Essentials of Church Planting

01. Introduction to Church Planting

02. Character and Competency

03. Foundational Prayer

04. Mission and Vision

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01. Introduction to Church Planting

02. Character and Competency

03. Foundational Prayer

04. Mission & Vision

Many people have walked this road before you, and in this course, we will learn from some of the best. During this training, we will not prescribe a single model for planting a church. We hope to see churches planted in a myriad of ways that are contextual for you and your community.

Today, the U.S. population continues to grow by more than one million people per year, yet the number of churches in the U.S. is declining. Church renewal is not enough. We must also plant churches to reach people with the gospel.

If God is calling you to plant a church, you must discern what type of planter you will be and what kind of church you will plant. We should think about it in terms of understanding your self and understanding your call.

By the end of this course, we want you to have more than just better knowledge—we want you to have a better plan. Even if you are simply exploring church planting, the development of a plan will help give you clarity into your calling.

Our most important work is what is happening beneath the surface of our lives; in the building of godly character as we allow our lives to be shaped and our minds transformed by the Spirit of Jesus.

Have you done the work yet of understanding who you are in Christ? Have you explored the biblical gifts for ministry and discerned where your own strengths are? Have you tapped others to ask what they see in you?

If you really hunger to lead spiritually, and if you want to make the most of the training in which you invest, then learn to listen for the voice of God. Knowing how to discern the voice of God is literally the difference between life and death for Christ-honoring ministry.

Sabbath is how we prove not only that we cannot do it all on our own strength but that we don’t have to. When we cease work, it is our way of trusting that God will complete those things that need to be completed — including the restoration of our souls.

Planting a church will require praying differently! Settle into a new perspective and a new rhythm for connecting with God as you work to build the vision He has entrusted to you.

For every mountain top moment, there's a valley to walk through, in Christian ministry. The same is especially true for planters. But moments of trial are when God's power are truly on display. Let's look at the possibility that prayer affords us, even in the face of our perceptions of impossibility.

Jesus inextricably pairs prayer and fasting, but why? We will explore that important connection in this lesson and hear examples of fruitfulness that came from this practice.

Here we dive into the rhythms and best practices of foundational prayer, and wrap-up the module in a prayer together.

We will never have enough capacity to fully understand God. But we can learn a lot about God’s through His story. We also must understand God’s providence in our lives and the way He writes His story through our personal stories.

Understanding your story requires that you take a step back and reflect on your life, your gifts, your personality, and the themes you have seen God weave into your life over and over and over again.

The church is God’s response to our need for belonging. Of all the word-pictures and metaphors used to describe the church, one stands out above the rest: family. In fact, it is so much of the essence of the church that it cannot even properly be called a metaphor.

The City’s Story is the story of the place and people where you live. It’s the story of your neighbors. The history of your neighborhood and those around you. It includes the present stories being lived out today, and the stories that shaped the city decades ago.

As you walk back through your reflections and work toward identifying your unique vision from burden, just know this might take a few tries. You might do this once, talk with someone, and then go back and take another try at it. That is part of the process!

05. Building a Launch Team

06. Branding & Marketing

07. Funding the Vision

08. Legal & Compliance

Your journey as a disciple is shaped by God. As you grow and mature in your faith, a larger vision unfolds. Like an acorn seed, you hold God’s DNA, and no one else can pursue your unique path to fulfill all God has planted in you, but you!

Prayer will allow you to stay sensitive to the guidance of the Holy Spirit and establish His church according to his leadership. It is a two-way conversation with God; it becomes the lifeblood of this mission from its very inception.

Starting a new church requires more than just a spiritual vision; it requires a strategic blueprint that encapsulates Mejia's Five M's: Modeling, Motivation, Mentoring, Multiplying and Mobilizing. Applying these principles will prepare you to launch with your entire team focused in the right direction.

Consider the specific approach you will take to launch your new church. This practical lesson covers the most common models for new church starts, and the merits of each.

Who are the most important people you need to know in your planting community right now, and who needs to know you? Answering these questions will point you in the right direction to brand development.

Make inviting others part of your brand culture. Taking a "come and see" approach creates interest and excitement. Authentic experiences where people encounter Jesus builds your brand ethos — the ultimate calling card for who you are, and why it matters.

If branding is designed to make people feel something, then marketing is designed to make people do something. Following this strategy, it's important for you to create a strong and memorable brand, and then invite people to experience it.

A church plant prospectus is among the first and most important marketing tools to create. This is usually a printed or PDF booklet or digital slide deck that gives a comprehensive overview of your church plant project.

There are only two reasons why you would be a church planter. Either you have been called by God to plant a church, or you have lost your mind. Think about the calling of God on your life for this church plant and write it down. When doubt and discouragement creep in, go back and remember what you wrote.

As God’s calling to plant a church becomes real in your life, a corresponding story will also begin to emerge. It might involve any number of things, but it will include the story of the church you believe God wants you to plant.

What is the vision of ministry God has placed on your heart for the church He wants you to plant? What is the core purpose? Who is God calling you to reach? What do you want the headlines in the community to say about your church five years after it starts?

A proper financial plan is essential in quantifying how much you will need to fund the launch of this church plant. Consider the 4-year plan — the year before launch, and the first three years following launch. Prepare for this lesson by first downloading the budget worksheet. Have it ready to view during the lesson.

Think about who you will approach to ask for financial support. Your friends and family and the most likely supporters of your new church start. Make a list on paper and then learn the best way to prioritize the list as you formulate a fundraising plan.

Compose a simple summary of your launch plan, called "the one-pager." It includes brief sections on calling, story, vision, your summarized financial plan, a giving chart and a clear call the action. Prepare for this lesson by first downloading the sample one-pager. Have it ready to view during the lesson.

On the very first Sunday when you receive the offering in your new church, make it clear to the people in your congregation that this will be a church where we will be very clear about giving. From day one. If giving is an act of worship, let's treat it that way. Place it in the service so that it is worshipful.

Learn practical strategies to organize your church's finances that will keep you focused and on track with your ministry objectives. Prepare for this lesson by first downloading the lesson supplement and have it ready to view during the lesson.

Articles of Incorporation, bylaws and more: this lesson covers the necessary steps to create a solid legal foundation for your church ministry. Prepare for this lesson by first downloading the lesson supplement and have it ready to view during the lesson.

Housing allowance is perhaps the best tax benefit among pastors, however, it is also one of the most misunderstood! The portion of a minister’s salary that is properly designated as a housing allowance may be excluded from gross income and considered tax-free income.
Prepare for this lesson by first downloading the lesson supplement and have it ready to view during the lesson.

09. Evangelism & Outreach

10. Preaching

11. Strategic Discipleship

12. Multiplication

From the very beginning, regularly focus on ecclesiology or a theology of the Church in your preaching and teaching ministry. Regular and robust preaching and teaching rooted in a scriptural understanding of the Church help the Church stay on mission to a “blessed to be a blessing” people.

Who is not being served in your community? The answer to this question may be an important clue that points you to fruitful opportunities for evangelism and outreach. Following the steps of John Wesley's field preaching may be another sound approach to growing your ministry right where it's planted.

Commit yourself to build a high-trust team of diverse men and women to join you in this Kingdom endeavor. This will likely take more time, but in the end, will save you much hardship both as a follower of Jesus and as a spiritual leader.

Mark Sorensen began his professional career as a radio disc jockey and part-time Sunday School teacher. After feeling God's nudge to full-time ministry, Mark worked in various ministry roles at different churches in East Texas and Louisiana. He eventually pursued seminary studies, became ordained, and served for eight years as the lead pastor of the Harvest worship community at The Woodlands Methodist Church. In 2021 he was named senior pastor and now shepherds the congregation of more than 14,000 members.

When God calls and anoints individuals to speak, their words have the power to transform lives, inspire faith, and bring about God’s purposes in the world. This was true for God's people throughout scriptures and it's true for us, today.

Learn the process of message preparation in three parts: studying the scriptures, organizing a clear message, and the structure of the sermon. The sermon isn't about you; it's about the greatness of God shown through His Word.

Remember that you’re not just preaching to the community, you’re walking beside them. Getting to know the people that God has placed before you is absolutely invaluable.

Here is a list of twenty things to remember before you preach. These tips have helped countless pastors over the years, and they will help you as you prepare to share God's Word with your congregation each week.

Remember that you’re not just preaching to the community, you’re walking beside them. Getting to know the people that God has placed before you on any given Sunday, or any other day of the week for that matter, is absolutely invaluable.

Your discipleship framework will be the infrastructure that will allow your church and your community to form and to grow making your community look more like heaven by making the people look more like Jesus.

Develop your discipleship pathway and practices that teach your congregation how to raise up others. This means teaching them how to share their faith story, developing strong leaders, and designing systems for mentorship or intergenerational discipleship.

As we are lead people to take responsibility for their spiritual growth, we will also be teaching them to assess how they are doing, to listen to the prompting of the Holy Spirit, and to respond in obedience.

Essentials ofChurch Planting