Collaborative Gospel Renewal: Planting Churches for the City
Summary
The sermon delivered by the speaker focuses on the significance of gospel renewal and the strategic planting of healthy gospel churches to reach the diverse population of their city. The speaker underscores the necessity of partnership and collaboration among churches, emphasizing that no single church can fulfill the mission alone. They advocate for a city-wide agenda that prioritizes holistic endeavors and church planting to bless the entire city. The speaker stresses the importance of a shared theological vision over differences in worship style or planting models, advocating for inclusivity and generosity in working with others who share the same vision for reaching the lost.
The speaker outlines five key strategies for training church planters, including a two-year incubator program, monthly forums, support for planter spouses, annual conferences, and a next-generation leadership development program. These strategies aim to foster healthier churches, greater partnership and support, the development of gospel ecosystems, and the outreach to unreached communities. The speaker highlights the importance of kingdom partnerships and finding leaders and churches with a shared burden and passion for ministry.
In discussing gospel partnership, the speaker emphasizes the need for a common spirit and theological vision, mutual respect, and a willingness to listen and get to know each other. They stress the importance of sacrifice and serving other tribes and networks, sharing stories of churches collaborating with a kingdom mindset for the sake of the lost and the city. The speaker identifies five types of relationships between gospel churches—competition, coexistence, communication, cooperation, and collaboration—and argues for the necessity of collaboration to reach communities for Christ.
The speaker introduces different levels of vision for outreach, from mobilizing church members for local mission to planting daughter churches and ultimately reaching the entire city. They propose that achieving this "box c vision" requires a movement of the gospel, an organic collaboration of churches energized by a shared gospel vision. The speaker also provides three questions to assess the viability of collaboration: the presence of a clear gospel opportunity, a clear gospel need, and shared congruity in commitment.
Lastly, the speaker discusses the formation of the collaborative church planting movement called 2020 Birmingham, which aims to plant a greater number of healthier churches in the city. They share a vision of planting 20 new churches by 2020 and an additional 30 by 2030. The collaboration is underpinned by a shared theological vision and eight core values, including a love for Jesus Christ and a commitment to the gospel.
Key Takeaways:
- Gospel renewal in a city requires the strategic planting of diverse churches that can effectively reach different communities. The speaker emphasizes that a shared theological vision is more critical than differences in worship styles or church planting models, as it unites churches in their mission to reach the lost. This approach fosters inclusivity and generosity among churches, leading to a more holistic and effective outreach. [09:43]
- Training and supporting church planters is essential for the health and growth of the church. The speaker's outlined strategies, such as incubator programs and leadership development, are designed to create a supportive ecosystem for church planters. This ecosystem not only nurtures individual churches but also strengthens the collective mission of reaching unreached communities through gospel partnerships. [15:13]
- True gospel partnership requires a common spirit, theological vision, and a willingness to sacrifice for the greater good. The speaker's call for collaboration over competition among churches is a reminder that the mission is too vast for any single church to accomplish alone. By sharing resources, wisdom, and support, churches can have a more significant impact on their city and beyond. [17:28]
- A movement of the gospel across a city is not a solo endeavor but a collaborative effort that requires churches to work together with a shared vision. The speaker's concept of "box c vision" illustrates the need for a collective push towards reaching the entire city, which can only be achieved through an organic collaboration that is goal-driven and mission-minded. [04:38]
- The 2020 Birmingham movement serves as a practical example of how churches can unite under a shared theological vision to plant a greater number of healthier churches. The speaker's vision for planting 50 new churches by 2030 demonstrates the power of collaboration and shared core values in achieving ambitious goals for the kingdom. [07:30]
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
1. John 17:20-23 (ESV)
> "I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me."
2. 1 Corinthians 3:6-9 (ESV)
> "I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth. He who plants and he who waters are one, and each will receive his wages according to his labor. For we are God's fellow workers. You are God's field, God's building."
3. Ephesians 4:11-13 (ESV)
> "And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ."
#### Observation Questions
1. What are the five types of relationships between gospel churches mentioned in the sermon? [00:31]
2. According to the sermon, what are the five key strategies for training church planters? [13:01]
3. What are the eight core values of the 2020 Birmingham movement as outlined in the sermon? [07:00]
4. What three questions are suggested to assess the viability of collaboration in gospel partnerships? [10:21]
#### Interpretation Questions
1. How does the concept of "box c vision" illustrate the need for collaboration among churches to reach an entire city? [03:34]
2. In what ways does the sermon suggest that a shared theological vision is more important than differences in worship styles or church planting models? [09:08]
3. How do the five types of relationships between gospel churches (competition, coexistence, communication, cooperation, and collaboration) impact the effectiveness of reaching communities for Christ? [00:31]
4. What role does mutual respect and a willingness to listen play in fostering true gospel partnerships according to the sermon? [15:49]
#### Application Questions
1. Reflecting on John 17:20-23, how can your church work towards greater unity with other local churches to demonstrate the love of Christ to the world?
2. Considering 1 Corinthians 3:6-9, how can you personally contribute to the growth of the church, knowing that God gives the growth?
3. Ephesians 4:11-13 speaks about equipping the saints for ministry. What specific steps can your small group take to equip each other for effective ministry in your community?
4. The sermon emphasizes the importance of collaboration over competition among churches. How can your church move from a mindset of competition to one of collaboration with other local churches? [01:01]
5. The speaker mentions the need for a shared theological vision to unite churches. What steps can your church take to develop and share a common theological vision with other churches in your city? [09:08]
6. How can your church support the training and development of future church planters as outlined in the sermon? What specific actions can your small group take to contribute to this effort? [13:01]
7. Reflect on the three questions for assessing the viability of collaboration. Is there a clear gospel opportunity, need, and shared commitment in your city that your church can address in partnership with others? [10:21]
Devotional
Day 1: Unity in Theological Vision
True unity in the body of Christ transcends worship styles and planting models, focusing instead on a shared theological vision that unites believers in reaching the lost. This unity is not about uniformity in practice but about harmony in purpose, as diverse churches come together to effectively minister to different communities. It is a call to inclusivity and generosity, recognizing that the gospel message is central and that our mission is to spread it throughout the city. [09:43]
1 Corinthians 1:10 - "I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another in what you say and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly united in mind and thought."
Reflection: How can you contribute to fostering unity within your local church and the broader Christian community, focusing on shared beliefs rather than differences?
Day 2: Nurturing Church Planters
Investing in the training and support of church planters is crucial for the vitality of the church and the spread of the gospel. By providing resources such as incubator programs and leadership development, we create a nurturing environment that equips planters to establish healthy churches. This support system not only benefits individual planters but also strengthens the collective mission of reaching unreached communities through gospel partnerships. [15:13]
Ephesians 4:11-12 - "So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up."
Reflection: What role can you play in supporting church planters and leaders within your community to ensure the growth and health of the church?
Day 3: Sacrifice in Gospel Partnership
Gospel partnership is built on a foundation of common spirit, theological vision, and a willingness to sacrifice for the greater good. It calls for collaboration over competition, with churches sharing resources, wisdom, and support to have a more significant impact on their city and beyond. This partnership is a testament to the kingdom mindset, where the focus is on serving and advancing the mission together. [17:28]
Philippians 2:3-4 - "Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others."
Reflection: In what ways can you practice humility and sacrifice within your church community to foster stronger gospel partnerships?
Day 4: Collaborative Gospel Movement
A city-wide gospel movement is a collaborative effort that requires churches to unite under a shared vision. This "box c vision" is about mobilizing believers to reach every corner of the city with the gospel, recognizing that such a task can only be accomplished through collective action and organic collaboration. It is a goal-driven and mission-minded endeavor that calls for the active participation of every church member. [04:38]
Acts 4:32 - "All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had."
Reflection: What steps can you take to actively participate in a collaborative gospel movement within your city?
Day 5: Visionary Church Planting Collaboration
The 2020 Birmingham movement exemplifies how churches can come together under a shared theological vision to plant a greater number of healthier churches. This ambitious goal of planting 50 new churches by 2030 demonstrates the power of collaboration and shared core values in kingdom building. It is a practical model of how unity in Christ can lead to significant achievements for the gospel. [07:30]
Hebrews 10:24-25 - "And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching."
Reflection: How can you be a part of a visionary church planting movement in your area, and what specific steps can you take to contribute to its success?
Quotes
"We have a vision that believes that we can do far more together than we could ever do on our own." [16:55]
"I suggest to you that it would take nothing less than a movement of the gospel to reach a box c vision." #!!03:34!!#
"The power though not only to save us but to renew us in our lives gospel renewal is key to the transformation of individuals and even the renewal of our cities" #!!08:06!!#
"By focusing our partnership around shared theological vision rather than doctrine or methodology we're able to encourage and foster the trust we need to give ourselves to the task and to be generous and inclusive as we can be" #!!09:43!!#
"Here's the five ways in which we train within our city...how might things look different if you worked in this way in your region or town or city...the development of gospel ecosystems...reaching the unreached...resource sharing strategy and information...finally retention in the city." #!!13:01!!#
"How do you develop a gospel movement for your city?...kingdom partnerships require multiple churches that are equally committed...are there leaders and churches who share the same burden as you to meet the need you've identified...do they have a strong passion for this ministry?" #!!14:41!!#
"We've come together not to try to plant churches together but rather together to plant healthier and a greater number of churches." #!!05:16!!#
"Movements need to center around a shared theological vision. Theological vision is the way you see your city and the church." #!!06:25!!#
"What might be a theological vision for a city-wide collaborative church planting movement like 2020 Birmingham? Well, we use the following eight values." #!!07:00!!#
"We're starting to help each other sharing ideas sharing resources maybe praying more intentionally for one another" #!!01:01!!#
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