Planting Churches Among the City's Poor - Volume 2

P ART II: C HURCH P LANTING T OOLKIT • 265

The Concept of the Locale Church The Role of the Regional Church Rev. Dr. Don L. Davis

The concept of the Locale Church: “The presence and association of all Christ-honoring congregations in a particular geographical area, regardless of form, denomination, or structure (whether traditional, community, mega-churches, or cell or house churches) which together represent the body of Christ and kingdom witness in a region.”

I. Elements of the Locale Church (i.e., Regional Church)

A. In the NT, the churches throughout Asia Minor and the Roman empire were connected and built upon the apostolic witness concerning the person and work of Jesus Christ ; in every sense, the early Church was: 1. One : Eph. 4.4-6 (ESV) – There is one body and one Spirit – just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call – one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. 2. Holy : 1 Pet. 2.9 (ESV) – But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. 3. Catholic : Titus 2.14 (ESV) – who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works. 4. Apostolic : Eph. 2.19-20 (ESV) – So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the founda tion of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone. B. The kind of experience they were undergoing in their location and condition, 1 Thess. 2.14 (ESV) – For you, brothers, became imitators of the churches of God in Christ Jesus that are in Judea . For you suffered the same things from your own countrymen as they did from the Jews.