Planting Churches among the City's Poor - Volume 1

432 • P LANTING C HURCHES AMONG THE C ITY ’ S P OOR : V OLUME 1

PWR

PREPARE

• Pray (Discover his plan). “We start not with a plan, but a passion. Motion flows from emotion” (Wheatley). • Set context (God is God of history). Good decisions are made in the proper context. Be reflective. “In everything the prudent acts with knowledge, but a fool flaunts his folly” (Prov. 13.16). • Clarify the values and vision. Values: 3-5 driving forces to find consensus (Abilene Paradox ~ J. Harvey, 1988). Who, what, when, how (Great Commission, Moses, Noah, Joshua, Nehemiah). Be discerning. “The wisdom of the prudent is to discern his way, but the folly of fools is deceiving” (Prov. 14.8). • Develop alternatives (Don’t go with the first, most obvious answer). Dream, get counsel. Be imaginative. “Plans are established by counsel; by wise guidance wage war” (Prov. 20.18). • Set priorities (Don’t just try all the alternatives). Be prudent. “The simple believes everything, but the prudent gives thought to his steps. . . . The prudent sees danger and hides himself, but the simple go on and suffer for it” (Prov. 14.15, 22.3). • Make assignments (Don’t leave people guessing about the specifics of their assignment). Be decisive. “. . . He gave me understanding in all the details of the plan . . . be strong and courageous and do the work” (1 Chron. 28.19-20).