Friday, I said that planting new churches was one of the healthiest things an established church can do. That sounds counterintuitive, and over the years I’ve had pushback when I have made that statement. But it’s TRUE; there are few things that you can do for YOUR church that will benefit YOUR CHURCH more than planting a NEW CHURCH (for others). Here’s why.

FIRST, planting a new church focuses your attention and effort OUTSIDE yourself. Healthy spirituality is not inwardly focused, focused on your own experience and your own blessings. Healthy spiriituality focuses our hearts and attention on others, in imitation of Jesus, who did not hold onto his equality with God but emptied himself. “Have among yourselves the same way of thinking.” (Phil 2.5; cf. Phil 2.1.7, 1 Cor 9.19ff, etc.) Christians are not supposed to put all their efforts into doing something that benefits only them or their group. Be generous with your time and resources, and God will bless you by making you a blessing to others.

SECOND, planting new churches is one way we obey Jesus’ “marching orders” for his people. Notice Jesus’ final words to his followers in Matthew 28 and Acts 1:

“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.” (Matt 28.18-20)

“You will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” (Acts 1.8)

These are crucial passages in the New Testament story, where Jesus tells his followers what they are to do while he is away. It would be difficult to overstate their importance. AND THEY ARE NOT COMPATIBLE WITH THE WAY MOST PEOPLE THINK OF DOING CHURCH, where our heads are mostly about what WE are getting out of it.

Do you want to be a consumer Christian? Or do you want to what Jesus has commanded you to do?

Planting new churches is a way to obey these commands of Jesus. It’s not the only way, but it’s a good way.

THIRD, planting new churches connects us to the Body of Christ. It’s easy for congregations to be focused in on their own needs and problems, and to ignore what our brothers and sisters around the world are facing. Paul has a remedy for this spiritual illness: give to support ministry to other people, give to support work that benefits other members of the Body.

“Our desire is not that others might be relieved while you are hard pressed, but that there might be equality.  At the present time your plenty will supply what they need, so that in turn their plenty will supply what you need. The goal is equality, as it is written: ‘The one who gathered much did not have too much, and the one who gathered little did not have too little.’” (2 Cor 8.13-15)

“This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of the Lord’s people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God. Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, others will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else. And in their prayers for you their hearts will go out to you, because of the surpassing grace God has given you.” (2 Cor 9.12-14)

FOURTH, planting churches conforms our hearts to God’s heart for the lost. We sometimes sing, “Break my heart for what breaks yours.” We shouldn’t pray that prayer without trying to put it into action. And planting new churches is the most effective, powerful way to reach out to the lost.

I think I’ll have a few more reasons tomorrow.