Glorifying the Triune God Through Church Planting
On my office door at Covenant Seminary, you will find a parody of the Chick-fil-A cow advertisement that states, “Plant more churches.” My hope is that, as the next generation of students passes by my office, they will consider the great need of church planting in our time.
In the opening paragraph of The Great Dechurching: Who’s Leaving, Why Are They Going, and What Will It Take to Bring Them Back? (Zondervan, 2023), authors Jim Davis, Michael Graham, and Ryan P. Burge note, “In the United States, we are witnessing the largest and fastest religious shift in the country’s history . . . approximately 40 million American adults once attended church but no longer do.” That shift accounts for more people than the First and Second Great Awakenings and every revival in our country combined, according to their research. It also underscores the importance of church planting today.
In John 17:4, Jesus prays, “I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work that you gave me to do.” He gives glory to the Father on earth by fulfilling the work God gave him. Just as Jesus faithfully engaged in the mission God set before him, so too does God receive glory when we faithfully join him in the mission of redeeming all things (Col. 1:19–20).
If the chief end of man is to glorify God and enjoy him forever (as Westminster Shorter Catechism question 1 states), it is fitting to ask, “How best do we glorify and enjoy God?” For Jesus, it was fulfilling the mission God gave him. What followed was the planting of churches to the glory of the Father.
It is amazing to consider that we are the fruit of saints from the early church who faithfully lived out the Great Commission through church planting. This is something I do not take for granted, especially as I reflect on the Presbyterian missionaries who were sent to South Korea. One of those missionaries traveled to rural regions and reached my grandmother, Soon Ja Kwon. When she immigrated to the United States in 1971, she continued attending Presbyterian church plants until she passed away.
Church planting is the establishment of new churches to spread the gospel by making disciples. This work is deeply rooted in God’s mission to redeem the world, and its ultimate purpose is to bring glory to our Triune God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. While we often think of church planting as our work, we are in fact joining in what God is already doing in the world.
This article will explore the theological basis for church planting, why it is essential, and how it brings glory to God. We will also discuss how church planting participates in the larger story of God’s redemptive plan for humanity and how the church itself becomes a means of worship and glory to the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
The Theological Foundation of Church Planting
Before exploring how church planting glorifies the Triune God, we must first establish its biblical and theological foundation. Church planting is the outworking of the commission Christ gave to his followers, rooted in both the Great Commission and the nature of God himself.
While the Bible does not explicitly use the term “church planting,” that does not mean there is no biblical basis for it. The foundation for church planting is the Great Commission, which commands Christ’s followers to make disciples (the only imperative in the text), baptize, and teach. What immediately followed was the apostles carrying out this commission by establishing local churches. If we are to faithfully respond to the Great Commission, should we not follow the example of those first hearers?
The Great Commission: Christ’s Mandate for Evangelism and Discipleship
The primary biblical text underpinning church planting is the Great Commission, given by Jesus Christ after his resurrection. In Matthew 28:18–20, Jesus says: “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
This command establishes the framework for evangelism, discipleship, and the expansion of God’s kingdom through the establishment of local churches. Making disciples involves not just preaching the gospel but also nurturing believers in a communal context where they can grow, worship, and be equipped for God’s mission. Church planting creates new communities of believers engaged in worship, fellowship, teaching, and service to the world.
The Role of the Church in God’s Redemptive Plan
From the outset of creation, God has been on a mission to redeem a lost world. His work involves both personal and cosmic redemption. In his sovereign plan, God uses the church as an instrument to accomplish his purposes as a Kingdom outpost. The New Testament describes the church as the body of Christ (1 Cor. 12:12–27), the bride of Christ (Eph. 5:22–33), and a dwelling place for the Holy Spirit (1 Cor. 3:16). These metaphors reveal that the church is central to God’s purposes in the world.
Church planting is not merely about establishing local gatherings; it is about participating in God’s mission to bring redemption, restoration, and reconciliation to a broken world. Each new church planted is a manifestation of the gospel taking root in a new community and a testimony to God’s faithfulness in fulfilling his promises.
Glorifying the Triune God Through Church Planting
Now that we have established the biblical and theological foundations for church planting, it is important to explore how church planting glorifies the Triune God. Church planting honors God by displaying the glory of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit through various facets of the church’s life and mission. Below, we will examine how each person of the Trinity is glorified through this essential work.
Glorifying the Father
The primary purpose of church planting is to bring glory to God the Father, who is the Creator of all things and the one who sent his Son into the world to redeem humanity. The work of church planting is a response to God’s initiative in salvation, and it points to his ultimate plan to bring glory to himself through the salvation of people from every tribe, nation, and tongue (Rev. 7:9).
The Father’s Plan of Redemption. God the Father is the architect of salvation, and his redemptive plan is fulfilled in the sending of the Son, Jesus Christ, and the sending of the Holy Spirit. Through church planting, the glory of God the Father is made known as new believers come to faith and as the church embodies God’s redemptive plan by reaching out to others with the gospel. Church plants are often most effective in reaching new believers through their zeal for the lost. Every new church established is a tangible sign of the Father’s work in history, fulfilling his promises to bless the nations (Gen. 12:3).
A Witness to His Sovereignty. Church planting is a testimony to God’s sovereignty in the world. Despite the many obstacles, challenges, and opposition that often accompany new churches, the Father is at work in and through his people to bring about his will. The very act of church planting, as it unfolds in different cultures and contexts, is a demonstration of God’s power to build his church, even in the most difficult circumstances. As Jesus stated, “I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it” (Mt. 16:18).
The Father’s Glory in the Church’s Mission. Church planting is a manifestation of God the Father’s eternal purpose to draw people to himself. As churches engage in evangelism, they carry out God’s mission of reconciliation (2 Cor. 5:18–19). The Father is glorified when new churches are planted and people from all walks of life come to know and worship him.
Glorifying the Son
Church planting brings glory to God the Son, Jesus Christ, by proclaiming his life, death, resurrection, and Lordship. The church is built upon the foundation of Christ, and it exists to make his name known in the world.
Christ as the Head of the Church. The Apostle Paul teaches that Christ is the head of the church (Eph. 1:22–23; Col. 1:18). Every church plant is established with Christ as the central figure and with the intention of making him known. In planting churches, believers gather around centrality of the person and work of Christ, proclaiming his gospel of salvation. Christ is glorified as his name is proclaimed and his reign is acknowledged in the establishment of new congregations. While the work of church planting is significant for all who are involved, the glory is to Christ who is head of the Church.
Proclaiming the Gospel of the Cross. Church planting is essentially the spread of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Through preaching, teaching, baptisms, and the celebration of the Lord’s Supper, the church continually points to the saving work of Christ on the cross. Jesus’s atoning sacrifice and victory over sin and death are the foundation of every church, and church planting is one way of making his work known to a world that desperately needs to hear it. As new believers come to faith, they are united to Christ, and his glory is revealed in their transformed lives.
Christ’s Kingdom on Earth. Church planting is a foretaste of the fullness of Christ’s Kingdom that is to come. Each new church represents a manifestation of the reign of Christ in the world. When a new church is planted, it is a small, visible expression of Christ’s lordship over the world and the beginning of the restoration of all things in him. I often think that the joy Luke speaks of Jesus having over the “one sinner who repents” (Luke 15) is the same joy Jesus has when a new expression of his bride with church planting.
Glorifying the Holy Spirit
Church planting also glorifies God the Holy Spirit, the one who empowers, equips, and sustains the church in its mission. The Holy Spirit is the one who draws people to Christ, transforms their hearts, and enables the church to carry out its mission.
Empowering the Church for Mission. The Holy Spirit empowers believers for the work of ministry. In Acts 1:8, Jesus promises that the Holy Spirit will come upon his disciples and give them power to be his witnesses in all the earth. Church planting is a work of the Spirit, as he equips and strengthens believers to go out and spread the gospel. Without the Holy Spirit, the church would not be able to accomplish its mission, and church planting would be impossible.
Building the Church. The Holy Spirit is also the one who unites believers in the church, forming them into a body that reflects Christ’s character and purposes (1 Cor. 12:4–3). When a new church is planted, it is the Spirit who brings believers together, giving them the gifts and unity needed to be a functioning, thriving community of faith. The Spirit is at work in every aspect of churchlife, from worship to service to evangelism, and his presence brings glory to God.
Laboring in the Harvest. The Holy Spirit plays a central role in bringing people to faith. Through the work of effectual calling and regeneration (John 16:8), the Holy Spirit opens hearts to the truth of the gospel and empowers people to respond in repentance and faith. Every time a person is converted and baptized in a new church plant, it is the Holy Spirit who has done the work of bringing them to new life in Christ. The Spirit glorifies God by transforming lives through the power of the gospel.
Conclusion
Church planting is a profound way for Christians to participate in the mission of God to bring glory to the Triune God. Through the work of church planting, the Father’s redemptive plan is advanced, the Son is made known, and the Holy Spirit empowers and unites the church. Every new church plant is a tangible manifestation of God’s grace and glory in the world. Every new church plant is a fresh expression of the beauty of the Bride of Jesus for the glory of the Triune God.
As believers, we are invited to participate in this work of church planting, knowing that it is not just about establishing places of worship or a new fellowship group, but about advancing God’s kingdom, making his glory known, and fulfilling the mission given to us by Christ. Church planting is an act of worship, a means of glorifying our Triune God—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Through it, the gospel is proclaimed, lives are transformed, and God’s name is made great in all the earth.
Note: This article first appeared in the spring 2025 edition of Covenant magazine. Get your copy or subscribe to Covenant here.
HOW YOU CAN HELP
Covenant Seminary is working with the PCA’s Mission to North America and other ministries as we aim to recruit, train, and send the next generation of leaders who will plant and grow more biblically sound, confessionally Reformed churches in the US and across North America. You can help to make this vison a reality by ensuring that our Church Planting Track and Church Planting Scholarship remain strong and vital. How can you do this?
Pray for us and our partners and support us financially.
Refer potential church planting students to us.
Connect us with influencers and others who can have an impact on our efforts.
We value your partnership in our ministry!
