Developing a Church Planting Checklist Strategically

1
Developing a Church Planting Checklist
Strategically

• By
• Dr. Tom Cheyney

www.PlanterDude.com
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Developing a Church Planting Checklist
Strategically

• When my son was younger, I coached his little
  league baseball travel team! It was a good team
  made up of a lot of good kids who loved to travel
  and play tournament baseball. As the tournament
  approached, my coaches and I would go over a
  series of checklist we designed to assure that
  once we were on the road we had not forgotten
  anything that could hurt us or cause us to be
  disqualified from the tournament. Many times
  these checklist saved us from various
  circumstances that could have harmed the team.
  Checklist are useful.

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Developing a Church Planting Checklist
Strategically

• Checklist are useful and as a sponsoring church
  that works with a church planter it will often
  remind you of the critical and strategic things
  to do. Like an airplane pilot who goes over a
  preflight checklist to insure nothing has been
  overlooked, so it is as a church planting
  sponsor. Here are a few areas where checklists
  could prove helpful
• When invading an area where Satan has a foot
  hole.
• When going out to evangelize an unreached area.
• When seeking to launch a church that is niche
  appropriate for the community.
• START THE KIND OF CHURCH THAT IS APPROPRIATE TO
  LOCAL CIRCUMSTANCES
• BIRTH CHURCH BY TEACHING NEW DISCIPLES TO OBEY
  JESUS COMMANDS IN LOVE (Matt. 2818-20)
• BEGIN MINISTRIES REQUIRED BY NEW TESTAMENT FOR
  CHURCHES
• DEVELOP LEADERS ON THE JOB model all vital
  pastoral skills
• TRAIN TRAINERS mentor and multiply them in the
  spirit of 2 Timothy 22

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Developing a Church Planting Checklist
Strategically

• Here are a few areas where checklists could prove
  helpful (Continued)
• Developing a working flexible checklist and
  monthly calendar setting goals for growth and
  expansion.
• Developing a list of potential ministries that
  could be developed in a healthy New Testament
  church.
• Take steps to begin developing the core group for
  leadership with some version of On-the-Job
  training.
• Develop and raise up apprentices who can become
  mentors.

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Developing a Church Planting Checklist
Strategically

• When invading an area where Satan has a foot
  hole.
• Define the mission start churches that reproduce
  in their own ethnicity without outsiders help.
• Define and pray for the target area gather
  people from only one culture in a flock. Pray to
  Lord of the Harvest for workers and for the Holy
  Spirits power. Usually, new churches that mix
  two cultures normally cancel one out one dies.
  Pray for workers Luke 102. Pray for power to
  witness Acts 18.

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Developing a Church Planting Checklist
Strategically

• When invading an area where Satan has a foot
  hole.
• Form a new work assitance team This team can
  work with others, preferably of the same or a
  very close culture . Jesus and the apostles
  never worked alone. Nor did they form permanent
  teams they formed temporary assistance team for
  the job at hand. People constantly joined and
  left them. Successful church planting new work
  assistance team normally have people of the same
  cultures (Acts 18).

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Developing a Church Planting Checklist
Strategically

• When going out to evangelize an unreached area
• Share Christ in a way that is simple to copy and
  easy to pass on narrate the Gospel and other key
  Bible events in story form. Remember, a wise
  church planter in another ethnicity and culture
  develops a collection of Bible stories, at least
  one for each major doctrine and Christian
  activity.

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Developing a Church Planting Checklist
Strategically

• When going out to evangelize an unreached area
• Seek to work with the entire family It is wise
  to start with the heads of households. Remember
  to work with entire families Acts 1024
  1613-15 1629-34 188. Look for a man of
  peace or a person of peace which is a
  welcoming person to help you fit into a new group
  of people or neighborhood and make good contacts
  (Luke 105-7).

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Developing a Church Planting Checklist
Strategically

• When going out to evangelize an unreached area
• Practice and authenticate the believers
  repentance with Baptism by immersion Church
  Planters should count converts only when they
  have been added to your new church by baptism
  (Acts 241). There is a new fashion of letting
  anyone say they are part of a new work regardless
  if they havent followed the tried and true norms
  of coming to Jesus through repentence and
  baptism.

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Developing a Church Planting Checklist
Strategically

• When going out to evangelize an unreached area
• A Word of Caution for the Church Planter Simply
  counting hands or decision cards creates
  confusion because it makes it difficult to
  calculate sound evangelistic processes and leads
  to less than sincere set of statistics. The
  apostles counted converts after baptism.

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Developing a Church Planting Checklist
Strategically

• When going out to evangelize an unreached area
• If your message of Christ is rejected, shake the
  dust off Church Planting is hard enough in a
  fertile path of soil. If the community appears to
  be unresponsive seek one that is responsive (Luke
  1014.) Dont read too much into what I just
  said here! Remember that for most planterswho
  do this they do not have to alter their place of
  residence they merely shift their focal point to
  a less wealthy, more approachable section of the
  general public. Reality 101!

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Developing a Church Planting Checklist
Strategically

• When seeking to launch a church that is niche
  appropriate for the community be sure to select a
  model that can be replicated in your selected
  area
• Churches that meet in houses (These churches
  find buildings too costly for their small group,
  so the followers simply prefer small church
  clusters).
• Cells Churches (same as house church except
  cells meet regularly for united celebration).

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Developing a Church Planting Checklist
Strategically

• When seeking to launch a church that is niche
  appropriate for the community be sure to select a
  model that can be replicated in your selected
  area
• Conventional Churches (these aim to rent out or
  construct facilities when their growth merits
  it).

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Developing a Church Planting Checklist
Strategically

• Developing a working flexible checklist and
  monthly calendar setting goals for growth and
  expansion
• Do not be afraid to give some guidance to your
  church planter regarding realistic goals towards
  growth and advancement. I would and still do set
  and suggest strongly goals for reaching the 25,
  35, 55, 85 adults in core group marks for a
  planter to work towards. Far too many church
  planters underestimate what can be done in 90
  days and over estimate what can be done in a
  year!

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Developing a Church Planting Checklist
Strategically

• Teach new disciples to obey Jesus commands in
  love (Matt. 2818-20)
• Repent, believe and receive the Holy Spirit let
  God begin the eternal process of transformation.
  Avoid mere decision making rituals. They are not
  biblical and seldom results in strong churches.
  Call converts to repentance as Jesus and the
  apostles did Mark 115 Luke 2446-48 Acts 238.

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Developing a Church Planting Checklist
Strategically

• Teach new disciples to obey Jesus commands in
  love (Matt. 2818-20)
• Be baptized and live the new, holy life in
  Christ baptize bad folks who repent dont delay
  it let Gods grace flow! To delay baptism
  because of our doubts or legalism discourages
  converts these new-born babes need the warmth of
  the body the apostles always baptized right
  away they did extensive teaching afterward. The
  purpose of baptism Romans 61-4.

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Developing a Church Planting Checklist
Strategically

• Teach new disciples to obey Jesus commands in
  love (Matt. 2818-20)
• Celebrate the Lords Supper cultivate deep
  fellowship with God (confess sins first) and
  fellow believers. There is danger in failing to
  discern and respect Christs body in the Lords
  Supper 1 Cor. 1127-34. The purpose of the
  Lords Supper is to participate in the very body
  and blood of Christa serious experience 1 Cor.
  1016-17.

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Developing a Church Planting Checklist
Strategically

• Teach new disciples to obey Jesus commands in
  love (Matt. 2818-20)
• Love God, fellow disciples, family, enemies
  (forgive), needy neighbors (mercy
  ministry).Biblical supportLove for God Mark
  1228-30. Fellow disciples John 1334-35.
  Family Eph. 522 through 64. Enemies (forgive)
  Matt. 544 Eph. 432. Needy neighbor (love in a
  practical way) Luke 1025-37.

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Developing a Church Planting Checklist
Strategically

• Teach new disciples to obey Jesus commands in
  love (Matt. 2818-20)
• Pray daily cultivate personal and family
  devotional life, listen to Gods voice, live by
  faith.Workers are to pray daily Matt. 77
  ,without ceasing 1 Thess. 517.

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Developing a Church Planting Checklist
Strategically

• Teach new disciples to obey Jesus commands in
  love (Matt. 2818-20)
• Give generously of all that God has entrusted to
  you (time, talent and treasure). A major cause of
  mission failure is building dependency among
  people by giving to them when they should be
  giving to others. Historically, God lifts
  Christians out of their poverty when they give in
  their poverty to others, as He promises in 2 Cor.
  96-11. Give generously Luke 638.

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Developing a Church Planting Checklist
Strategically

• Teach new disciples to obey Jesus commands in
  love (Matt. 2818-20)
• Make disciples witness for Jesus, teach and
  apply the Word, train (model for others) to serve
  and lead. We make disciples on four levels it
  begins with pagan peoples, then new believers,
  growing believers and leaders (Jesus spent most
  of His time discipling top level leaders i.e.
  apostles).

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Developing a Church Planting Checklist
Strategically

• Teach new disciples to obey Jesus commands in
  love (Matt. 2818-20)
• Make disciples In Scripture discipling was
  seldom one on one. All discipling builds on
  obedience to Jesus commands (Matt. 2818-20)
  before Acts chapter two is finished the 3,000
  converts of the first New Testament church are
  obeying all of His commands.

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Developing a Church Planting Checklist
Strategically

• Developing a list of potential ministries that
  could be developed in a healthy New Testament
  church
• Provide spiritual care and support for family
  life Counsel persons with personal or family
  problems. Biblical supportSpiritual counseling
  2 Tim. 316-17.
• Worship in a way that ensures involvement by all
  the believers who congregate incorporate the
  Lords Supper and allow all ages to take part
  enthusiastically. Worship in the New Testament
  had as its center the Lords Supper (Acts 242,
  46 207). 
• Start daughter churches that reproduce after
  their own kind apprentice faithful, mature
  shepherds for them as Paul did.ReminderChurch
  reproduction requires selection and training of
  good leaders look out for immaturity, the hidden
  agenda. Find what their gifts are, their sense of
  calling, what they feel God wants them to do.
• Send missionaries to unreached fields include
  bi-vocational workers when and where
  necessary.CautionDo not require poor churches
  to imitate Western mission agencies procedures
  they are too expensive for them, require too many
  degrees and are often ineffective in deploying
  bi-vocational (self-supported) workers in fields
  with hostile authorities. Send true tentmakers
  who really earn their living as Aquila and
  Priscilla did--not just fully supported workers
  who merely pretend to be tentmakers.
• Mobilize all members to carry out gift-based
  ministries, including the activities on this
  chart.ReminderSpiritual gifts and their
  ministry purposes are listed in Romans 12, 1 Cor.
  Chapters 12 though 14 and Eph. 411-16. Mobilize
  members for all gift-based ministries required by
  the New Testament (all activities in this Guide).
  One person may have several gifts. God gives
  different gifts to different people. One gift may
  yield several ministries one ministry may
  require several gifts.
• Evaluate periodically all activities on this
  chart.CautionPersevere in all essential
  activities discern spiritual-sounding activities
  that are really distractions. Use this Guide as a
  check list for periodically evaluating your
  churches effectiveness in ministry.

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Developing a Church Planting Checklist
Strategically

• Developing a list of potential ministries that
  could be developed in a healthy New Testament
  church
• Launch offspring churches that have children
  apprentice faithful, mature shepherds for them
  like the Apostle Paul. Remember, Church
  multiplication and reproduction involves the
  selection and equipping of good leaders! One word
  of caution here is be careful to look out for
  immaturity for that is often the unseen agenda.
  Discover what their gift sets are, their sense of
  Gods calling and what they feel God wants them
  to do.

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Developing a Church Planting Checklist
Strategically

• Developing a list of potential ministries that
  could be developed in a healthy New Testament
  church
• Send out missionaries to unreached areas
  Remember to include bi-vocational staff when and
  where crucial. Send true tentmakers who really
  earn their living as Aquila and Priscilla did and
  not just fully supported workers who merely
  pretend to be tentmakers.

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Developing a Church Planting Checklist
Strategically

• Developing a list of potential ministries that
  could be developed in a healthy New Testament
  church
• Organize all members to carry out gift-based
  ministries. Spiritual gifts and their ministry
  purposes are listed in Romans 12, 1 Cor. Chapters
  12 though 14 and Eph. 411-16. Mobilize members
  for all gift-based ministries required by the New
  Testament. One person may have a number of gifts.
  God gives different gifts to different people.

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Developing a Church Planting Checklist
Strategically

• Take steps to begin developing the core group
  for leadership with some version of On-the-Job
  training (it is essential to model all of the
  vital pastoral skills).
• Supervise and systematize in a way that lets all
  members put to the test and generously use their
  spiritual gifts in ministry. Good servant leaders
  open doors for people to try diverse gifts. Bad
  leaders require excellence and control too much.
  The appropriate attitude for leaders is found in
  1 Peter 51-4.

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Developing a Church Planting Checklist
Strategically

• Take steps to begin developing the core group
  for leadership with some version of On-the-Job
  training (it is essential to model all of the
  vital pastoral skills).
• Watch over the flock identify the wandering
  lambs and prowling wolves. Heal the hurting and
  correct the unruly. Scripture support for
  watching over the flock Acts 2028-31 Matt.
  715-23. Correcting the unruly Matt. 15-18 Gal.
  61.

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Developing a Church Planting Checklist
Strategically

• Take steps to begin developing the core group
  for leadership with some version of On-the-Job
  training (it is essential to model all of the
  vital pastoral skills).
• Nourish the flock study, interpret and apply the
  Word of God. How to use the Word 2 Tim. 316-17.

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Developing a Church Planting Checklist
Strategically

• Take steps to begin developing the core group
  for leadership with some version of On-the-Job
  training (it is essential to model all of the
  vital pastoral skills).
• Commission and train shepherds to do the basics
  for ministry marry, bury, dedicate children,
  lead meetings, serve Communion and baptize. Lay
  hands on pastoral trainees when they have
  established themselves with those whom they
  disciple (1 Tim. 414). Celebrate holidays,
  weddings, burials, wakes, dedications, etc. in a
  way that is appropriate to the culture.

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Developing a Church Planting Checklist
Strategically

• Take steps to begin developing the core group
  for leadership with some version of On-the-Job
  training (it is essential to model all of the
  vital pastoral skills).
• Rightly handle the Word of God. Provide useful
  tools for studying inductively and applying it at
  once to believers lives. Teach workers to
  interpret the Word by taking into account the
  grammar, meaning of words, context (written and
  historical) and discerning what the writer wanted
  readers to do about it. Compare Acts 1711.

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Developing a Church Planting Checklist
Strategically

• Develop and raise up apprentices who can
  become mentors then multiply them in the spirit
  of 2 Timothy 22
• In each mentoring gathering do these things (meet
  every two weeks if possible)
• 1) Listen to each trainees report on what his
  people are doing (never start planning, coaching
  or assigning tasks before you have done this)2)
  Help each trainee to plan his and his peoples
  ministry what to do before the next session,
  recording specific plans (names, dates, places).

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Developing a Church Planting Checklist
Strategically

• Develop and raise up apprentices who can
  become mentors then multiply them in the spirit
  of 2 Timothy 22
• In each mentoring gathering do these things
  (Continued)3) Look over, or listen to, studies
  done (assigned last time)4) Assign new studies,
  including reading that supports trainees
  plans5) Pray (any time during the session)

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Developing a Church Planting Checklist
Strategically

• Develop and raise up apprentices who can become
  mentors then multiply them in the spirit of 2
  Timothy 22
• Use resources geared to trainees church members
  education level and culture.
• Use a menu to choose teaching content (find what
  the church is hungry for--listen!). The menu
  approach was Christs and Pauls only method.
  Like a waiter in a restaurant, they listened
  first (or read letters) to know what their
  trainees and their churches needed then they
  responded accordingly.

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Developing a Church Planting Checklist
Strategically

• Develop and raise up apprentices who can become
  mentors then multiply them in the spirit of 2
  Timothy 22
• Model a way of teaching that fits the culture and
  level of education. If church planters methods
  fit the culture and follow New Testament
  principles, churches will multiply. A mature
  church is fully planted when it reproduces within
  its culture without outsiders help. Do not aim at
  just one church in a field it will become
  ingrown. Aim at a cluster of churches.

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Developing a Church Planting Checklist
Strategically

• By
• Dr. Tom Cheyney

www.PlanterDude.com