apologetics

ApologeticsWhy do you want to plant?

Third Question: Why?

• Why do you want to plant this church at this time in this place?

I. Why? (Objections)

Pirate Video: Objections

Common Objections

1. Planting will damage the parent church?2. We already have enough churches?3. We’re not ready to start a new church?4. Planting costs too much.5. Planting will hinder our fellowship.6. We are not large enough.

II. Why? (Motivations)

Spouse: Motivations

Motivations: +/-

Your strongest motivations?

Negatives motivations you need to work on?

1. Compassion for the lost2. Desire to preach3. Desire to expand God’s kingdom4. Desire to prove self worth5. Need for more churches6. No open doors7. Burden to reach specific people8. Can’t get along - other Christians9. God’s calling10. I want to do my own thing11. Personal theological agenda

III. Why? (Advantages)

Donor: Advantages

1. Grow Faster

• “The single most effective evangelistic methodology under heaven is planting new churches. Without exception, the growing denominations have been those that stress church planting.”– Peter Wagner

• “New churches provide superior results. Some denominations have found as much as 80% of their conversion growth comes from new churches.” (Ralph Moore)

•

2. Evangelize Better

Church Age

10 years & older

Conversion Ratio

89:1

3-10 years 7:1

0-3 years 3:1

3. Develop Leaders Faster

Every church labors to develop and disciple new leaders, but new congregations do it faster.

They are forced to raise more leaders per capita and quicker than established churches.

IV. New Ministry Innovations

• Church planters test new ideas as they look for new ways to reach new people for Jesus Christ.

V. Don’t fight over picky stuff

• They are more focused on their mission.

• They are more focused on evangelism.

• When you are in a foxhole, you don’t have time to argue about the color of the carpet.

4. Why? (Need)

Potential Leader: Need

Top FiveAnswers to the Need Question

1. Growing Unchurched

• Unclaimed: 150M• Disconnected: 240M• Attendance: 17.5%• Born Again unchurched: 24M• 3rd Largest Mission Field• 80-80 Vision

2. Lifecycle Dynamic

Birth and Growth

Church Life cycle

Maturity

Plateaued & Decline

Church Age

• Biblical: Ephesian Ch.• Today: 99.8% Muslim

• USA: Last CP = 100 Yr.• USA: 80% Decline

• EFCA 1980’s: 6 closed• EFCA 2000’s: 30-40

• Healthy Denom: -3%• Healthy Church: -8%

3. Immigration Opportunity• "Missions is no longer about

crossing the oceans, jungles, and deserts, but about crossing the streets of the world's cities.

• From now on, nearly all ministry will be cross-cultural, amid the urban pluralism caused by the greatest migration in human history from southern hemisphere to the north, east to west, and above all, from rural to urban."

4. Generational Challenge

(source: George Barna, rough estimates)

CHURCH ATTENDANCE

– 60 % of 60 years old

– 50% of 50 years old

– 40% of 40 years old

– 30% of 30 years old

– 20% of 20 years old

5. Population Growth Gap

ATTENDANCE: -9.5%POPULATION: 11.4%

Need Additional 10,000 Planters Per Year: David Olson

5. Why? (Core Reason)

5. Mother-In-Law: Why?

1. Obedience• Mt. 16 • Mt. 28• Acts 1:8• Acts 13

• We plant churches as an act of obedience

• To remove the strategy of church planting from the New Testament would in effect remove all Scripture beyond the gospels.

2. Video: Know God

• Nothing more exhilarating than being shot at and missed. (Winston Churchill)

• Nothing more exhilarating than starting a church and watching God show up and do His thing.

Recruiting Brochure

• Write the copy for a recruiting brochure that you will use to recruit intercessors, donors, potential leaders, new people to your church plant.

The End

Key Books

Best Web Sites

www.thearda.com/ http://map.nazarene.org/