When I first began considering, praying, and planning to plant a church, I desired to be as prepared as possible, so I reached out to three friends who had successfully planted and asked them for resources on church planting that could prepare me for such a daunting task. Surprisingly, they each responded in a similar way; there really are no helpful books because most overemphasize the business/entrepreneurial aspects while neglecting a robust, biblical vision. They recommended I read the Pastoral Epistles, be sent and supported by a local church, and have a healthy church model to replicate. While I wholeheartedly agree with their assessment of most church planting books and their practical advice, I have found some resources that I believe to be incredibly practical, motivating, and sharpening in all phases of the planting process. This is my essential reading list for a prospective planter that covers all the bases.
7. The Pastoral Epistles by the Apostle Paul
“I am writing these things to you so that you may know how one ought to behave in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, a pillar and buttress of the truth.”
As my church-planting friends recommended, if you are looking to plant, it is essential that your view of the church and pastoral ministry is shaped by the Head of the Church. These three epistles will provide you with God’s revelation regarding what the local church is called to be and do and to prioritize. Church planters, you must own 1 Timothy, 2 Timothy, and Titus for in them you will find your marching orders from the King. You will find the Master’s plan for a healthy, authentic, and effective New Testament church.
6. The Nuts and Bolts of Church Planting by Aubrey Malphurs
“Through church planting the church has survived.”
Far from being another marketing/entrepreneurial book on multiplication by any means and as fast as possible, this book was refreshingly constructive and bible-based. If you desire to plant a church, there are specific things you will need to have in place—things such as your core values, mission statement, a plan to garner support, a missions strategy, and a blueprint to develop leaders and disciple people. While these things may seem entrepreneurial, they are necessary. You must be able to show why your church is distinct from others. Prioritizing these administrative tasks at the foundation of your new church does not make you an entrepreneur, but a faithful shepherd. Developing and communicating a compelling vision for your church shows that in your efforts to glorify Christ, you aim to do so with clarity, excellence, and organization. A confusing and disorderly church is not glorifying to God and is certainly not loving or hospitable toward others. I found Malphurs book to be helpful early on as I sought to communicate why I felt God was calling me to start and new church, what I envisioned that church to look like, and why I was convicted the church was needed where we planted it.
5. The Mind of a Missionary by David Johannes
“The missionary mind brims with ambition, is built on belief, and resides in the realm of reliance.”
Because church planting is ground-breaking work, it very much resembles many of the cross-cultural, pioneer aspects of missionary work. It is daunting, challenging, overwhelming, and even frustrating at times. As the missionary is wholly committed to plodding under pressure and persevering through the onslaught of obstacles, the church planter must be able to maintain a long-term mindset, keep his hand to the plow no matter what, and motivate a likeminded team around him. This fascinating book explores the inner life of missionaries—what motivates their audacious expectancy on mission while everything seems to be against them. Although in a planting endeavor there is often much transfer growth, I am more excited about new life in Christ. And being in the most post-Christian region of our country, I don’t want to lose that missionary mindset. It is the leaders’ responsibility to cultivate this missional focus in the life of the church. Maybe it’s an unlikely church planting book, but it has been such a balm for my soul in these formative days.
4. Church Planting Is for Wimps by Mike McKinley
“We have wrongly put pressure on ordinary pastors to do the extraordinary.”
This was required reading in one of my pastoral classes in seminary. While it provides a distinctively Word-centered philosophy of church planting, it is essentially an honest, personal reflection of struggle—and even failure—in planting. It warns against the perils and pitfalls of trying to be extraordinary, when God is content to use use ordinary people to build his church through ordinary means. McKinley’s ability to weave personal narrative and instruction, coupled with his self-deprecation and whit, will keep you on the edge of your seat and ultimately overwhelm you with the grace of God in using messed-up people to join him in his wonderful plan of redemption. Planting is hard. No one is really cut out for it. But through God’s grace, it can be done. And it can even be enjoyable.
3. The Faithful Church Planter by Tony Merida
“Church planting should cause your prayer life to break open if you consider how hard it is, and what kind of warfare is involved. We go with faith in and reliance on God.”
Due to the challenging nature of planting, it’s not only for the strong-willed and dependent, but the versatile leader. Although a faithful planter will build up and depend upon a team, he must be a jack of all trades. This is because in the early months and years of the plant—on top of all the shepherding responsibilities—many menial tasks will inevitably fall on him. He won’t have a secretary or assistant or many elders or deacons. Over time, he will delegate and entrust more to faithful servant-leaders, but having to do these tasks early on will make him a better leader in the long run. Merida paints a portrait of a faithful planter detailing the necessary competencies in his private, domestic, public, and ministerial life—things that will set him up to be a successful planter and pastor in God’s eyes. I found this book helpful before I launched as it gave me a clear picture of a well-rounded, competent planter to attain to.
2. How to Build a Healthy Church by Mark Dever and Paul Alexander
“Read the Word, preach the Word, pray the Word, sing the Word, see the Word (in the ordinances). These five basics are essential to the corporate life, health, and holiness of any local church.”
I first read this book when it was called The Deliberate Church. It had such a profound effect on me that I attribute it to my calling into ministry. This book is rather comprehensive in scope and delineates the marks of a healthy church and how the leadership may be deliberate in leading and building in that direction. It is refreshingly countercultural in its presentation of Christ and his Word as the ultimate focus whenever the church is gathered. It is equally philosophical and practical in its approach and provides the planter with a healthy and replicable model to attain to.
1. Planting by Pastoring by Nathan Knight
“If you want your life to count, then seek to know the names and faces and stories and wins and losses of real people. Seek to gather them under the protection of a Christ-enjoying, biblically defined church.”
This is by far the best book I have read on church planting because of its explicit emphasis on pastoring. This book is so in line with how we have sought to lead our church this past year. The church doesn’t need more entrepreneurs who turn the Gospel into a commodity to be peddled and people into consumers to be pandered to; it needs more shepherds who do the hard work of knowing, loving, caring, and feeding God’s flock—desiring something for them not from them. While most church planting books focus on multiplication, it is often coached and accomplished at the expense of depth—of doctrine and relationships. People are reached but not formed. He makes the case that “church planter” is not an official office according to the Scripture. When we create this unbiblical category, we overlay it with unbiblical expectations. Ultimately a planter is a pastor and should see himself as such. This will relieve much undue pressure, increase dependence upon God and his means, safeguard against marketing and manipulation, align your mission with Christ’s, create a culture of authentic relationships, and bring glory to God and not to ourselves.
Maximum Mandatum 