A Brief Biblical Theology of Church Planting
From The Acts of the Apostles
Learning Objectives
1. The students will be able to explain how the first church started and grew.
2. The students will be able to explain five principles from Acts that will help their church grow.
3. The students will share how Paul’s evangelistic methods can improve their own church planting efforts.
Introduction - Before someone begins to plant a church it is wise to examine the origins of church planting from Acts. One wise man has said, ``If you want to study something, begin with its origins.’’ In this lesson we want to ask the Lord’s help in examining the origins, nature, aims, Biblical commands, and methods of the apostles first century church planting.
I. How The First Church Planting Movements Came About in Jerusalem (Acts 1:1-6:7)
A. Jesus gave His apostles their job descriptions along with their source of power when He told them in Acts l:8: ``But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and in Samaria and to the ends of the earth.’’
B. In Acts 1:14 & Acts 2:42 & Acts 4:24 we see that the apostles began with group prayer. ``These all with one mind were continually devoting themselves to prayer.’’
Example - Recently, missionaries attempted to start a church in a large city, but were unsuccessful. After many weeks of prayer, fasting, Bible study, and discussions, the people tried something new. Rather than witnessing to the people directly they would do it indirectly. The remembered the verse in Zech 3:17 which said,
``Not by power or by might, but by my Spirit, says the Lord!’’
The next morning, the leaders believed they had discovered the one barrier inhibiting people in that city from accepting Christ-- pride! They believed that their shyness was due to a lack of faith, satanic forces, and some of their own pride. Realizing that pride goes before destruction, the missionaries felt that the only way to overcome pride was through a sign of humility.
Through the Spirit’s guidance, all the missionaries went to the center of the town to pray. Instead, of praying standing up, they knelt down on their knees before everyone! They were not praying meaningless repetitions like some might. Believing God would use their prayers, the evangelists prayed for the salvation of the souls in the city. At first, few people stopped to listen to their prayers. By mid-day, several hundred were listening. By 2:00 P.M., thousands filled the streets of the capital to learn what these missionaries were praying about.
The results came immediately. Within weeks several new churches were formed to accommodate the needs of hundreds of converts. Newspapers all over the area ran exclusive reports on these courageous missionaries. Soon, many were filled with the awareness of the good news of Jesus Christ - ``By Prayer!’’ (SIM’s MOTTO!)
C. The leaders stayed filled with the Holy Spirit’s controlling influence throughout their ministries. They did not lapse into apathy, laziness, back-sliding, fighting, or distractive pursuits like getting money for themselves. Acts 2:4 says, . . . ``they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak.’’ They celebrated and praised God despite hardships. (Acts 4:21)
D. The apostles spoke boldly for Jesus, In Acts 14:3 we learn that the apostles, ``spoke boldly with reliance upon the Lord.’’
E. They prayed together for boldness, courage, and strength to witness. (Acts 4:29)
Example - One church in Korea called the Yoido Full Gospel Church in Seoul consistently gather 10,000 people together for prayer. It is no small wonder that theirs is the largest church in the world (Local church) with 500,000 members in one church!!!
F. We must teach our people to pray sacrificially in homes, in churches, through fasting, through our families, and with our neighbors. More churches have been started through prayer than any other single means!
G. The leaders and church planters knew, preached, and taught the word of God. (Acts 2:14-36; 3:11-26;) Do not think that your church will be any stronger than the leaders knowledge, teaching, and preaching of the scriptures.
H. The leaders had faith to believe in Christ’s power over all things, peoples, problems, enemies, and hindrances to the growth of the church. (Acts 4:5-13)
I. The leaders actively took responsibility for dealing with problems in the young church. (Acts 5:1-11) . . . ``But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.’’ They delegated responsibilities to deacons.
J. The church planters stressed contextualization (Putting the message in a language, cultural framework, and in terms that they people could understand) of the message.
1). Acts 2:8-11 and I Cor. 9:22,23 we learn how the apostles were given the ability to become all things to all men.
2). These abilities sometimes came through language acquisitions, cultural adjustments, wearing appropriate clothing, learning to eat the foods of other people. adjusting the message to other world views (Perceptions of reality, experiences, truth, beliefs, values, behaviors, and emotions)
K. The whole church devoted themselves to the apostles teaching, to fellowship, (Sharing things in common-koinonia) to the breaking of bread ,(Communion, eating together, and declaration of their fellowship with God through Christ) and to prayer! Acts 2:42
Example - In the summer of 1988, two Jos Seminary students helped start two new churches in Bauchi town with the help of lay people. Convinced that God could use them despite the fact that they had not had Bible school training, the lay men worked with the seminary students to start a prayer meeting in their homes. Starting small the groups soon grew to 50 & 125 people. Pastor, need to make more used of their lay people in church planting!
L. The devotion, unity, and wisdom exercised by the first church caused them to find favor with those around them who admired their faith. Many of these observes in turn became Christians and joined the church. (Acts 2:47; 5:13)
M. Church discipline was dealt seriously on those who threatened the unity of the early church. (Acts 5:1-11)
Example - One Pastor, who bribed his way out of church discipline for taking a secret second wife, had his sin discovered 22 years after the fact. It seemed he had co-opted help from leaders in his D.C.C. for 22 years to keep his secret hidden. Finally, the allegations were proven true! ``Be sure your dins will find you out!’’ (Numb 32;23)
N. Jesus Christ, His person and His work were always the center of the early church’s ministry and message. (Acts 2:22-36; 3:12-26; 4:8-12; 5:17-32,42)
II. How the Early Church Was Planted in Judea (6:8-9:31)
A. Persecution caused the church to scatter from Jerusalem, except the apostles, throughout Judea and Samaria. (Acts 8:1)
Example - After the church burning incidents in Kafanchan, Zaria, and Kano in March of 1987, the church grew both quantitatively and qualitatively. What the Muslims thought would diminish Christianity in Nigeria, actually made it stronger! Not only did C.A.N. helped raise 60 million naira in Kaduna, but millions of people saw the church as their place of refuge, strength, and comfort in difficult times. God can turn a tragedy into a triumph for His kingdom and His purposes! (Psa. 107:33-43)
B. The expansion of the church came only after God saw that the church was mature enough to withstand the tests. (I Cor. 10:13)
C. The leaders knew the Old Testament and the teachings of Christ very well. They faithfully taught all they knew about Christ, the Old Testament, and the truths given to them by the Holy Spirit to instruct the people. (Acts 7:1-53)
D. Peter had to recognize, through the vision of the food in the sheet and from his visit by Cornelius, that God wanted His church planted in all people’s land, tribes, and language groups.
Example - There are about 17,500 people groups in the world. 5,100 of those groups are yet unreached with the gospel. God is still saying to us, ``Who shall I send and who will go for us?’’ Are you going to answer like Isaiah did? ``Here am I Lord send me!’’ (Isa. 6:6-8)
E. The church knew that those who were scattered could start new churches, evangelize, and teach themselves. They looked at their hardships as opportunities from God. (Acts 8:4)
Example - During hard times many people turn to the Lord for help. Nigeria’s peoples will increasingly have to depend on God in these difficult days. The opportunities for evangelism, church planting, and church growth have never been better. Jesus is still saying to Nigeria. ``Do not say in four months and then the harvest! I tell you open your eyes and look at the fields for they are ripe for the harvest!!! (John 4:35)
F. Christ remained the center of their ministry and message. (Acts 8:5,12,35,40)
G. When the church heard that Samaria had accepted the gospel, they sent special missionaries to them in the persons of Peter and John (Acts 8:14)
H. The missionaries did not act as intruders, but as supporters, encouragers, people who were interested in the people’s culture, and those willing to offer prayer for all concerns. (Acts 8:14-25)
Example - One missionary could not seem to get the people’s attention. Finally, he decided, he would go to the chief to ask permission to pray publicly for the people’s maize, beans, and guinea corn crops. The chief, somewhat skeptical, feared what might happen, if the missionary’s God was displeased, so he reluctantly told the missionary to go ahead!
When the missionary had all the people gathered around, he prayed for one hour for each crop. He named each farmer, each field, each crop, and each need specifically. Asking God for rain, for good sunshine, for protection from insects, and good health for the farmers, the missionary made a big dedication service for the people’s farming needs. By the end of the harvest, the people were amazed that their yields were twice the amounts they had ever had before. As a result of the missionary’s faith, the people soon gave attention to the missionary’s message. Eventually, where there had never been a church before, a new one began!!
I. When false teachers, leaders, or prophets (Simon the sorcerer) threatened the purity of the church, the apostles protected the church from those who were seeking a name for themselves. (Acts 8:9-24)
J. Leaders (laymen like Philip), who had not received special training, took initiative to lead, teach, and direct the church. (Acts 8:5-25) We must teach lay people how to lead the church along with the Pastor. We must also teach them not to resist the leadership that God has called to that local church.
K. The leaders did not smother, dominate, or stifle the growth of the church by being overbearing to the people. (Acts 8:14-25)
L. God opened doors for the people to share their faith with throughout the country. (Acts 8:26-32)
M. God’s plan could not be hindered. ``Wane ne zai hana bishara.’’ (Acts 1:8 & Psa. 33:11)
III. How The Church Was Started in Antioch (9:32-12:24)
A. God’s sovereignty worked through the godly, but sometimes stubborn people, to plant the church where the believers were called Christians. (Acts 10:9-22, 11:1-3, 18, 19-22)
B. The prejudices, bigotry, tribalism, and exclusive separatism were gradually removed from the first church. (Acts 10:9-22, 28; 11:1-3, 18, 19-22)
C. God convicted Cornelius about seeking Christ. From Cornelius visit to Peter, a new gentile church was born. (Acts 17:24-27) God is working on millions of men’s hearts who are waiting for missionaries to tell them how to be saved and start a church in their area!!!
D. The Lord’s hand was with those who were evangelizing the lost. From this a great number of people believed and turned to serve Christ. (Acts 11:21)
E. The lay people were just as important as trained leaders in starting new churches. (Acts 11:19-24)
F. God chose Antioch (At the time a wicked city)as the place where He chose to develop His church, His missionaries, and His leaders. (Acts 11:26) Paul and Barnabas met with the people in Antioch for one whole year teaching them. It was then the church of Antioch that sent out the first missionaries full-time!
1). Teach young men to be actively involved in service in their local churches before they think about becoming a missionary.
2). Be sure that a local church confirms a person’s calling, gifts, and abilities before they are sent as missionaries!
G. Follow-up through the ministry of Barnabas, allowed many young Christians to grow to maturity. (Acts 11:25,26)
Example - Perhaps, one of the weakest areas of most missions work is the follow-up ministries of new converts. Concerned that many of his converts were not getting proper follow-up, Dr. Billy Graham, asked Dawson Trotman, founder of the Navigator, to create a follow-up ministry. Within 10 years, the number of converts at the Graham crusades who became active members of churches rose from 3% to 16%! Let us learn to not only lead people to Christ, but to make sure they know how to pray, study their Bible, witness, disciple others, use their gifts, serve in the church, and lead their families in spiritual growth! (Eph. 4:12-16)
H. The leaders worked at their own jobs of tent-making while they were seeking to teach the people. (Acts 11:23-26)
I. People participated in meeting fellow Christians needs. (Acts 11:26-30)
IV. How The Church Was Planted in Asia Minor (Acts 12:25-16:5)
A. Paul and Barnabas were commissioned, supported, and sent off by the local church. (Acts 13:1-3)
B. The missionaries went out under the power of the Holy Spirit. (Acts 13:4)
C. The missionaries left behind a mature church that they had helped established. (Acts 13:1-3)
D. The missionaries preached the gospel, taught and strengthened new believers, and eventually appointed elders to take over the church. (Acts 13:1-14:28)
E. Occasionally, the missionaries were sent back to their local churches (Furloughs) for the re-newing of their strength, vision, and physical needs) (Acts 14;26-28)
F. Consistently, the Lord knocked down obstacles from their paths to allow them to start new churches. (Acts 14:27)
G. The missionaries shared information with one another. (Acts 15:6-29)
H. Evaluations were done often to assess the missionaries effectiveness. (Acts 15:6-10)
I. God’s word was the recognized criteria for judging their successes or their shortcomings. (II Tim. 3:16,17)
J. The missionaries were united in mind, intent on one purpose, striving together for faith in the gospel. (Phil. 2:1,2)
K. In difficult issues of culture, the leaders looked at the important scriptural principles that must be followed. Non-essential tasks were delegated to others (I.E. The waiting of tables) (Acts 15:20,23, 5:1-11;16:3; Gal. 2:3-5) Learn to separate the essentials from the non-essential activities of a missionary.
L. The missionaries did not wish for their converts to turn their new freedoms into opportunities for sin. (Gal. 5:13)
M. The missionaries were not just content to lead people to Christ and leave them on their own to grow. Instead, the missionaries follow-up the new converts. (Acts 15:36-40)
N. The leaders wanted to train other faithful men who be able to start new churches, teach others, and also become missionaries to new unreached peoples. (II Tim. 2:2)
Example - Teaching in a Bible school offers great opportunities for teaching faithful men who will be able to teach others also. Through SIM’s fields, the single most successful method of training spiritual leaders for the church have come through their Bible schools, Bible colleges, and seminaries.
V. How the Church Began in the Aegean Area (Acts 16:6-19:20)
A. After Paul and Barnabas had a sharp disagreement over John Mark, they split company. Paul took Silas and went to Syria and Cilicia while Barnabas took Mark and sailed for Cyprus. (Acts 15:37-41)
B. Paul went to new areas like Derbe and Lystra where he did evangelism with the purposes of starting new churches. (Acts 16:1)
C. Paul showed initiative, aggressiveness, and innovations in beginning new churches. (Acts 16:6,7) It is not enough to just do what we are told by our leaders. We must listen to God in doing all that we can in evangelizing new areas.
D. Observe those church planters, missionaries, and evangelists who are most fruitful and model your ministry from theirs. (Heb. 13:7)
Example - Abel Kantoma, a Tangale by tribe, has helped plant 24 churches in his life. He is know training 8 church planters, through a branch Bible school in Yola-Jimeta of Gongola State. We must learn from people like Abel, how to maximize our effectiveness in church planting!
E. Missionaries, like Paul, were sensitive to God who occasionally changed Paul’s plans. (Acts 16:6-40)
F. Paul adapted his message to suit the needs of his hearers:
1). To those who knew the scriptures Paul showed skills in:
a). In preaching (17:2)
b). In going to where he knew he would be listened to. (17:2)
c). In reasoning with people through the Old Testament and the prophetic passages about Christ. (17:2-4)
2). To those who did not know the scriptures Paul showed the following skills: (17:16-34)
a). In researching and studying their culture. (v. 22,23)
b). In showing respect for other’s viewpoints. (v. 22,23)
c). In starting with the points he had in common with the people. (v. 23)
d). In sharing the truth in love and carefully correcting their thinking. (v. 24-31)
e). In quoting from their forefathers and histories. (v. 28)
f). In challenging them to respond to Christ. (v. 30,31)
Example - One young man adapted his language to suit youths in his evangelism. When others could not communicate to young people, he lead over 5,000 youths to Christ, by adapting his message to their culture, their needs, their verbal expressions, and their world views!
G. Those who accepted Christ were those who heard the word, understood it, applied it themselves personally, believed it message, and publicly professed Christ. (I Thes. 2:13; Acts 16:14,32,34; 17:4,12)
H. No opposition caught God unaware. Paul learned to use every obstacle as a springboard for furthering the cause of Christ. (18:9-11)
I. Despite the fact that Paul felt fear, he moved ahead with evangelism and church planting. (18:5-9)
J. Paul did not consider his life as important as long as he could preach Christ. (Acts 20:24)
Example - One evangelist in Ethiopia knew the penalty for preaching the gospel in the open, but he persisted. The authorities arrested the man, tortured him, and falsely accused him of espionage! That Pastor spent 10 years in a dirty prison for his faith! Are you willing to carry your cross for Jesus Christ, even into prison, if necessary?
K. The giving of certain believers eventually allowed Paul to be a full-time evangelist, teacher, writer, and church planter. (Acts 18:5; II Cor. 11:9; Phil. 4:15; II Cor 8 & 9)
L. We should encourage church members to give generously to missions, evangelism, and church planting. Churches should have separate budget allocations for missionary support! (Phil. 4:19)
M. Paul corrected any improper interpretations of scriptures before they perverted the church. (Acts 18:24; 19:10)
N. The early church in Ephesus dealt seriously with any secret societies quickly and surely. (Acts 18:17-19)
VI. How Paul’s Life Characterized a Model Church Planter! (Acts 19:21-28:31)
A. Paul endured great persecution when he challenged the world’s system. (Acts 19:23-41) Missionaries should be prepared for hardships, persecutions, and misunderstandings.
B. Paul spent many years of his life strengthening, encouraging, and building the faith of the believers in the church that he helped start. It is not enough to start a church. A missionary must help strengthen the church. A missionary must help see the church grow qualitatively and quantitatively. (Acts 20:1-12)
Example - One Pastor felt that he could increase the number of people coming to his church by a certain technique. He announced that next Sunday morning he would hand out $1.00 notes to everyone who came to the church. That Sunday, they had over 2,000 people attend. During the offering, the Pastor got up to explain something.
He said, ``Friends, today, we have embarked on an evangelistic outreach by giving money away to attract people’s attention. To defray the costs of this evangelistic campaign, I want you to give generously this morning to cover the costs of this outreach.’’
At the end of the service, an invitation to receive Christ was given. 120 people received Christ that day. The Pastor got his money back in the offering and the church grew quantitatively in numbers. However, many people were angry with the Pastor about using ``bribe’’ money to attract members and the church split. Consequently, the church’s growth quantitatively hindered the church’s qualitative (Spiritual) growth! The Pastor must cooperate with his leaders in assuring that both quantitative and qualitative growth methods are compatible!
C. Paul’s church members were not like most church attenders today who just come on Sunday morning. He expected his church members to become active participants in service, giving, evangelism, teaching, discipleship, and church planting ministries. (Acts 20:7;2:42)
D. Paul taught, gave examples, and modeled what he expected from the elders of the churches. (Acts 20:17-38)
1). Paul worked sacrificially (20;24)
2). Paul cared for his people as a mother would care for her own children (I Thes. 2:7,8)
3). Paul was committed to the Bible (20:20, 21, 31, 32)
4). Paul was always a servant and not a proud man. (20:19, 33-35)
5). Paul loved his people (21:19,31,36-38)
6). Paul spent a large part of his time training leaders (20:31)
Example - Duchem Archibald, an SIM church planter in the Kagoro and Kwoi area, spent much of his life training leaders. By establishing Kagoro Bible College, he had many leaders who could take up the responsibilities of shepherding the new flocks that were started in southern Zaria. He knew that it would not be enough to just start churches. He must also supply these churches with Pastors who could help the churches grow! Rev. Archibald performed as a modern day apostle Paul!
E. Through Paul’s years of imprisonment, he left a pattern for how much it costs to be a missionary, teacher, and leader. (21:33-28:31)
F. Paul experienced great opposition, but he steadfastly held to God’s purposes for him. (27:21-26)
G. Paul worked through authorities (Rom.13:1-6)
1). He gave honor to those in spiritual authority.(21:17-26)
2). He respected governmental authorities (21:37-40)
3). He stood up to authorities at times to defend himself.
a). He demanded his legal rights (21:37-40)
b). He instructed those who needed information (25:10,11)
c). He addressed officials with confidence and with his own authority. (26:24-29)
d). He was willing to confront and engage in heated discussions in order to persuade people with the truth. (26:25-29)
Example - One missionary knew that the people in this particularly area were displeased with his preaching. Instead of running away, he told them, ``You come to my house tomorrow and I will pray that the Lord will supply rain for you.’’ You have had no rain for months.’’ When the people came to the missionary’s house, he had fasted for many days. Within 30 minutes there was so much rain that the whole area shared in the blessing of the missionary’s faith! That missionary’s name was Tommy Titcombe, an SIM pioneer church planter in Egbe, Kwara State!
4). At times he used authorities to protect himself (23:16-23)
5). Paul knew that the Lord had given him information to make sound decisions with. (23:11;25:9,10)
6). Paul was known as a man with compassion, brilliance, determination, love, a servant’s attitude, thoroughness, and closeness to God. (26:22, 27:30-37)
G. Paul continued to strengthen the churches through his writings while under house arrest in Rome unhindered. (28:30,31) Even when we think that we cannot make contributions to the growth of the church, there are always plenty of opportunities!!!
1). Some unlikely areas where churches have been started include prisons, widows schools, children Sunday school classes, market places, schools, hospitals, governmental residential areas, construction sites, train stations, and even hotel lobbies.
2). Jesus said, ``Be it done to you according to your faith!’’ (Matt.9:29)
