Biblical Foundations of Church Planting. Training for Church Multiplication

Transcription

1 Biblical Foundations of Church Planting Training for Church Multiplication Asia CPI 2012

2 The Crystal Cathedral, Garden Grove, CA Started in a drive-in theater in 1955 Sanctuary with 2,800 seat, a marble chancel for 1,000 musicians, 10,000 windows Hour of Power that reaches thousands worldwide Hispanic and Arabic services Compassion ministries But something is missing

3 Why should churches reproduce? What s in an apple? The seeds of an entire orchard!

4 Why should churches reproduce? 1. The Great Commission implies it. 2. Acts exemplifies it. 3. All living organisms are made to reproduce

5 Why should churches reproduce? 4. Unreached people groups need it. 5. It is the most effective means of world evangelization. 6. Churches that reproduce are healthier and have greater conversion growth.

6 Ralph Moore: Churches that plant other churches grow 80% more than churches that don t plant others.

7 Explore Read the following passages and summarize what they tell us about church planting. p Matthew 16:18 p Acts 2:41, 47b (cf. 1 Cor 12:13) p Acts 6:7, 12:24, 13:49, 19:20 p 1 Corinthians 3:6-9

8 Case Study: 2010 Survey: 0.7% true followers. Ratio: Height of baby to Petronas Towers in Kuala Lumpur. Less than 1,000 gospel preaching churches. For every village or neighborhood of 1,000 to have a witness, and 14,000 more churches needed. Where will we find the planters and resources to support them? How long will it take? Another option: If every existing church gave birth to a daughter church every 5 years.

9 Church Planting as the Work of God p Jesus Promised to Build His Church I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. Matthew 16:18b p The Spirit Births the Church about three thousand were added to their number that day And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved. Acts 2:41, 47b (cf. 1 Cor 12:13)

10 Church Planting as the Work of God p The Word of God Spreads the Church The word of the Lord spread through the whole region Acts 13:49 (cf. 6:7, 12:24, 19:20) p God Grows His Church I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow... For we are co-workers in God s service; you are God s field, God s building. 1 Corinthians 3:6-7, 9

11 Church Planting as the Work of God p Christ Loves and Sanctifies the Church Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. Ephesians 5:25-27 (cf. Titus 2:14)

12 God s Mission and Church Planting God is reconciling the world to himself by multiplying kingdom communities among all people of the earth. The means of establishing such communities is evangelism and discipleship leading to the planting, growth and multiplication of churches that manifest the reign of God in word and deed.

13 Jesus Great Desire Matt. 16:18 I will build my church and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.

14 Four Things Jesus Left Behind p Jesus great desire was to build his church to the glory of the Father. And to that end He left four things behind n 1. His Teaching (The Word) n 2. His Spirit (The Power) n 3. His Church (The Missionary Force) n 4. His Great Commission (The Mission)

15 God s Mission in Summary p The task of God s mission is to multiply kingdom communities among all people of the earth. p The means of establishing such communities is n evangelism and discipleship n leading to the planting, growth and multiplication of churches n that manifest the reign of God in word and deed.

16 The Apostolic (Pioneer) Role in that Mission p The Pauline Strategy, Rom 15:14-23 n His mission was a priestly ministry, v.16 n His mission was the work of Christ, v n His mission was empowered by the Holy Spirit, v. 19a n He gave priority to planting churches where Christ was not known, v.20 n His strategy assumes church multiplication, v. 19b, 23a

17 Church Multiplication in the New Testament Romans 15:19 - From Jerusalem to Illyricum

18 Church Multiplication in the New Testament p The Pauline Strategy, Rom 15:14-23 p Pauline Examples of Church Multiplication n The Church in Pisidian Antioch, Acts 13:49 n The Church in Thessalonica, 1 Thess 1:8 n The Church in Ephesus, 1 Cor 16:9, Acts 19:10,20

19 Church Multiplication in the New Testament Hierapolis Colossae

20 Prayer and Church Planting Read the following Passages and summarize the role of prayer in church planting p Acts 4:29-31 p Colossians 4:2-4 p Ephesians 1:15-19a; 3:14-19

21 Church Planting Essentials p The Seed p The Spirit p The Sower p The Soil

22 Church Planting Essentials Without any one of these, New Testament church planting is impossible. On the other hand, anything added to these may tend to be excess baggage that could deter effective church planting. The common access to the essentials makes church planting a possibility for more people than generally thought. Charles Brock, Indigenous church Planting

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24 Discussion p What is God s role and what is man s role in church planting and reproduction? p What changes can be made to bring our church planting work into greater alignment with New Testament church multiplication? p How would you evaluate the spiritual vitality of the churches you work with? Does spiritual renewal need to precede a church planting movement?