Ripe for Harvest

298 • R IPE FOR H ARVEST

Assemble: Establish the Church Exercise Questions

1. What will be the criteria for baptizing new believers? Who will baptize the new believers initially in our fellowship, and where will we do it? See “The Service of Believers Baptism” in Planting Churches among the City’s Poor: An Anthology of Urban Church Planting Resources .

2. Besides the use of the Church Year and calendar, how will we go about discipling believers in doctrine and obedience?

3. What policies or structures are needed to make sure new visitors are smoothly incorporated into the church?

4. Are there ways we want to approach group discipling differently from discipling individuals? For example, how could we use an annual theme to help disciples develop a shared spirituality?

5. What practical ways can we encourage new and growing Christians to share their faith with others, and follow up those who respond?

6. How will we form small groups or cell groups? What kind of small groups will we need to form? Who will lead them? Where will they be held? What format/structure will we employ? What curriculum will we follow? How will we build small group ownership among new Christians?

7. How will we handle Christian education for our children and teens?

8. Is there value in considering the formation of men’s and women’s discipleship groups at this time, or should we wait? (See “The SIAFU Network – Assembling God’s Warriors: Toward a Strategy to Win the City” in Planting Churches among the City’s Poor. )

9. What are the criteria for announcing public worship services (e.g. a certain number of faithful adults)?

Context Values/Vision

10. How will we involve indigenous Christians in our public services as a way of building ownership and leadership?

Prepare Launch Assemble Nurture Transition Schedule/Charter

11. Where will we meet for public services? What provisions do we consider to make this work (list things to be considered, e.g., get permission, pay rent.)