Starting a New Church: Why?: Starting a New Church: Why? By Tom Cheyney


Starting a New Church: Why?: Starting a New Church: Why? This resource makes a great initial study for a core group praying about launching a new church!


Starting a New Church: Why?: Starting a New Church: Why? 1. It is the work of Jesus. Jesus said, 'I will build my church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.' (Matthew 16:18, KJV)


Starting a New Church: Why?: Starting a New Church: Why? 2. The local church is the hope of the world. 'His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms, according to his eternal purpose which he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord.' (Ephesians 3:10, NIV)


Starting a New Church: Why?: Starting a New Church: Why? 3. It is Jesus’ strategy for the church to fulfill His great commission. 'But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem [local church ministry], and in all Judea [regional church planting] and Samaria [regional cross-cultural church planting], and to the ends of the earth [global church planting].' (Acts 1:8, NIV)


Starting a New Church: Why?: Starting a New Church: Why? 'A church's health is measured by its sending capacity, not its seating capacity. Churches are in the sending business. One of the questions we must ask in evaluating a church's health is, ‘How many people are being mobilized for the Great Commission?’' Rick Warren The Purpose Driven Church


Starting a New Church: Why?: Starting a New Church: Why? 4. Church planting is effective in fulfilling the Great Commission.


Starting a New Church: Why?: Starting a New Church: Why? 4. Church planting is effective in fulfilling the Great Commission. 'The single most effective evangelistic methodology under heaven is planting new churches.' C. Peter Wagner Church Planting For A Greater Harvest


Starting a New Church: Why?: Starting a New Church: Why? 4. Church planting is effective in fulfilling the Great Commission. A church older than 10 years takes 89 attendees to reach one person for Christ. 'The average church in America today sees 1.0 adult conversion per year, one hundred in attendance. This might be expected of former mainline - now sidelined – churches,but it is a surprise that evangelicals do only a tad better 1.7 per one hundred in attendance.' Bill Hull, Revival That Reforms Bill Hull Revival that Reforms, p. 41


Starting a New Church: Why?: Starting a New Church: Why? 4. Church planting is effective in fulfilling the Great Commission. A church older than 10 years takes 89 attendees to reach one person for Christ. A church three to 10 years old takes seven attendees to reach one person for Christ.


Starting a New Church: Why?: Starting a New Church: Why? 4. Church planting is effective in fulfilling the Great Commission. A church older than 10 years takes 89 attendees to reach one person for Christ. A church three to 10 years old takes seven attendees to reach one person for Christ. A church zero to three years old takes three attendees to reach one person for Christ.


Starting a New Church: Why?: Starting a New Church: Why? 5. The harvest demands aggressive church planting.


Starting a New Church: Why?: Starting a New Church: Why? 5. The harvest demands aggressive church planting. The harvest is plentiful. Then he said to his disciples, 'The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few.' (Matthew 9:37,NIV) 65-70% of Lake County has no formal affiliation with a church family.


Starting a New Church: Why?: Starting a New Church: Why? 5. The harvest demands aggressive church planting. The harvest is plentiful. The harvest is diverse. 'Therefore go and make disciples of all nations.' (Matthew 28:19, NIV) 'We need all kinds of churches to reach all kinds of people.' Rick Warren


Starting a New Church: Why?: Starting a New Church: Why? 5. The harvest demands aggressive church planting. The harvest is plentiful. The harvest is diverse. The harvest is ready. Jesus said, 'I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest.' (John 4:35, NIV) 'The greatest barriers to church planting are in the mind.' C. Peter Wagner


So How Do You Start a New Church?: So How Do You Start a New Church?


So How Do You Start a New Church?: So How Do You Start a New Church? Let’s take a look at the biblical pattern found in Acts, chapters 1 and 2….


So How Do You Start a New Church?: So How Do You Start a New Church? 8. You must build a biblically functioning community of faith. (Acts 2:42-48) 1. You get your marching orders from Jesus. (Acts 1:8) 2. You develop a leadership team. (Acts 1:12-13) 3. You start a prayer meeting. (Acts 1:14) 4. You must time your launch appropriately. (Acts 2:1) 5. You must launch out in the Spirit’s power and create interest. (Acts 2:1-13) 6. You must proclaim God’s message with clarity and relevance. (Acts 2:14-36) 7. You must ask people to make a commitment to Christ and His church. (Acts 2:36-41)


So How Do You Start a New Church?: So How Do You Start a New Church? 1. You get your marching orders from Jesus. 'But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.' (Acts 1:8,NIV)


How Would You Summarize Jesus’ Marching Orders for Every Christian?: How Would You Summarize Jesus’ Marching Orders for Every Christian?


How Would You Summarize Jesus’ Marching Orders for Every Christian?: How Would You Summarize Jesus’ Marching Orders for Every Christian? Love God and your neighbor. (The Great Commandment, Mark 12:28-31)


How Would You Summarize Jesus’ Marching Orders for Every Christian?: How Would You Summarize Jesus’ Marching Orders for Every Christian? Love God and your neighbor. (The Great Commandment, Mark 12:28-31) Go and make disciples. (The Great Commission, Matthew 28:18-20)


How Would You Summarize Jesus’ Marching Orders for Every Christian?: How Would You Summarize Jesus’ Marching Orders for Every Christian? It is our desire to be obedient to the Great Command and the Great Commission by being a place to belong (inviting and welcoming anyone who comes our way) and a place to become (helping everyone to become all that God wants them to be - mature followers of Jesus).


So How Do You Start a New Church?: So How Do You Start a New Church? 1. You get your marching orders from Jesus. (Acts 1:8) 2. You develop a leadership team. (Acts 1:12-13) 3. You start a prayer meeting. (Acts 1:14) 4. You must time your launch appropriately. 'When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place.' (Acts 2:1, NIV)


Do you have a spirit of creative discontent?I love the term John Maxwell uses for those who have the ability to look for something more. They are not rebels, but mavericks, ready to seek God’s face and do something new for the cause of Christ!: Do you have a spirit of creative discontent? I love the term John Maxwell uses for those who have the ability to look for something more. They are not rebels, but mavericks, ready to seek God’s face and do something new for the cause of Christ!


Do you have a spirit of creative discontent?: Do you have a spirit of creative discontent? Let me recommend the following…


Do you have a spirit of creative discontent?: Do you have a spirit of creative discontent? Be in prayer.


Do you have a spirit of creative discontent?: Do you have a spirit of creative discontent? Be in prayer. Join a prayer group.


Do you have a spirit of creative discontent?: Do you have a spirit of creative discontent? Be in prayer. Join a prayer group. Fill out a three-by-five card. Name, address, phone numbers, e-mail, children’s ages and names


Do you have a spirit of creative discontent?: Do you have a spirit of creative discontent? Be in prayer. Join one of our prayer groups. Fill out a three-by-five card. Be in prayer for the next informational meeting.


Have you ever desired...: Have you ever desired... To experience God in a positive, joyful community of hope?


Have you ever desired...: Have you ever desired... To experience God in a positive, joyful community of hope? To be a part of what God is doing in this world?


Have you ever desired...: Have you ever desired... To experience God in a positive, joyful community of hope? To be a part of what God is doing in this world? To be part of a mission team with your family?


Have you ever desired...: Have you ever desired... To experience God in a positive, joyful community of hope? To be a part of what God is doing in this world? To be part of a mission team with your family? To have a safe place where you can invite friends and neighbors?


Have you ever desired...: Have you ever desired... To experience God in a positive, joyful community of hope? To be a part of what God is doing in this world? To be part of a mission team with your family? To have a safe place where you can invite friends and neighbors? To see the transforming work of God’s grace in the lives of those you love?


Have you ever desired...: Have you ever desired... To experience God in a positive, joyful community of hope? To be a part of what God is doing in this world? To be part of a mission team with your family? To have a safe place where you can invite friends and neighbors? To see the transforming work of God’s grace in the lives of those you love? To become all that God wants you to be?


Did you say yes to any of these? Then this new church might be the place for you!: Did you say yes to any of these? Then this new church might be the place for you!


Now what are the next steps?: Now what are the next steps? Be in prayer. Join one of our prayer groups. Fill out a three-by-five card. Be in prayer for our next informational meeting.


Where are we in the process?: Where are we in the process? Vision Acts 1:8 Leadership Team Acts 1:12-13 Prayer Meetings Acts 1:14 Grand Opening Acts 2:1-13 Relevant Preaching Acts 2:14-38 Forming a Biblical Community Acts 2:38-47 Becoming An Antioch Acts 13:1-3 Conception Prenatal Birth Growth/Maturity Reproduction Church Planting Life Cycle