Getting to YourGetting to YourFirst ChurchesFirst Churches

Seeking biblically simple, Seeking biblically simple, culturally relevant,culturally relevant,

reproducible churchesreproducible churches

Baseline for CPM churchesBaseline for CPM churches

Is this model and/or each aspect of church Is this model and/or each aspect of church consistent with the Scripture?consistent with the Scripture?

Is this model of church something an Is this model of church something an average new believer can facilitate and average new believer can facilitate and organize?organize?

Getting to a Biblical churchGetting to a Biblical church

Deconstruct your Deconstruct your cultural understanding cultural understanding of churchof church

Define the bare Define the bare minimum from minimum from Scripture of what Scripture of what church should bechurch should be

Construct a church Construct a church culturally appropriate culturally appropriate from that (best done from that (best done in context!)in context!)

BODYBODY Take off the culturally Take off the culturally

foreign fleshforeign flesh Get the essential Get the essential

skeletonskeleton Put the culturally Put the culturally

appropriate flesh back appropriate flesh back onon

What is a church?What is a church?

How is a church defined in the culture you How is a church defined in the culture you come from?come from?

Which of these qualities are required from Which of these qualities are required from Scripture?Scripture?

What does the Word say?What does the Word say? Prescriptions Prescriptions (Examples)(Examples)

Matt 28:18-20Matt 28:18-20 1 Cor 11:23-341 Cor 11:23-34 1 Cor 121 Cor 12 1 Cor 131 Cor 13 1 Cor 141 Cor 14 EphesiansEphesians

DescriptionsDescriptions

1)1) Acts 2:36-47Acts 2:36-47

2)2) Acts 4:19-31Acts 4:19-31

3)3) Acts 4:32-37Acts 4:32-37

4)4) Acts 5:1-16Acts 5:1-16

5)5) Acts 6:1-7Acts 6:1-7

6)6) Acts 13:1-3, Acts Acts 13:1-3, Acts 14:2314:23

Create a simple, Biblical definitionCreate a simple, Biblical definition

As a groupAs a group Start in small groupsStart in small groups One difficulty: One difficulty:

• What is the What is the minimum to make a minimum to make a group of people a group of people a church?church?

VERSUSVERSUS• What is the ideal for What is the ideal for

what a church what a church should look like?should look like?

Personally for your Personally for your ministryministry

Put cultural clothes on itPut cultural clothes on it

You will need to help apply this definition You will need to help apply this definition in a culturally appropriate mannerin a culturally appropriate manner E.g. Churches must teach and obey the E.g. Churches must teach and obey the

authority of Scriptureauthority of Scripture• Through prepared sermons?Through prepared sermons?• Through inductive Bible study?Through inductive Bible study?• Through listening to and applying Bible stories on Through listening to and applying Bible stories on

CD?CD?

Simple to Start!Simple to Start!

With this simple definition of church, how With this simple definition of church, how hard is it to start such a church?hard is it to start such a church? For you?For you? For your new target group believers?For your new target group believers?

Small groups of believers meeting in Small groups of believers meeting in places already present in society (e.g. places already present in society (e.g. homes) have unlimited potential for homes) have unlimited potential for multiplication!multiplication!

Example from H People CPMExample from H People CPM At least 2-3 At least 2-3 immediatelyimmediately baptized believers meet baptized believers meet

at least once a week in a home or somewhere at least once a week in a home or somewhere suitable using this suitable using this patternpattern:: WorshipWorship: sing a few songs: sing a few songs FellowshipFellowship: ask about each person’s welfare and : ask about each person’s welfare and

needsneeds PrayPray: take a few minutes to pray for needs and thank : take a few minutes to pray for needs and thank

GodGod WordWord: 1) read/listen to passage, 2) ask 6 questions, : 1) read/listen to passage, 2) ask 6 questions,

3) Obey3) Obey• Hardest part!!!Hardest part!!!

Lord’s SupperLord’s Supper: 1) confess sin to God & others, 2) : 1) confess sin to God & others, 2) remember Jesus’ sacrifice, 3) recommit to follow Himremember Jesus’ sacrifice, 3) recommit to follow Him

Discuss plans to Discuss plans to serveserve and and witnesswitness this week this week

Church Planting MovementChurch Planting Movement

A CPM is simply when local believers are A CPM is simply when local believers are excited about the Great Commission and by the excited about the Great Commission and by the power of the Holy Spirit plant simple churches power of the Holy Spirit plant simple churches that result in more multiplying churches.that result in more multiplying churches.

““A rapid multiplication of indigenous churches A rapid multiplication of indigenous churches planting churches that sweeps through a people planting churches that sweeps through a people group or population segment.” group or population segment.” GarrisonGarrison

OR, a Spirit-empowered movement of churches OR, a Spirit-empowered movement of churches multiplying rapidly.multiplying rapidly.