Planting Bible Churches

Brian Yeager's Outlines

Planting Bible Churches Introduction: A. Defining the terms 1. "Planting" - to put or set in the ground for growth <plant seeds> b : to set or sow with seeds. To establish which means to bring in to existence, to make firm (Merriam - Webster's Collegiate Dictionary). We plant and water but God gives the increase I Corinthians 3:6. 2. "Bible" - The word of God (II Timothy 3:16-17, Hebrews 1:1-2, II Peter 1:3;20-21, and I Corinthians 2:13). The word of God is also the seed (Luke 8:11). The word's of Christ will judge us (John 12:48).

3. "Churches" - The wording here is plural just as in Romans 16:16 "Salute one another with an holy kiss. The churches of Christ salute you." Does this wording permit the more than one church (like Baptist, Lutheran, Catholic, Christian, etc)? Paul best answers this question: I Corinthians 12:12 "For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ." There are many members and more than one congregation. Here are some biblical examples of different congregations. (Judea, Galilee and Samaria Acts 9:31, Caesarea - Acts 18:22, Rome - Romans 1:7, Cenchrea - Romans 16:1, Corinth - I Corinthians 1:2, Asia - I Corinthians 16:19, Macedonia - II Corinthians 8:1, Galatia - Galatians 1:2, Judea - Galatians 1:22, Ephesus - Ephesians 1:1, Philippi - Philippians 1:1, Colosse - Colossians 1:2, Thessalonica - I Thessalonians 1:1, Babylon - I Peter 5:13, Smyrna - Revelation 2:8, Pergamos - Revelation 2:12, Thyatira - Revelation 2:18, Sardis - Revelation 3:1, Philadelphia - Revelation 3:7, and Laodicea - Revelation 3:14.) The Bible reveals that there is only one body (Ephesians 4:4) and the body is the church (Ephesians 1:22-23).

B. Realizing the terms 1. If we follow the terms as our topic suggest we will realize that we are to put into existence, through God's word, congregations of the body of Christ.

2. These congregations would have only one head Ephesians 5:23 "For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body."

a. Christ, the head of the church, is also the founder of the church Matthew 16:18, purchasing it with His own blood Acts 20:28. I. A First Century Example of "Planting Bible Churches" Ephesus A. Apollos (a man that was "mighty in the scriptures") comes to Ephesus Acts 18:24 1. He knows only the baptism of John Acts 18:25 a. He is corrected and taught "the way of God more perfectly" by Aquila and Priscilla Acts 18:26 B. Paul comes to Ephesus and found disciples there Acts 19:1 1. Paul asked them if they had received the Holy Ghost Acts 19:2 a. The Holy Spirit would have been given by the Laying on of Apostle's hands post baptism Acts 8:12;17-18 2. They answer Paul: "...We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost." Acts 19:2 a. Something to remember. If they have not heard of the Holy Ghost they have not been converted as Christ commanded baptism "...in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost." Matthew 28:19 3. They reveal that they had been baptized by "John's Baptism" Acts 19:3 a. This would have been all that they heard since their likely teacher (Apollos) only knew John's baptism Acts 18:25 4. Paul reveals what John's baptism was Acts 19:4 "Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus." a. Some of our brethren contend that all one needs to know is that baptism is for the remission of sins. If this is the case Paul taught falsely for John's baptism was for the remission of sins Mark 1:4. 5. After teaching them Paul baptizes them Acts 19:5. He then lays hands on them and they receive the Holy Spirit Acts 19:6 Paul then continues to teach and dispute (debate or argue) Acts 19:8 II. New congregations need faithful workers to help protect her A. Paul stayed and helped and the word of God prevailed Acts 19:20

B. The Ephesians needed faithful brethren when the uproar began over the idol known as Diana from the silversmith Demetrius and others of the same occupation who did not want to loose their wealth because Paul preached against idol worship. Acts 19:23-41. This caused confusion Acts 19:29.

1. Paul was there to comfort them after the uproar against Christianity Acts 20:1 C. Babes in Christ desire to be fed the right way I Corinthians 3:1-2 and I Peter 2:2 1. Babes are unskillful in the word Hebrews 5:13 a. The older in faith are to be the mature Hebrews 12:12;14 D. We ought to be instructing others to be able to teach II Timothy 2:2 "And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also."

E. In the First Century brethren sent strong men to help congregations facing problems Acts 15:22-30

1. Epistles were written and needed to be written as Jude stated Jude verse 3 III. After planting and increasing you must still watch and protect that work A. Paul instructed the elders in Ephesus prior to leaving them to protect and feed Acts 20:25-36

B. The church in Ephesus goes on. Paul writes them a letter reminding them that they are not to be as the other Gentiles who are living fleshly lives, that they have been made part of the one body and they should keep unity in truth Ephesians 2:11-22, Ephesians 3:6, Ephesians 4:1-6, and Ephesians 4:17-32. He also instructed among many other things to put on the armor of God Ephesians 6:10-18.

1. Paul sends them Tychicus Ephesians 6:21-22. C. They are workers, defenders and keepers of the faith Revelation 2:1-3.

D. They leave their first love Revelation 2:4

1. Our first (preceding all others in time, order, or importance) must be Christ and His will thus showing our love John 14:21 "He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him."

2. The Ephesians were busy defending and doing and they were not remembering. They are urged to remember from where they fell and to do the first works (the basics) Revelation 2:5

a. We are to love the Lord as this: Matthew 22:37-38 "37. Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. 38. This is the first and great commandment." 3. They were told to repent Revelation 2:5 a. Repentance involves change Acts 26:20.

b. Is more than being sorry II Corinthians 7:9-10 "9. Now I rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye sorrowed to repentance: for ye were made sorry after a godly manner, that ye might receive damage by us in nothing. 10. For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death."

E. Most importantly new works and babes in Christ must be urged by faithful brethren to study II Timothy 2:15 1. All Christians need to learn how to use the sword Ephesians 6:17

2. Christians need to be able to give an answer I Peter 3:15 "But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear."

a. That answer needs to be a Book, Chapter, and Verse answer I Peter 4:11 "If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen." Conclusion:

To be consistent with our terms in this lesson if we are going to build a Bible church it must be based on biblical teaching. Christians need to know why they do things and by whose authority they do them. Romans 14:23 states: "... for whatsoever is not of faith is sin." The only way we can obtain faith is by God's word Romans 10:17. So if it is not there (and all things we need are there II Peter 1:3) it is not of faith. The church needs to show it's authority, then it is built upon the word. The church is to be the ground and pillar of truth I Timothy 3:15. The church needs to be built upon the proper foundation Ephesians 2:20-22. Without the foundation the house falls Matthew 7:24-27! Anything built upon man's doctrine is vain (Matthew 15:7-9), without God (II John 9), and cannot please Him (Galatians 1:10).

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