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Ruminating with JCD on planning

a church plant

A church and its’ people do theology in three ways . . .

They Glorify God,

They win the lost, and

Develop the found…

A church holds doctrine

DOES theology

is community

The Biblical Journey into church life . . .

Becoming part of a Christian community or church is the natural outcome of a three-stage journey, described by “3 B’s”Belong – experience an acceptance that lets you “come-as-you-are” into the group, then

Believe – establish a Biblical faith centred in Jesus, and

Behave – develop a Biblical life style as an outcome of acceptance and growing personal faith in Jesus

Pastoral and teaching leadership . . .

How would you fill the picture? What would be the credentials

that would inspire people to participate with you? How would

you serve the vision, renew the workers and fulfil the Biblical

purposes in a planting enterprise? Do you have enough

equipping, ministry-formation education to match your

perceived anointing?

What makes a church a church?

A Church is, a growing group of the People of God who have come into relationship thorough a personal experience of regeneration in Jesus Christ

(John 3:36; Romans 1:18; 5:9; Galatians 2:16ff; Ephesians 2:19).

Jesus who provided the ground of regeneration- reconciliation through His death, burial and resurrection (Romans 3:24; 5:9; Titus 3:7; Hebrews 9:22), is the foundation (Ephesians 2:20-22) and head of the Church (Ephesians 1:22-23).

Those who have been regenerated are made part of the Church by the work of the Holy Spirit (I Corinthians 12:13; Ephesians 2:18) through whom they are sealed for the day of final redemption (Ephesians 1:14).

The place of formal beliefs or doctrines . . .

Formal beliefs or doctrines should be characterised by being essential, minimal and missional . . .

EssentialEssential

Who is God?

What is the Bible?

Who is Jesus and what has He done?

Who am I and how do I grow as a Christian?

MinimalMinimal

What God wants and why we are here?

MissionalMissional

How can we be God’s people in the earth and effect our world?

A church does what God calls its’ people to do . . .

While a church exists to glorify God, win the lost and develop the found – that’s the “general what” it does. Each local church has both a “specific what,” and a “working how” based on the giftedness and ministering community of its actual people.

Church life, mission and relationships beyond Sunday . . .

Being the People of God in our society,

Developing cells and relationships to support each other in life and winning / discipling new followers of Jesus,

Building vision, missional lifestyle, and functioning in Global missions involvements,

Providing pastoral and life care,

Participating in experiences of corporate worship and Christian celebration, and

Experiencing Biblical equipping based on personal and corporate giftedness.