Replanting Church - Living by Dying Prt 1 (by Scott Thomas from Acts 22 Network)

A Cemetery of Churches

Christ established the church, is the head of the church, appoints elders to lead it, and personally died for its members. Yet an alarming number of churches all over America are closing their doors for good. Empty, neglected church buildings stand with their peeling paint as morbid headstones for these former houses of hope.
Alongside many of these decayed bodies are bouncy baby churches toddling along with limited resources, stability, and identities. Most of the newly planted churches are led by young, energetic, talented (though not always experienced) men who have a vision for a living body—one without the stench of death emanating in every worship gathering.

Flabby Church
Decaying churches are somewhat interested to find a solution—but only if it's a quick fix. Like a couch potato who hopes to get healthy by watching Richard Simmons' workouts (short shorts and all), the flabby church likes to see faith in action but are much too comfortable in their spiritually lethargic Lazy Boy to get up and press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called them in Christ Jesus (

Phil. 3:14).

Seeds Die To Give Life
Instead of signing "Do Not Resuscitate" orders or trying one more fad-laden religious program, the sickly body could instead become alive by replanting itself. Churches are attempting life-saving measures by transitioning their bodies or by turning them around. They are trying to bring about change in the church without killing it.
What I am proposing is that we intentionally bring death to a comatose body so that it could become the seed planted in nutrient-rich soil that gives life to a new body. Jesus said that unless a seed dies, it cannot give life (John 12:23-25). Jesus himself was the first fruits sacrificially planted in the ground (in a tomb) as an offering to his Father, and by doing so he made life possible for others.
"Remember that Jesus Christ, of the seed of David, was raised from the dead according to my gospel" (2 Tim. 2:8).

Again or Anew
Dictionary.com defines replanting: "To plant (something) again or in a new place." In a church replant, a church avoids permanent death by recognizing it will no longer flourish unless conditions are drastically changed to facilitate growth. A "transition church," on the other hand, starts with a healthy organism and applies biblical principles to foster new growth.

Living By Dying
Instead of holding on with inordinate pride to the past, a replanted church dies to its former glory, its methods, its structure, and its practices and strategically plants its resources (body, budget, and buildings) in the spiritual ground. The result is a virile replanted church with a God-renewed mission to give life to the spiritually dead community in which it ministers.
I believe God is glorified significantly when this happens. It can be a corporate example of the spiritual renewal many individuals need. Is your church ready to live by dying?