Church Planting in the Book of ActsSample

“Acts 29” - A Movement That Never Ends

One the most unique feature of the book of Acts is the way that it concludes. After twenty-eight chapters of riveting adventure, the final phrases just tail off into what seems to need a degree of closure.

“For two whole years Paul stayed there (in Rome)in his own rented house and welcomed all who came to see him. He proclaimed the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ—with all boldness and without hindrance!” Acts 28:30-31 (NIV)

When I finish reading the book of Acts, I find myself saying, “AND THEN WHAT?” What happens to Paul? Does he live? Is he martyred? Does he preach directly to Caesar like he wanted to do? Does he make it beyond Rome? What happened to the other disciples? What about all the churches he planted? What happened next?

And this is exactly the effect that the Holy Spirit wanted when he inspired Luke to write this book. He wanted us to realize that the story does not end with Acts chapter 28. It doesn’t end with Paul. It didn't stop in the first century.The Acts of the Holy Spirit continue to happen two thousand years later. You and I are still writing this story!

Actually, the church that you and your team are planting could take up a chapter or two in the ongoing history of what the Holy Spirit is doing in the world. When I coach church planters, I often remind them of the fact that they are writing history together. “One day, fifty years from now, the church you’re planting today will hold its fifty year anniversary celebration. When they do, they will talk about you. They will talk about the miracles of provision, direction, and salvation that happened through your early steps of faith and obedience.”

How do I know this? I pastor a church that is over fifty years old. We have held our celebrations after thirty, forty, and even fifty years. Every time we do, we go back and tell the old stories about how God answered prayer. We talk about the heroes who were part of the original group that launched the church. We describe the way the church grew, and some of the healing miracles that happened early in our history.

Our history is church history! Your steps of faith and obedience are being entered in the annals of history alongside of the exploits of Paul, Barnabas, Simon Peter, Philip, Priscilla and Aquila. So, make sure to record your journey. In fact, you should be documenting in journals, in photos, and through videos, all the stories of what God is doing as you are in the process of planting this church. Future generations will read about all God did through you and they will be inspired to carry the baton forward into their generation as well.

May God bless your every step of faith and reward you with his favor!