Your sense of identity shapes your choice of activities. If you are a carpenter then you build things. If you are a librarian then you purchase, catalog, and arrange books. If you are a child of the king then you…? If you are a disciple of Jesus you…?
In the Scriptures we find that God changes the people he calls by giving them a new identity, challenging them to live up to that sense of self-definition and empowering their new walk. Because our relationship with Jesus makes us “holy” we are called to live holy lives. Here we see the connection between indicatives and imperatives in Paul’s writings. In the first half of most of his letters he discusses the identity of people “in Christ.” The second half shows how that new identity in Christ changes the way we are to behave and determines to a great extent what we do.
If you begin to see yourself as a church planter that self-definition will change what you do in significant ways. You will begin to pray for wisdom to discern which communities need churches. There will be care to identify the obstacles to planting churches there. Care will be given to discover the profile of the ideal person to transmit the gospel in that community. “Who has access to the majority of that community?” is the kind of question that will capture your attention.
Two large draft horses placed first and second at a horse pull. The second place horse pulled a sled weighing 400 pounds. The winner pulled 450 pounds. When someone suggested the two be harnessed together they were able to pull 1,200 pounds as a team. Church planters realize the task is too great to be accomplished alone. They recognize their work will require a team. Their thoughts swing to recognizing who else needs to be involved. Concern is given to who needs additional training and what kind of training is essential.
How different would our lives be if we saw ourselves as church planting missionaries? Did you know there are five different great commissions? Jesus wants all his disciples to recognize that following him means we begin to search for the people God wants matured into new church plants. Jesus said his disciples would be like their master. Are you like him?
From the Desk of John King 
[…] This post was mentioned on Twitter by John King. John King said: Check out my latest post on being like the Master: https://johnkking.wordpress.com/2010/05/05/being-like-the-master-2/ […]
John, I love your heart for this. God is really using you and you are listening and paying attention and ACTING upon it all. We can all learn a lot from you. Your example is powerful and don’t you ever forget it. Sometimes we tend to become selfish and want to please only ourselves in worship and in life. Your quest is truly a God thing. I hope that our congregation is encouraging you and praying for you. I commit to pray daily for you and other church planters who are so courageous and living out what God has asked us all to do. Thank you.
Diane, thanks for your encouragement. I learn as much (if not more) when I travel as I teach. There is a real benefit from every effort to be like Jesus and put his teaching and practices into action in our lives. Blessings.