to do something new and impossible? Is He challenging you to see your current ministry with fresh eyes? Is He giving you the vision to lead or launch a new ministry? Or is He showing you bold new directions in the place you now serve? As you wrestle with these questions, the pathway forward will begin to come into focus. I pray that this chapter will help you move from your comfort zone into His sweet spot.

The thought of merely compelling people to pray the sinner’s prayer and educate them in spiritual matters was incomplete. Spiritual formation can only take place in the context of ongoing-redemptive-life-giving relationships. This is the core principle upon which every cell, congregation, and celebration should function.

Building bridges by nurturing redemptive relationships allows us to effectively impact an increasingly divergent society in meaningful and relevant ways.

Each church has its own DNA. It’s its own blueprint, or a fingerprint, if you will. If you look closely at its blueprint, you can tell many things about a local church. Launching a cell-based congregation requires that we start with the most fundamental attributes and ensure these become part of the DNA of every group.

I was learning that only some things that count can be counted, and not everything that is counted counts. Were people coming to know Christ? Yes! Were they being nurtured in their faith? Yes! Was mentoring and discipleship taking place? Yes. Were they reaching others with the Gospel? Yes! Were they serving others? Definitely! Were they coming to church at 10:00 a.m. for worship? Well, no. But that was no longer important. What counted were the deep redemptive friendships being formed. What mattered was that those who were once marginalized and disconnected were finding a place they could call their own. What mattered was the emerging sense of belonging, encouragement, and God-focused lifestyles.Russ, Chuck. Three Pillars for Launching and Leading Churches: Cell, Congregation & Celebration (p. 16). Xulon Press. Kindle Edition.