The Nuts and Bolts of Church Planting: A Guide for Starting Any Kind of Church
Overview
Most books on church planting offer a model for churches to replicate—usually one that is tied to a particular style, generation, or even demographic. But what churches really need is a process that is flexible, not bound to a particular time or current fad. In The Nuts and Bolts of Church Planting, trusted author and church-planting expert Aubrey Malphurs shares the basic steps of a process that every church planter needs, including:
- Establishing values, mission, vision, and strategy
- Reaching the community
- Making disciples
- Recruiting a team
- Determining location and facilities
- Raising money for the ministry
If you want instant practical takeaway based on proven techniques, this handbook will be invaluable as you work to expand the kingdom.
In the Logos edition, this volume is enhanced by amazing functionality. Scripture citations link directly to English translations, and important terms link to dictionaries, encyclopedias, and a wealth of other resources in your digital library. Perform powerful searches to find exactly what you’re looking for. Take the discussion with you using tablet and mobile apps. With Logos Bible Software, the most efficient and comprehensive research tools are in one place, so you get the most out of your study.
- Details the process of church planting
- Provides techniques for developing new churches
- Explains how to create a team and raise money
- Preparation for Church Planting
- What Is Church Planting? The Definition
- Who Plants Churches? A Church Planter Profile
- How Much Will It Cost? New Church Funding
- What Are the Foundational Assumptions? Important Concepts
- Process of Church Planting
- What Drives a New Church? Core Values
- What Are New Churches Supposed to Do? Ministry Mission
- What Kind of Church Will It Be? Ministry Vision
- How Will You Accomplish the Mission and Vision? Developing a Strategy
- Who Will Be Reached? Engaging the Community
- What Is the Goal? Making Disciples
- Who Will Implement the Goal? Mobilizing a Congregational Team
- Who Will Equip the Implementers? Building a Staff Team
- Where Will the New Church Locate? Establishing a Ministry Beachhead
- What Will It Cost? Raising the Finances
Top Highlights
“The important question is what can be done about this? Is there a solution to the problem of the decline of Christianity in general and the American church in particular?” (Page 8)
“I define church planting as an exhausting but exciting venture of faith, the planned process of starting and growing local churches based on Jesus’s promise to build his church and in obedience to his Great Commission.” (Pages 17–18)
“My definition of the local church is that it’s an indispensable gathering of professing believers in Christ, who, under leadership, are organized to obey Jesus’s Great Commission by accomplishing certain functions to the glory of God.” (Page 22)
“Church planters are those who are involved in church planting as defined in this chapter. They’re men and women who have in some way committed their lives to the exhausting but exciting venture of faith that includes the planned process of starting and growing local churches, based on Jesus’s promise to build his church and in obedience to his Great Commission.” (Page 25)
“Another way to think of the process of church planting is focusing on the life stages of a church. Every church works through five stages: conception, development, birth, growth, and reproduction.” (Page 20)
I’m so grateful for Aubrey and his work. This book is a must-read for every church planter. Practical, biblical, concise, and comprehensive are all words that I would use to describe it. Read it and learn—keep it near you as you plant and refer to it often.
—Bob Roberts Jr., senior pastor, Northwood Church
The Nuts and Bolts of Church Planting is a comprehensive (all-in-one) church-planting tool that is not model specific. The author has provided college professors with a complete curriculum for students and prospective planters with the questions to ask and the answers to the questions.
—Barry Calhoun, missional ministries team leader, Southern Baptists of Texas Convention
In 1994 Aubrey Malphurs wrote one of the only books on church planting I could find to help start Church @ The Springs. It was an invaluable resource to that generation of church planters. The Nuts and Bolts of Church Planting will serve this generation of church planters the same way. Great resource and profound wisdom! Thanks, Aubrey, for continuing to invest in church planters.
—Ron Sylvia, lead pastor, Church @ The Springs
Church planters need to read this book because they will find these here they simply won’t get in the other books. Malphurs provides the planter with great questions they need to ask and answer. Definitely required reading!
—Bob Rowley, adjunct professor, Dallas Theological Seminary
Aubrey Malphurs (PhD, Dallas Theological Seminary) is senior professor of pastoral ministries and leadership at Dallas Theological Seminary and president of the Malphurs Group. He engages in church consulting and training, and is the author of more than 20 ministry books, including Doing Church: A Biblical Guide for Leading Ministries through Change.
