Planting Churches among the City's Poor - Volume 1

P ART III: P LANTING U RBAN C HURCHES • 315

2. Some markers seem to match our own descriptions of boundaries and place for churches, Rev. 1.4 (ESV) – “John to the seven churches that are in Asia: Grace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven spirits who are before his throne.”

3. Note templates and handouts: Toward a Governing Structure for an Urban Church Planting Movement

D. The Church as the where of international interconnection, support, and growth

E. Implications and conclusion: The Church is the essential element, structure, and reality of God, under the movement of the Holy Spirit, which God has selected for his glory to be seen, and his kingdom power to be demonstrated. The Church is both the locus and the agent of the Kingdom of God. VI. WHEN Will Such Movements Be Most Likely to Start – What Are the Conditions and Requirements for the Igniting of New, Aggressive Church Planting Movements in Urban America? In order for robust, dynamic urban church plant movements to occur in urban America, certain conditions will need to be met. These conditions relate to certain spiritual, structural, and missional dynamics which must be informed by the principles of Scripture, as well as the experience of movements abroad. The principle of the analogy of faith comes into play here. While God cannot be made subject to doing the same thing in the same way, we can however depend on God to be faithful to his truths in Scripture, and we can learn from the experience of history. When these truths are acknowl edged and followed, we can expect his blessing and aid in our church growth and church planting efforts. John 8.31-32 (ESV) – So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” Hos. 6.3 (ESV) – Let us know; let us press on to know the Lord; his going out is sure as the dawn; he will come to us as the showers, as the spring rains that water the earth.