Yes, anyone can plant a church! Moving immediately beyond a theoretical, purely cognitively based approach, this highly practical course incorporates applied mission theology seen in various texts, a re-focusing for churches in a pluralistic culture becoming dynamic, simple, missional churches, in order to see the birthing of communitas and "Jesus movements" within cultures. Understanding of and application of intercultural church planting is examined within the gospels and the Book of Acts, particularly the seven key components of a simple church. Students prepare and present a project which includes either mentoring (discipling) another, younger, or pre-believer, and/or starting or participating in a mono-cultural or intercultural Discovery Bible study, and will apply this in their context during the course.
While the principles of church planting are easily learned in a classroom setting, the greatest learning takes place by applying these truths in a real-life setting.
It has been said that the only way the Kingdom of God can become evident in our world is through the planting of churches. This course is designed for the student to leap into church planting in one’s own context and attempt the “messiness” of real-life church planting.
No one was a better teacher of church planting than Jesus, and His apostles and disciples. This course re-focuses church planting methods solely onto New Testament strategies, patterns and methods.
Students begin to immediately apply and immerse themselves in a context around them which enable them to begin to understand and practice planting simple churches.
Students practice these methods in their own contexts during the course, but learn interculturality through both theory and practice.
Focusing on the patterns, methods and cultural issues being dealt with in Scripture, and discussed in the texts gives the student the means of moving the gospel across cultural lines.
A church planting course should be, first and foremost, done as praxis. While mistakes are part of the process, they enable each one to develop wisdom and understanding through the Holy Spirit’s guidance.
Nothing is as life-changing as putting eternal, spiritual truths into practice of the Great Commission into practice in our lives!
