Ready, Set, Plant? A Request for Dialogue

I have had the opportunity over the past year to attend a couple of church planting conferences. You always hear how hard it is on church planters, how they have to work so hard, wear so many hats, how so many guys burn out and leave ministry altogether, how marriages are strained, how plants fail. While thinking about this, the question that arose in my mind was, hasn't scripture already addressed these issues? Don't we see the need for a plurality of elders to spread the responsibility of leading the church? Don't we see deacons selected to help care for the practical day-to-day needs of church members to help support the elders as they pastor and teach? Isn't a church plant, after all and above all, a church? So the idea I need help working through is this: if you don't have the necessary elements of a church in place (plurality of elders, deacons, denominational affiliation or equivalent, etc), perhaps you aren't ready to plant a church.

Ephesians in short form

Our small group is studying Ephesians and did a basic overview when we met last night. Here, in one(ish) sentence form, is a chapter by chapter summary of the book:

Chapter 1: The trinitarian God has planned eternally to glorify Himself by electing and saving His church.

Chapter 2: By grace the trinitarian God takes people far from Him who are under His wrath and builds through the cross one people with which to peacefully dwell.

Chapter 3: God's mystery that the Gentiles are partakers in Christ has been revealed to Paul; he prays that they glorify God in knowing and rejoicing in the boundless love God has for His elect.

Chapter 4: Live according to your call as God's children; grow in grace by using your gifts and following your leaders, putting off the old ways and walking in newness of life, seeking unity.

Chapter 5: Imitate God by not loving hidden evil deeds; instead, think of others, living submissively, and glorifying God in marriage.

Chapter 6: Glorify God in parenting and work relationships; use the gifts of God to stand firm and fight spiritual battles.

Summary of Ephesians: The trinitarian God is sovereignly building his church in grace through the cross from all kinds of people; therefore live in peaceful unity together, growing into maturity, rejoicing in God's riches and living godly lives according to your calling as God's children and the gifts He gives. This is how God gets glory for Himself.

What do you think? What did we miss?