Church PLANT Manual

4 • Church PLANT Manual

Author and Owner. In the meantime, people live out their days in either the world or the church. The world is influenced (controlled) by Satan. By contrast, the Church is influenced (controlled) by the Holy Spirit. This is the key to our understanding of and need for the church. Two texts in Ephesians 2:12-22 and Ephesians 3:10-21 are helpful in our considerations. These texts unpack two answers to the question, “Why do we need more churches?” First, it is clear from these texts that God works in the church (among His people). Another way of saying this is that the church is the “locus” (location, place, and/or context) of God’s salvation, of the empowering presence of the Holy Spirit, and the authentic expression of the Kingdom’s life and witness. His desire is to form a new humanity in the church. Second, these texts bear out that God works through the church (through His people). Another way to express this truth is to say, the church is the “agent” of God, a willing and available servant to God to advance kingdom purposes in the world.” Through the church God reconciles the world to Himself. 2 The biblical truth is that the local church is the only hope for people caught up in the enemy’s attacks, enslavement, distractions, and schemes. Though his influence is everywhere, the church stands as God’s locus and agent offering people the opportunity to find freedom in this dark world. Praise God, that Jesus came “to destroy the works of the devil” (1 John 3:8).

2 For a deeper discussion of the church as “locus” and “agent” see the seminar “Theology of the Church for Team Leaders” in The Timothy Conference Workbook, Wichita: TUMI Press, 2005, pp. 39-46.