How to Plant a Church

A conversation I had with Scot in the Jesus Army, several years ago by email, which I found on an old floppy disc.

Malcolm Lisle wrote:
I meet the people from the Bensham church plant
occaisionally. Do you have any advice about evangelism and how to start a church in a new area? If you send me an email I can pass it on.

I suppose I'm still in the process of planting myself.

But general stuff I've picked up in church building through my experiece in Jesus Army:

Be incarnational - carry Christ to people - as well as present the verbal message.

Be down to earth - get rid of all religous tendencies & self righteousness (people with "where it on your shirt" sins may actually be closer to God then Self righteous religous people who love self gain, preminence and money in the heart.

Live crucified to the world - make sure there is equality and true sharing among you - no gaps between rich & poor. According to Jesus; Mammon is the "issue" in greatest diametric opposition to God.

Be relevant but not at the expense of being revelatory (I.E. so people can see the kingdom among you).

Avoid the latest big idea - Western Christian Fad. The New Testament works!

Don't water down the gospel but be sensitive to where people (especially the unchurched are at) - Don't drive a 10 tonne truth over a 2 tone bridge.

Be prepared to ditch all tradition - but also seek to form a Church culture of strong identity (a people hood) that will require LIVING traditions of its own to help a sense of "being" and "occasion". Some old traditions will need renewed. I.E. some old hymns carry depth and meaning that is so missing today in what is largely shallow, entertainment orientated and me centre Christian music.

It is the year 2005 and not 1950 (when we were "vaguely a Christian nation" - ALLWAYS REMEMBER THAT.

Live as a people called out for the City that is to come rather than belonging to the city of the world all around or seeking to make the world a bit "nicer".

Abandon / renounce all other pursuits, interests, expensive holidays (even though not sinfull) for the interests of heaven and forwarding the cause of Jesus. Being His Church must be everything - anything less is hypocrisy. You do not live in the world and go to church, you live in church and go to the world.

Be 24/7.

Be like the church the Holy Spirit birthed at Pentecost - have all things in common. See your own houses, cars etc.....buy one or two big houses so that you can livetogether. share everything. Live simply and with the money spare use to reach out....serve the poor.

Love one another