ASSIGNMENT

1
YOU ARE PLANTING A
CHURCH IN A VILLAGE
YOU HAVE NEVER
PREVIOUSLY ENTERED.
2
 PRESENT A REPORT
GIVING YOUR 3 YEAR
STRATEGY ON HOW
YOU WOULD PLANT
THE NEW CHURCH.
2
Due Date: Tuesday 13th February 2018
Word Count: 750-1250 words

2
CHANGING
ROLES

3
Previously we looked at stages of planting
1. Pre-entry stage:
2. Entry stage
3. Gospel stage
4. Discipleship stage
5. Church formation stage
6. Leadership stage
We shall now look at how the roles (what
people do) of the CP team change over time.

This is a model - it can be changed or

adapted to suit you.
7
Learner Explorer Evangelist Teacher

7
Learner Explorer Evangelist Teacher

8
 Mentor/
Evangelist Teacher Developer
Partner

8
Important: No role is as clear/single as it looks
on the diagram.
• EG we start as learners in a new
environment, but we should also remember
that we are always learners (we never
outgrow this stage.)
 • Moving from one role to another involves a
gradual change from role to role. (It is
blurred.)
• Plan for the changes, but only do it as the
Holy Spirit is leads.
Summary of the main job for each
of the roles:
Role Main Job
 Role Main Job
Develop Team and
Learner
Strategy
 Role Main Job
Develop Team and
Learner
Strategy
Explorer Connect with people
 Role Main Job
Develop Team and
Learner
Strategy
Explorer Connect with people
Make disciples through
Evangelist
evangelism
Role Main Job
 Role Main Job
Lead the disciples to identify
Teacher as a church - teach doctrine
and obedience
 Role Main Job
Lead the disciples to identify
Teacher as a church - teach doctrine
and obedience
Develop leaders Appoint
Developer
elders
 Role Main Job
Lead the disciples to identify
Teacher as a church - teach doctrine
and obedience
Develop leaders Appoint
Developer
elders
Train elders and partner for
Mentor / Partner
new work
1. LEARNER
 1. LEARNER

• CP team learns about themselves (as a group

/ team) and the people they will be working
with.
 1. LEARNER

• Before and during the CP project.

 1. LEARNER

• Before and during the CP project.

• Learning about context, culture, strategy,
working styles, personalities etc.
 2. EXPLORER

• CP team enter the community they will serve

in.
• Observe as much as possible - people,
places, shops, transportation etc.
 • Learning in the place not via book / internet
etc.
• This might involve changing your usual
practices—they might relax late at night, eat
lunch at a different time etc.
 • Look at community needs—e.g. starting an
English learning course if there is a need /
desire from local people.
 3. EVANGELIST

• Biblical church planting is disciple

making that results in new churches.
 3. EVANGELIST

• Making disciples begins with

evangelism
 • The team does the work of evangelism—as
soon as possible.
`
• Team members should be active, spending
much time in this.
 • The team does the work of evangelism—as
soon as possible.
• Team members should be active, spending
much time in this.
 4. TEACHER

People come to Christ - we then have to teach

them:
what to believe (doctrine), and,
how to follow (obey), Matt 28:20.
Teach them first the importance of sharing
their faith.
Set a faith target of identifying someone they
know to share the Gospel with inside a few
days / one week.
They are learning to copy what the CP team
have already done with them - 1 Cor 11:1.
At this point the CP team start to become
more teacher like in their work.
 What do you believe should be
taught to new believers?
Compile a list of what is to be
taught in the first 3 months as a
short term foundation, and then
within 2 years as a firm longer
term foundation.
Shank suggests teaching this in the first 3
months:
• Repentance and faith
• Baptism • Love
• The Lord’s Supper • Giving
• The Great Commission • Prayer
Payne suggests the following longer
programme:
• The gospel
• Their new nature and what it means to
be a disciple
• The power of the Spirit in them
• Assurance of salvation
• God’s Word and how to study it
 • Prayer and fasting
• The hope of heaven and abundant life
• Baptism and the Lord’s Supper
• The nature and function of the church
• Stewardship of everything we possess
• Disciple making and ministry
Teaching gives power to the new believers and
equips them so that they can live as disciples
and do ministry.
Teaching shows our need of others, and so the
idea of the new believers becoming a church.
Ideally you want to set a date for the new
believers to choose to identify as a church.
It is unlikely that the new believers would not
choose to do this.
If there is a problem return to teaching them
about church and discipleship again and try to
sort out any problems in their thinking.
 Helpful questions and answers:

Question: What if we are only a small

number of new believers - can we
still be a church?
Answer: The NT gives no limit to the smallness
or largeness of a church - it can be 5 or 5,000.
 Helpful questions and answers:

Question: Do you baptise new

believers before they identify as part
of the church, or after?
Answer: In the NT baptism takes place soon
after conversion — Acts 2:41, 8:12, 35-37,
9:17-18, 10:44-48, 16:14-15, 30-33.
The CP team needs to decide on teaching
about baptism etc., how much takes place
before baptism must be decided by them.
So, baptism can take place before the new
church is formed.
 Helpful questions and answers:

Question: What should be done if the

new believers choose not to self
identify as a church?
Answer: Teach again about church and show
how Jesus expects people to be part of his
body, i.e. a local church. Remind them that the
CP team is part of a sending church.
Would they prefer to be part of another church
in the area.
If all else fails treat it as a matter for church
discipline.
32
Learner Explorer Evangelist Teacher

32
Learner Explorer Evangelist Teacher

33
 Mentor/
Evangelist Teacher Developer
Partner

33
 5. DEVELOPER

The CP team and church work to appoint elders.

Appointing elders was soon as possible.
These are the new pastors of the local church.
 5. DEVELOPER

Preferably >1 elder should be appointed, but if not

enough suitable candidates appoint only one.
You want properly qualified people, not simply
people who want to do it.
Look at the relevant Bible passages and then
ask,
“Now that we have examined the biblical
teachings, what should pastoral ministry
look like in this church family?”
The CP team helps and guides during this
phase, but the church has to live this out.
The local church might see and know more than
the CP team!
Prayer and fasting should be prioritised
through this period.
If the candidates accept then the church lays
hands on them and commissions them.
Helpful questions and answers:

Question: Should the elders be

ordained as church pastors?
Answer: Biblically what is commanded?
Perhaps prayer and laying on of hands,
acknowledging what God has said / done.
Ordination in our modern sense has little biblical
justification.
Helpful questions and answers:

Question: Can you plant and then

pastor that church?
Answer: Yes! Biblically the model is to plant and
then move on, but there is nothing to stop
people planting and then pastoring if they feel
called in that way.
Maybe the person is called more to the pastoral
ministry than to church planting.
 6. MENTOR / PARTNER

This can be a long term development.

The team isn’t involved in the day to day running of
the church but trains/develops the pastors /
leaders / elders.
Less time is spent with general church members.
 - Jesus sent the Holy Spirit
- Paul revisited and sent letters to churches.
- The CP team will leave but can remain in
contact via modern technology and visits.
 - Churches partnered with Paul to take the
Gospel to unreached places - Rom 15:24, Phil.
4: 14-19.
The new church should / could work with the
CP team to plant new churches.
 - Paul was concerned for new churches, 2 Cor
2:4, 11:28; 1 Thess 2:17-20.
- The CP team helps the pastors to grow and
develop in their walk with God, in doing the
work (ministry), and in doctrine.
Make sure that the new church doesn’t feel
left alone.
Teach and encourage them to see the need to
plant and make disciples of all peoples.
If this stage is done well the church will feel
equipped and encouraged to continue the work
of God in their area.
 Helpful questions and answers:

Question: What about persecution -

should we leave or stay?
Answer: During his first and second journeys
Paul left when facing opposition. Yet later even
in the face of opposition he stayed Acts
18:9-10. On other occasions he could have
stayed but knew the Spirit saying he should
move on Acts 20:36-38.
Remember the roles are not a straight line.
Some people spend their whole life doing
evangelism—be aware of how the Lord is
leading, what he is doing and submit to it.
For all of the phases there will be some
overlap.
Remember we are not commanded
to plant churches but to make
disciples, fruit bearing followers of
Christ.
Role Main Job
 Role Main Job
Develop Team and
Learner
Strategy
 Role Main Job
Develop Team and
Learner
Strategy
Explorer Connect with people
 Role Main Job
Develop Team and
Learner
Strategy
Explorer Connect with people
Make disciples through
Evangelist
evangelism
Role Main Job
 Role Main Job
Lead the disciples to identify
Teacher as a church - teach doctrine
and obedience
 Role Main Job
Lead the disciples to identify
Teacher as a church - teach doctrine
and obedience
Develop leaders Appoint
Developer
elders
 Role Main Job
Lead the disciples to identify
Teacher as a church - teach doctrine
and obedience
Develop leaders Appoint
Developer
elders
Train elders and partner for
Mentor / Partner
new work
 SUMMARY

Be intentional in moving forward - make sure

you are aiming to achieve something
Be urgent in evangelism - but do not neglect
making disciples
Your aim should be to make disciples—not to
plant a church, that comes naturally out of
making disciples.
By changing roles you empower and
equip other people!
The End