Reading: The Steps of Planting A Church

OBJECTIVE

The book Planting Healthy Churches presents the recommendations of two experienced authors regarding the steps that we should take to start a church. Here we summarize the most basic steps that appear in most the models for church planting. The goal is to provide the church planter with a pattern for work that leads to a healthy congregation.

BEFORE PLANTING THE CHURCH

As you listen to the description of the types of preparation, make note of the kinds of preparation you have had or you have done for your particular church planting ministry:

1. Spiritual Preparation:

• Example, the church of Antioch (Acts 13:1-3)

• Prayer (alone and with others), fasting, study of Scripture

• Team of intercessors praying for specific aspects of the ministry

2. Vocational Preparation:

• Sense of call to this type of ministry, conviction that God will bless this ministry

• Ability to motivate and involve others in ministry tasks

• Training in evangelism, preaching, teaching, administration

3. Sociological/Demographic Preparation: 

• Knowledge of the characteristics of the community 

• Awareness of the resources and challenges of the community 

4. Philosophical Preparation: 

• Clear sense of the goal for the church plant: 

--The congregation’s identity as the church of Jesus Christ in that location 

--What the church will do (worship, education, service, evangelism, etc.) 

--How decisions will be made and challenges will be addressed 

--How the ministry will be financially sustained 

5. Strategic Preparation: 

• Identify which model of church planting you will use 

• Identify people’s gifts, the target group, the resources available 

6. Emotional Preparation: 

• Ability to discipline oneself and make hard choices 

• Ability to accept criticism and learn from it 

• Attention to one’s family and one’s personal well-being

3. Sociological/Demographic Preparation: 

• Knowledge of the characteristics of the community 

• Awareness of the resources and challenges of the community 

4. Philosophical Preparation: 

• Clear sense of the goal for the church plant: 

--The congregation’s identity as the church of Jesus Christ in that location 

--What the church will do (worship, education, service, evangelism, etc.) 

--How decisions will be made and challenges will be addressed 

--How the ministry will be financially sustained 

5. Strategic Preparation: 

• Identify which model of church planting you will use 

• Identify people’s gifts, the target group, the resources available 

6. Emotional Preparation: 

• Ability to discipline oneself and make hard choices 

• Ability to accept criticism and learn from it 

• Attention to one’s family and one’s personal well-being

1. EVANGELISM | MAKE new contacts 

Where will you find the people who will become part of your church? 

What strategies will you use to evangelize people? 

2. DISCIPLESHIP | ORGANIZE small Bible study groups 

How will you disciple new converts? 

What do the new converts need to learn?

3. MEMBERSHIP | DEVELOP commitment to the local church 

What will be the process to integrate the disciples into the congregation? 

What will be the requirements and the responsibilities for members? 

4. LEADERSHIP: IDENTIFY and develop leaders 

How will you identify new leaders? 

How will you train the new leaders? 

5. WORSHIP-SERVICE: BEGIN the worship services and ministries in the community 

When and how will you start holding worship services? 

What community ministries will you develop first?