Church planting—What is it?

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?

Church planting is the term generally used when people speak of starting a new local church. Church planting can include a variety of expressions, ranging from home church movements, traditional church plants, contemporary or missional church planting, or cross-cultural church planting in one's own nation or internationally. Church planting is ultimately about establishing new local congregations to share the good news of Christ and nurture believers in their faith. Church planters reach new people and build new core communities, allowing them to flourish in their own way. Church planting is an expression of evangelism, discipleship, and multiplication, helping the body of Christ expand both in depth and reach.

FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT

• The Old Testament doesn’t mention church planting directly because local congregations, as we know them, didn’t exist yet. However, it provides principles that help us understand God’s pattern for forming and sustaining faithful communities. For example, God calls people into covenant communities—Israel was a chosen nation set apart for God’s purposes, with defined roles, shared responsibilities, and communal worship (Exodus 19:5–6; Leviticus 23).
• Leaders like Moses, Joshua, and the judges were appointed to guide, teach, and protect the people (Exodus 18:13–27; Deuteronomy 34:9). Church planting similarly requires godly leadership to shepherd and teach a new congregation.
• The Levites and priests were supported by offerings from the people (Numbers 18:21–24), showing the importance of providing for those devoted to ministry—an essential principle in starting and sustaining churches today.

FROM THE NEW TESTAMENT

• The apostle Paul was one of the first church planters. He established at least twenty new churches throughout his ministry to the Gentiles. Paul often began by sharing the good news with Jews in the synagogue, then reaching out to both Jews and Gentiles in homes. Many of Paul's New Testament writings were to the churches he helped to begin, including 1 and 2 Thessalonians. For example, 1 Thessalonians 1:8 shares, "For not only has the word of the Lord sounded forth from you in Macedonia and Achaia, but your faith in God has gone forth everywhere, so that we need not say anything." This new church quickly grew to impact those in their community and beyond. Those who plant churches pray and work toward a similar goal, hoping to help reach new believers, develop them in Christian maturity, and involve their members in actions to help reach even more with the good news of Christ.

IMPLICATIONS FOR TODAY

Church planting is often seen as an expression of evangelism and missionary work. The process of starting a new church typically involves one or more members from an existing church who support an outreach to a new group of people. A core group is then formed who are involved in reaching out through evangelism, community service, and other means to gather new believers and unchurched believers to regular gatherings.

Many church plants must initially begin in temporary facilities. These can range from schools to renting existing church buildings at alternative times to utilizing other community spaces for worship services. Some, though not all, church plants eventually obtain more permanent facilities and become an established church in the community.

A church plant grows to full maturity when it grows into a regular gathering of believers and then multiplies to start additional churches and ministries. When functioning properly, the church is an organism, rather than only an organization, growing and multiplying to make disciples in a variety of ways.

UNDERSTAND

• Church planting starts new local congregations to share the gospel and disciple believers.
• Church planting requires godly leadership, committed community, and support for those serving in ministry.
• Modern church plants begin with outreach and core communities, aiming to grow into mature, multiplying churches.

REFLECT

• How could you personally contribute to starting or supporting a new church?
• How are you currently involved in discipling others or helping a local congregation grow in faith?
• How does your understanding of the importance of communal faith affect the way you participate in a church body?

ENGAGE

• What is the importance of church planting?
• What practical steps can we take to reach unchurched people in our area?
• How can we ensure that new church plants remain spiritually healthy while growing and multiplying?