In my last two posts, I’ve told the story (drawing from their own blogs) of Shaun and Rai King and their experience with Courageous Church in Atlanta.  It’s an important story because it is a dramatic version of a similar story that is being played out in many places in America.  The bottom line is “church as we’ve known it is no longer working.

Church planting “experts” advised Shaun that the way to start a church was to create a dynamic Sunday morning “experience”.  Shaun was successful at doing exactly that.  However, Shaun discovered two things along the way.  First, creating that “experience” took almost all available time, energy and finances from Shaun and the people.  There wasn’t much left over to do anything else.  Second, that, although lots of people showed up for the “experience”, there was little progress in making mature disciples who then invested in meeting needs in inner city Atlanta.  In other words, the end result that had motivated Shaun to start the church was blocked by the very process of of starting the church.  No wonder he resigned in exasperation.

I want to imagine how Jesus might have trained Shaun in church planting.  This may be presumptuous but see if you think this is consistent with Scripture.  I’m imagining that Shaun is one of the guys in Luke 10:1.  “After this, the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them two by two ahead of him to every two and place where he was about to go.”

Jesus:  Shaun, I’m sending you and Rai to inner city Atlanta.  That’s were I want you to start a church.  A base of operations for the Kingdom there.

Shaun:  Ok Lord.  I’m in.

Jesus:  Now when you get there you two have one job.  Find a “house of peace”.  There will be a person of peace (maybe more than one) living there.  Once you find that house, settle into community with those folks.  Talk about the Kingdom with them.  And, more than talk, let them experience the power of the Kingdom.

Shaun.  Wait a minute, Lord!  This is way different from what the church planting experts are telling me to do.  What about finding a facility, getting a great worship team and beginning to preach powerful seeker sensitive sermons?  And, children’s ministry.  And, adequate parking.  There’s a whole list of things.