The document discusses theological foundations for church planting. It argues that church planting is based on expanding communities of love as seen in the beginning of the universe and God's nature. Church planting structures the multiplication of love through preaching the word of God to create contexts for proclaiming the message. Jesus came to preach the gospel and call apostles to rapid evangelism, not focus on cultic ceremonies. The Holy Spirit causes the formation of the church. Church planting models should fit the community being reached, not just copy what Paul did, which was plant churches similar to synagogues due to the context. The focus should be on evangelism and discipleship leading to transformation, not holistic projects, as Jesus dealt with central

1. Theological Foundations of
Churchplanting
What is the Biblical basis?
What will enable a lifetime of
meaning and struggle to see
communities of love and faith
formed in the midst of poverty?
Viv Grigg
Urban Leadership Foundation

2. Foundational Principles
of the UniverseNothing matches the thrill of entering a
community, preaching the gospel, seeking
people converted, transformed, the community
changed. Why?
In the Beginning the King
He rules over all. His kingdom knows no end
He is father. The universe is built around the
infusion of fatherhood (motherhood) in the
very nature of matter

3. The King is Community
The universe is based on the expansion of
community
the center of meaning is love multiplied
Churchplanting is the structuring of the
multiplication of love
The King communicates - the universe is built on
the everlasting Word
Churchplanting is the creation of contexts for
the decadal proclamation of the word
The Word creates life
The word is the cause of structure (3 days of
form, 3 days of life)
The word is the cause of ever-expanding life

4. The One Who is Central
to the UniverseWhat did Jesus the apostle come to do? (Mark 1:15)
What did he call his apostles to train in? (Mark 3:14)
Rapid evangelism, the preaching power is the central motif
Structuring the fruit of this is the pastoral responsibility
Jesus focus was on relationships not the cult
the literature on churchplanting focuses on gathering
for cultic ceremonies.
How did he handle the structural vs life-giving relational
dynamics?
Did he plant churches? No! Our task is to build mission teams
around which ministering communities develop. Church
structure is a secondary result.

5. Foundations in the
Parables
The Kingdom(Word) is to be
planted
(Matt 13:3-8) The Parable of the
Sower
The Kingdom seeks the lost
(Matt 18:12-14) The Lost sheep
The Kingdom(Word) will multiply
Parable of the Mustard Seed (Matt
13:31-32)
Parable of Yeast (13:33)

6. The Holy Spirit,
Kingdom and Church
Nicodemus may enter the Kingdom through
rebirth
Matt 10:1-10 The anointing of the Spirit is
prerequisite for preaching
Acts 2, 4 The baptisim of the Spirit is the cause
of the first church
The book of the Acts of the Spirit shows the
centrality of the Spirit in church formation
For I know that whatever God does endures
forever, nothing can be added to it, or taken from
it. God has made it so in order that men should
fear before him (Ecc 3:14)

7. The Apostle and Ethnic
Community Structures
Churchplanting concepts are usually modelled on
what Paul did
small, geographic, eldership, deacons,
Why did Paul plant synagogue forms of church?
What structural forms convert easily today?
Web-based, gang-based, or community-based
churches? Which fits?

8. Holistic Churchplanting
Holism with a big O is not the Biblical model
Transformation is not the Biblical call, but discipleship
that leads to transformation (Matt 28:18-20
Evangelism (Preaching the Kingdom) is the directionality of
the O
Evangelism in the context of holism, not holistic projects
is the call (Luke 4:18,19)
Jesus dealt with the centralities - the spiritualities
It is important but derivative to seek transformation of
social structures
C.S. Lewis talks of his secondary role as a cultural
transformer to the apostles who deal with the inner
conversion and spirituality of the culture.