Church PLANT Manual

xii • Church PLANT Manual

What makes the church different from all other societal institutions? The holiness factor. Holiness is the way to victory. It’s the empowering ingredient that destroys sin and makes room for transformation. It’s what makes us God’s people. Our faith in Christ provides access to this. The same power that raised Jesus from the dead is the source for renovating lives and communities. The first twelve chapters of Acts tells the story of the formation of the church. The first key figure is Peter. This should come as no surprise, as when Peter confessed his belief that Jesus was God’s son, Jesus told him that he would be a key church planter (Matt. 16:18). After the resurrection, Christ invested forty days into his followers. During this time, the power source of the Holy Spirit was revealed. Jesus taught about the Kingdom of God and that all believers are to live as citizens of it. What made it possible was the presence of the Holy Spirit. He taught them that the Kingdom would not come until he returned a second time to defeat evil once and for all. Until then, all his followers are to work to expand God’s Kingdom, and the vehicle to do that is the local church. Alvin Sanders President and CEO, World Impact March 28, 2024 AWord from the Director of Church Planting The meta-narrative of the cosmos is the reality of two kingdoms in conflict. The Kingdom of God has won the victory through its Champion, Jesus of Nazareth. Through the incarnation, crucifixion, and His resurrection, Jesus has, “stripped all the spiritual tyrants in the universe of their sham authority at the Cross and marched them naked through the streets” (Col. 2:15, The Message ).