Church Plants versus Established Churches

I received an e-mail from a friend today who asked me what my thoughts were on people who take part in a church plant versus an established church. Both have their positives and negatives, but here were my thoughts. These may not be accurate all the time, but they seem to fit my experience.

In this article, I am not implying that a church plant is better than an established church or vice versa. However it is good to know the pros and cons of both and see if we can implement the best of each in whatever type of church we are actively serving in as members.

Pros for Church Plants; Cons for Established Churches

Church plant members have a pioneering attitude.
Established church members have a maintaining attitude.
Church plant members are more willing to take risks.
Established church members are afraid of risks, preferring what is comfortable or 'established'.
Church plant members are willing to think in a way that is new and different.
Established church members prefer traditions and being able to anticipate the future.
Church plant members constantly look ahead to what is going to happen.
Established church members often look back at what has happened.

Pros for Established Churches; Cons for Church Plants

Church plant members are sometimes those who think they can make the church the way they want it.
Established church members are already content with the church structure.
Church plants often lack resources including qualified workers.
Established churches are often well funded and have more qualified workers.
Church plant members sometimes think they can showcase their talent because the church is usually small.
Established churches can discriminate more on who can fill roles because they are usually bigger.

Mix of Pros and Cons

Church plants tend to be more missional focused in outreach (going to where unbelievers are).
Established churches tend to be more attractional focused in outreach (bring unbelievers to where they are).
Church plants tend to have a stronger emphasis on evangelism.
Established churches tend to have a stronger structure for discipleship.
Church plant members expect something more grassroots.
Established church members expect something more professional.

Prayer in the Church

This past Sunday we were studying 1 Timothy 2:1-7 looking at a praying church as critical for the mission of God. In our study we did a brief overview of the book of Acts on the issue of prayer. Acts chronicles the birth and early history of the church of Jesus Christ. If we were to ask whether prayer was an important aspect of the early church, we should be able to look at the church's practice in Acts to see this.

Here is a blitz look at prayer in the book of Acts:

Acts 1, gathered together in prayer in the upper room.
Acts 2, church birthed at a prayer meeting; Continued in prayer together daily.
Acts 3, Peter and John heal the lame man as they were going to pray.
Acts 4, brethren in trouble so church prays.
Acts 6, devoted themselves to prayer.
Acts 7, Stephen prays for his persecutors.
Acts 8, Apostles pray for new believers to be filled with the Holy Spirit.
Acts 9, Ananias comforted because Saul is praying.
Acts 10, Peter prays and is called to Cornelius.¹
Acts 12, Church gathered praying for Peter.
Acts 13, The Church is praying and sending out missionaries.
Acts 14, Paul and Barnabas prayed for the new church plants.
Acts 16, Paul and Silas pray from prison.
Acts 17, Paul’s spirit is stirred for Athens resulting in prayer.²
Acts 18, Paul prays in Corinth.³
Acts 19, Disciples in Ephesus are prayed for.
Acts 20, Paul prays with the Ephesian elders.
Acts 21, the Church in Tyre, Syria prays.
Acts 22, Paul speaks about his praying in the Temple.
Acts 23, Paul was in prayer in the night.³
Acts 27, Paul prays for all those on the storm tossed ship.⁴
Acts 28, Paul prays for Publius to be healed on Malta.

As the Church, we pray. A prayerless church isn't a church dependent on Christ. Let us learn from the God-given pattern in Scripture. It is in God that our life is found, and therefore it is in communication (prayer) with God that our dependence on God is demonstrated. Let us be a praying people.

1 - 10:9-16, prayer seen in Peter’s dialogue with Jesus.
2 - Paul’s spirit being stirred suggests that Paul began to pray.
3 - 18:9-10; 23:11, The Lord speaking to Paul implies prayer.
4 - 27:23-25, an angel being dispatched to strengthen Paul strongly suggests Paul was in prayer.

Why Should Someone Commit to a Church?

I often hear Christians say that they are part of the Church but not part of the church. In other words, they say they love Jesus and are having church wherever they go with other Christians. But the idea of committing to a local church is asking a bit much of them.

The local church is God's idea. Joshua Harris in the 2 minute video explains briefly why the church is important. He also wrote an excellent book called Stop Dating the Church.

God wants you to enjoy His fulness and part of that fulness is found in committing to a local body of believers. Don't miss this profound blessing.

I have many people in this city

Now the Lord spoke to Paul in the night by a vision, “Do not be afraid, but speak, and do not keep silent; for I am with you, and no one will attack you to hurt you; for I have many people in this city.” And he continued there a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them.

 Acts 18:9–11

In our midweek meetings we have been going through the book of Acts.  This past week while looking at Paul's ministry in Corinth, Paul is preaching the gospel, people are becoming followers of Jesus and many others are upset by this.  Usually this proclamation of the Good News meant bad news for Paul personally as he would usually be beaten up or run out of the city at this point.  

This is a critical moment for the ministry in Corinth as Paul is experiencing fear.  Jesus tells Paul in a vision not to fear, in fact the New American Standard Bible reads "Do not be afraid any longer."  So often we can experience fear when telling people the good news of Jesus.  Often people do not see it as good news but are rather insulted and begin to retaliate, which can easily have a cooling effect on our zeal and desire to proclaim such a glorious gospel.

Last week in preparation for our home group, I was meditating on these words of Jesus here in Acts 18.  Paul is afraid; Jesus speaks; then Paul stays longer at Corinth proclaiming the good news of Jesus longer than anywhere else to date (18 months).  What was the encouragement that Jesus gave Paul to embolden him?  Part of it was the personal promise to Paul that he wasn't going to get his teeth kicked in while at Corinth, and Jesus was faithful to that promise.  But I believe there is much more than that.

Jesus says, "for I have many people in this city".  That word used for people is laos in the Greek which is usually the word used for God's chosen people.  Jesus is telling Paul that many people in Corinth have been appointed to salvation.  

Jesus is imparting to Paul his vision for the city of Corinth.  Because of fear, it would be easy to forget that Jesus has a vision and a purpose for the city.  The Father tells Jesus in Psalm 2:8, "Ask of Me, and I will give You The nations for Your inheritance, And the ends of the earth for Your possession."  Jesus wants the city of Corinth and he has a vision for that city because all the cities and all the nations are his inheritance.

What about your context?  What about your city? your workplace? your neighbourhood? your social network?  If you are from our church, what about Leatherhead?  Do you know what Jesus' vision is for your church, neighbourhood, marketplace, and city?  I'm convinced that he does have a vision.  What is his vision?  We do not know to whom salvation is appointed, but we do know that there are those out there waiting to hear the Good News. 

Let us commit to seeking the Lord, and asking him to impart his vision and desire for the places he has strategically placed us.  Let us receive our perspective from our Master as Paul did.  The result for Paul was the opposite of a cooling effect on his witness and mission; it was fuel for his fire. The disciple knew what his Master/Friend was doing (John 15:15) and joined Jesus on his mission for Corinth.  

Jesus said, "for I am with you".  This would have been a great comfort to know that Jesus was with Paul.  Paul wasn't 'going it alone'.  Jesus is with Paul in the proclaiming of the Good News.  Notice what Jesus tells Paul, "Do not be afraid, but speak, and do not keep silent; FOR I am with you...".  We see a very similar phrasing in Matthew 28:18-20 as Jesus calls his disciples to make disciples, promising to be with them.  There is a strong connection between the presence of Jesus and the proclaiming of the Good News.  Jesus' mission was the gospel (good news).  Our mission should be joining him on his mission.  In other words, there is a sense that he is with us because we are with him in what he is already doing.

May the Lord encourage you in this.  To be on Jesus' mission is to be with Jesus as he promised in the "Great comission" (Matt 28:20), "Lo, I am with you always." As he promised to Paul in Acts 18, "I am with you."  It's Jesus' vision, it's Jesus' mission, it's our joy to join Jesus in what he is doing.

How Members Can Serve the Church on Sunday Morning

The Church is a wonderful place where each member is a participant in the life of the church.  Sometimes we can view Sunday morning as only for a few people to serve the body while the rest warm pews as spectators.  This is unhealthy and ultimately leads to a mentality akin to talent judge Simon Cowell on Britain's Got Talent.  We assume it's our job to critique and judge.  Rather than participating in the work and becoming part of the solution, we can step back with a spectator mentality (at best) or a critic mentality.

Church gatherings are for the church to minister to one another.  There is a lot of time given to corporate worship as we participate in singing to our Lord with one voice.  There is a lot of time given to hearing the Word, and prayerfully searching out our hearts during the sermon.  But is that all?  What if you are not preaching or leading worship?  Is there still ministry for you?  Absolutely!  In fact some of the best ministry happens in a one-on-one context before/after the service.  Here is some advice from 9Marks on how the church body can serve the church on a Sunday morning.

Before the Service

• Read the passage in advance
• Pray for the gathering
• Greet newcomers (act like you are the host)
• Think strategically about who you should sit with
• Arrive Early

During the Service

• Sing with gusto (even if you can’t sing)
• Help with logistics (if there’s a problem, help fix it)
• Don’t be distracted
• Listen carefully
• Be aware of your facial expressions (you may affect others and discourage preachers)

After the Service

• Connect newcomers with others
• Get newcomers information
• Start a conversation about the sermon
• Ask someone how they became a Christian
• Stay late

Jesus Well

Jesus Well from Calvary Leatherhead on Vimeo.

Taking a look at one of the Jesus wells that provides a basic staple of physical life to people in the name of Jesus: Water!

Why do so many "churched" people become "de-churched"?

Here is a thought provoking 2 minute video by Pastor Matt Chandler on why so many people who grew up in church end up becoming disillusioned with church and leaving church. This is thought provoking for both those who are "churched" and those who are "de-churched".