Planting Churches Among the City's Poor - Volume 2

P ART II: C HURCH P LANTING T OOLKIT • 299

4. Deepening our perspective and practice : Our various church building and church planting activities must strive to highlight both the role of the individual striving after God while also the role of the body in sustaining all authentic spiritual vitality.

B. Complimentary Concept Two : Incorporated church membership alongside rigorous personal discipleship

1. Key text : Rom. 15.5-7 – May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus , that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you , for the glory of God. 2. Definition of the pair : We must strive to incorporate people formally into congregations where through repentance, confession of faith, and formal catechumen we welcome people into the church while at the same time challenge each confessing member to use their gifts for the sake of the Body and the mission of the church. 3. Description of the problem : The tendency to focus either on formally incorporating new members into the structure of the church itself or concentrate on the vitality of the spiritual expression as the true markers of saving faith in Christ. 4. Deepening our perspective and practice : Emphasize both the formal incorporation of confessing believers into churches where they are recognized as followers of Jesus, baptized, and participate in worship, witness, and good works as well as encouraging informal, spontaneous, and responsive signs of discipleship in all areas of life outside of the formal church structures.

C. Complimentary Concept Three : Organic dynamism through relationships alongside clear, definite organizational structures

1. Key text : Rom. 12.4-6 – For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another . Having gifts that differ according to