Reading: Why Plant Healthy Churches? - Slides and Additional Reading

Which characteristics of God are mentioned in this definition?

1.    LOVING

2.    MERCIFUL

According to the definition, what does God desire?

1.    DISCIPLES OF JESUS CHRIST

2.    RESPONSIBLE MEMBERS OF THE CHURCH

Established congregations are signs of what?

THE COMING KINGDOM OF GOD

Why do we plant churches?

FOR THE PRAISE OF HIS GLORY

Opening Activity:

Ask participants to give you some reasons for planting new churches. Have them listen to see which of these are mentioned in this session.

 BIBLICAL FOUNDATIONS

 There are five Biblical reasons for planting more healthy churches:

1.    Because God is the Father that seeks and finds the lost.

Key verses |  Genesis 3:9;  Psalm 23;  Luke 14:15-24

2.    Because Christ’s love constrains us.

Key verses |  2 Corinthians 5:14-20;  Matthew 18:20;  John 14:23

3.    Because the Holy Spirit has been sent to all people.

Key verses | Acts 2:9-11, 13:2-5, 1:8

4.    Because the local church is a branch of the Kingdom of God.

Key verses | 1 Peter 2:5, 9-10, 12;  Colossians 1:13-23;  Romans 12

5.    Because planting new churches brings glory to God.

Key verses |  Ephesians 1:1-14;  Revelations 7:9-12

 

THEOLOGICAL FOUNDATIONS

 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:

1.    THE INCARNATION

In the same way that God became incarnate in Jesus to identify himself with humanity, the church must become incarnate in a specific community with its needs and bring the message of the whole Gospel.  A congregation is the body of Christ in a particular place, identifying with people to reach them with the Good News of life in Christ.

Key verses         Philippians 2:5-8  John 1:1, 1:14

“Throughout history there have been many men who have wanted to be like gods, but only one God who has become a man.”

 2.    MISSIO DEI:  “GOD’S MISSION”

The God of the Bible is a God who constantly goes looking for the lost and the needy in order to bring them salvation and transformation.  In the same way, the church must follow God in its commission to make disciples, transform communities and be an agent of change on behalf of God and with God in His already present activity in the world.

 Key verses |  John 3:16 Matthew 28: 18-20, Mark 16:15-16, Luke 24:46-49

“The church exists by mission as fire exists by burning.”

-Emil Brunner

3.    KINGDOM OF GOD

The church proclaims and points out what Jesus proclaimed and pointed out--the coming of the Kingdom of God!  The church points to, signals, incarnates and teaches God’s good, sovereign reign over creation and his creatures.

Key verses |  1 Peter 2:9-12

                                        Colossians 1:13

“Seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added unto you.” -Jesus Christ (Matthew 6:33)

MISSIOLOGICAL FOUNDATION 

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

THE CHURCH IS, THE CHURCH DOES WHAT IT IS AND ORGANIZES WHAT IT DOES | 

1. What the Church IS (its essence/nature) I Peter 2:9-10; Ephesians 4:24; I Corinthians 12:12-13 

The church, the community created by God to be His people, is also an agent of transformation in society and creation. The church is the new humanity created in Christ Jesus, to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. The church is the body of Christ, joined by his Spirit into one family. 

What the Church IS 

The essence and the nature of the church come from God and are determined by him. The church is given and created by God. Now, what God has given us as a gift (the community created by grace) is also our task—to live as the church. Part of that holistic task is the planting of new churches. 

2. What the Church DOES (its function/purpose). I Peter 2: 9-10, 12 

What the church does is based on who the church is. The church proclaims the kingdom of God in Jesus Christ, embodies the Gospel in its particular context, and participates in the mission of God. Here we see that the edification of the Christian goes hand-in-hand with his function of proclaiming, serving and ministering. It reminds us that the church is the people of God in mission. The church DOES according to what it IS. Just like a dog barks because it is a dog, the church does mission because it is the church. 

What the Church DOES 

The nature of the church shapes what the church does— announcing, proclaiming, serving and ministering. The Church is the people of God in mission. The church does what it is. So just as a dog barks because it’s a dog, the church does mission because of its nature as the church, a people gathered to ‘declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.” (I Peter 2:9) 

3. The church ORGANIZES what it DOES (its structure/organization). 

Finally, the church organizes and structures itself according to its context and its work strategy. The church gives form to its function in order to complete the work it has been commissioned to do. Guided by the Holy Spirit, the church plans, implements, evaluates and changes in order to follow its mission. The key principle here is that when the church understands its nature and purpose, it will structure its organization around its mission. 

The Church ORGANIZES WHAT IT DOES 

When the church understands its nature and purpose it will structure its organization around that mission. Reaching out to the lost is not something added on to the local church, it’s part of the nature of the local church. The church arranges its life so that the lost are reached with the Gospel. 

PRACTICAL FOUNDATION 

Daniel Sanchez provides several strategic reasons for planting churches, and also addresses some of the most common objections. They are summed up below. 

Ask participants to put a star by the reasons that apply to their particular context: 

1. The POPULATION is growing rapidly. 

2. New churches reach MORE people than established ones. 

3. Established churches tend to PLANTEAU. 

4. New churches help stimulate ESTABLISHED churches. 

5. Churches are needed close to where the lost LIVE. 

6. New churches are more FLEXIBLE. 

7. It is impossible for one church to reach EVERYONE. 

8. New churches develop LEADERS quickly. 

9. PROXIMITY aids discipleship. 

Which of the reasons for church planting so far are ones you hadn’t thought of? Which reasons are ones that would motivate the people you’re working with to plant a church?

SOME COMMON OBJECTIONS 

Ask participants to put a star by the objections either they have thought of or people have mentioned to them in the past: 

1. Starting new churches weakens established ones. 

2. Starting new churches is expensive. 

3. We may lose many people. 

4. We already have so many needs. 

5. We can’t force church planting. 

6. We won’t be able to preserve our doctrines. 

7. Planting churches creates denominational competition. 

8. One church for every city is a New Testament practice. 

9. Starting new churches won’t help my ministry career. 

Reflect: 

What have you learned in this first session that helps you respond to the most serious objections?