THREE PROMISES OF JESUS FOR CHURCH PLANTERS

INTRODUCTION

•  Starting new churches is more strategic than winning strangers to faith, and starting new

churches is the most effective way to evangelize whole populations.

•  Three powerful promises make church planting effective wherever believers apply them.

1.  JESUS WILL BUILD HIS CHURCH, AS WE WILL ALLOW HIM.

Matthew 16:18-20 GNB “Peter: you are a rock, and on this rock foundation I will build my church,

and not even death will ever be able to overcome it. I will give you the keys of the Kingdom of

heaven; what you prohibit on earth will be prohibited in heaven, and what you permit on earth will

be permitted in heaven.” Then Jesus ordered his disciples not to tell anyone that he was the

Messiah. 

•  Peter was the first to confess that Jesus was the Messiah, so he would have the privilege of

using the Keys to introduce Jews, Samaritans, and Gentiles into Jesus’ new church.

•  Peter and the other apostles normally formed new believers into home-based fellowships

like he did following Pentecost and did with Cornelius’ family and friends.

This promise is repeated in…

2.  GOD WILL DO WHATEVER WE ASK, AS WE AGREE TOGETHER.

Matthew 18:18-20 GNB “And so I tell all of you: what you prohibit on earth will be prohibited in

heaven, and what you permit on earth will be permitted in heaven. And I tell you more: whenever

two of you on earth agree about anything you pray for, it will be done for you by my Father in

heaven. For where two or three come together in my name, I am there with them.”

•  To plant a church, agree together with one or two others, pray to exercise your authority,

and come together as Jesus’ followers.

•  Experiencing the real Presence of Jesus in your midst is what make a church a real one.

This promise is repeated in…

3.  JESUS IS WITH US, AS WE OBEY HIM.

Matthew 28:18-20 GNB Jesus drew near and said to them, «I have been given all authority in heaven

and on earth. Go, then, to all peoples everywhere and make them my disciples: baptize them in the

name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, and teach them to obey everything I have

commanded you. And I will be with you always, to the end of the age.» 

•  Our task is to make disciples. The apostles’ main method of making disciples was to

baptize repentant seekers and form into new, little churches.

•  The main task of churches is to teach folks how to obey all of Jesus’ commandments.

CONCLUSION

•  Start new churches everywhere, within every social group and economic class, now.

•  You and your friends have all the authority you need to do so, already.

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