Planting Missional Churches by Ed Stetzer

Church Planting & Church Growth(Material from Ed Stetzer book previously entitled Planting New Churches in a Postmodern Age)

Biblical Basis for Church Planting

Paul was personally prepared for his church planting ministry

Paul was an evangelistPaul was an entrepreneurial leaderPaul was a team playerPaul was a flexible, risk-taking pioneerPaul care for peoplePaul empowered other (equipper)Sacrificial ministryPaul was willing to change plans at God’s

guidance

Models of Church Plants

The Apostolic Harvest Church PlanterParadigm

Starts churches, raises up leaders from the harvest, moves to new church

Biblical ModelPaul

Historic/Modern ExampleChurch circuit ridersHouse church movementNetworks of house churches

Models of Church Plants

The Apostolic Harvest Church PlanterPrinciples:

Planter/Evangelist initiates and leaves leadership in place

Planter moves on with core group to another church plant.

Evangelist may or may not be classically educated.

Churches may provide core for each new congregation.

Models of Church Plants

The Apostolic Harvest Church Planter

PreacherPreacher Preacher

Planter & New Core Planter & New Core

Planter

Preacher may work with other churches

Models of Church Plants

The Founding Evangelist Planted Evangelist Entrepreneurial Planter

Founding Evangelist

Models of Church Plants

The Founding EvangelistParadigm

Starts a church as planter & remains as evangelist in new church

Biblical ModelPeter at Jerusalem church

Historic/Modern ExampleCharles SpurgeonRick Warren (Purpose Driven Church)

Models of Church Plants

The Founding Evangelist

Principles:Planter starts and pastors the church long

term.Evangelist often moves from another

location.Evangelist often classically education.New church taught to sponsor new church.

Models of Church Plants

The Planted Evangelist (type of Founding Evangelist)

Planted Evangelist

Models of Church Plants

The Planted EvangelistPrinciples:

Organization and vision for new church usually external – from an apostolic church planter, mother church, or denominational leadership.

Planted pastor usually has a shepherding heart with administrative ability but not a church planter’s gift mix.

Planted evangelist by definition does no leave but stays long term.

Planted evangelist is usually classically educate and comes from outside the congregation.

Models of Church Plants

The Entrepreneurial Planter

Models of Church Plants

The Entrepreneurial Planter

Principles: Enjoy the challenge of starting churches but are often

bored by pastoring the same church long term but generally not attracted to the apostolic method because they love pastoring.

Often leaves before the congregation is “formalized” (three years).

Often classically educated and comes from outside the congregation but may avoid education because of boredom.

Planter may sponsor new churches.

Models of Church Plants

The Church Planter Team

ConsensusDecision Method

LeaderDecision Method

Models of Church Plants

Planter TeamParadigm

A group of planters relocates into an area to start a church. Often the team has a senior pastor.

Biblical ModelPaul

Historic/Modern ExampleMissionaries at IonaTeam church

Models of Church Plants

Planter TeamPrinciples:

A team forms in, or relocates to, a specific area to plant a new church.

Church planting vision often comes from one key member of the team.

Good teams have a gift mix.Team may amicably split up the mother

church into multiple daughter churches or become traditional staff members of the founded church.

Models of Church Plants

Team Plants

Models of Church Plants

Team Plants

Church Planters

Who can plant churches?Teams IndividualsLaypeopleAgenciesChurches

Church Planters

Church Multiplication

Church Planters

Mother Church

Church Planters

Church Planter Assessed

Church Planters

Church Planter Assessment Ed Stetzer

S.H.A.P.E. Spiritual gifts: Gifts of ministry given by the Holy

Spirit Heart of passion: A burden to establish an outreach

toward a specific people group, in a particular location, or through a specific type of ministry

Abilities: Entrepreneurial talents useful in planting Personality type: Analysis of personality type often

appearing in church planters Experiences: Tools for describing experiences to help

the planter understand when, where, and how to plant a church

Church Planters

Ridley’s Assessment CategoriesVisionizing Capacity

The ability to envision the potential future, persuade other to work toward the dream to bring the vision to reality

Intrinsically Motivated Approaches ministry as a self-starter with strong

work ethic and determined mind to fulfill vision

Creates Ownership of Ministry Instills in others a sense of personal responsibility for

growth and success in ministry and trains leaders to reproduce

Church Planters

Ridley’s Assessment CategoriesRelates to the Unchurched

Develops rapport and overcomes barriers with the unchurched to influence the toward a personal relationship with God

Spousal Cooperation Couple agree on ministry priorities, their roles, and

integration of ministry and family life

Effectively Builds Relationships Takes initiative developing relationships toward

ministry goals

Church Planters

Ridley’s Assessment CategoriesCommitted to Church Growth

Values congregational development for spiritual, relational, and numerical growth.

Responsiveness to the Community Ability to adjust ministry to the culture and the needs

of the target people.

Utilizes Giftedness of Others Equips and releases other people to minister on the

basis of their spiritual gifts.

Church Planters

Ridley’s Assessment CategoriesFlexible and Adaptable

Ability to adjust to change and ambiguity, shift priorities when necessary, and handle multiple tasks at the same time.

Builds Group Cohesiveness One who enables the group to collaborate to

accomplish ministry goals while managing divisiveness and disunifying elements.

Church Planters

Ridley’s Assessment CategoriesDemonstrates Resilience

Ability to sustain oneself emotionally, spiritually, and physically through stresses and failures.

Exercises Faith Translates personal conviction into personal and

ministry decisions and positive actions.

Church Planters

Wrong Reasons to be a Church PlanterA strong desire to preach but no

opportunitiesFrustrated where you are because you are

not able to do what you wantNo invitation to be a minister of a churchOut to prove something.Need to get some experience in ministerial

skills

Church Planters

Proposed Schedule & ResponsibilitiesEvangelistic Outreach – 15 hours per week

(bivocational – 3 hours)Sermon & Study Preparation – 10 hours

per week (bivocational – 2 hours)Administration – 10 hours per week

(bivocational – 2 hours)Ministry – 15 hours per week (bivocational

– 3 hours)

Church Planters

Personal AdjustmentsCulture FatigueTeam FatigueRelational DemandsNetwork of Support

Accountability (Supervisor)Mentor Assistance

Church Planters

Supervisor - Accountability

Church Planters

Mentor Meetings

Key Ministers in Church Plant

Evangelist (Pastor)Worship LeaderPreschool Children’s MinisterAssimilation CoordinatorEvangelism NetworkerSpiritual Gift MobilizerWelcome coordinatorFinancial Organizer