Two Additional Theological Perspectives on Church Planting
As we continue to advance in church planting in the 21st century, this writer considers two other major theological perspectives to be very relevant in church planting: the gospel and its content and the glory of God.
The Gospel as the Content for the Church that is Planted
If church planting is not solidly built upon the gospel in this 21st century, we will be planting churches that are not truly biblically or theologically solid. In planting the church at Corinth, Paul states:
Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you— unless you believed in vain. For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. 1 Cor. 15:1-5 (ESV)
Anthony Thiselton in his prodigious commentary on I Corinthians explains that the word gospel here “denotes the message of salvation; in vv. 3-4 Paul endorses the shared pre-Pauline tradition which both proclaims the death and resurrection of Christ and interprets it in terms of the saving and transforming power of God as this receives explanation and intelligibility within the frame of reference provided by the Old Testament] scriptures.”
It is necessary to insist upon the gospel as being the foundation of a church plant as Paul states in the great church planting passage in 1 Corinthians 3 which states in verse 11 “For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.” Church planters in this new century must know how to communicate the gospel in its integrity if they are to plant churches that make a difference.
In addition, they must insist upon the gospel as not just the beginning of the Christian life and the church life but that they must continue to live out the gospel day after day. Paul’s rebuke of Peter and others with him in Antioch was because “their conduct was not in step with the truth of the gospel…” (Gal. 2:16 ESV). This answers the question of how church planting fits the mission of God in this world—God saves people who then are to be “in step with the truth” they have received. The words “in step with” can be translated “consistent with.” Effective discipleship in church planting leads to people who live lives consistent with the message of the gospel.
When Paul states that he delivered this message “as of first importance” the idea is of “logical rather than temporal force.” Church planting in the 21st century, if it is to be effective, needs to capture afresh this Pauline emphasis as seen in the missionary journeys in Acts.
The Glory of God as Our Goal
In terms of this theological perspective, John Piper has made it clear that “Worship, therefore, is the fuel and goal of missions. It’s the goal of missions because in missions we simply aim to bring the nations into the white-hot enjoyment of God’s glory.”
As we see evangelism and church planting as bringing many into a personal relationship with God then those involved in this ministry are seeking what God is seeking as our Lord explains, “But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him” (John 4:24 ESV). If this is not the “mission of God” then what is? As church planters see new bodies of believers come into being by God’s working as we saw in the beginning of this article, there is the great sense of being representatives of that great mission for which he came and died. Although those who start new churches “plant” or “water,” “God gives the growth,” and he does so for his greater glory. God’s servants planting new churches in the 21st century with this motivation will be truly “God’s fellow workers” (1 Cor 3:9).
