An Apologetic for the Multi-Site Church

I had a great time at the Innovation3 Conference last week.  The best part was all the great people I got to hangout with while I was there.  I got to lead a couple sessions.  One was on multi-site and another was on churches that are reproducing both sites and church plants.  In each session I was paired with two other terrific leaders.  The first session I was leading with Larry Osborne and the second session with Greg Surratt; but led with Mark Driscoll in both.  In this pic Larry is up front teaching while Mark and I are waiting our turn in the front row.

And during those sessions I thought Driscoll's stuff about multi-site was worth repeating.  Here is Marks apologetic for a multi-site church:

1. Theological:  It is a great means for accomplishing the Great Commission.  If we study the New Testament we see networks of churches within cities.
2. Missological:  We need to "do all things possible to reach some."  The multi-site church can be a great missional expression of the church.
3. Ecclesiological:  We have historical examples of one church meeting in multiple places.  One example are the circuit riders who would deliver the same message at a variety of locations and travel from one to the next by horseback.
4. Technological:  With each technological innovation (ex.:  chairs, printing press, electricity, etc.) it creates new opportunities for spreading the gospel.  The innovation of Internet and video creates unprecedented opportunities for sharing the good news.

Comments

[Catalyst]

that's a good point about technology giving new opportunities to share the gospel. Multi-site may be the most powerful tool for church growth and church planting out there!