Henry Vosburgh Midwest Church Extension IFCA International IL, IN, IA, KY, OH, WI 13 Plants Active Introduction to Church Planting

I.Why Plant Churches? A. Foundation Considerations (Session 1) B. Crucial Preparations (Session 2) II. What Is Church Planting? (Session 3) III. How to Plant Churches A. A Personal Model (Session 4) B. A Practical Strategy (Session 5) C. A Pointed Approach (Session 6)

I. Why Plant Churches A. Foundational Considerations 1. Theological Consideration Chafer -- “It is most certain that the purpose of the present age is the out-gathering of the Church….” “… That the outcalling of the Church is the primary, divine objective in this dispensation.”

a. Purpose of the Program – Eph. 2:19-22 “Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God; And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.”

b. Pronouncement of the Program – Matt. 16:18 “And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” c. Prayer for the Program – John 17:20-24 “Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me….”

d. Period of the Program – Acts 1:8, 2:1ff; Eph. 4:13 “Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ” “Likewise, the believer's ministry of soul-winning and edification of the body of Christ continues, not forever, but ‘till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man….’ The ‘stature of the fullness of Christ’ does not refer to the development of Christlike men, but rather to the development of the body of Christ to its completion (Eph. 1:22-23).” – Chafer (as revised by Walvoord)

e. Participants in the Program – Eph. 4:11-13; 1 Cor. 3:9-10 “For we are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building. According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon.”

In the purpose, we see that every church planted is a new localized involvement in the divine purpose of God. In the pronouncement, we see that every church planted is a new localized expression of the work Christ Himself anticipated. In the prayer, we see that every church planted is a new localized reflection of Christ’s prayer to the Father being answered. In the period, we see that every church planted is a new localized progression toward the fulfillment of God’s program for this age. In the participants, we see that every church planted is a new localized embodiment of the means by which God determines to complete his program.

2. Practical Considerations a. We have a divine commission. – John 20:21; Acts 1:8 “Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.” “But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.”

b. We have a scriptural pattern. Acts 2:41 – 3,000 “added” Acts 2:47 – “added daily” Acts 4:4 – 5,000 “added” Acts 5:14 – “more added” Acts 6:7 – “multiplied” Acts 9:31 – “churches … were multiplied” Acts 16:5 – “churches increased daily”

c. We have a reasonable appeal. i. God’s Pleasure v. God’s Displeasure ii. Reward v. Shame iii. Extension v. Isolation iv. Vibrancy v. Atrophy