Church Planting

The book of Acts opens with the writer, probably Luke, picking up the story of the Church as Christ talks to His disciples. He is preparing to ascend into Heaven after His crucifixion, resurrection, and spending 40 days being seen of the Apostles – according to verse 3. He now has one thing left to say to them.

Let's pick up reading in verse 6.

Acts 1:6-9 6 When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel? 7 And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power. 8 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. 9 And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight.

As Jesus leaves earth to return to Heaven, He leaves a command, what we call the "Great Commission," with His men. We, the Church, are charged to fulfill this commandment. We are to be witnesses in Jerusalem – our community, Judaea – our country, Samaria – our continent, and the uttermost part of the earth – the regions beyond.

The question now becomes, HOW? Do we just tell them and forget them? Do we just put the Bible in their language and hope they get it? Do we do "home groups" and "small groups" and let everyone "do that which is right in his own eyes?"

We can go back and read of the great revivals of the past, the Welsh revivals, the Great Awakening, the D. L. Moody revivals, the Billy Sunday revivals, and others. What we do not see from these is, and I am not discounting them, is lasting effects of seeing hundreds and thousands of churches still around today.

So, the question comes, "what is the importance of church planting here in America or anywhere else on earth?

I want to try to answer that by looking at a few things about the Church (the physical building that we gather in) and what it does.

I. The Purpose of the Church

A. A Place of Encouragement Hebrews 10:24-25 24 And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: 25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

Exhorting: Inciting to good deeds by words or arguments; encouraging; counseling. Webster 1828

One believer will encourage help, and stimulate another believer to evidence the fruit of a saved life. It is no part of the Christian life to willfully "go it alone." Christians need the help to be derived from each other's fellowship. Phillips Exploring Hebrews

B. A Place of Edification 1 Thessalonians 5:11-13 11 Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do. 12 And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you; 13 And to esteem them very highly in love for their work's sake. And be at peace among yourselves.

Edifying: Building up in Christian knowledge; instructing; improving the mind. Webster 1828

1 Corinthians 14:12 Even so ye, forasmuch as ye are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek that ye may excel to the edifying of the Church.

No matter what else you do and what gifts you have, use it to edify those around you.

When Handel's oratorio of the Messiah (where the Halleluiah Chorus comes from) had won the admiration of many of the great, Lord Kinnoul took occasion to pay him some compliments on the noble entertainment he had given the town. "My lord," said the composer, "I should be sorry if I only entertained them: I wish to make them better." It is to be feared that many speechmakers at public meetings could not say as much; and yet how dare any of us waste the time of our fellow immortals in mere amusing talk! If we have nothing to speak to edification, how much better to hold our tongue. (C. H. Spurgeon.)

C. A Place of Correction II Timothy 4:1-2 1 I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; 2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.

Part of a Pastor's job is to reprove and to rebuke of sin, the primary place that a Pastor does his job in THE CHRUCH!

II. The Authority of the Church Matthew 16:15-18 15 He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? 16 And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. 17 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. 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.

I understand that Jesus is referring to the Church as a whole here, but I want to make an application here, if I can, to the local body of believers.

Philemon 1:2 And to our beloved Apphia, and Archippus our fellowsoldier, and to the Church in thy house:

The word for Church in both of these verses and over and over in your New Testament is ekklēsia (ek-klay-see'-ah). It means a "calling out." In fact, except for Acts 19:37, every time the word church or churches is found in your KJV, it is this word ekklēsia. In Acts 19:37, it is hierosulos (hee-er-os'-oo-los), which means robber of churches, so it is actually referring to someone outside of the Church.

In Revelation, God repeatedly refers to "the angel of the church of…" when giving a message to a group of believers.

Let's take the first mention principle and look at the man that is over the local Church, the Pastor. We go all the way back to Jeremiah 2:8 The priests said not, Where is the LORD? and they that handle the law knew me not: the pastors also transgressed against me, and the prophets prophesied by Baal, and walked after things that do not profit.

Jeremiah 3:15 And I will give you pastors according to mine heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding.

Now, I know we are in the Old Testament here, so let's look at the word's meaning to see if we are still teaching and preaching New Testament church doctrine.

Pastor: râ‛âh raw-aw' - A primitive root; to tend a flock, that is, pastureit.

Ephesians 4:11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;

This is THE ONLY TIME the word pastor appears in your New Testament.

Pastors: poimēn poy-mane' - a shepherd (literally or figuratively): - shepherd, Pastor.

So, according to what we can see here, the Pastor has authority going all the way back to Jeremiah over 2,500 years ago! So, of necessity, the "church," a local group of believers, who are charged to reach the world for Christ, have the same authority.

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CLOSING:

How do we fulfill the Great Commission? Can we all go to Idaho, Maine, Florida, California, Japan, Russia, China, England, Australia, Mexico, Italy? No!!!!!!!!!!! How we do, it is through sending men, to plant churches, to reach those areas for Christ!