Church planting principles and precepts

When we analyze the metaphoric concepts of what the church is, we can come up with following table which not only succinctly outlines how the church is to be, but also what it is to do:


Metaphoric concept
Body Of Christ (& corporate ministry)
Principles
1) Jesus is the Head, & the church as His body should act in accord with His decrees & reflect His character in those actions.
2) Christians are uniquely related to one another & there is an organic unity which is expressed in the way they live and work together (Sin dehumanises; God rehumanises).
3) Interdependence: when one hurts/rejoices, all hurt/rejoice.
Church planting precepts
Growth occurs when believers are motivated & organised to do ministry such that their interdependence & organic unity under Jesus is evident.

Metaphoric concept
Household of God (& mutual ministry)
Principles
1) Fatherhood of God implies we are family
2) We share in the inheritance of Christ
3) We become brothers & sisters to one another
Church planting precepts
Growth occurs when believers relate to each other in such a way that they extend the borders of their community to non-Christians & enfold them into the faith

Metaphoric concept
Temple of God (& worship ministry)
Principles
1) The Church is now the dwelling place of God
2) Christians are uniquely fitted together to become the abiding place of the Holy Spirit
3) Jesus is the stone that holds this temple together
Church planting precepts
Growth occurs when believers celebrate the reality of the Spirit's indwelling presence in such a way as to communicate that reality to non-Christians.

Metaphoric concept
Bride of Christ (& ministry of change)
Principles
1) Intimacy that exists between Christ & His Church
2) The need for purity & faithfulness on the part of the Bride
3) The love of Christ for His Church
Church planting precepts
Growth occurs when believers advocate moral transformation in her members & functional change in her ministries so as to reflect the purity & purpose of Christ in the world.

[this information was compiled by Rev. Steve Clarke, BCV]


With this in mind, we are able to begin to look at the Christian reality in which we find ourselves, and also address how God would want us to practice our faith so that an onlooking world can get less of a wrong impression of what Jesus had in mind when He said 'follow Me'.