Planting Growing Churches for the 21st Century is not about how many people you can get through the church doors on Sunday morning, but about planting and growing spiritually healthy churches that are equipped to reach today’s unchurched generation. With vision, purpose, and practical advice, Aubrey Malphurs carefully leads you through the six stages of a new church, including funding, creating a strong servant leadership, and establishing values. This third edition will inspire, encourage, and equip ministry leaders.
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.
“I define a local church as a gathering of professing believers in Christ who, under leadership, have organized to observe the ordinances and obey Jesus’ Great Commission. This definition has two basic ingredients: being and doing.” (Page 25)
“I define church planting as an exhausting but exciting venture of faith that involves the planned process of beginning and growing new local churches, based on Jesus’ promise and in obedience to his Great Commission.” (Page 19)
“Church planters are initiators not maintainers. They’re characterized as proactive and intentional.” (Page 20)
“The church needs to equip a generation of Christians with a deep passion to plant biblically based, spiritually healthy, Great Commission churches. These in turn will commit themselves to the task of sowing churches to reach various generations (modern and postmodern) and the people groups at home and abroad. This is by no means a new vision; it is already present in the pages of the book of Acts!” (Page 14)
“the biblical measure of success is whether they’re making disciples.” (Page 30)
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.