One interest that I have is in the spread of the Gospel and the multiplication of churches (bodies of believers). I have read many books on church planting from modern authors. There seems to be a common thread among the books. It seems as if church planting is being defined as the replication of an institution.
Many of the books teach you how to find a building to meet in, how to secure finances, and how to market the new church. These things are presented as essential to the proper functioning of a church. The problem I am having is that the Scripture does not indicate that these types of concerns are essential to a church. There seems to be a difference between the Scriptural portrayal of the Church and modern day methods of starting a church. So I have some questions for you.
Is church planting a biblical concept? If so, how should it be defined? What are believers called to reproduce (more believers, an institution, or something else)? How do churches maintain relationships with other churches the way it is modeled in Scripture (for example, the churches in Macedonia and Achaia were involved with the church in Jerusalem despite the geographic distance)? I am still working through these questions and would like to hear from and dialogue with others about them.
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Ok... since you asked the questions, I'll give my answers with a caveat... I'm still studying most of these questions myself.
1) Is church planting a biblical concept? If so, how should it be defined? --- No. A church is a group of believers. Jesus builds the church.
2) What are believers called to reproduce (more believers, an institution, or something else)? --- None of the above. Believers are called to be obedient. We are to make disciples, not believers. We can't make believers; only Jesus does that. We can surely produce institutions, but we are not called to do that.
3) How do churches maintain relationships with other churches the way it is modeled in Scripture (for example, the churches in Macedonia and Achaia were involved with the church in Jerusalem despite the geographic distance)? --- I dunno. I wish someone would do an in depth study of that (hint, hint).
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