My message today at NRN: A Biblical Perspective on Church Planting

A Biblical Perspective on 
Church Planting

 Today is a unique message as I share my heart about Church Planting:

Dr. Timothy Keller has written: “The normal response to discussions about church planting is something like this.

A. “We already have plenty of churches that have lots and lots of room for all the new people who have come to the area. Let’s get them filled before we start building any new ones.”

B. “Every church in this community used to be fuller than it is now. The churchgoing public is a shrinking pie. A new church here will just take people from churches that are already hurting and will weaken everyone.”

C. “Help the churches that are struggling first. A new church doesn’t help the existing ones that are just keeping their noses above water. We need better churches, not more churches.”

These statements appear to be common sense to many people, but they rest on several wrong assumptions. The error of this thinking will become clear if we examine a Biblical Perspective on Church Planting.

Jesus said:   I will build My church, and the gates of Hell shall not prevail against it.                                                                                            Matthew 16:18b NKJV

Church = ἐκκλησία (ekklēsia):     The CALLED    OUT   ones

Church: “A community of people who are called out of the kingdom of this world, to advance the kingdom of God.”

Jesus said to them, “Go into all the world. Preach the good news to everyone.” Mark 16:15

Following the Day of Pentecost:  The Early Church

All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals including the Lord’s Supper, and to prayer.

 A deep sense of awe came over them all, and the apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders. And all the believers met together in one place and shared everything they had. They sold their property and possessions and shared the money with those in need.

They worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord’s Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity all the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people. And each day the Lord added to their fellowship those who were being saved.                                                                                       Acts 2:42- 47 NLT

Practices of the Early Church:

o  They were devoted to GOD’S   WORD

o  They were devoted to EACH    OTHER

o  They were devoted to GLADNESS  GENEROSITY

“True generosity isn’t an occasional event. It comes from the heart and permeates every aspect of a [church’s] life, touching [its] time, money, talents and possessions.”    

                    John Maxwell, The 21 Indispensable Qualities of a Leader, p. 6

We are a Church Planting Church!

Our Partnership with DCPI:

The Plan of the Church of the Nazarene:

     Ø    NORTH    RALEIGH

 Church of the Nazarene

        Ø CARY

Church of the Nazarene

      Ø TAPESTRY

Church of the Nazarene

       Ø FRENCH   AFRICIAN

Church of the Nazarene

        Ø WAKE    FORREST

Church of the Nazarene

Our Future of Church Planting:

Pastors Juan and Rebecca shared about the Lord's leading to come to North Raleigh to serve as church planters.  As I shared about this daughter church I announced that in the near future we will hold a "baby shower" to help with the needs of this baby church! The church family broke into applause at that announcement!

We closed our time of worship with a prayer of commission for Pastors Juan and Rebecca. I appreciate Gary Narron bringing the prayer in Spanish and I concluded our time together.

A banner will be displayed later this week and next Sunday we launch the North Raleigh Hispanic Church of the Nazarene!