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A Biblical Example of Church Planting Sermon

This document outlines four distinctives of a Kingdom-Building Church based on examples from the book of Acts: 1) Seeing missions as their essence and existence, as evidenced by Jesus' command in Acts 1:8. 2) Participating in missions, as shown by the church in Antioch in Acts 11:19-30. 3) Emphasizing being and doing missions by selecting, setting apart, and sending their best people, as the church in Antioch did in Acts 13:1-3. 4) Multiplying by starting new churches and strengthening disciples, as Paul and Barnabas did in Acts 14:21-23. The overall message is that the church should follow these early church examples to

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Ryan Srinivas Kowlessar
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253 views2 pages

A Biblical Example of Church Planting Sermon

This document outlines four distinctives of a Kingdom-Building Church based on examples from the book of Acts: 1) Seeing missions as their essence and existence, as evidenced by Jesus' command in Acts 1:8. 2) Participating in missions, as shown by the church in Antioch in Acts 11:19-30. 3) Emphasizing being and doing missions by selecting, setting apart, and sending their best people, as the church in Antioch did in Acts 13:1-3. 4) Multiplying by starting new churches and strengthening disciples, as Paul and Barnabas did in Acts 14:21-23. The overall message is that the church should follow these early church examples to

Uploaded by

Ryan Srinivas Kowlessar
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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A Biblical Example of Church Planting

(Acts 1:8; Acts 11:19-30, 13:1-3, 14:21-23)

We live in a day that is very similar to that of the first-century church.


¾ As in the 1st century, people today are interested in spiritual things.
¾ As in the 1st century, people worship multiple gods.
¾ As in the 1st century, Christians are often maligned.
¾ As in the 1st century, people are hungry for authentic faith that can change their
life.
In this 1st century environment, Christianity grew and the church multiplied at an
unparalleled pace resulting in tremendous community transformation. God desires to
see His church grow and impact communities in a similar way today.

What an incredible opportunity the church has today to build God’s Kingdom!
How can the church of today impact the world like the early church did?

God’s solution is in the Book of Acts: becoming a Kingdom-Building Church.


He gives us four distinctives of a Kingdom-Building Church

1. A Kingdom Building Church sees missions as the ESSENCE of its EXISTENCE.


Acts 1:8 (NIV) But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my
witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."

What is a Kingdom Building Church?


A reproducing community of disciples living authentic lives as ambassadors for Christ
proclaiming the gospel and transforming their world.

2. A Kingdom Building Church does not have a PROGRAM for missions;


Rather, they PARTICIPATE in missions. Acts 11:19-30 (NIV)
Now those who had been scattered by the persecution in connection with Stephen traveled as far
as Phoenicia, Cyprus and Antioch, telling the message only to Jews. [20] Some of them,
however, men from Cyprus and Cyrene, went to Antioch and began to speak to Greeks also,
telling them the good news about the Lord Jesus. [21] The Lord’s hand was with them, and a
great number of people believed and turned to the Lord.
[22] News of this reached the ears of the church at Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to
Antioch. [23] When he arrived and saw the evidence of the grace of God, he was glad and
encouraged them all to remain true to the Lord with all their hearts. [24] He was a good man, full
of the Holy Spirit and faith, and a great number of people were brought to the Lord.
[25] Then Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul, [26] and when he found him, he brought him
to Antioch. So for a whole year Barnabas and Saul met with the church and taught great numbers
of people. The disciples were called Christians first at Antioch.
[27] During this time some prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch. [28] One of them,
named Agabus, stood up and through the Spirit predicted that a severe famine would spread over
the entire Roman world. (This happened during the reign of Claudius.) [29] The disciples, each
according to his ability, decided to provide help for the brothers living in Judea. [30] This they did,
sending their gift to the elders by Barnabas and Saul.
¾ They are People Focused (19-20)
¾ Christ Centered (21b)
¾ Spirit Empowered (21a)
¾ Grace Conscious (23)
¾ Well Known (26c)
¾ Financially Generous (29-30)
3. A Kingdom Building Church is not satisfied to SEND and SUPPORT;
They emphasize BEING and DOING. Acts 13:1-3 (NIV)
In the church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon called Niger,
Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen (who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch) and Saul. [2] While
they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, "Set apart for me Barnabas and
Saul for the work to which I have called them." [3] So after they had fasted and prayed, they
placed their hands on them and sent them off.

¾ They Selected Their Best


¾ They Set Apart Their Best
¾ They Sent Their Best

These five leaders from the church at Antioch started nine churches and literally
changed the world. It is worth noting that these five men were distinctly different. They
came from diverse backgrounds, of education and training, ethnicity, experience,
economic scales, religious heritage, and lifestyles.

God uses all kinds of people to reach all kinds of people as He builds His kingdom.

4. A Kingdom Building Church is not content to MAINTAIN; They must MULTIPLY.


Acts 14:21-23 (NIV) They preached the good news in that city and won a large number of
disciples. Then they returned to Lystra, Iconium and Antioch, [22] strengthening the disciples and
encouraging them to remain true to the faith. "We must go through many hardships to enter the
kingdom of God," they said. [23] Paul and Barnabas appointed elders for them in each church
and, with prayer and fasting, committed them to the Lord, in whom they had put their trust.

Paul and Barnabus passed along to these church planters what was given to them at
Antioch. They led them to do four things:
¾ Counted the Cost (21-22)
o They strengthened them through discipleship
o They encouraged them to be faithful
o They reminded them that church planting is hard work
¾ Confirmed the Leaders (23a) appointed Leaders
¾ Commissioned by the Church (23b) as they had been commissioned in Antioch
¾ Commended them to the Lord (23c)

We are not going to expand the Kingdom apart from starting new churches as
demonstrated in this account of the 1st century church.

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