Matthew 16:18 – “on this rock I will build my church”. He will build it from the foundation up, raising up a structure as a house builder would. Christ is not only committed to effectually building his church, he is also prepared to provide every resource necessary for the task. It is God who, according to his eternal purpose, directs people and materiel to particular places at given times, gathering a church together and raising up another witness to his incomparable grace.
A. Personnel needs
1. hands-on help for the planter
Epaphroditus Php_2:25-30
Epaphras Col_1:7 Col_4:12 Phm_1:23
Aquila and Priscilla Act_18:1-2
2. prayer support for the planter
the Ephesian church Eph_6:19-20 Col_4:3-4 2Th_3:1
3. appointment of elders by the planter
Paul and Barnabas – “after they had appointed elders in every church” Act_14:21-23
Paul to Titus – “set in order what was left undone and appoint elders” Tit_1:6
B. Material needs
1. Tentmaking Act_18:1-4
Paul’s example
1. sought out Aquila
2. shared workspace, perhaps business contacts
3. appears to be self-supporting as well as actively involved in ministry
those who minister
1. have a right to be rewarded 1Co_9:14
2. have a mandate to spread the Gospel 1Co_9:16
3. may be equipped by God to help support themselves 1Co_9:12
4. may choose to be bivocational so as not to burden the church 2Co_11:9; 1Th_2:9; 2Th_3:8
2. Subsidies Php_4:10-18 2Co_11:8-9
Philippians 4:15 And you Philippians yourselves know that in the beginning of the gospel, when I left Macedonia, no church entered into partnership with me in giving and receiving, except you only.
Paul gratefully acknowledges the fact that the present gift was the continuation of a series of gifts. He mentions something well-known to both the Philippians and himself, namely, that when the Philippian church was in its infancy, having just been established — this was at least a decade ago — then already, in those early days of gospel-proclamation in their region, they, and they alone, had entered into partnership with himself in (and here follows a business-term) an account of expenditures and receipts, that is, an account in which the Philippians were the givers, Paul the receiver. Hendriksen, NTC, Philippians
· Thessalonica and Berea in addition to Philippi
· sacrificial missions giving from the beginning in the Philippian church (est. during 2nd missionary journey, fall 49 – spring 53 AD) 2Co_8:3-5
· other churches came on later to aid in Paul’s support, perhaps during 3rd missionary journey (fall 53 – spring 57 AD)
· enabled him to labor at Corinth (and elsewhere) without burdening the church and leaving them free to help their brothers in Judea 2Co_9:1-5
C. Our part
1. prayer
a. partner with another plant
b. pray for our own doors of opportunity
c. pray for boldness in proclaiming the Gospel
2. personnel
a. to plant
b. to assist/work alongside the planter
3. provisions
a. monetary
b. material
c. muscle
Size, raw numbers, and wealth has little to do with a local church’s ability to support the growth of Christ’s kingdom through church planting. Far more important is the church’s vision to utilize the resources God has entrusted to her. Every local assembly of believers not only is able but should be actively involved in some way in reproducing through church planting.
In October 1796, a church was organized in Limerick, composed of twenty-five members, and Ebenezer Kingman was ordained pastor a short time after its organization. Eld. Kingman was pastor eleven years, during which the church saw days of prosperity, and a net increase of thirty-eight. After his resignation, the church was destitute of a pastor eight years ; and though favored with preaching most of the time, yet the church sustained a net loss in this period of thirteen members (63 members in 1807, 50 in 1815; ed.). Since 1815, the church has had several pastors, but not in immediate succession. Rev. Willard Glover, from 1827, two years ; Rev. Joshua Roberts, from 1832, two years ; Rev. Noah Hooper, from 1837, two years ; Josiah H. Tilton, ordained pastor in April 1840.
Thomas Paul, Benjamin Paul, Jotham Day, Ezra Tomb, Atherton Clark, Alvan Felch, and Obed Walker, have gone forth from this church into the gospel field, to preach Christ to their fellow-men (during the 49 years between 1796 and 1845, ed.). History of the Baptists in Maine, Joshua Millet, 1845
Reformanda 