Podcast
Dave Harvey: Stronger Together and the Importance of Partnerships in Extending the Life of the Church
On this episode of The Bounce, we dive into the importance of mission and multiplication in local churches. We discuss how pastors need to share their vision with their congregations and identify gifted people to help with New Testament missions. Dave Harvey has been working in church planting for over three decades and has written a book that makes a case for partnerships between churches. We also explore the importance of sending away the best people to bring encouragement and nourishment to the local church. It's not about building a monument to a leader's legacy, but about flourishing in the season one is called to lead. Join us as we explore what it takes to extend the life cycle of the church and pass it on to the next generation.
Dave Harvey is the president of Great Commission Collective, an organization with the mission to plant churches and strengthen leaders. He leads the organization's efforts to multiply leaders, elders, planters, churches, and networks. Their partnership with local churches goes beyond simply planting them, but also includes providing training, coaching, and care to pastors and leaders. With a focus on both planting and strengthening churches, Dave Harvey and his team are dedicated to the growth and development of the local church.
"We've got to recognize that there are people that are gifted that way and not only identify and release them, but have the church recognize the beauty of that, the importance of that, and then how exciting it is that the church gets to be a part of that." - Dave Harvey
Timestamped Overview
[00:07:34] The importance of gifted people in local churches working together to fulfill the New Testament mission and the need for an understanding of the apostolic function in modern times.
[00:11:39] Prioritizing local church doesn't mean exclusivity, but recognizing other ministries that result in and reproduce churches. These outside ministries must be accountable to a local church, but the church should recognize and release gifted individuals to be part of them.
[00:14:42] Church health requires mission and a focus on something beyond the entity itself to thrive. Church planters often experience a shift in attention towards the church entity rather than mission. Multiplication and reproduction are essential for renewing the church and bringing in vital nutrients.
[00:19:11] Churches have life cycles, and their longevity depends on multiplying and carrying out their mission. Leaders must come to terms with this and focus on flourishing in the present while preparing for the future.
[00:22:06] Renewal through mission is crucial for extending the life and vitality of the church. Mission and sacrifice keep the dynamic of the church alive and prevent it from becoming sterile. Sending away best people encourages and nourishes the local church.
[00:26:18] The text discusses the importance of multiplying disciples and passing on knowledge to others for multiplication to occur. The goal is to instill the idea of multiplication from the fundamental level of discipleship to the growth of a church.
[00:28:41] The importance for pastors and elders to be convinced of the significance of church partnerships, and to lead the church through the process of considering and understanding the benefits that partnerships bring. This can be achieved by orienting the elders, discussing and looking at Scripture, and involving network representatives, before introducing the idea to the church in a preaching series or personal relationship.
[00:32:14] Money is a way to express faith and commitment, but church planting is more effective in shaping culture and extending the life of the church through mission and multiplication. Planting qualified individuals and supporting them cultivates enthusiasm and excitement within the church community that transcends its local boundaries.
[00:34:54] Quality of church life depends on giving and not just growth. Importance of training and sending leaders, and giving away ministry, money, and people for transformational impact and getting the gospel to the next generation.
Resources Mentioned in this Episode
"Stronger Together" by Dave Harvey: https://www.amazon.com/Stronger-Together-Partnership-Virtues-Exponential/dp/0310140226
All Dave Harvey Books: https://revdaveharvey.com/books/
"The Pastor's Justification" by Jared C. Wilson: https://www.amazon.com/Pastors-Justification-Applying-Christ-Ministry/dp/1433536641/
"The Trellis and the Vine" by Colin Marshall and Tony Payne: https://www.amazon.com/Trellis-Vine-Colin-Marshall/dp/1925424669
Northwood Church: https://northwood.church/
- Website: Glocal.net
"The Art of Neighboring" by Jay Pathak and Dave Runyon: https://www.amazon.com/Art-Neighboring-Building-Genuine-Relationships/dp/080101459X
The Great Commission Collective: https://gccollective.org