Paul's Method of Church Planting
Read Romans 15:18-23. How could he claim that "I have fully preached the gospel of Christ" (vs. 19, NIV), when obviously most of the population were still not Christians? What does the answer tell us about how we are to determine what success is?
Paul chose to start new congregations in strategic cities throughout the region. He chose places that were major transport hubs-on major Roman roads or seaports-and that were important commercial, trading, or administrative centers. He thus established strategic lighthouses throughout the area, planning that the new groups of believers would take the good news to the areas surrounding these centers. Although Paul's work was finished, the task of outreach had only begun for the new believers.
On his second missionary journey, Paul, with the help of Timothy and Silas, established a Christian church in Thessalonica, the largest city in Macedonia. It was
located at the crossroads of two important Roman highways and was the major seaport for the entire region. A strongly established group of believers in this city would provide a center from which other church plants could grow throughout that area.
This is exactly what happened. Paul says, "You became a model to all the believers in Macedonia and Achaia. The Lord's message rang out from you not only in Macedonia and Achaia—your faith in God has become known everywhere" (1 Thess. 1:7, 8, NIV).
This church was a model for others. Interestingly enough, the Greek word for church (ekklesia) was not a specifically Christian word. It was used for any gathering of people in various settings. However, the Christian ekklesia was called to specific functions—not just to worship together but to reach out to their communities with the good news that they themselves had received. The church did not exist solely to feed its own members. What is your own attitude? Do you go to church seeking only to get your own needs met, or do you go hoping to give even more than to receive?
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