Church PLANT Manual

52 • Church PLANT Manual

II. Follow-Up: Incorporating and Nurturing in the Family of God A. Definition: I ncorporation into the family of God for the purpose of edification and fruitfulness, to the glory of God 1. Incorporation into the family of God – introduction and welcome into the family of God, Rom. 15:5-7 a. Making visible what has in fact become actual b. Welcome as central factor of koinonia (fellowship), 1 John 1:1-4 2. For the purpose of edification and fruitfulness b. Fruitfulness – to be used of God to raise up as many disciples as possible as quickly as we can for the sake of fulfilling the Great Commission, John 15:16 3. To the glory of God – the end of all things, Rom. 11:36 B. Why Follow-up is necessary 1. Need for protection: new converts are vulnerable to attack (e.g., the parable of the soils, Matt. 13) a. The devil’s lies and schemes b. The cares of the world c. The lack of depth and substance d. The proneness towards error a. Edification – to build up another to the fullness of Christ, to maturity in Christ (Christlikeness), Eph. 4:9-15