Focus on Reproduction, Mentor's Guide, MG12

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F O C U S O N R E P R O D U C T I O N

Planting Urban Churches Reaping

Welcome to the Mentor’s Guide for Lesson 4, Planting Urban Churches: Reaping . In this lesson we concentrate upon our role in helping new churches progress toward independence through Empowerment , and the final phase of urban church planting: transition. The PLANT acrostic highlights in step-by-step fashion the steps in planting a church in the city: Prepare, Launch, Assemble, Nurture , and now in this lesson we look at the processes surrounding Transition . In this lesson we concentrate on the theme of leadership and the transferring of leadership over to the newly formed fellowship. By all accounts, godly, servant leadership that is willing to provide ongoing shepherding care to a local church is its greatest asset and most important weapon against heresy, division, and stagnation. In one of the students textbooks, A Biblical Church Planting Manual , Marlin Mull provides twelve reasons for starting a new church from the Book of Acts. Here is that list: 1. A new church brings the Kingdom of God to earth (Acts 1.3; 8.12; 14.22; 19.8; 20.25; 28.23; 28.31). 2. A new church helps fulfill the Great Commission (Acts 1.8; Matt. 28.18-20; Mark 16.15-16; Luke 24.46-49; John 20.19-22). 3. A new church provides a place of prayer to meet God with others (Acts 1.14; 4.31; 12.5). 4. A new church provides another public preaching place (Acts 9.20; 10.42; 14.7; 16.10; 20.20).

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5. A new church is the most effective evangelistic tool (Acts 2.38-39; 14.21).

6. A new church teaches the Bible (Acts 4.2; 5.19-21; 5.42; 8.4; 11.25-26; 18.11; 20.20; 28.31). 7. A new church offers another place for Christian service (Acts 6.3; 9.36; 11.25-26; 11.29-30; 17.15).

8. A new church trains lay leaders to become preachers (Acts 6.10; 14.23).

9. A new church crosses cultural barriers (Acts 8.35; 10.1-48; 16.9; 22.21).