This document discusses a biblical philosophy of church planting. It defines the church and its main purpose as carrying out the Great Commission. The twofold goal of missions is evangelism and church planting. A church is considered indigenous when it is self-governing, self-supporting, and self-propagating. The work of a church planter involves soul-winning, discipleship, and training leaders. The ultimate goal is for a church to become indigenous by being autonomous, financially independent, and able to reproduce itself.

1. A Biblical Philosophy of Church
Planting
DR. EARL D. JESSUP
(Notes adapted from Dr. Robert McKeever)

3. INTRODUCTION - ACTS 1:8

4. INTRODUCTION - ACTS 1:8
• Definition:
The New Testament Church is an organized body of saved and
baptized believers united together for the main purpose of carrying out the
Great Commission.

5. INTRODUCTION - ACTS 1:8
• Definition:
The New Testament Church is an organized body of saved and
baptized believers united together for the main purpose of carrying out the
Great Commission.
1. Acts 1:8 clearly tells us where we are to be witnesses:

6. INTRODUCTION - ACTS 1:8
• Definition:
The New Testament Church is an organized body of saved and
baptized believers united together for the main purpose of carrying out the
Great Commission.
1. Acts 1:8 clearly tells us where we are to be witnesses:
a. In Jerusalem – Your home area.

7. INTRODUCTION - ACTS 1:8
• Definition:
The New Testament Church is an organized body of saved and
baptized believers united together for the main purpose of carrying out the
Great Commission.
1. Acts 1:8 clearly tells us where we are to be witnesses:
a. In Jerusalem – Your home area.
b. In all Judea – Area around your home.

8. INTRODUCTION - ACTS 1:8
• Definition:
The New Testament Church is an organized body of saved and
baptized believers united together for the main purpose of carrying out the
Great Commission.
1. Acts 1:8 clearly tells us where we are to be witnesses:
a. In Jerusalem – Your home area.
b. In all Judea – Area around your home.
c. In Samaria – Cross cultural church planting.

9. INTRODUCTION - ACTS 1:8
• Definition:
The New Testament Church is an organized body of saved and
baptized believers united together for the main purpose of carrying out the
Great Commission.
1. Acts 1:8 clearly tells us where we are to be witnesses:
a. In Jerusalem – Your home area.
b. In all Judea – Area around your home.
c. In Samaria – Cross cultural church planting.
d. And unto the uttermost parts of the earth – Regions beyond.

10. INTRODUCTION - ACTS 1:8
• Definition:
The New Testament Church is an organized body of saved and
baptized believers united together for the main purpose of carrying out the
Great Commission.
1. Acts 1:8 clearly tells us where we are to be witnesses:
a. In Jerusalem – Your home area.
b. In all Judea – Area around your home.
c. In Samaria – Cross cultural church planting.
d. And unto the uttermost parts of the earth – Regions beyond.
2. The three most important words in Acts 1:8:

11. INTRODUCTION - ACTS 1:8
• Definition:
The New Testament Church is an organized body of saved and
baptized believers united together for the main purpose of carrying out the
Great Commission.
1. Acts 1:8 clearly tells us where we are to be witnesses:
a. In Jerusalem – Your home area.
b. In all Judea – Area around your home.
c. In Samaria – Cross cultural church planting.
d. And unto the uttermost parts of the earth – Regions beyond.
2. The three most important words in Acts 1:8:
a. Power – “Duminis” Power referring to the help or aid of the Holy Spirit.

12. INTRODUCTION - ACTS 1:8
• Definition:
The New Testament Church is an organized body of saved and
baptized believers united together for the main purpose of carrying out the
Great Commission.
1. Acts 1:8 clearly tells us where we are to be witnesses:
a. In Jerusalem – Your home area.
b. In all Judea – Area around your home.
c. In Samaria – Cross cultural church planting.
d. And unto the uttermost parts of the earth – Regions beyond.
2. The three most important words in Acts 1:8:
a. Power – “Duminis” Power referring to the help or aid of the Holy Spirit.
b. Witness – “Martoos” Sacrificer of all even life itself.

13. INTRODUCTION - ACTS 1:8
• Definition:
The New Testament Church is an organized body of saved and
baptized believers united together for the main purpose of carrying out the
Great Commission.
1. Acts 1:8 clearly tells us where we are to be witnesses:
a. In Jerusalem – Your home area.
b. In all Judea – Area around your home.
c. In Samaria – Cross cultural church planting.
d. And unto the uttermost parts of the earth – Regions beyond.
2. The three most important words in Acts 1:8:
a. Power – “Duminis” Power referring to the help or aid of the Holy Spirit.
b. Witness – “Martoos” Sacrificer of all even life itself.
c. Both – All at the same time, simultaneously, the forgotten word of missions.
The main mission of the local church is missions and our mission field is the world.

15. I. WHAT IS THE TWO FOLD
GOAL OF MISSIONS?

16. I. WHAT IS THE TWO FOLD
GOAL OF MISSIONS?
A. EVANGELISM: PREACH TO REACH EACH.

17. I. WHAT IS THE TWO FOLD
GOAL OF MISSIONS?
A. EVANGELISM: PREACH TO REACH EACH.
B. CHURCH PLANTING:

18. I. WHAT IS THE TWO FOLD
GOAL OF MISSIONS?
A. EVANGELISM: PREACH TO REACH EACH.
B. CHURCH PLANTING:
1. The immediate objective of missions is to win the lost, and the
ultimate objective of missions is to plant churches.

19. I. WHAT IS THE TWO FOLD
GOAL OF MISSIONS?
A. EVANGELISM: PREACH TO REACH EACH.
B. CHURCH PLANTING:
1. The immediate objective of missions is to win the lost, and the
ultimate objective of missions is to plant churches.
2. As indispensable as evangelism is to missions, it is incomplete
without the formation of local churches.

20. I. WHAT IS THE TWO FOLD
GOAL OF MISSIONS?
A. EVANGELISM: PREACH TO REACH EACH.
B. CHURCH PLANTING:
1. The immediate objective of missions is to win the lost, and the
ultimate objective of missions is to plant churches.
2. As indispensable as evangelism is to missions, it is incomplete
without the formation of local churches.
3. Planting churches involves sowing seed and the seed is the Word of
God. (Luke 8:11; I Peter 1:23)

21. I. WHAT IS THE TWO FOLD
GOAL OF MISSIONS?
A. EVANGELISM: PREACH TO REACH EACH.
B. CHURCH PLANTING:
1. The immediate objective of missions is to win the lost, and the
ultimate objective of missions is to plant churches.
2. As indispensable as evangelism is to missions, it is incomplete
without the formation of local churches.
3. Planting churches involves sowing seed and the seed is the Word of
God. (Luke 8:11; I Peter 1:23)
4. In church planting, we sow the seed, but it is God that gives the
increase. (I Corinthians 3:6)

22. I. WHAT IS THE TWO FOLD
GOAL OF MISSIONS?
A. EVANGELISM: PREACH TO REACH EACH.
B. CHURCH PLANTING:
1. The immediate objective of missions is to win the lost, and the
ultimate objective of missions is to plant churches.
2. As indispensable as evangelism is to missions, it is incomplete
without the formation of local churches.
3. Planting churches involves sowing seed and the seed is the Word of
God. (Luke 8:11; I Peter 1:23)
4. In church planting, we sow the seed, but it is God that gives the
increase. (I Corinthians 3:6)
5. Once a church is established, our goal is to see that church become
indigenous.

24. II. THE INDIGENOUS
PRINCIPLE OF MISSIONS.

25. II. THE INDIGENOUS
PRINCIPLE OF MISSIONS.
A. DEFINITION: NATIVE OR NATURAL TO A COUNTRY OR AREA.

26. II. THE INDIGENOUS
PRINCIPLE OF MISSIONS.
A. DEFINITION: NATIVE OR NATURAL TO A COUNTRY OR AREA.
B. QUESTION: WHEN IS A CHURCH INDIGENOUS? (THREE THINGS
HAVE TO BE TRUE.)

27. II. THE INDIGENOUS
PRINCIPLE OF MISSIONS.
A. DEFINITION: NATIVE OR NATURAL TO A COUNTRY OR AREA.
B. QUESTION: WHEN IS A CHURCH INDIGENOUS? (THREE THINGS
HAVE TO BE TRUE.)
1. When it is “Self-governing”: Autonomous

28. II. THE INDIGENOUS
PRINCIPLE OF MISSIONS.
A. DEFINITION: NATIVE OR NATURAL TO A COUNTRY OR AREA.
B. QUESTION: WHEN IS A CHURCH INDIGENOUS? (THREE THINGS
HAVE TO BE TRUE.)
1. When it is “Self-governing”: Autonomous
2. When it is “Self-supporting”: Sufficient

29. II. THE INDIGENOUS
PRINCIPLE OF MISSIONS.
A. DEFINITION: NATIVE OR NATURAL TO A COUNTRY OR AREA.
B. QUESTION: WHEN IS A CHURCH INDIGENOUS? (THREE THINGS
HAVE TO BE TRUE.)
1. When it is “Self-governing”: Autonomous
2. When it is “Self-supporting”: Sufficient
3. When it is “Self-propagating”: Reproducing

30. II. THE INDIGENOUS
PRINCIPLE OF MISSIONS.
A. DEFINITION: NATIVE OR NATURAL TO A COUNTRY OR AREA.
B. QUESTION: WHEN IS A CHURCH INDIGENOUS? (THREE THINGS
HAVE TO BE TRUE.)
1. When it is “Self-governing”: Autonomous
2. When it is “Self-supporting”: Sufficient
3. When it is “Self-propagating”: Reproducing
*Note: Remember that the church is more than an organization, it
is a living organism.

31. II. THE INDIGENOUS
PRINCIPLE OF MISSIONS.
A. DEFINITION: NATIVE OR NATURAL TO A COUNTRY OR AREA.
B. QUESTION: WHEN IS A CHURCH INDIGENOUS? (THREE THINGS
HAVE TO BE TRUE.)
1. When it is “Self-governing”: Autonomous
2. When it is “Self-supporting”: Sufficient
3. When it is “Self-propagating”: Reproducing
*Note: Remember that the church is more than an organization, it
is a living organism.
1. Grow

32. II. THE INDIGENOUS
PRINCIPLE OF MISSIONS.
A. DEFINITION: NATIVE OR NATURAL TO A COUNTRY OR AREA.
B. QUESTION: WHEN IS A CHURCH INDIGENOUS? (THREE THINGS
HAVE TO BE TRUE.)
1. When it is “Self-governing”: Autonomous
2. When it is “Self-supporting”: Sufficient
3. When it is “Self-propagating”: Reproducing
*Note: Remember that the church is more than an organization, it
is a living organism.
1. Grow
2. Reproduce

34. III.THE MISSIONARY CHURCH
PLANTER.

35. III.THE MISSIONARY CHURCH
PLANTER.
A. THE PASTOR IS CALLED BY THE LORD TO A CHURCH, BUT A
MISSIONARY CHURCH PLANTER IS CALLED BY THE LORD TO A
CITY!

36. III.THE MISSIONARY CHURCH
PLANTER.
A. THE PASTOR IS CALLED BY THE LORD TO A CHURCH, BUT A
MISSIONARY CHURCH PLANTER IS CALLED BY THE LORD TO A
CITY!
B. THE WORK OF A CHURCH PLANTER INVOLVES THREE FACTORS:

37. III.THE MISSIONARY CHURCH
PLANTER.
A. THE PASTOR IS CALLED BY THE LORD TO A CHURCH, BUT A
MISSIONARY CHURCH PLANTER IS CALLED BY THE LORD TO A
CITY!
B. THE WORK OF A CHURCH PLANTER INVOLVES THREE FACTORS:
1. Sonship: Soul-winning and evangelism

38. III.THE MISSIONARY CHURCH
PLANTER.
A. THE PASTOR IS CALLED BY THE LORD TO A CHURCH, BUT A
MISSIONARY CHURCH PLANTER IS CALLED BY THE LORD TO A
CITY!
B. THE WORK OF A CHURCH PLANTER INVOLVES THREE FACTORS:
1. Sonship: Soul-winning and evangelism
2. Discipleship: Teaching converts

39. III.THE MISSIONARY CHURCH
PLANTER.
A. THE PASTOR IS CALLED BY THE LORD TO A CHURCH, BUT A
MISSIONARY CHURCH PLANTER IS CALLED BY THE LORD TO A
CITY!
B. THE WORK OF A CHURCH PLANTER INVOLVES THREE FACTORS:
1. Sonship: Soul-winning and evangelism
2. Discipleship: Teaching converts
3. Leadership: Training leaders

41. III.THE MISSIONARY CHURCH
PLANTER.

42. III.THE MISSIONARY CHURCH
PLANTER. THE CHURCHTO BECOME INDIGENOUS.
C. OUR ULTIMATE GOAL IS FOR

43. III.THE MISSIONARY CHURCH
PLANTER. THE CHURCHTO BECOME INDIGENOUS.
C. OUR ULTIMATE GOAL IS FOR
1. * Self-Governing

44. III.THE MISSIONARY CHURCH
PLANTER. THE CHURCHTO BECOME INDIGENOUS.
C. OUR ULTIMATE GOAL IS FOR
1. * Self-Governing
2. * Self-Supporting

45. III.THE MISSIONARY CHURCH
PLANTER. THE CHURCHTO BECOME INDIGENOUS.
C. OUR ULTIMATE GOAL IS FOR
1. * Self-Governing
2. * Self-Supporting
3. * Self-Propagating

46. III.THE MISSIONARY CHURCH
PLANTER. THE CHURCHTO BECOME INDIGENOUS.
C. OUR ULTIMATE GOAL IS FOR
1. * Self-Governing
2. * Self-Supporting
3. * Self-Propagating
D. THE COMPLETION OF THE CHURCH PLANTING PROCESS.

47. III.THE MISSIONARY CHURCH
PLANTER. THE CHURCHTO BECOME INDIGENOUS.
C. OUR ULTIMATE GOAL IS FOR
1. * Self-Governing
2. * Self-Supporting
3. * Self-Propagating
D. THE COMPLETION OF THE CHURCH PLANTING PROCESS.
1. Church Planter leaves and begins the process again. “Evangelist/
Missionary Church Planter”

48. III.THE MISSIONARY CHURCH
PLANTER. THE CHURCHTO BECOME INDIGENOUS.
C. OUR ULTIMATE GOAL IS FOR
1. * Self-Governing
2. * Self-Supporting
3. * Self-Propagating
D. THE COMPLETION OF THE CHURCH PLANTING PROCESS.
1. Church Planter leaves and begins the process again. “Evangelist/
Missionary Church Planter”
2. Church Planter stays and reproduces churches out of the local
church. “Pastor/Church Planter”

49. III.THE MISSIONARY CHURCH
PLANTER. THE CHURCHTO BECOME INDIGENOUS.
C. OUR ULTIMATE GOAL IS FOR
1. * Self-Governing
2. * Self-Supporting
3. * Self-Propagating
D. THE COMPLETION OF THE CHURCH PLANTING PROCESS.
1. Church Planter leaves and begins the process again. “Evangelist/
Missionary Church Planter”
2. Church Planter stays and reproduces churches out of the local
church. “Pastor/Church Planter”
✓ Evangelism is not complete until the evangelized become
evangelists and the Great Commission is not
complete until the church reproduces churches.

51. IV.THREE MISCONCEPTIONS
THAT HINDER CHURCH
PLANTING.

52. IV.THREE MISCONCEPTIONS
THAT HINDER CHURCH
PLANTING.
A. THE MISCONCEPTION OF WHAT CONSTITUTES A MISSION
FIELD.

53. IV.THREE MISCONCEPTIONS
THAT HINDER CHURCH
PLANTING.
A. THE MISCONCEPTION OF WHAT CONSTITUTES A MISSION
FIELD.
1. Missions has been reduced to geography.

54. IV.THREE MISCONCEPTIONS
THAT HINDER CHURCH
PLANTING.
A. THE MISCONCEPTION OF WHAT CONSTITUTES A MISSION
FIELD.
1. Missions has been reduced to geography.
2. Our mission field is the world.

55. IV.THREE MISCONCEPTIONS
THAT HINDER CHURCH
PLANTING.
A. THE MISCONCEPTION OF WHAT CONSTITUTES A MISSION
FIELD.
1. Missions has been reduced to geography.
2. Our mission field is the world.
B. THE AVERAGE CHURCH’S MISCONCEPTION OF THE
CHURCH PLANTER.

56. IV.THREE MISCONCEPTIONS
THAT HINDER CHURCH
PLANTING.
A. THE MISCONCEPTION OF WHAT CONSTITUTES A MISSION
FIELD.
1. Missions has been reduced to geography.
2. Our mission field is the world.
B. THE AVERAGE CHURCH’S MISCONCEPTION OF THE
CHURCH PLANTER.
C. THE CHURCH PLANTER’S MISCONCEPTION OF BUILDING
INDIGENOUS churches.

57. IV.THREE MISCONCEPTIONS
THAT HINDER CHURCH
PLANTING.
A. THE MISCONCEPTION OF WHAT CONSTITUTES A MISSION
FIELD.
1. Missions has been reduced to geography.
2. Our mission field is the world.
B. THE AVERAGE CHURCH’S MISCONCEPTION OF THE
CHURCH PLANTER.
C. THE CHURCH PLANTER’S MISCONCEPTION OF BUILDING
INDIGENOUS churches.
1. The three most common errors that a church planter makes:

58. IV.THREE MISCONCEPTIONS
THAT HINDER CHURCH
PLANTING.
A. THE MISCONCEPTION OF WHAT CONSTITUTES A MISSION
FIELD.
1. Missions has been reduced to geography.
2. Our mission field is the world.
B. THE AVERAGE CHURCH’S MISCONCEPTION OF THE
CHURCH PLANTER.
C. THE CHURCH PLANTER’S MISCONCEPTION OF BUILDING
INDIGENOUS churches.
1. The three most common errors that a church planter makes:
a. Dependent on outside support.

59. IV.THREE MISCONCEPTIONS
THAT HINDER CHURCH
PLANTING.
A. THE MISCONCEPTION OF WHAT CONSTITUTES A MISSION
FIELD.
1. Missions has been reduced to geography.
2. Our mission field is the world.
B. THE AVERAGE CHURCH’S MISCONCEPTION OF THE
CHURCH PLANTER.
C. THE CHURCH PLANTER’S MISCONCEPTION OF BUILDING
INDIGENOUS churches.
1. The three most common errors that a church planter makes:
a. Dependent on outside support.
b. Dependent on the church planter.

60. IV.THREE MISCONCEPTIONS
THAT HINDER CHURCH
PLANTING.
A. THE MISCONCEPTION OF WHAT CONSTITUTES A MISSION
FIELD.
1. Missions has been reduced to geography.
2. Our mission field is the world.
B. THE AVERAGE CHURCH’S MISCONCEPTION OF THE
CHURCH PLANTER.
C. THE CHURCH PLANTER’S MISCONCEPTION OF BUILDING
INDIGENOUS churches.
1. The three most common errors that a church planter makes:
a. Dependent on outside support.
b. Dependent on the church planter.
c. Dependent on outside leadership.

61. IV.THREE MISCONCEPTIONS
THAT HINDER CHURCH
PLANTING.
A. THE MISCONCEPTION OF WHAT CONSTITUTES A MISSION
FIELD.
1. Missions has been reduced to geography.
2. Our mission field is the world.
B. THE AVERAGE CHURCH’S MISCONCEPTION OF THE
CHURCH PLANTER.
C. THE CHURCH PLANTER’S MISCONCEPTION OF BUILDING
INDIGENOUS churches.
1. The three most common errors that a church planter makes:
a. Dependent on outside support.
b. Dependent on the church planter.
c. Dependent on outside leadership.
2. Be careful you don’t develop a welfare mentality.

63. V. CHURCH PLANTERS NEED
TO BUILD MISSIONARY-
HEARTED CHURCHES.

64. V. CHURCH PLANTERS NEED
TO BUILD MISSIONARY-
HEARTED CHURCHES.
A. CHURCHES STARTED BY MISSIONARIES SHOULD BE
SUPPORTING MISSIONS.

65. V. CHURCH PLANTERS NEED
TO BUILD MISSIONARY-
HEARTED CHURCHES.
A. CHURCHES STARTED BY MISSIONARIES SHOULD BE
SUPPORTING MISSIONS.
B. START SUPPORTING MISSIONARIES FROM THE VERY BEGINNING.

66. V. CHURCH PLANTERS NEED
TO BUILD MISSIONARY-
HEARTED CHURCHES.
A. CHURCHES STARTED BY MISSIONARIES SHOULD BE
SUPPORTING MISSIONS.
B. START SUPPORTING MISSIONARIES FROM THE VERY BEGINNING.
1. God blesses a church that gives to missions.

67. V. CHURCH PLANTERS NEED
TO BUILD MISSIONARY-
HEARTED CHURCHES.
A. CHURCHES STARTED BY MISSIONARIES SHOULD BE
SUPPORTING MISSIONS.
B. START SUPPORTING MISSIONARIES FROM THE VERY BEGINNING.
1. God blesses a church that gives to missions.
2. God promises to supply all your church’s needs. Philippians 4:19
“If you want a healthy church, put it on a missionary diet.”
Harold Sightler

69. CONCLUSION:

70. CONCLUSION:
1. We need to get back to the basics and planting churches in America.

71. CONCLUSION:
1. We need to get back to the basics and planting churches in America.
a. Church planting is the only answer for North America.

72. CONCLUSION:
1. We need to get back to the basics and planting churches in America.
a. Church planting is the only answer for North America.
b. Church planting is the only answer for the world.

73. CONCLUSION:
1. We need to get back to the basics and planting churches in America.
a. Church planting is the only answer for North America.
b. Church planting is the only answer for the world.
2. We can increase our mission force by increasing our mission source.

74. CONCLUSION:
1. We need to get back to the basics and planting churches in America.
a. Church planting is the only answer for North America.
b. Church planting is the only answer for the world.
2. We can increase our mission force by increasing our mission source.
“GREAT COMMISSION” Luke 24:46-47
The Light that shines the FARTHEST around the world
shines the BRIGHTEST here at home.