New Churches Masterclass

Revelation 21 and 22 describe the new heavens and new earth as a real, renewed creation where God dwells with His people, free from sin, death, and brokenness. Matt Emerson explains how this vision offers hope for the future, assuring believers of eternal restoration and unity, and motivates mission by calling others to trust in Christ’s saving work.

Hell is a difficult but essential biblical doctrine that underscores the just consequences of sin—eternal death and separation from God for the unrepentant. Yet, alongside this sobering truth, Matt Emerson explains that the gospel offers hope through Christ’s sacrifice, calling believers to share the good news so others might be saved from this eternal judgment.

Dayton Hartman explains that Revelation 20, which describes Christ’s thousand-year reign and the defeat of Satan, is interpreted through three main views—pre-millennialism, amillennialism, and post-millennialism. Despite differing interpretations, Christians throughout history have shared a unifying hope in Christ’s victorious return and reign, encouraging believers to embrace this hope with unity...

Dayton Hartman emphasizes that the return of Christ marks the beginning of the last days, a reality Christians have lived in for over 2,000 years, calling believers to live with hopeful anticipation rather than speculation. Hartman highlights that understanding Christ’s return should motivate Christians to embody the kingdom through acts of love and service, demonstrating the gospel through their...

Jonathan Pennington explores the kingdom of God as the overarching framework for understanding Scripture, emphasizing God’s kingship, rule, and the restoration of His reign throughout the biblical narrative. 

Matt Emerson explores the biblical understanding of death, portraying it as an enemy territory ruled by darkness yet ultimately under God’s sovereign kingship. Emerson emphasizes that through Christ’s death and resurrection, the power of death is broken, offering believers hope of resurrection and eternal life beyond the grave.

J.D. Payne emphasizes that the church’s mission includes living out the kingdom ethic through justice, mercy, and love for neighbor, reflecting God’s character to the watching world. By embodying biblical community and addressing real needs in context, the church serves as a visible witness of God’s mission, inviting others to see and join the life of His kingdom.

J.D. Payne presents the church’s mission as a biblical “pattern of purpose” that spans from Genesis to Revelation. Evangelism and discipleship are shown to be inseparable components of this mission, with the church called to both reach the lost and mature believers through intentional, Spirit-empowered proclamation and teaching.

J.D. Payne emphasizes that the church’s mission flows from and participates in the broader mission of God. Using a biblical "pattern of purpose," Payne outlines how God sends representatives to proclaim hope through judgment, invites people into covenantal relationship, and commissions them to live out and share His kingdom purposes in the world.

Fred Sanders reframes the gifts of the Spirit as Trinitarian ministries given to build, unify, and mature the church, emphasizing that these gifts belong more properly to ecclesiology than to pneumatology. By examining key passages in Ephesians 4, Romans 12, and 1 Corinthians 12, Sanders shows how spiritual gifts are diverse, divinely distributed, and best discovered through mutual service within...

Matt Boswell contrasts casual church attendance with the deep, intentional fellowship and gospel ministry modeled in Acts 2:42–47. Church planters are urged to cultivate a Christ-centered community marked by shared devotion to God’s Word, authentic relationships, sacrificial love, vibrant worship, and evangelistic purpose.

Exploring the biblical foundations and practical elements of corporate worship, Matt Boswell emphasizes the centrality of God’s glory in the church’s gathered and scattered life. Boswell outlines how intentional liturgy forms both the identity and mission of a thriving worshiping community.

Robert Smith traces the deep theological and historical roots of the Lord’s Supper, connecting the original Passover in Exodus to the death of Jesus and exploring how “This is my body” has been interpreted throughout church history. Smith emphasizes that the Lord’s Supper is an Eucharistic, eschatological act of worship meant to unite the church in remembrance, thanksgiving, and anticipation of Ch...

Robert Smith offers a rich biblical and historical theology of baptism. Smith stresses that baptism should reflect a Spirit-empowered transformation and not be a point of division within the body of Christ.

This powerful message by Robert Smith urges ministers to return to the foundational authority of Scripture, preaching the whole counsel of God with clarity, passion, and theological depth to bring about true spiritual transformation. Smith emphasizes that the ministry of the Word is not based on emotionalism but on the Spirit-empowered proclamation of Christ.

Juan Sanchez explores the biblical foundation and heart behind church discipline, beginning in the Garden of Eden and culminating in Jesus’ teaching in Matthew 18. He emphasizes that church discipline is not punitive but a compassionate rescue operation aimed at restoring those who wander from the faith, always with a posture of forgiveness and hope.

Juan Sanchez presents church government as essential to the church’s mission, not just a structural concern, comparing it to plumbing—often unnoticed until something goes wrong. Sanchez explains how Christ has structured the church with ministers of the Word and congregational authority to protect gospel ministry, prioritize discipleship, and ensure the church functions in unity, maturity, and Chr...

Gregg Allison explains congregationalism and highlights the vital role of church membership, where believers commit to mutual accountability, submission to biblically qualified leaders, and active participation in the church’s mission and spiritual growth.

Emphasizing the crucial role of biblical leadership in church planting, Matt Boswell highlights the need for both faithful elders to shepherd the flock and diligent deacons to serve practical needs. Boswell underscores that a healthy, enduring church depends on a shared leadership structure that reflects God’s design, prevents burnout, and equips the congregation for effective ministry and unity.

Gregg Allison explores two essential characteristics of the church: its purity, defined as freedom from false doctrine and conformity to God’s will, and its unity, rooted in shared faith and sustained by the Holy Spirit. Allison emphasizes that church growth and maturity depend on the combined work of Christ and believers.

Gregg Allison defines the church as the people of God saved by faith in Christ, united universally and locally, and identifies seven key attributes that shape its identity. Understanding these markers helps guide church planting and ministry to align with the biblical vision of what the church is called to be and do.

Patrick Scheiner highlights the mission of the church as described in Acts 1:8, calling believers to be witnesses of Jesus’s life, death, and resurrection both near and far, empowered by the Holy Spirit. Schreiner emphasizes that this mission is for all followers, not just professionals or missionaries.

Explaining the doctrine of the Holy Spirit's work within the Trinity's inseparable operations, Fred Sanders emphasizes that everything God does is a unified work of Father, Son, and Spirit rather than separate actions. Sanders highlights the Spirit’s unique role as the “thirdness” in the Godhead, whose work is broad and multifaceted.

Fred Sanders explores the doctrine of the Holy Spirit, emphasizing that while the Spirit is fully God, His self-revelation in Scripture is intentionally less concrete and more mysterious. Sanders encourages believers to honor the Spirit appropriately within the context of the Trinity, recognizing the Spirit’s unique role as the divine breath and giver of life who focuses our attention on the Fathe...

Exploring the profound New Testament doctrine of union with Christ, Jared C. Wilson emphasizes that believers are spiritually united with Jesus in His death, resurrection, and eternal life, receiving grace upon grace and sharing in all His blessings. Wilson highlights how this union is both a positional reality and a relational experience, offering believers unwavering security, deep joy, and the...