Church planting, at the heart of expanding Jesus' kingdom
Church planting, at the heart of expanding Jesus' kingdom
Blog Article
Church planting is central to advancing God's Kingdom, as it establishes communities of believers who embody and spread the gospel. Here are ten practical and biblical reasons underscoring the importance of church planting:
Fulfilling the Great Commission: Jesus commanded His followers to make disciples of all nations (Matthew 28:19-20). Planting churches is a direct response to this mandate, creating communities where discipleship and teaching occur.
Apostolic Example: The Apostle Paul exemplified church planting by establishing congregations throughout the Roman Empire (Acts 14:21-23). His missionary journeys focused on planting and nurturing new churches.
Effective Evangelism: New churches often reach unchurched and non-believing individuals more effectively than established congregations. As noted by Peter Wagner, "The single most effective evangelistic methodology under heaven is planting new churches."
Community Transformation: Churches serve as agents of reconciliation and healing within their communities, addressing spiritual and social needs (Ephesians 2:13-15).
Developing Leaders: Church planting creates opportunities for emerging leaders to exercise their gifts and callings, fostering a new generation of Christian leadership (2 Timothy 2:2).
Renewing Established Churches: The process of planting new churches can revitalize existing ones by inspiring renewed mission and outreach efforts.
Cultural Engagement: New churches can contextualize the gospel message to diverse cultures and communities, making it accessible and relevant (1 Corinthians 9:22).
Obedience to the Holy Spirit: The early church responded to the Holy Spirit's guidance in sending out church planters, such as Paul and Barnabas (Acts 13:2-3).
Expanding God's Kingdom: Church planting is a tangible expression of God's Kingdom advancing on earth, as more communities are transformed by the gospel.
Manifesting God's Wisdom: The church displays God's manifold wisdom to the world (Ephesians 3:10), and planting new churches amplifies this divine revelation.
Divergent Church Global exemplifies a grassroots church planting movement. From its inception, Divergent Church has aimed to be both a local church and a movement dedicated to extending Jesus' Kingdom. This vision has led to an evolving structure that fosters community and multiplication.
Their ecclesiology is rooted in the biblical precedent of localized gatherings comprising the one Church in a city or region. They emphasize that church planting is most effective when multiplying local community churches that remain interdependently unified, rather than establishing entirely autonomous congregations.
By focusing on community, leadership development, and adherence to biblical principles, Divergent Church Global which started in Canberra, Australia continues to plant and nurture new Churches that embody the heart of the Kingdom movement.
Report this page