Polity and Church Planting

Introduction:

1.   There is a biblical polity that transcends time and culture.  The Bible speaks to every aspect of our lives, therefore surely speaks to church government and church planting.

2.  Few subjects create as much discussion and emotion as this one.  If we are wrong, and must change, the cost can be very high.  Usually the differences are not around what the Bible says, it usually centers on how we live out what we read.  If we are right or wrong, it can mean the loss of employment, the loss of status, and position, the loss of souls in eternity.  When you have given your life to a system, that system will protect you and will become your comfort as long as you do not try to change it.  I have had to leave “the system” and will have to again as God moves on and men refuse to change. (this was more prophetic that I realized when I wrote it a few weeks back!)

3.  Cultural expressions of eternal truths/principals will change but the eternal truths and principles of God and his word will not and cannot change.  God works through a man.  Jesus gives us many leadership principles that are eternal.  A few are: servant leadership, love as the law of life, first being last, and character before gifting.  Most people do not like authority.  Egalitarian thinking has crept in.  Most members of churches act as if Christ ordained no special office and granted no authority to exercise it.  Even leaders have so denuded their office that one would never know that Jesus expects the elders of the church to rule and teach with authority.  

4.  All areas of church polity have fallen on hard times.  As biblical literacy has hit an all time low we should not be surprised that the Bible and what it teaches, on any subject, should therefore be seen as suspect and open to debate.  Without absolutes, with no standards to compare everything else to, we will see more and more of “everyone doing as they see fit in their own eyes”.    

5.  Syncretism is an age old problem.  Our tendency to give old meanings to new forms and patterns has always landed the church in trouble.  Changing forms and practices or even names on doors, without changing the real meaning of what is being said, is useless.  Part of this process has to be revelation that comes from God himself.  We must be sure that what we are saying is what is being heard and what the true meanings of the words are.  Using biblical terms such as elders, deacons and apostles without knowing what is actually being described and what is behind the titles and intended by the titles is an exercise in futility.  

6.  The Holy Spirit will guide us into all truth if we will, out of our love and obedience for Christ, give ourselves diligently to these lofty pursuits.  Love prompts our obedience and also our work and sweat to do the searching necessary to come to the truth.  As most of the great doctrines of the Bible, they must be searched out line upon line.  There are no single passages that deal with the total teaching of any of the great truths of the Bible especially apostolic polity.

7.  Early in church history, “church authority” was added as a reason or basis for many practices that grew up, and were practiced, that have no root in apostolic authority.  Under “church authority” many false and deceptive teachings and practices entered the church.  At the same time we can say, “that is not in the Bible” about most things and it would be true, but the facts are there to come to proper conclusions.  As a church we will have house rules that help us live together in harmony and at peace.  These will not overshadow the main teachings of the Bible but will not go against it either.  They simply are house rules that help us to live together and enjoy our time together as a family.  



I.  Church Polity


For any church to thrive there must be basics that we agree upon.  We must be in agreement in these main areas if we are to function.

1.  Theologically – what the Bible teaches, this is the basis for all other agreement  
2.  Philosophically - how we live that out and practice our faith together
3.  Relationally – real relationships and order of engagements
4.  Evangelistically – how do we reach out to the community, our “mission”
    
1.  Theologically

This has to be the basic and firm foundation for all other agreement.  Often we quickly overlook these theological differences to our own harm.  Eventually all of our agreement will come back to rest on these most important truths.

There are doctrines that are and must remain non-negotiable.  Salvation, sin, grace, church government and others fit into this category.  Doctrines that we can have some negotiation on may be in areas of eschatology and practical out workings in our church services.

If we do not insist on pure doctrine and without compromise we will find ourselves in a place that will become indefensible, and that will lead to division.  If major doctrines are to change then it will take the entire leadership of the church, together with input from outside any one local church, to come to an agreement.  This way we can keep the church pure and also safe.

2.  Philosophically

This is how we flesh out our theology.  Our styles, our patterns of culture, our worship of God and in the understanding how the basic doctrines we hold dear, work into our every day lives.  If we have completely different philosophies of how to deal with people, and to deal with their issues then we will also become divided.  How we express ourselves in our Christian faith is what this is about.  There must be agreement on how we come up with our vision and values based on the biblical truths that we have wrestled out of the scriptures by diligent study and how we express these vision and values.  Many would say we share the same truths but when we try to live them out we will find we are not in the same place philosophically at all.  Here there is room for culture and expression to show through.  Timeless truths take on new forms and patterns of expression but the truths themselves never change.  An example would be in the use of words like Elder, Bishop, or Pastor.  All meaning the same but over time and depending on the circumstances have all taken on different meanings to different people.

3.  Relationally

Every church will determine how its members will relate to each other, to their leadership and to other local churches.  When we agree on how we will express true relationship then we can function and stay together as a local church.  We also need to have agreement on how we will relate to other churches and the apostolic leaders in an ever changing world.  The reality of covenant and real relationships will become the number one issue after our theology is fleshed out. (again more prophetic than I thought when I put this down a month ago!)

4.  Evangelistically

When we have determined the purpose of the church is to accomplish the mission that Jesus began, we look to Him for direction, power and help to fulfill it.  Jesus is building his church and we must find where and how we can be part of his purposes.  Entire volumes have been written on this very “mission of God”.  This mission is not an aspect or department of our church it is the very reason we are left here on the planet.  This mission is the very reason the Holy Spirit was poured out.  It is the reason we come together as “called out ones”.  We are an outpost on the edge of hell seeking and rescuing the lost.  When our mission becomes clear we can be united in that one purpose.  When this mission is obscure we find ourselves wrestling with those who should be our brothers and sisters.  We get lost in the marsh of politics and competition with one another.  We become bored and an easy target for the enemy.  There really is only one purpose worth giving an entire life to.  That is making God known in this world and glorifying him in everything.   


Apostolic Church Polity


Since we believe that the Bible holds all the answers to our life’s questions, we can rely on it even in this area.  There is enough information and direction given in scripture for us to deduce very clearly what the government of church should look like.

There is no room for discretionary church polity.  The basic elements are found all throughout scripture.  There may be differences in how the church team looks in each local setting according to their house rules but the quickest way to trouble is to have offices and positions in churches that God never intended. (for example, female eldership)

“Church history teaches us that the first errors that infected the early church and leading farthest astray, and exerting the widest influence in causing it’s departure from apostolic simplicity and purity, were not errors in doctrine, but in church government and discipline.”    William Williams Church Polity.  Page 544.

Church government should not be made larger than it should be but at the same time we overlook this area to our great peril.  Most of the separations that come between churches and denominations have there roots in this very issue.   

We therefore are under obligation to adopt a polity which divine wisdom has pointed out to be the best adapted to promote the ends of His church.  

“The gospel too is ever the same.  The onward march of civilization and science can add no new brightness to its glory, nor strength to its potency, nor luster to its purity.  That form of polity which was instituted by the apostles, and which is admitted to have been the very wisest means to accomplish its ends then, must be “the very wisest”.”   Pg 549 Church Polity

This must hold true no matter what age or part of the world the church finds itself in.  There is no plan B.  

What we are saved into is more important that what we are saved out of.  Polity determines much of what “we are saved into” and what our church will look like and how the gifts and ministry work out into real life, therefore it is of great need and benefit to study it further.



Offices of the Church


According to Paul in Phil 1: 1, we see four categories of people in the church.  He calls himself and Timothy servants, ministering to the church and writing to the saints, in Christ Jesus with the bishops (elders) and deacons, in the church.  From these categories, if I may use that term, of people, we also see the five fold gifting released to the church.  

We see the apostles, elders, deacons and saints working together as the church in Philippi.  

1.  Apostles
 
Many writers hold to the teaching that an Apostle with a big A, was one who had seen the Lord with their own eyes, and seen him raised the dead.  For many these are the only prerequisite that separated the real apostles from what many would call small “a” apostles today.  

Why then would Paul and others warn of false apostles.  II Cor 11:13.  If there were only 13 or perhaps 15, according to some, true apostles, then why would have Paul had to warn of false apostles.  Anyone not of the select few would have stood out if they had even dared to suggest they were apostles.

Eph 4:11  And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers,
Eph 4:12  to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ,
Eph 4:13  until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ,


Rather as we see in Eph 4, that He gave these gifts to build up the body of Christ until we all attain the unity of the faith….  This is an on going process and will not be complete until we are with Christ in eternity.  These gifts are still operating today and are needed more than ever.  There is no evidence that these gifts ceased, in any way or that their use diminished.   

The office of the apostle is very much needed today.  In the last years God has been restoring the local church.  One area that has especially been needed is in the area of the rightful place of the office of the apostle and the prophet.  For some reason the only offices that were seen as credible for the past 50 years were pastor and teacher.

The gift of the apostles is for the setting in order of the local churches and the appointing of elders to lead local churches.  The foundation of the church Eph 3:20 of apostles and prophets is God’s way of keeping the church moving forward and to keep it on track.  When administration eventually takes the lead, as is true for most churches, the church loses its eyes.  When the pastoral/teaching gifts are the only recognized gifts in the church, the church stumbles.

The use of the word apostle today does not mean one that has seen the Lord physically.  Some would argue they have seen Him, as Paul in a vision, and that is enough.  Rather the use of the office of the apostle today is used in the more general sense, as one who has been called and anointed to open up new areas, plant local churches and for the setting in place of elders in the local churches.  He is a sent one and does not stay.  They fall out of heaven!  They are God appointed by His gifting in them, and then secondly recognized by some men.  You cannot study to be an apostle.  He can be at the same time an elder as well as recognized by others as an apostle, as Paul was.  He should come from a local church and minister into the broader church as a whole.  

Because of the abuse of this office we have shied away from calling someone an apostle but God is restoring this gift to His church.  If we are able to call someone a pastor/teacher, or an evangelist surely we can with confidence refer to some men as   apostles.  

There are at least eight other apostles mentioned by name in the New Testament, Barnabas and Paul, Acts 14:4, 14.  Androconicus, Rom 16:7, Silas and Timothy in I Thes. 2:6,11.  James in Gal 1:19.  Apollos I Cor 4:9,6.  Epaphroditus in Phil 2:25.  

Even as late as 50 years later in Rev 2:2 Jesus commends them for testing those who claim to be apostles but are not.

This gift of an apostle is needed more than ever today.  No where in scripture are the qualifications for an apostle spelled out, but the gift of an apostle is clearly seen and expressed in scriptures.  

2.  Elders

Like never before there is a need for us to keep the line on male eldership.  Nothing will break down a church faster than opening it up to a non-biblical place for women in offices that the Bible never intended.  This is very much a non-negotiable doctrine that is being tested and tried by the evangelical feminist movement.  Those on the outside of the church have influenced this truth in the church very little.  The threat has come from within.  Feminists and confused men have gone against the entire Bible in regards to whom and who cannot be an elder.

The term elder, bishop (overseer), and shepherd (pastor) are used interchangeably in the New Testament.  They refer to the same person.  The writers of scripture use these terms interchangeably without any condescension or lack of respect by leaving one of them out.  

The Bible always talks about male eldership.  In scripture there are no female elders.  Even some would go as so far as to say there were no female deacons as well, except for a short time period when the churches separated male and female on different sides or areas of the church and female deacons were used to serve these female church members.   These female deaconesses were also never ordained.  They held these positions only for as long as they were needed and the practice (of sitting separately) died away.

Elders were to give oversight and leadership over local churches not the apostles.  I Tim 5:17.  They were to do it by ruling and leading the flock.  They are the highest authority in that local church and as such are the fathers and gate keepers.  Elders were most often plural and equal in authority.  Leadership is based on anointing and gift recognition.  

Elders are to be the ones who give direction, handle discipline and protect the doctrine of the local church.  They are the gates and must keep her pure and safe from wolves and false teachers that are to come.  I Thes 5:12 is Paul’s understanding of the proper place and authority of church government.  He was not opposed to using the terms laboring among and “are over” you in the Lord.  This signifies the respect, and God given authority, of the office of church leaders.  If Elders do not command this respect and are not given it freely “in the Lord” the church will suffer.

The qualification of “husband of one wife” does not necessarily mean “having been married only once,” according to Grudem.   Paul could have used that term.  Rather it can refer to polygamy and the practice of having more than one wife.  Personally I am of the opinion that it means simply having one wife.  If I failed in my marriage I would step down from being an elder.  I could continue to elder and love God’s people, but because of the high view of the office I would not seek to be ordained as someone whose fundamental covenantal relationship has failed.  We preach louder with our lives than with our words.

Although these three titles are the same person there is a diversity of gifting among an eldership team.  Elders are seen as fathers and keepers of the gates.  Overseers are seen as the eyes with prophetic sight to see forward and the Shepherds as the heart of God loving and protecting the sheep.   


3. Deacons

Qualifications for deacons are very similar to that of elders.  They were to be chosen from among the people and many times by the people and ratified by the elders.  Their names were brought forth by the church and the final selection was made by the leaders of the church together with the church members.  Some argue that the choosing of the deacons was also the work of apostles that were part of the establishing of the church.  There is evidence that some deaconesses were women and they served the women of the church.  

It is a role generally concerned with the practical details of the church: administration, maintenance, and the care of the church members with physical needs.  Men who hold this position and serve well, “gain an excellent standing and great assurance in their faith in Jesus Christ.” I Tim 3:13.  In scripture they were not limited in any way to use their gifts to preach, teach and evangelize.  

3.  Saints

“Membership in the church is always reserved for those who “were being saved”, or rather those already in the process of being saved.  In whom a work of salvation had already commenced before they were added, and who were not, therefore, added in order to commence that work.”  Pg 538  Church Polity

In other words to be a member of a church means that you have been regenerated, born again from above.  Not only justified (your legal position in Christ) but the work of regeneration (actually being born again from above) was clearly evident in your life.  There must be the signs of the Holy Spirit evident in ones life to say that they have been made part of the church.  Church membership is based on this evidence and the desire to follow Christ daily.  The church, or the called out ones are simply that.  They are the ones to whom the light of the Gospel has been shed abroad in their hearts and they are showing the fruit of that light in their lives.  Any group of people who intend to remain together will have a plan for who can and who cannot become members of the local church.  People who do not live regenerated lives with evidence of a changed life are not Christians.  Therefore not part of the Church.

These values, based on the unchanging doctrines of salvation and regeneration, will be expressed in different ways but the bottom line is the fact that the church must keep the bar as high as it can when demanding its members subscribe to the scriptures as the way of truth and life.  This evidence of new life must be seen and demanded on a daily basis in a believer’s life.

Conclusion:

Areas I never touched on are salaries for fulltime elders, paid positions in the church, hierarchy that grew out of teachings on differences between preaching and teaching elders and “other” elders:
1Ti 5:17  Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in preaching and teaching.
1Ti 5:18  For the Scripture says, "You shall not muzzle an ox when it treads out the grain," and, "The laborer deserves his wages."

We could write a book on just how we conduct ourselves in the house of God here at 3Ci.  

If we can keep these very biblical, basic and non-negotiable elements, foundational in the church, we can save ourselves much trouble and correction later.

The bar must be raised on membership, making it clear who is a member and who is not.  We need to make it very clear what it means to be a member.  We usually get what we expect from people.  

This will also cost more and actually make the church that preaches and holds a solid line on doctrine, membership and discipline, a tougher place to be.  But there is no other plan. God has to show us our weakness, refine us and challenge our self-centered and self-righteous lives, in covenant relationships in the local church.  The church is a place of offence.  Our flesh will be offended often and it must be.  If we will stay the course and grow a covenant community we will see the true fruit of it over time.


Ordinances In The Church:   What is A Healthy Church?

“Millions declare their adherence to Christianity, say that they believe in the inspiration of the Bible, and hold membership in the church, but the leavening influence that they exert upon society as a whole is so minuscule that it is imperceptible.”  The Place of Authority in Christ’s Church, Jay E Adams pg. 1

These areas will need to be looked at and proper church government established over them for any church to move forward.  

-Membership
-Discipline/Penitent Restoration
-Water Baptism
-Lord’s Supper
-Evangelism

Throughout church history the church has established working models and wine skins that have held the various groupings of churches together.  This is the area where we can be free to express ourselves in different styles and patters yet remaining true to the Bible and the non-negotiable truths of scripture.

This is also the area where the greatest separation of churches has taken place as we become more rigid in our expression of these practices of the church.  Most churches would say that they are right and based on the Bible, but most churches would not be able to function well together because of their ways of expressing the very basics of what a church is.  Worship styles and personalities have forced most churches to disintegrate and lose their testimony in a city.  

In his book “What is A Healthy Church” Mark Dever lays out what are “essential marks” and what are “important marks of a healthy church”.

The “essential marks” are the word, worship and the work of the church.  The “important marks” are how these essentials are expressed and brought into the church and the believer’s lives.  We can differ again on how we express these essentials but we must have the essentials present for it to be a real church.

God has left the “look” of the church up to us when it comes to the form.  Relaxed, worshipful settings, or very structured teaching and preaching halls all have a place in God’s purposes.  We need to leave room for these different aspects of style and cultural expression, while at the same time guarding the foundations of what a church is and what it is not.

Discipline

I would like to mention this ordinance of the church.  Discipline and restoration of the penitent is one area as a church we need to revisit.  As a seeker sensible church we want a wide open front door, while at the same time closing our back door. What it means to become a member and stay one should be redefined.  As we replant ourselves as a church each year, this area of importance should also be revisited.  

Simply put, we will get what we expect from people.  Raising the bar and expecting much from each other grows a greater sense of belonging and being part of something.  Something easy to get into is just as easily left behind.  People want to commit to something.  By holding up a high view of church and church membership, and keeping the “mission” forefront, we give people a reason to belong.  As churches become more and more “sensitive” to visitors and potential members we actually make it easier for them to leave us.  It is the reason we tell young couples to make much of their marriage vows.  There is a day when they were “married”.  They have something to look back on, commitments made and rings exchanged.  It gives them a strength and resolve when times are hard or they feel they are not “in love”.  

At 3Ci I have always enjoyed hearing and then saying at Looking Ins, “ that this church is not for everyone….  This church may not be for you.”  It sets both parties free.  “If you wish to be part of this church this is what we are about, these are our values etc……”  

Every church in history that let down in the area of church discipline and a high view of scripture and Christian life, lost out and became irrelevant in its day.



The Way Forward

The best way forward is to keep to true apostolic polity.  This may be easier to say than to do but we must keep church polity simple and biblical.  Where we divide is usually around expression and interpretations of what we mean by these offices and ordinances in the church.  We divide usually over how we express these offices and what authority they have and structure these offices take.

By simply saying that “we find the pattern in the Bible” may not be enough for most.  There will have to be a working out of what the terms mean; also how we live out these truths in our lives and churches.  

Here are some of the things we need to agree on:

The offices of Apostle, Prophet, Evangelist, Pastor, Teacher are still alive and relevant for today.  Jesus gives these gifts to his church, they are real and necessary even if they are lived out through weak and human form.  To simply say that the time for one or more of these gifts is past is not helpful or true.

In a local church we find three groups of people, the Elders, Deacons and the Saints.  In the local church we have the same basic elements of what makes us a church.
1.  Leadership.  2.  Membership/Discipline. 3.  Ordinances.  

We must insist on real relationships, even if that includes going smaller to become bigger.  Our real relationships will be tested and tried but only by having these true covenantal, biblical relationships thriving and protected can we be sure of God’s presence on what we are doing.  It is significant that Jesus says “where two or three are gathered in my name.”  He intended for us to know the people we are relating to.  He is also not afraid of large crowds of people.  We can care for large numbers of people, when real relationships are kept real and life giving, like parts of a body.

When we keep these basics simple and uncluttered it is very easy to be open-handed and accessible to many people and churches.  The churches that have functioned this way for hundreds of years have been successful and relevant to their worlds.  Those who have become complicated, inflexible and organized have become irrelevant in their day.  They continue on with the forms and skeletons but they are not the real church.  Congregations will vote with their presence.  If we do not have green pastures for them God will lead them on.



II Church Planting:  The Mission of God

Heinz has thrown a spanner in the works by making the point that we cannot just be about “church planting”.  That cannot be our only expression of what we mean by being a missional church.  At the least there has to be an understanding of what we are about as a church and what our mission truly is.  

‘I wanted them to see not just that the Bible contains a number of texts which happen to provide a rationale for missionary endeavor but that the whole Bible is itself a “missional” phenomenon.  The writings that now comprise our Bible are themselves the product of and the witness to the ultimate mission of God.  The Bible renders to us the story of God’s mission through God’s people in their engagement with God’s world for the sake of the whole of God’s creation.”  The Mission of God, Christopher J.H. Wright,  pg. 22-23

Mission is not just one of the points on a list of things that the Bible happens to talk about, only just a bit more urgently than some.  Mission is, in the much used phrase, “what it’s all about.”

“Our mission if it is biblically formed and validated means, our committed participation as God’s people at God’s invitation and command, in God’s own mission within the history of God’s world for the redemption of God’s creation.”  C.J. H. Wright. Pg 23.

Mission and missionary are not used as usually understood, to mean something we do for God or part of what we are sent to do.  It means all that God is busy with and the many sub-missions that take place to fulfill the “mission.”  

“Missions is what the Bible is all about; we could as meaningfully talk of the missional basis of the Bible as of the biblical basis of mission….  One would not expect to be able to turn the other way any phrase that began “the biblical basis of …” There is for example, a biblical basis for marriage, but there is not, obviously, a marital basis for the Bible.”   C.J.H. Wright Pg.29

When we put church planting into the area of mission it takes on the size and scope that God intended.  It is not part of what God is busy with, it “is” what God is busy with.  Church planting is more than establishing a preaching point somewhere, or a building to meet in,  it is pressing the word of God and His kingdom into the world in an area, society, and  ethnos that otherwise would not hear this message of reconciliation.  We must become taken up with “church planting” that involves all the people and all we have.  Whether it is replanting our local church or planting a new church, it really is God’s plan A and there is no other.  The church is people.  Not the buildings and the structures or services.

Where To From Here?

Once we realize the mission and its size and scope we then have to set out to fulfill it with God’s wisdom and His Holy Spirit’s power.

Following through the gospel of Luke into the book of Acts, Luke gives us a very good picture of how the Holy Spirit, working with the Father and Son, set about accomplishing His mission.

Everything that has to do with the mission was born of or empowered by the Holy Spirit.  That which was not so empowered, no matter how impressive it looked or became would not withstand the test of time, nor the test of eternity.

If we build down the wrong road of human effort we will only be forced further down the road to turn around and rebuild whatever it was we did poorly in the beginning.

The power, direction, leading and guiding of the Holy Spirit is the only way to keep the mission foremost and on track.  The more we can rely now on His leading and showing us the way forward the faster and further we can run with the mission ahead of us.

If any aspect of our church is not missional, it is on the wrong mission.  Again it is not about beefing up a missions department.  Everyone is involved in mission, and church planting, even if it is replanting our own church continually.

Mark Driscoll’s list of what makes a good church.

1.  Membership:   regenerated, not just justified.  
2.  Qualified leadership:   hold the line on male eldership.  (not popular with those who have not done well)  to change that is to change leadership in home, government, marriage.  Good Christians, make good fathers, make good husbands, make good leaders.
3.  Gathering regularly for worship and preaching.
4.  Sacraments administered correctly.  Baptism, communion, and discipline.
5.  Discipline.  Not allowing sin to go unchecked as that is not loving people.  If you preach one thing and do not endorse it they will not obey.  Either don’t preach it or be sure that it is endorse and for the right reasons.
6. Obey the great commandment to love.
7. Evangelize and make disciples.  

Four Types or models of Churches and how they interact with society around them, from Mark Driscoll.

Some people think of church as a bomb-shelter. You can identify this by lots of “we and them” language. Here you will find lots of preaching against the culture, not engagement with it. You will find people who share your values and protect your kids. There is no attempt to evangelize. This is classic fundamentalism.

Other people see church as a mirror. This is classic liberalism. Gender issues are a classic current example. If the culture is for an issue, the church then compromises and mirrors what is in the culture. No attempt is made to redeem the culture. They may be more aware, but in the end they are less helpful.

Some see church as a parasite. They enter the culture to take out of it for themselves. There is no real giving. They want to benefit from what happens, but not do for them. Ask non-Christians what they think of the church. Their answer will be—no serving the poor, no helping, no doing good, and taking, not contributing.

Some see church as a city within a city—a city on a hill. The Church is the city of God within the city of the world. Here the Church loves Jesus, believes the Bible, practices grace, and the power of God is made known. The people live differently within the culture. They are not antagonistic or negative, but live an alternative life style. They invite others to join in this life style.



Missional Church

a.  A missional church sees the church as a missional outpost.  The church sees itself with the God given mandate to start new services, taking the gospel to all peoples of the city.

b.  Multiple campuses or services.  A church with profile should use that profile.  It’s a new church planting all the time.  Adding services will add people.  Different times of day and week.  Different types and styles of worship and leadership are embraced, but keeping the same core values.

c.  Set aside money for church planting.  God is a Giver.

d.  A missional church sees every Christian as a missionary.  Christians paying attention to their neighborhood, being loving and caring; having a heart.  Preach for and to those who you want to have in the church not the people who are there only.  Preach to and for what you don’t have, or what you want to have in the future.  The church that exists for its non-members will see them join.

e.  A missional church shares the gospel, each week.  Every week you are training your people that it is about Jesus and how to do it (beware of preaching a different gospel, e.g. Prosperity or wealth/health gospel). Jesus has a bride, not a bunch of lovers. Everything we are doing is preaching the gospel, either the false or the true gospel.

We need conversion stories, everyone is an evangelist.  Celebrate the testimonies, use the guys who helped reach them and baptize them.  This gives hope that we can ALL do this task.  People need to be given opportunity to share their conversion stories.  This tells the whole church what we value and that everyone can be part of it.  Not just apostolic travel and church planting.

Our Mission: Church Planting

The mission includes the care of creation, nations and individuals.   According to C.J. Wright, Jesus’ message was first to Israel and then to the Gentiles.  God’s redemptive plan, started in the Old Testament., would see both the restoration of God’s people, the Jews, and the redemption of the Gentiles.  

Although most of his ministry and focus of his disciple’s ministry was to the Jews there are ample times in the Bible when he used occasions to show his greater purpose to reach the nations, even at times offending his Nazareth roots in the process.  One such time was seen through the amazing faith of the Centurion.  

Church planting must simply be part of the process of making God known to all creation.  There are no formulaic answers or systems that we can put in place that will accomplish this.

God still calls individuals, empowers them with His Holy Spirit and sends them out like sheep among the wolves to preach his redemptive message.  He has given us all the ministry of reconciliation; the ministry of reconciling man to God in every area of society, in the places where we live, work and play.  As Driscoll said, “in the third place”.  The place we would live in if we could afford it.  The place we visit.  The gospel has to penetrate all these areas.  

If we take the New Testament as a picture of what God expects, there are no patterns.  Our plans must be His plans.  Paul stayed in cities at times because he was moved by what he saw.  At other times he saw a vision in the night and went to specific cities.  Peter saw visions of animals and eating unclean foods, and the gospel was taken to the Gentiles.  It can also be as simple as throwing a dart at the map and going there as we have been called to the ends of the earth.

When we only see a church as a building, clergy and a meeting, we can miss much of what a true biblical view of mission and church planting is.  Church planting has to be tied to the mission of God in the earth to have meaning and life.

A good definition of church is “A body sent on mission for God’s kingdom.”  

A true church is not only inwardly focused but at the same time also outwardly focused.  Do we think, act, and live as a body sent on mission rather that servicing the structures we have set up?

God has not abandoned his plan for the church.  He is building it and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

Eph 3:8  To me, though I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ,
Eph 3:9  and to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God who created all things,
Eph 3:10  so that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places.
Eph 3:11  This was according to the eternal purpose that he has realized in Christ Jesus our Lord,
Eph 3:12  in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through our faith in him.


We need to work more at being the church than doing the church.  Human nature is to get busy doing before we ever consider being the church.  There are more scriptures in the Bible to justify having a concubine than a denomination!  We love structures and forms more than the life of God blowing through his body into every corner of the world.

When we understand the purpose of the church, the mission that God gave us, we will never abuse or misuse His precious bride.  We will hold her lightly until the bride groom returns and asks us to give an account.  

As we walk close to God, not leaning on our own understanding, he will direct our paths.  

Conclusion

I conclude this ramble on church planting by restating that there is a dream that is the mission, church, gospel, and work of God.  It is not a pipe dream, a day dream, or intended to even stay a dream.

There is a church lead by elders who love and respect each other.  They are in a growing real relationship that is meaningful and fruitful.  They are equals led by a first among equals.  Gifts and anointing are celebrated and not merely tolerated.  There is no competition and their families are growing in true discipleship and fellowship.  There is joy and the fruit of the Spirit evident in all they do.  This is the most attractive element of a thriving body with leaders who love what they are doing.

There is invited apostolic accountability and input.  Because of relationship and anointing certain men can speak into the life of the saints and bring the word of God to bear on his people.  The church is kept pure and free to be what she needs to be in the world she lives in.  The apostolic/prophetic is respected and honored.  

Deacons love and give themselves for the flock.  They live such exemplary lives that the entire community can find no fault in them.

There are elders, deacons and saints that love each other and have joined themselves to the mission that God has sent us on; filled with the power of the Holy Spirit and led by Him into all good things.  A church that is ready to give their lives for others.  Where leaders are respected and known.  Every church would say this is what they are about.  Can we live this truly and give ourselves to this?

This body on mission is actively loving the world, showing them a better way to live, and reconciling the world to God himself.  We are living like a city within a city.  Not against the city but showing them an alternative way of living.  It is a financially muscled up group of people who can change cities and nations because of the message that is burning in their chests but also with the ability to act on what they preach with resources that God has blessed them with.

As a church we will have more services.  We will reach more people and use the gifts of more and more of our people.  The priesthood of all believers will rise up and be released into a dying world.  Everyone’s gift will be celebrated and encouraged in the body.  The love of God compels us to greater efforts in His kingdom.



Bibliography


Adams, J.E.  The Place of Authority In Christ’s Church    Timeless Texts.  2003

Daniels,  D.  How To Conduct Yourself in The House of God   Translocal Ministry
NCMI  2006

Dever,  Mark    Polity,  Biblical arguments to how to conduct church life.  Sheidon Books  2001

Dever, Mark     What Is A Healthy Church,   Crossway Books  2005

Dever, Mark     The Deliberate Church,    Building your ministry on the gospel.  Crossway Books  2005

Grudem, Wayne    Systematic Theology,   An introduction to biblical doctrine.  Intervarsity Press,  1994

Wright, C.J.  The Mission of God,   Unlocking the Bibles grand narrative.  Intervarsity Press 2006