NOTES FROM: PLANTING MOVEMENTS - STINT TEAM LEADER TRG 2007

In the winter of 55-56, while in Corinth, the apostle Paul wrote a letter to church in Rome. This was a little over 9 years after he first left Antioch on the 1st Missionary Journey. .
Near the end of this great theological letter in the 15th chapter to these believers he has yet to meet, Paul writes about his own ministry to Gentiles, that Christ accomplished this ministry through him by word and deed, by the power of miraculous signs and wonders, and through the power of Holy Spirit. And from Jerusalem all the way around to Illyricum, Paul fully proclaimed the gospel of Christ. Paul explains: “It has always been my ambition to preach the gospel where Christ was not known, so that I would not be building on someone else's foundation.” Then he adds, “But now that there is no more place for me to work in these regions.”

And yet, there’s no record of Paul ever going to Illyricum in either Acts or in other church writings. And even if he did, how can he say the work is done? There were still plenty of places where it seems the gospel had not penetrated. He will later sent Timothy to Ephesus and tell him to do the work of an evangelist.


Earlier to this same Corinthian church while in Ephesus, Paul wrote that “he planted, Apollos watered by God caused the growth. (The Corinthians) were God’s field.” Then the changed the analogy: (they) were God’s building.” Paul by the grace of God, as a master builder laid a foundation that others built on. His foundation was simply Jesus! He was a planter, a foundation-layer.


So Paul is saying that is less than 10 years from the time he first left Antioch that work of planting movements and laying foundations in the eastern regions of the Roman Empire was done. It was time to move on. And since the work was done, he was going to go to the western regions starting in Spain. On the way he was going to Rome to fellowship with them and hope they will support him in Spain. He was going to come to Rome but not to be Pope, or start a megachurch or even to stay as their pastor. In fact in verse 14, he wrote: “I myself am convinced that you are full of goodness, complete in knowledge and competent to instruct one another.” In other words, he was saying ‘you don’t need me. You are self-sufficient’. In essence Romans is just a long support letter.


So how in 10 years, did Paul proclaim gospel from Jerusalem to Illyricum and how plant movements, lay foundations in such a way that there was ‘no where else to go’? What principles can we find that you as smart leaders can say apply to your situation?

Now some things Paul had a huge advantage over us. He saw Jesus when he was converted. He is given ability to do signs and wonders. There was a common language. He is charting new ground – there is no one telling him he can’t go to places. There was no risk management. And he is Jewish and most of these places have synagogues so spiritual seekers who already have some basis on God’s plan. They just don’t know about Jesus.

He also doesn’t have the NT – except what he will write. There are no planes, trains or automobiles; just boats, donkeys and horses. There are no cell phones, text messaging, or blackberries. He doesn’t have a plethora of tools for discipleship on the internet, etc. No playbook just the Holy Spirit, the Great Commission and places to go where there were not yet movements of Christ.





After discussing, here are some key principles to emphasize if people might have missed them…

PAUL WAS SENSITIVE TO THE HOLY SPIRIT - Paul and Barnabas were sent out by the Holy Spirit. Paul was filled with the Holy Spirit. Luke writes that the Spirit prevented them from going to certain areas. Paul writes in Romans that it was by the Holy Spirit. It was also through visions that he knew where to go and when to stay.

Application: How lead our teams to be dependent on and sensitive to the Spirit?


PAUL TARGETED CITIES TO REACH REGIONS – Paul and Luke mention regions (Asia, Galatia, Macedonia, Achaia, etc.) often over cities. Paul passed through some cities to get to certain key cities like Philippi. The gospel rang out from these cities to the entire regions and beyond. ( 1 Thess 1:4-10; Acts 19:8-10)

Application: How can we lead our teams to launch movements with an eye on the whole region/country/world?


IN EVERY LOCATION, PAUL PROCLAIMED THE GOSPEL TO JEWS OR THOSE SPIRITUALLY PREPARED – He went first to synagogues. Only two towns where this is not recorded – Derbe and Philippi. But most likely Philippi did not have a synagogue because he looked for a place of prayer. He reasoned with the Jews and Gentile converts moving on if they became obstinate.


Application: How can we model going first to the spiritually prepared? How do we find them?


IN MANY LOCATIONS, THEY GOSPEL WAS NOT ONLY PROCLAIMED BUT OFTEN DEMONSTRATED AND IN PARTICULAR TO THE GENTILES. – The gospel proclaimed was a message of love (cross) and power (resurrection). The gospel was demonstrated too as God preformed miracles through Paul. Sometimes confirmed what was being proclaimed (as in the case of the proconsul on Cyprus or in Ephesus), sometimes it opened the door for the gospel to be proclaimed (e.g. in Lystra). In Philippi, the jailor even asks for the gospel after seeing it demonstrated.

Application: How can we demonstrate the power and love of God especially in hard to reach places? What role can pray and faith play in this?


PAUL DEVELOPED LEADERS IN THE CONTEXT OF THE MISSION AND HANDED THE MINISTRY OVER TO THEM. - Paul and Barnabas appointed elders in each city of the 1st missionary journey and it is assumed Paul continued this practice in Macedonia and Achaia. In Acts 20, there is a list of young leaders traveling with Paul. They represent men from Berea, Thessalonica, Lystra, Derbe, and Asia. Paul’s leadership training, much like Christ’s, was in the context of ministry.


Application: How can you do to lead your team to develop leaders in the context of ministry?