Theological Foundations of Churchplanting

What is the Biblical basis?

What will enable a lifetime of meaning and struggle to see communities of love and faith formed in the midst of poverty?

Viv Grigg

Urban Leadership Foundation

Foundational Principles of the Universe Nothing matches the thrill of entering a

community, preaching the gospel, seeking people converted, transformed, the community changed. Why?

In the Beginning the King He rules over all. His kingdom knows no end He is father. The universe is built around the

infusion of fatherhood (motherhood) in the very nature of matter

The King is Community

The universe is based on the expansion of community the center of meaning is love multiplied Churchplanting is the structuring of the

multiplication of love The King communicates - the universe is built on

the everlasting Word Churchplanting is the creation of contexts for the

decadal proclamation of the word The Word creates life

The word is the cause of structure (3 days of form, 3 days of life)

The word is the cause of ever-expanding life

The One Who is Central to the Universe

What did Jesus the apostle come to do? (Mark 1:15) What did he call his apostles to train in? (Mark 3:14)

Rapid evangelism, the preaching power is the central motif Structuring the fruit of this is the pastoral responsibility Jesus focus was on relationships not the cult

the literature on churchplanting focuses on gathering for cultic ceremonies.

How did he handle the structural vs life-giving relational dynamics?

Did he plant churches? No! Our task is to build mission teams around which ministering communities develop. Church structure is a secondary result.

Foundations in the Parables The Kingdom(Word) is to be planted

(Matt 13:3-8) The Parable of the Sower

The Kingdom seeks the lost (Matt 18:12-14) The Lost sheep

The Kingdom(Word) will multiply Parable of the Mustard Seed (Matt

13:31-32) Parable of Yeast (13:33)

The Holy Spirit, Kingdom and Church Nicodemus may enter the Kingdom through

rebirth Matt 10:1-10 The anointing of the Spirit is

prerequisite for preaching Acts 2, 4 The baptisim of the Spirit is the cause

of the first church The book of the Acts of the Spirit shows the

centrality of the Spirit in church formation For I know that whatever God does endures

forever, nothing can be added to it, or taken from it. God has made it so in order that men should fear before him (Ecc 3:14)

The Apostle and Ethnic Community Structures

Churchplanting concepts are usually modelled on what Paul did small, geographic, eldership, deacons,

Why did Paul plant synagogue forms of church? What structural forms convert easily today? Web-based, gang-based, or community-based

churches? Which fits?

Holistic Churchplanting Holism with a big O is not the Biblical model

Transformation is not the Biblical call, but discipleship that leads to transformation (Matt 28:18-20

Evangelism (Preaching the Kingdom) is the directionality of the O Evangelism in the context of holism, not holistic projects is

the call (Luke 4:18,19) Jesus dealt with the centralities - the spiritualities

It is important but derivative to seek transformation of social structures

C.S. Lewis talks of his secondary role as a cultural transformer to the apostles who deal with the inner conversion and spirituality of the culture.