This weekend, we’re taking an exciting step in the growth as our church – I’m going to try to get a bunch of you to leave!  Don’t worry, I’m not going to do it with bad jokes or offensive comments in the sermon (at least, that’s not the plan).  Instead, I’m going to ask some of  you to buy into the vision of helping plant a new Christ centered church in Herndon, VA.  You’ll have an opportunity to take a concrete step towards that by attending Allan McCullough’s interest meeting for Grace Hill Church right after our gathering this Sunday.

It’s a really big deal for us as a church to be a part of gospel multiplication here in the DC area – that’s why we plant churches.  And it’s a massive deal for you to take the step of joining a church plant launch team.  After all, I’m asking you to leave a church you like (right?) to step into something that is less familiar and riskier.  Grace Hill will share a lot of DNA with Restoration City but it will also be different, it’ll be a new community, and a new expression of the church.

So, how do you know if God is calling you to be a part of planting Grace Hill?

1.  It will make you more effective in reaching people for Jesus.  In some ways, this is the only answer to the question.  We don’t plant churches to give Christians new Sunday morning options.  We plant churches to reach people who don’t follow Jesus.  That means deciding to join a church plant team really isn’t about you.  It’s about the people in your life who don’t know Jesus.  It’s about making it easier to invite them to church or a community group.  Yes, that often means geography.  But not simply from a “it’s a shorter drive for me” perspective.  It’s from a “my family and friends would be better served by this” perspective.
2. Willingness to sacrifice for gospel multiplication.  This is a logical extension of the first point – joining a church plant team isn’t about you!  It’s not about your comfort, your convenience or your consumption.  Don’t join a launch team to be served, join one to serve!  The first days of any church are a struggle.  There’s never enough resources, never enough volunteers and so much to do.  If you aren’t willing to offer your hands, your heart and your resources to the plant, don’t go.  But if you’re willing to lean in, put on a serving towel, give generously and champion the gospel, you’ll do just fine!
3. Commitment to Grace Hill’s leadership, vision, mission and culture.  Church planting isn’t about you.  On the other hand, it is about creating a community that you’ll likely be a part of for a long time.  So, you need to buy into the leadership, vision, mission, and culture of the new plant.  Don’t go to be the dissenter who’s constantly trying to force change.  If you can’t enthusiastically embrace the leadership, vision, mission and culture of the plant, it’s going to be a bad experience for you and the rest of the team.
4. Confirmation from Community Group Leaders or pastors.  Don’t make this decision on your own.  Talk to your Community Group Leaders, your close friends or one of our pastors.  We would be honored to pray with you, to process with you and speak into the decision any way we can.  Please, don’t walk this road alone. Lean into the blessing of community at Restoration City even as you’re praying about being sent to form a new community of faith.

Planting a church isn’t about your convenience.  It’s about God’s mission.  It’s one of the most thrilling things you’ll ever be a part of in this life.  I’m praying God will fill you with the courage to join in planting Grace Hill if that’s where He’s leading.  But I want you to go for the right reasons, with the right expectations.

To learn more about Grace Hill, click here.