I have been reading to my daughters from the book of Acts recently, and of course we started at the beginning. As I read to them and then stopped to explain what we just heard, I had one of those moments.. you know, a moment where you feel as if all the money you have spent in student loans for your education were for nothing. It was a moment like you have none of Einstein's brain, but you have the crazy hair. That kinda moment.
When I, we planted a church I knew this and yet didn't seem to remember it; Jesus models (as he does everything) the path to establishing the church. When I read the opening sections of Acts I find the timeline and process for birthing the church. Allow me to break it down.
After his suffering, he presented himself to them and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God. (Acts 1:3 NIV)
Jesus originally choose 12 men that he began to pour into day after day. In Acts 1:3 we are reminded that when Jesus rose from the grave that he again revealed himself to that core group of 12 men. He has been with them now over a three year period, and is ready to establish his church.
1. Select and Invite those whom you will make the journey with.
Jesus invites, teaches and challenges those he has invited to be his core circle of disciples. He will model living out the Gospel message and teach them about who they are in Him. He instructs, he then goes out and models and he challenges them to do the same. Mind you this is a group of 12!
This is no small investment; he walks with, eats with and camps out with these men. Some of which you would never have put in the same room. They do not all dress alike, or have the look. They come from different walks of life; educated, laborer and activist. He spends the precious time and energy poring it into them. By the time he has completed what the father sent him to do, we see that in the upper room after his ascension, we are told 120 have gathered. Here we have the number cited for us right before the birth of the church when the Holy Spirit comes as promised.
In those days Peter stood up among the believers (a group numbering about a hundred and twenty) (Acts 1:15 NIV)
What if you spent the first 90 days in prayer and at times fasting asking to be led to those you would invite to be the core team of this new church plant? Then spent the remainder of that year gathering daily, weekly over the next year. Slowly inviting others to come and be part of the learning and the fellowship. What would happen if you find that you are at 120 and your core 12 know exactly what their focus will be? Then you launched the new church?
2. Grow, learn and continue to invite and Challenge.
It is Jesus who decides to birth the church at the estimated 120 believing people in that upper room. Many had witnessed his modeling, and heard his words and his teaching; now they continued in faith. Perhaps we really should take this lesson seriously! Churches should open their doors to new groups, to church planters that need a place to gather and pour into a new ministry. We as leaders need to consider slowing down and get over the sticker shock of what it takes to help plant a successful new church. There is lots of micro activity that I am not writing about right now, and is of course important, but I want us to get the point of what was modeled. The church launched at 120. Jesus, was not worried about "ooh, look at me" and aren't we awesome. Which sets up the next point.
3. Faithfulness and Patience on the front end is Blessed by God.
The church is birthed with 120, Peter gives that first sermon ever (powered by the Holly Spirit) and then we are told how God then blesses this new launch.
With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, "Save yourselves from this corrupt generation." Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day. (Acts 2:40, 41 NIV)
God added to that 120 in great numbers by using 120 fueled by the Holy Spirit in a way that you know it was all God.. So, here is a model for us, and I think it is my experience that we should heed it and study it deeply; beginning from the start of Jesus' ministry to his resurrection and the day of Pentecost.
(See Book of Acts & Creating a Disciplship Culture by Mike Breen)
Peter is a pastor and church planter who lives with his wife and children in Ohio. He is a graduate of Liberty University in Religious studies and is currently working on his Master's in Church growth and evangelism.
