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 BiblicalTheologicalMissiologicalPractical 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 people The 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 REASONS FOR 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 Visionary o Self-motivated o Able to involve others o Reach non-believers o Have the support of their spouse o Can establish relationships with others o Dedicated to the holistic growth of the church o Respond to the community o Use the gifts of others o Flexible o Maintain unity in the church o 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