Planting for the gospel

Breaking new ground

PLANTING FOR THE GOSPEL
A Hands-on Guide to Church Planting
By Graham Beynon
Christian Focus. 121 pages. £4.99
ISBN 978 1 845 506 360

Planting for the Gospel explores the main issues involved in planting a church.
What are the reasons for church planting? What are the different models of church planting? How do we decide on a particular model? What are the different methods of church planting? What are the key issues we will face in church planting? These and other questions are raised and discussed in an accessible manner suitable for church leaders and members alike.

I, for one, appreciated the emphasis on ecclesiology. While avoiding unhelpful rigidity, Beynon made clear that decisions about models and methodologies flow from our beliefs about church. I also appreciated the large number of Scripture references in the opening chapter. Though there were fewer such references in the remainder of the book, the content was obviously based on scriptural principles.

The author also helpfully includes an extensive section of case studies (mostly UK-based), which I found interesting as well as enlightening. This feature alone is enough to commend the book to those interested in church planting in the United Kingdom.

Smaller churches looking for help with how to send evangelists to parts of the country (or their city) with no faithful witness at present to plant new churches will need to look beyond this volume but larger churches concerned with growing in their ‘own patch’ will find Planting for the Gospel immensely helpful.

Barry King,
pastor/church planter and leads the Grace Baptist Partnership

© Evangelicals Now - July 2011
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Main Articles

• NWA is on the move
• The Commentary
  The house beautiful
• Rock star dreams?
• Challenges of a growing church, part 2
• A surprising multi-faith group
  Ralph Walker shares what turns out to be a positive experience
• 'Christianity is evil'
  Peter Lewis assesses the accusations of New Atheism
• When every day is extra time
  An nterview with Archbishop Ben Kwashi of Nigeria
• Attack on John 3.16
• Lady Gaga and the church of self
  A new pop culture icon
• Crossing the culture
  Going down like a lead balloon
• The Music Exchange
  A tale of two spirits
• Unapologetic Christianity
  Jesus: the man of mystery?
• Monthly youth leaders column
  Time to relax?
• The Third Degree
  Link-up for new students
• Notes to growing Christians
  The way in is the way on
• Letter from America
  Expansive not expensive?
• John Eddison, 1916-2011
  Obituary
• Whose love wins?
  How the Trinity helps us say 'no' to Bell and 'yes' to hell

Other articles

• The Way
• Life in a day
• The Road - Looking at secular books
• Planting for the gospel - A hands-on guide to church planting
• Gospel clarity - Challenging the New Perspective on Paul
• The challenge of caring
• Serious mistranslations of the Bible
• The big story
• Dig even deeper - Unearthing Old Testament treasure
• Where there was no church
• The Reformation - Faith and flames
• Elijah
• The fruit of the Spirit is...
• A Geordie in Japan
• The sovereignty of God debate
• Finding God's will