316-Church Formation – Nathan Shank
Session 1: Pictures of Church Identity
One of the most overlooked aspects of church planting is the introduction and local ownership of church identity. Beginning in Acts 2, today’s study considers the matter of local commitment to “the number.” The New Testament utilizes numerous word pictures to catalyze church identity. Today’s study considers these metaphors for church identity and challenges listeners to consider how such passages might be leveraged to call for church identity. To be sure, beyond doing or not doing, being church is a clear expectation across the NT.
Session 2: Discerning NT Venues for Church
There is no example of churches in the NT lacking a venue to gather. In today’s study we consider the simple, practical question: where did NT churches meet? Though many options exist for venue in the 21st century, how might the NT (universal) precedent offer insight into the efficiency and advance of NT church planting? Surely, amidst multiple options available today, beginning new churches in the homes of new believers remains a viable option for church planting in our fields.
Session 3: Decision Making and Church Discipline
Across the NT record, decisions are presented as catalyst to local responsibility for various congregations. In today’s study we consider a variety of such decision. Examples of choosing leaders, designating offering, the confrontation of false teaching and finally, and finally the stand of the local church for holiness each call for congregational responsibility. Where we consider such decisions, how might we employ the NT precedent of local responsibility? Have you considered such responsibility as a catalyst for maturity? Are your default responses to such needs or decisions consistent with this NT precedent?
Session 4: The Value of the Lord’s Supper
The NT ordinances are Baptism and the Lord’s Supper. Each of these introduce and demand identification with the Lord’s sacrifice. Just as Christ died and rose again baptism pictures for us a chance to associate with Christ as we to have died to our old way of life and live in the power of his resurrection (Rom. 6). Similarly, the Lord’s Supper serves as a reminder of the Lord’s death, but also platforms self-examination, confession, unity and worship. How have your disciples and church planting efforts benefited from the Lord’s Supper? How might you leverage its many lessons as a reminder of the Lord’s expectation for his bride?
