Why plant healthy churches?

Who should plant churches?

What does the church we are going to establish look like?

What steps should we take to plant a church?

SESSIONS

Objective

Biblical Theological Missiological Practical

Foundations for Planting New Churches

WHY PLANT HEALTHY CHURCHES?

DEFINITION

“The Biblical motivation for planting healthy churches resides in the mission of the loving and merciful Triune God (Missio Dei), who desires that men and women become disciples of Jesus Christ and responsible members of the church, the Body of Christ, whose congregations are signs of the coming Kingdom of God for the praise of His glory.”

The Father seeks the

lost

Christ’s love compels us

The Holy Spirit has

been sent to all peopleThe local

church is a branch of the Kingdom of

God

Planting new churches

brings glory to God

BIBLICAL FOUNDATIONS

There are five biblical reasons for planting more healthy churches:

Stuart Murray summarizes the theological basis in his book Laying Foundations. Both church growth and the planting of new congregations have their basis in at least three principles:

THEOLOGICAL FOUNDATION

THE INCARNATION

“MISSIO DEI”

“GOD’S MISSION”

KINGDOM OF GOD

“But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”—Jesus Christ (Matthew 6:33)

What the Church IS

• Its essence/nature

What the Church DOES• Its function/purpose

The Church ORGANIZES what it DOES• Its structure/organization

MISSIOLOGICAL FOUNDATION

In his book Essence of the Church, Craig Van Gelder highlights three important points regarding the church and its mission:

Strategic Reasons:

The POPULATION is growing rapidly

New churches reach MORE people

Established churches tend to PLATEAU

New churches help stimulate ESTABLISHED churches

Churches are needed close to where the lost LIVE

New churches are more FLEXIBLE

It is impossible for one church to reach EVERYONE

New churches develop LEADERS quickly

PROXIMITY aids discipleship

PRACTICAL FOUNDATION

STRATEGIC REASONSFOR PLANTING

CHURCHES:

Common Objections:

Starting new churches weakens established ones

Starting new churches is expensive

We may lose many people

We already have so many needs

We can’t force church planting

We won’t be able to preserve our doctrines

Planting churches creates denominational competition

One church for every city is a New Testament practice

Starting new churches won’t help my ministry career

PRACTICAL FOUNDATION

COMMON OBJECTIVES TO

PLANTING CHURCHES:

• Stuart Murray, “Laying Foundations”

Spurs on the expansion of the Kingdom.

God invites us to participate!

We have been commissioned.

Will you participate in some way to make this a reality?

God’s desire is for thousands of healthy churches to be planted on your continent! Will you participate in some way to make this a reality?

VISION

WHO SHOULD PLANT CHURCHES?

TWO OPPOSING PARADIGMS:

Formal Education

• The man who works to get rich.• Faulty information without formal training can cause people to

make serious errors.

No Formal Studies

• Go and “dew” exactly what Joe “duz.”• There are not enough seminary graduates to work with all the

people in the world.

• One mandatory principle:– The church planter must be called by God.

• Four points related to the church planter’s call

1. Divine: from GOD

2. Confirmed: by oneself and other PEOPLE

3. Specific: to a particular COMMUNITY/MINISTRY

4. Fulfilling: the church planter finds SATISFACTION

in the ministry God directs him to

CHOOSING THE PLANTER

“Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” Acts 13:2

SUCCESSFUL CHURCH PLANTERS

o Visionaryo Self-motivatedo Able to involve others o Reach non-believers o Have the support of their spouseo Can establish relationships with

otherso Dedicated to the holistic growth of

the church

o Respond to the communityo Use the gifts of otherso Flexibleo Maintain unity in the churcho Show adaptability o Practice their faith

Jesus said to his disciples, “I will make you fishers of men.” Matthew 4:19; Mark 1:17; Luke 5:10

CHARACTERISTICS:

WHAT DOES THE CHURCH WE ARE GOING TO ESTABLISH LOOK LIKE?

START WITH THE END IN MIND

What are we shooting for?

Toward what end are we working?

What does the church we desire to establish

look like?

What are the key ingredients to

establish a healthy and growing church?

SIGNS OF A HEALTHY CHURCH

Vision

Leadership

Body Mobilized

Resources

FIVE ELEMENTS:

CHURCH

Worship

Fellowship

Service

Discipleship

Evangelism

FIVE FUNCTIONS:

CHURCH

Text and Context

STEPS TO PLANTING A CHURCH

BEFORE PLANTING A CHURCH:

: Spiritual Preparation

Vocational Preparation

Sociological/Demographic Preparation

Philosophical Preparation

Strategic Preparation

Emotional Preparation

STEPS TO PLANTING A CHURCH

FIVE STEPS:

Evangelism• Make new contacts

Discipleship• Organize small Bible study groups

Membership• Develop commitment to the local church

Leadership• Identify and develop leaders

Worship Service• Begin the worship services and ministries in the community

EIGHT MODELS TO PLANT CHURCHES

1. Independent Pioneer Model

2. Mother-Daughter Model

3. Colonizing Model

4. Multi-Congregational Model

5. Satellite Model

6. Missionary Model

7. Denominational Model

8. Cellular Model

CONCLUDING THE WORKSHOP

THREE IMPORTANT INGREDIENTS:

Accountability

External or Structural Support

A Mentor