Is Church-Planting Biblical?
How do you discern God’s will for your ministry? Scripture and prayer is always a good place to start. Throughout the Bible, we see God use His people to spread His name and glory across the earth to see His gospel reach all nations and people. While there are many ways to accomplish this task, church-planting is biblical and it has served as a primary vehicle for multiplication since since the beginning of creation! Check out how God has used the principles of church-planting to advance the gospel:
God Includes Multiplication In His First Command To Humanity
“Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.” – Genesis 1:28
The creation story is the first place the concepts used in church-planting shows up in the Bible. God tells the first man and woman to be fruitful and multiply. God tasked humanity with spreading news of His glory over the entire earth. To do this, God commanded them to multiply – to reproduce – and create new life wherever they went.
The Church Is Part Of God’s Plan For Redemption.
“As you come to Him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God, chosen and precious, you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. For it stands in Scripture… but you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.” – 1 Peter 1:4-10.
After mankind fell and sin was introduced to the world, God chose a specific people to be His witness to the nations. After Jesus’ resurrection, that group became a whole lot wider. Now, as the church body, the Holy Spirit empowers us to live holy lives and build up a spiritual house. This isn’t a physical building; this is referring to the whole Church, all the followers of Jesus throughout history! We each contribute to building up this house which will proclaim His name and glory to the nations.
God Designed His People To Relate To Each Other Intimately
“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” – John 13:34
The New Testament is filled with these “one another” phrases. How many people can you actually devote yourself to? Every single person in your local church? What about the ten in your small group? Realistically, most people can only have deep relationships with ten to twenty people at a time – probably fewer. Yet, this is what God calls us to do. We should devote ourselves to others in the Church body. To do this effectively, we must surround ourselves with a dedicated group of people with whom we can share our lives.
It Is Included In The Great Commission
Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” – Matthew 28:19-20
When new disciples gather, they plant new churches. Where a church is planted and thriving, individual lives, as well as entire families and communities, experience transformation! This transformation will attract attention from the world, and God will add to these groups of believers, daily. The book of Acts shows that church-planting is biblical because it’s exactly what the apostles did! New churches were a direct result of their ministry!
It Is Imperative To Jesus’ Return
“And this Gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.” – Matthew 24:14
Once the gospel reaches the ends of the earth and every people group hears the name of Jesus, the end will come – Jesus will return. We need to focus our lives on proclaiming God’s name and glory across the face of the earth, just as He designed us to do.
Are You Ready?
So is church-planting biblical? In short, yes! In fact, the Bible shows us church-planting has powerful potential to change the world by sending the gospel to every tribe, tongue, and nation! Is God calling you to pursue a career in church-planting? We would love to hear what is on your heart and help you discern your next steps! Connect with one of our mission coaches today to see how you can be a part of fulfilling the Great Commission through church-planting!
Are You Ready? Get Equipped
Check out our Equip Missionary Training Program. A ten-month church-planting and cross-cultural missionary training program in the culturally vibrant and diverse heart of New York City.
