The Jesus Model Church Planting and Church Growth

The Jesus Model Church Planting and Church Growth based upon Jesus’ example

Jesus - Church Planter?

Yes, Jesus was the first and foremost church planter! „I will build my Church!“

Why can we assert that Jesus was a church planter? Based upon his expressed goal: I will build my Church! The Acts of the Apostels is the record of all that Jesus „continued to do and teach“ (Acts 1: 1) The disciples, around Jesus were the first prototype of the Church. Jesus most certainly showed and taught His disciples how to plant His Church.

The Jesus-Model: The radically new/old means of planting churches 1. Incarnational Contact 7. Intentional Multiplication 6. Practical Discipleship 5. Changed Identity At home in the presence of God 2. Compassionate Motivation 3. Christcentered proclamation 4. Liberating Lordship

The Core of Church Planting is life together with God the Father Authority and power in ministry are the result of nearness to God (Mk 1: 35, 6: 46, 9: 7) A healthy life in communion with God is paramount We stay healthy by exiting ministry and by practicing the spiritual disciplines We will never be more in public ministry than we are in our private fellowship with God. At home in the presence of God Because of tempation: to be relevant, to be popular, to be powerful We intercede not defensively, but offensively through front line praying

A Church Planter Profile • • Healthy Spirtitual Life – Longing for God Spiritual Gifts: Leadership, Faith, Evangelism • Personality type: Leaders: D and I, Followers: S and C • Visionary capacity – able to see what is not yet • Intrinsically motivated • Cooperation of Spouse • Creates ownership of ministry • Connects well relationally with others, especially non Christians • Resilient: not easily discouraged by set-backs

The Jesus-Model: The radically new/old means of planting churches 1. Incarnational Contact At home in the presence of God

Incarnational Contact • The incarnation – unique, yet must be universal among Christians • Connecting: Missional – Third Places • Church planters will spend half of their time in the harvest (Beware of the danger of the desk!) • Demographic and Psychograpihc studies and their immpication for the Gospel • Person of Peace: Mavens, Connectors, Salesmen • Building Networks of Relationships to non Christians • Phase One: Generating a Starter Team that is incarnational

The Four Phase Model Assimilation Event (Preview service) Startteam-Meeting Week 1 2 Startteam-Meeting 3 4 5/1

The Jesus-Model: The radically new/old means of planting churches 1. Incarnational Contact What motivates us to plant churches? The call of God and the compassion for the lost (Lk 6: 36; Matt 9: 36) At home in the presence of God 2. Compassionate Motivation Study the life of Ruth to learn what compassion is

The Jesus-Model: The radically new/old means of planting churches 1. Incarnational Contact At home in the presence of God 2. Compassionate Motivation 3. Christcentered proclamation

What is the Gospel? The Gospel is Jesus and all that He embodies with me today! The personal life-changing presence of God in the life of a weak individual. Scripture: Matt 9: 35 (Autobasileia); Lk 17: 21 Implications: More than sin management! Participation with God in a new reality of living Living out of the resourses of the King The incarnation repeats itself daily in my life Authority and power to act in His name My Kingdom vs God‘s Kingdom (Flip Chart)

The Jesus-Model: The radically new/old means of planting churches 1. Incarnational Contact At home in the presence of God 2. Compassionate Motivation 3. Christcentered proclamation 4. Liberating Lordship

Recognizing liberated Lordship �A burning heart (Lk 24: 32) �A clear conscience (1 Joh 1: 5 -7) �Applied teaching (Matt 7: 24)

Levels of Choice Faith Kingdom of SELF Kingdom of GOD 1. SURRENDER Control Level I need a new leader. 1. FOLLOWING Obedience. Level I have a new leader. 2. SORRY ABOUT IT Guilt and Grief Level I need forgiveness and another chance. 2. ABIDING Love Relationship Level I have an eternal friend. 3. SICK OF IT Frustration Level I need help. 3. OVERCOMING Reliability Level My leader has a follower.

The Jesus-Model: The radically new/old means of planting churches 1. Incarnational Contact At home in the presence of God 5. Changed Identity 2. Compassionate Motivation 3. Christcentered proclamation 4. Liberating Lordship

Changed identity The danger of socialized Christians New Identity in relating to Christ, not to task (Gen 4; Joh 1) The local Church carries in it a new spiritual identity (It knows who it is in Christ and that it is therefore culturally relevent) Life-Transformational small groups become the microcosom of out new identity

The Jesus-Model: The radically new/old means of planting churches 1. Incarnational Contact 6. Practical Discipleship 5. Changed Identity At home in the presence of God 2. Compassionate Motivation 3. Christcentered proclamation 4. Liberating Lordship

Making Disciples – the basis of reproduction Teaching people how to live like Jesus Implimenting a plan for making disciples that make disciples Disciple-making forms the basis for healthy growth 4 Church planters 3 2 1 Ministry area leaders Coaches Disciples

The Jesus-Model: The radically new/old means of planting churches 1. Incarnational Contact 7. Intentional Multiplication 6. Practical Discipleship 5. Changed Identity At home in the presence of God 2. Compassionate Motivation 3. Christcentered proclamation 4. Liberating Lordship

Good to Great Church Planting Good Church Planting Great Church Planting �Long recovery time Timed release �Direct involvement Generational distance �Emphasis on leadership Discipleship depth �Haphazard and situational Intentional mindset �Centripetal force External focus �Emphasis on giftedness Reproducible models

The fruit of an apple tree is not an apple, it is another apple tree.