SEED CHURCHES
Planting a Seed Church - An Act 2:42 Church
God has created all things, including the Christian church, to be expressions of his glory and to return to Him the glory due Him. The Lord Jesus Christ brings churches into being so that God is glorified by all who are Christians, “so that you may declare the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His wonderful light.” I Peter 2:9.
The gospel that creates the church is the good news of the death, burial and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God. This gospel is the declaration of the forgiveness of sin, the empowerment of the Holy Spirit, the hope of eternal life in Christ to the Christian, and the warning of judgement to come to all people. Christ is the mediator of God’s grace which the church proclaims in love to the lost. Jesus commissioned “preach the good news to all creation.” Mark 16:15
According to Acta 2:42 the first Christian devoted themselves to four things: the apostles teaching, the fellowship, the breaking of bread (the Lord’s Supper), and prayer. To glorify God through Christ Jesus these should be included in every weekly worship meeting of the church. These are the main things.
What it takes to plant a church is no more than a person who in faith will be and do the following
.: The Christian will have a vital personal relationship with God so that he is led by the Holy Spirit.
.: The Christian must have, in answer to prayer, God’s leading to plant a church.
.: The Christian meets with one or more people who will share the word of God and will worship Jesus so that they fully follow the pattern of the first church gatherings in Acts 2:42.
.: The Christian will see that Bibles, grape juice and bread and an envelope for the offerings are available.
Jesus Christ is Honored in His Church
.: Jesus Christ is the Builder, Head and Lord of His church in which Christian live in fellowship with Him.
.: Jesus Christ’s death, burial, resurrection and exaltation to the right hand of God is the churches good news.
.: Jesus is confessed by Christians as, “Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God, Jesus Christ is Lord.”
.: Jesus adds to His church immersed penitent believers who are then called by the name Christians.
.: Jesus Christ is worshiped by Christians in the church through the Lord’s Supper on the Lord’s Day (Sunday).
.: The Bible is the only writing inspired of God and the only authority for the faith and practices of the church.
.: Jesus raises up elders and deacons as leaders and servants of the Christians in each church.
.: Jesus calls and enables each Christian to live a holy life in the love and power of God’s Spirit.
.: Jesus commissions every Christian to share the gospel with the lost so that they may be saved.
Practical Consideration
The purpose of the church is to share the Gospel so that the Lord adds new Christians to their number. A church should start under the Lordship of Christ and, where possible, under a parenting church. God is to be prayed to, worshiped and praised in awe for the wonders He performs. Worship may be enjoyed at other times than Sunday, but each Christian should meet with the Lord in worship through the Lord’s Supper on the Lord’s Day. Churches that share eating together at their worship times can greatly deepen their fellowship and joy. Christians are to serve others, especially one another, with their strength, abilities and spiritual gifts. Offerings are for meeting the needs of people and spreading the gospel. God raises up leaders which are to be honored for their equipping and coaching of the saints to serve. The Bible, which is the revelation of God to man, is the only authority for the faith and practice of the church.