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Modeling the Mission
Seven principles church planters can learn from Paul in Philippi.
When Paul planted the church in Philippi, he didn’t just preach a sermon—he modeled what it means to live as a disciple of Jesus in a new community. For church planters and their teams, Acts 16 provides a blueprint for leading missionally, discipling faithfully, and living in a way others can imitate.
In Philippians 4:9, Paul gives a key instruction that frames this approach:
“What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.”
Paul wasn’t asking the Philippians to invent a new formula; he was asking them to observe and practice what they had already learned from him—to see his life, his leadership, and his faithfulness as a model to follow. For church planters, this principle is essential: your life, choices, and character are teaching tools for your team and your congregation.
Acts 16 reveals seven ways Paul lived missionally in Philippi. Each offers practical insight for planting a church today.
1. Look and Listen for the Leading of God (Acts 16:6–10)
Paul’s plans were redirected multiple times by the Spirit. Twice, the Spirit prevented him from preaching in certain regions, and then a vision called him to Macedonia.
Luke’s account shows the team’s discernment in real time: they “concluded” together that God had called them, weighing circumstances, visions, and Spirit-led guidance.
Application for church planters:
- Hold plans loosely: God may close doors to open better ones. Teach your team to trust Him rather than cling to strategy.
- Discern together: Model attentive decision-making; this builds unity and clarity.
- Observe the Spirit at work: Sometimes doors close so better ones can open. Show your team that leadership is often about waiting, listening, and discerning, not only executing.
2. Get to Know the Place and the People (Acts 16:11–14)
Paul spent days in Philippi understanding the city, its culture, reputation, and rhythms. He didn’t rush into implementing another’s model of ministry; he observed, listened, and assessed. Exegeting his community, he identified a “place of prayer” and intentionally built relationships, starting with Lydia, learning her name, origin, profession, and spiritual journey.
Application for church planters:
- Map your context: Understand your city’s culture, laws, and rhythms.
- Know the people personally: Take time to learn names, backgrounds, and spiritual journeys.
- Encourage relational observation: Effective ministry is grounded in genuine understanding, not assumptions. Ask your team: who in our city has God placed before us? How can we get to know them deeply?
3. Share the Gospel Plainly and Explicitly (Acts 16:14–15)
Lydia responded because Paul shared the gospel clearly and faithfully. Relationships alone weren’t enough—she needed clear gospel proclamation. I like to say, “relational evangelism is good as long as it includes actual evangelism.”
Application for church planters:
- Combine relational ministry with clear evangelism: People can’t believe what they haven’t heard.
- Faithfulness over method: Paul didn’t rely on charm or persuasion; he shared truth in ways people could understand.
- Train your team: Ensure everyone on your team can clearly present the gospel in context-appropriate ways.
4. Stay Sensitive to Spiritual Needs (Acts 16:16–18)
Paul confronted a slave girl possessed by a spirit of divination. He didn’t ignore the situation, even though her cries weren’t from genuine faith, and she never asked for his help—he acted with discernment and authority.
Application for church planters:
- Go beneath the surface: Ministry isn’t just addressing physical or emotional needs; it includes spiritual realities.
- Act with authority in Christ: Equip your team to respond to oppression, fear, and spiritual strongholds.
- Disciple through modeling: Paul’s team witnessed him recognize and confront spiritual issues, a critical example for leaders planting churches in spiritually complex contexts.
5. Turn Suffering into Singing (Acts 16:19–25)
Paul and Silas were victims seven times over. They were victims of prejudice, lying, attacks, humiliation, beatings, imprisonment, and torture. Yet, they didn’t wallow in their victimhood. They worshiped at midnight, turning pain into praise. And their suffering became a platform for God’s power.
Application for church planters:
- Teach and model gospel-shaped resilience: Show your team how to respond to hardship with trust, prayer, and joy.
- Teach the power of public testimony: The prisoners listened. Worship in hardship communicates faith more than words alone.
- Celebrate endurance as leadership: Challenges will come. Your response sets the tone for your team and congregation.
6. Invite Influence Through Integrity (Acts 16:26–34)
When the jailer tried to take his life, Paul intervened. He cared for the very person responsible for his suffering, demonstrating character over retaliation. His integrity opened the door for the jailer and his household to come to faith.
Application for church planters:
- Character creates opportunity: Teach your team that integrity, humility, and compassion influence more than authority alone.
- Prioritize mercy over revenge: Choose actions that serve others, even in the face of injustice.
- Model leadership through service: Your team sees the practical outworking of Christlike influence when you act rightly under pressure.
7. Respond to Adversaries with Boldness and Respect (Acts 16:35–40)
When the magistrates sent word that Paul and Silas were free to go, Paul had a decision to make. What would the apostle who told Timothy to pray for kings and governing officials and the Roman Christians to submit to governing authorities do? Paul both asserted his rights as a Roman citizen and walked in humble obedience—not for personal benefit, but to protect the fledgling church. He balanced courage with respect, ensuring that the new believers would not face undue oppression.
Application for church planters:
- Teach strategic advocacy: Show your team how to assert rights in a way that honors God and protects the mission God sent you on.
- Balance courage and grace: Boldness doesn’t mean aggression; respect doesn’t mean passivity.
- Leave a legacy of protection: Paul’s actions ensured a safer environment for the church to grow—plant your church in a way that safeguards future generations of disciples.
Living Missionally as a Church Planting Team
Acts 16 challenges church planters to consider the cost, courage, and character required to plant a gospel-centered church. Paul shows that leading a church is not about programs or prestige—it’s about living a life that teaches and inspires discipleship in others.
For your team, the question isn’t only, Will we preach the gospel? But, also, Will we model it? Will we:
- Listen for God’s guidance together?
- Learn and love the people God sends?
- Speak clearly and faithfully?
- See spiritual realities and act with authority?
- Respond to trials with worship?
- Lead with integrity that draws others to Christ?
- Stand for justice and protection with boldness and grace?
Church planting is hard. It demands sacrifice, endurance, and faith. But Acts 16 reminds us that living missionally is possible when leaders model discipleship well. When planters live what they preach, they create a culture in which their team and congregation can thrive as disciples who make disciples.
