Grace Baptist Church · Care Group · Session 1

Plant Churches
for the Glory of God

Why we plant churches

“…the church was being built up… and it multiplied.” — Acts 9:31

The big idea

God saves for His glory,
Christ builds His church,
and healthy churches multiply.

“The two most important days of your life are the day you are born — and the day you find out why.” — Mark Twain

Tonight's path

Five questions, one spine.

1

Glory

Why do we plant?

2

Christ

Who builds the church?

3

Health

What kind of church multiplies?

4

Motives

What dangers must we watch?

5

Response

How do we pray, give & go?

The Bible's storyline

From Eden to the New Creation.

Pattern · Perished · Promised · Partial · Prophesied · Present · Proclaimed · Perfected

after Vaughan Roberts, God's Big Picture (IVP)

1Glory · Why do we plant?

God saves for His glory.

Genesis 1:27–28

“God created man in His own image… ‘Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth.’”

Ezekiel 36:22

“It is not for your sake… but for the sake of My holy name.”

John 1:14

“The Word became flesh… and we have seen His glory.”

Matthew 28:18–20

“Go… make disciples… baptizing… teaching… I am with you always.”

Chief end of man: to glorify God and enjoy Him forever (Westminster Shorter Catechism Q1).

2Christ · Who builds the church?

Acts 9:31 · the hinge

“So the church… was being built up. And walking in the fear of the Lord… it multiplied.”

Christ — by His Spirit and Word — gathers, defends, and preserves His church (Heidelberg Q54). So we're freed from anxiety and pride.

3Health · What kind of church multiplies?

Healthy churches multiply.

→

Not a fad — one ordinary expression of gospel health. “I will build My church.” (Matt 16:18)

A legacy of multiplying

One healthy church, a century of fruit.

1871

First Baptist, Minneapolis sends 22 members to plant.

1800s–1900s

8 churches planted → renamed Bethlehem Baptist.

1980

Calls a young pastor — John Piper.

+33 yrs

Dozens more churches planted.

None of it happens without a healthy church multiplying in 1871.

4Motives · What dangers must we watch?

Three dangers.

✗

Comfort

“There are already enough churches.” It's always easier not to plant.

✗

Conflict

A split in disguise. Healthy churches multiply; fractured churches divide.

✗

Brand-building

Enlarging our name. Build Christ's kingdom, not a brand.

The need — and the opportunity

Singapore is in a church deficit.

~6M

people on the island

~500

churches — many unfaithful or unhealthy

9 in 10

do not know Jesus as Lord

12k

members each church would need to reach the island

“The Antioch of Asia” — a launching pad for the gospel to the nations.

The supreme motive

“Whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” ‘Whatever’ includes everything — and everything includes church planting.”

John Piper · 1 Corinthians 10:31

5Response · How do we respond?

Some go. Some stay and send.

🌱

Go & plant

Costly. Faithful. Sent with blessing.

Use your gifts for Christ's body.

🤝

Stay & send

Costly too. Strengthen the mother church.

Use your gifts for Christ's body.

Each member uses their gifts “readily and cheerfully” for the others (Heidelberg Q55).

Pray — “Your kingdom come”

Three lanes.

Preserve

Guard GBC's unity from pride and division. Thank God for the church.

Increase

Christ's church — wisdom for elders, courage and humility for us, fruit among the lost.

Purify

Our motives — that the desire for God's glory shapes every plan.

“…that the kingdom of grace may be advanced” (Heidelberg Q123 / Westminster Q102).

Discuss

Four questions.

1Do you know why you were born?

2Whose kingdom are you building — Christ's, or a brand?

3What would you sacrifice to go and plant?

4What would you sacrifice to stay and send?

Habakkuk 2:14

“The earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD as the waters cover the sea.”