Becoming a Church-Planting Church

Small Churches, Big Impact Series – Week 2

“While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, ‘Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.’ So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off.” – Acts 13:2-3

Last week, we introduced the idea of micro-churches — small, mission-focused gatherings that make disciples and extend the reach of your congregation without requiring a large budget or staff.

This week, we’re taking the next step: how your church can prayerfully prepare to plant a micro-church. Even the smallest congregation can become a church-planting church if they begin intentionally and lean on God’s leading.

Why Preparation Matters

Planting a micro-church isn’t just about starting a new group or program. It’s about joining God’s mission in a specific, Spirit-directed way. That means before you take action, you must first seek clarity and discernment.

This preparation phase is where leaders listen deeply to God, dream boldly, and identify the unique opportunities He has placed right in their community.

Here’s a simple framework for getting started.

1. Prayer First: Laying a Spiritual Foundation

In Acts 13, the church at Antioch was worshiping, fasting, and seeking God when the Holy Spirit set apart Barnabas and Saul for a new mission. Their calling didn’t come from a strategic plan — it came from prayer and listening to God.

The same is true for planting a micro-church.

Before discussing logistics or strategies, your leadership team must begin with prayer.

Here are some practical ways to create a prayerful foundation:

• Personal Prayer: Encourage pastors, leaders, and key influencers in the church to set aside time each day to ask God for guidance, passion, and wisdom.

• Corporate Prayer: Dedicate a portion of your worship service or leadership meetings to specifically pray about outreach and disciple-making.

• Fasting: Consider setting aside a day or week for fasting as a church to focus on discerning God’s next steps.

Prayer isn’t preparation for the work — prayer is the work that makes everything else possible.

2. Dreaming Together: Imagining What God Could Do

Once your church has established a spiritual foundation, it’s time to dream together. This is where vision begins to take shape.

Gather your leadership team and key volunteers for a brainstorming session. Ask the question:

“What would it look like if our church planted a micro-church that meets people where they are and brings them closer to Jesus?”

Encourage bold ideas! At this stage, no idea is too small or too wild.

You might envision:

• A group of young moms gathering weekly for encouragement, Bible study, and playtime for their kids.

• A weekly hiking club that disciples while exploring God’s creation.

• A tutoring group for at-risk students that integrates prayer and mentorship.

The goal isn’t to make a decision yet — it’s to stretch your imagination and open your hearts to what God might be calling you to do.

3. Discerning the Felt Needs of Your Community

Dreaming is exciting, but the mission becomes clearer when you focus on the specific needs and passions in your community.

Jesus often met people at the point of their deepest need — physical, emotional, or spiritual. Your micro-church can do the same.

There are two primary pathways to identifying opportunities:

A. Need-Based Micro-Churches

These are built around addressing a tangible need in your community.

Examples include:

• A recovery group for those battling addiction.

• A ministry to single parents navigating life’s challenges.

• A food insecurity ministry that provides meals and discipleship.

• Support and prayer group for parents involved in adoption or fostering of  children.

B. Affinity-Based Micro-Churches

These are built around a shared interest or passion.

Examples include:

• A Bible study for veterans seeking purpose and community.

• A running club that prays and disciples while training together.

• A gamers’ group that uses online connections for outreach and spiritual growth.

• Woodworkers and craftsmen looking to build furniture for Habitat for Humanity.

Key Questions to Guide Your Team

As you pray and discern, use these questions to spark meaningful conversation:

1. Who is missing from our church that God is calling us to reach?

   • Think about groups of people who may never step inside a traditional church building.

2. What are the top three struggles or passions in our community?

   • Consider issues like mental health, parenting, poverty, or loneliness.

3. Who in our church has a gift or calling that could lead a micro-church?

   • God may already have placed the right leader within your congregation.

Encourage your team to write down their answers. Patterns will begin to emerge, and those patterns can point you toward your first micro-church opportunity.

Moving From Discernment to Action

By the end of this preparation stage, you should have:

• A clearer sense of where God is leading your church.

• One or two potential micro-church ideas to pray over.

• A list of potential leaders or volunteers who could help make it happen.

Don’t rush this process.

Taking time to pray, dream, and discern ensures your micro-church will be rooted in God’s vision rather than human ambition.

The Power of a Small Beginning

You don’t need to start big.

Your first micro-church might be as simple as three people meeting in a home, praying together, and serving a specific group in your community. The ecclesial minimum for church is Worship, Community, and Mission. Where those three overlap church is happening.

Over time, as disciples are made and leaders are developed, that small beginning can multiply into a network of micro-churches impacting your entire region.

Remember, the early church began with a small group of disciples who were willing to listen to God and step out in faith. Your church can do the same.

Looking Ahead

Next week, we’ll get practical. I’ll share several creative micro-church models and give you tips for launching your very first one.

If you’ve been following along and God is stirring your heart, don’t miss it — we’ll also talk about how your church could become a pilot partner in a year-long journey of planting and multiplication.

A Challenge for This Week

Here’s your action step for the week:

Gather a small group of leaders or volunteers and spend one hour in focused prayer and brainstorming.

• Begin by reading Acts 13:2-3.

• Spend 15 minutes in silent prayer, asking the Holy Spirit to guide your thoughts.

• Discuss the three key questions above and record your answers.

You might be surprised at how God begins to reveal His vision for your church through this simple process.

Final Thought

Your church may be small, but with God’s help, you can have a big impact.

By praying first, dreaming boldly, and discerning carefully, you can take the first faithful steps toward becoming a church-planting church through the micro-church movement.

“Who dares despise the day of small things?” – Zechariah 4:10