The author Allen Thompson is the Coordinator for Training, Design & Strategic Initiatives at RCPC. He is also the co-author of the Redeemer Church Planting Manual and a veteran cross-cultural church planting trainer.

Church planters sometimes are so involved in the process of developing their new congregations that they can lose sight of what they should be seeking to build.

The following statements are an attempt to build broad, positive guidelines for what a Biblical church ought to be. There is room for creative approaches, cultural relevancies, and different leadership styles. Each church is unique unto itself and circumstances will vary from community to community. All churches are in the process of growth and maturation. This document represents an ideal description of essential elements of a church towards which every church ought to be striving.

1. Foundations

The Bible is the foundation upon which the church is built and is the only infallible rule of faith and practice.

• The pastor's sermons are issuing from a careful exposition of Scripture that is communicated effectually in ways that speak clearly to the needs of people in their context. He is faithfully teaching the Christian gospel according to the Scripture.
• The people are encouraged in their personal growth and in understanding, knowing and applying the Scriptures to their own life and culture.
• The pastor spends time in personal devotions and study, maintaining his knowledge of and growing in his ability to apply the Scriptures to his own life and the lives of others.

A biblical understanding of the church saturates the life of the congregation so that the church is committed to and emphasizes the whole work of the church. Consequently, there is no neglect of worship, evangelism, missions, education/discipling, fellowship and diaconal concern. Christ is viewed as the head of the church and the church is viewed as central in the plan of God. The Holy Spirit is the divine guide and teacher. There is healthy respect for unity and diversity within the body.

This is minimally demonstrated in the following:

• All the five functions of the church (worship, education, outreach, fellowship and mercy ministries) are clearly visible.
• The congregation is involved in the church at large through participation in missions, regional and national church activities and in significant ways demonstrates its unity with the broader Christian church.

The church is saturated with a vital growing relationship with the living God. Evidences of the presence and power of God are clearly visible in the life of the church.

This is minimally demonstrated in the following:

• The sharing of evidences of God's blessing within the body.
• Joyful celebration of God in all His attributes through worship, prayer, personal testimony and interaction.

2. Leadership

The pastor is totally committed to Christ in all of his life and reflects that commitment personally in his family, in the church and in society.

This is minimally reflected in:

• His commitment to spend time in personal devotions.
• His commitment to an active personal prayer life.
• His commitment to leading his family in family worship.
• His commitment to being salt and light and a catalyst for kingdom expansion in his community activities.

The pastor has an understanding of and is committed to the evangelical faith. [Evangelical theology is defined in various documents like the National Association of Evangelicals (NAE) statement of faith.] He teaches and contextualizes that faith for his people. The pastor is committed to equipping the saints to be sound in the faith, doctrinally discerning, and able to apply their faith to the issues that face today's world.

This is minimally reflected in:

• The people are being taught the doctrines of the faith over a period of time.
• Those doctrines are presented in such a way that people understand the implication of them for their everyday lives.
• People are guided in how to apply some of those doctrines to the issues of today's society.

The church is distinctly biblical in its church government.

This is minimally reflected in:

• Deliberate discipleship of leaders in preparation for the offices of elder and deacon in the church.
• The presence of evidences that elders are sharing in the shepherding responsibilities of the church.
• The people are involved in selecting representatives who will guide their church.
• Elders engage in biblical discipline to reclaim and restore the erring.

The pastor and the people are involved in biblical stewardship, which includes supporting and promoting the church locally, denominationally and globally.

This is minimally reflected in:

• A reasonable per-capita contribution among the membership.
• Some instruction in the areas of stewardship of time, talent and finances.
• Giving that reflects commitment to others outside the local congregation.

3. Ministry Functions

The church is committed to the necessity of biblical worship and the spiritual growth process of its people. The church is led in vital worship that balances the vertical and horizontal, the transcendence and imminence of God, and the private and corporate aspects of worship.

This is minimally demonstrated by the following:

• The pastor takes ultimate responsibility for the content and atmosphere of the worship service.
• Due to the high priority of worship in a biblical church, worship is conducted on the Lord's day.
• The people are encouraged and trained in private and family worship.
• Worship considers the “unchurched" and seeks to make that activity intelligible in order that non-Christians may be drawn towards it. The sacraments of baptism and the Lord's Supper are biblically used and explained as setting forth the gospel of faith in Christ.

The pastor and the church are committed to Christian education (making disciples) and committed to developing leaders.

This is minimally demonstrated by the following:

• An integrated plan of Christian education.
• The pastor has specific individuals that he is discipling.
• Individuals in the church are being trained in and involved in discipling others.
• Up to date tools of communication and education are being made available to the members at large.
• Leaders are being trained and placed in significant roles.
• The church has ample small groups and mid-size groups to facilitate nurture, accountability and assimilation.

The church is characterized by a sense of fellowship—the people feel responsibility and love for one another.

This is minimally demonstrated by the following:

• A sense of joyful interaction when the congregation meets.
• Deliberate acts to respond to the needs of others.
• A quick response to dissipate disharmony within the congregation.

The church is committed to equipping its members to be involved in local and global evangelism. The church is characterized by an enthusiasm for the extension of biblical faith. It recognizes that the local church has an important role in bringing change to its local area.

This is minimally demonstrated by the following:

• There is an integrated plan to mobilize a large percentage of the people in some form of community outreach.
• There is in place some system for training people in personal evangelism.
• People of the church are involved in proclaiming the gospel message.
• The church is “missional" in its outlook through prayer and financial support.
• The church is effectively communicating to its members the needs in other places.
• Participation through leadership, example and finances in starting additional congregations.

The church should be characterized by compassion for the needy. Mercy ministries should be a vital part of the life and ministry of the church.

This is minimally demonstrated by the following:

• The leadership of the church encourages and facilitates word and deed ministries that reflect the unique makeup of the congregation.
• The pastor is a model of ministry of compassion.
• The congregation is growing in understanding of and is increasingly involved in word and deed activities.

4. Purpose

The purpose of the church is to glorify God.

This is minimally demonstrated by the following:

• Christians increasingly demonstrate love in their relationships. The one-another commands of the New Testament are lived out.
• Christians are growing in holiness, individually demonstrating Christlikeness.
• People are serving in accord with their spiritual giftedness.

Short Definition:

The church is Christ's holy, submitted people redeemed to be worshipers in community in the world to the glory of God.

“You also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ." I Peter 2:5