The number of national and international ministries focused on “church planting” has risen to staggering proportions! Everybody wants in on the action, but it’s beginning to sound a lot like rocket science to me.
Here’s the drill. You need to be “assessed” using the New Testament a subjective, behavioral interview; do lots of research, using demographics and psychographics (developed by Alfred Hitchcock), so that you will know if your target area can sustain the six-figure salary you hope to receive a couple of years down the line; raise lots of money up front so you can afford that four bedroom, three bath mansion parsonage in the upper middle-class, mostly white, gated community, home to your demographic target; apply for permission through the proper channels, acquiring a slightly brownish tint to one’s nose (don’t worry, it’s a badge of honor in most denominations, especially if you aspire to heights of regional, state, or national leadership); get at least one prominent church pastor to “sponsor” the new work, crucial to keep from pissing off every other church pastor in the immediate area; attend a concentrated training event developed by specially-anointed gurus; and then develop a prayer team, leadership team, and core group with sufficient potential to “go public” with at least 300 people (small compared to the Day of Pentecost, but considered respectable by most church planting experts).
Excuse me, but when I read the New Testament, here’s what I see as basic principles for church planting:
- Recognize that every Christian is “called” to communicate the Gospel message wherever they currently live and work. That’s the “Great Commission,” so why look for a lesser one? You don’t need anyone else’s permission, since God trumps everyone, and you certainly don’t need an assessment to share the Gospel.
- Continue in your present occupation (1 Corinthians 7:17-23), so you can meet your obligations, particularly the one that requires YOU to take care of your family (1 Timothy 5:8) and share with those in need (Romans 12:13; Ephesians 4:28). Ministry is not a career path for those seeking a comfortable salary, benefits, and a retirement plan!
- Act on principle number one and begin sharing the Gospel with your neighbors, friends, co-workers, and family members. There is usually no need to go anywhere else, because your world is already full of people who don’t know Jesus! Yes, it’s okay to relocate, as long as you remember principle number two OR a group of believers voluntarily agrees to support you as a missionary in another culture where it is unlikely that you would be allowed to take jobs away from the indigenous people group to whom you are being sent.
- Since God has promised to provide a harvest for those who labor like this in His vineyard, begin to disciple/teach those who express an interest in spiritual things, expecting the power of the Gospel and the work of the Holy Spirit to bring them to repentance and faith.
- Meet together with these new believers on a regular basis (Hebrews 10:24-25), thinking of creative ways in which you can stimulate one another to love and minister to others, as well as encouraging each other in the Christian journey.
- Teach every new believer how to follow the above principles!
Bill,
As I read paragraph two it seams to me that you are holding back a little…Go ahead and tell us what you really think. LOL
Concerning the [Church Planting Industry] one verse comes to mind; “Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools”.
I found this post (as all your post) full of sound, practical, and Biblical Wisdom.
Grace to all,
Hearty AMEN! to your #1-6. If these principles of NT church planting are clearly understood then we will begin to see a huge multiplication of churches being planted, versus a few megachurches as describes the “other model” you describe in your post. Our prayer and goal is to mobilize the church sitting in the pews to go out and plant simple/house churches in their own communties and amongst the people they relate to naturally.
As always, you encourage me to remember, that valuable and fruitful ministry does not necessarily equal huge buildings, huge budgets, huge salaries, and huge crowds. You do a great job of checking my pride and helping me see the importance of ministering where God has planted me.
Paul’s missionary endeavors look very little like our Church Planting efforts today…
Acts 13
1 Now there were in the church at Antioch prophets and teachers…2 While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them. 3 Then after fasting and praying they laid their hands on them and sent them off.
4 So, being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went down to Seleucia, and from there they sailed to Cyprus. 5 When they arrived at Salamis, they proclaimed the word of God…
47 For so the Lord has commanded us, saying, I have made you a light for the Gentiles,that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth. 48 And when the Gentiles heard this, they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord, and as many as were appointed to eternal life believed. 49 And the word of the Lord was spreading throughout the whole region. 50 But the Jews incited the devout women of high standing and the leading men of the city, stirred up persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and drove them out of their district. 51 But they shook off the dust from their feet against them and went to Iconium. 52 And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.
Notice how devoutly they prayed and sought the will and confirmation of the Holy Spirit! No wonder they met so much success… and persecution. Bill, I thank God that you are doing just that. Lets pray like they did, that God would direct you to those who are “appointed to eternal life” as you spread abroad the fragrance of death and life wherever He leads. And that upon finding them, I pray that you’ll be able to do as Paul and Barnabas did in Acts 14:
21 When they had preached the gospel to that city and had made many disciples, they returned to Lystra and to Iconium and to Antioch, 22 strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying that through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God. 23 And when they had appointed elders for them in every church, with prayer and fasting they committed them to the Lord in whom they had believed.
Oh, how dependant these great Apostles were on prayer and fasting! Where is this kind of evangelistic fervor, this kind of dependance on God, this kind of fear of God today?
God bless you brother and thanks,
Tom
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Wow. I’m glad Guy linked to this. I will be doing the same. Great post!
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