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Is a “Multi-Site Church” Biblical?
December 1, 2009
Pastor Bob Nienhuis
 
Is a “Multi-Site Church” Biblical?
December 1, 2009
That’s a fair question.
For many churches in the US, and about 2,000 of them have taken the step, the biblical motivation for becoming a multi-site church is clearly stated in the Great Commission:
“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them . . . and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.” (Matthew 28:19-20)
They also point to the Great Commandment, from which we have gotten our church’s mission statement: “To love God supremely . . . and others sacrificially.”
“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest
commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself.” (Matthew 22:37-39)
Here, the supreme love of God and the sacrificial love of others cause the church to go out to bring them the gospel and draw them into fellowship with God’s people.
And I agree with both of those reasons for considering the possibilities of Liberty Bible Church as a multi-site church.
But the question remains – at least in the minds of some. Is a “multi-site church” biblical?
Dr. John Piper is the pastor of the Bethlehem Baptist Church in Minneapolis. I’ve long respected and valued Dr. Piper’s writings and teachings. I find him to be Biblically sound and theologically grounded.
Several years ago, Dr. Piper and the elders of Bethlehem Baptist Church considered the possibility of becoming a multi-site church. When John Piper spoke to the congregation about the elders’ decision to go multi-site, he emphasized two main points:
1. Stewardship. “Is it better theology to build a bigger sanctuary, hope that an adequate amount of parking appears, and risk
having an empty albatross in coming years, or to develop multiple campuses . . . ?
2. Evangelism. “There are hundreds of thousands of people who are within driving distance of us and who, in not treasuring
Christ, are not heading for heaven . . . It’s not an option for us to avoid thinking about those people.”
“I don’t think any text in the Bible forbids or mandates multiple campuses,” John concluded. Believing multiple campuses will yield more long-term effectiveness than the centralized enlargement of one downtown campus, we embraced the vision of a multi-campus church.”
Today, Bethlehem Baptist Church meets on three campuses across the Minneapolis area and they are ministering to several thousand more persons than in 2002 when they made the decision to go forward as a multi-site church.
For me, as Liberty considers becoming a multi-site church, it is the Great Commission and stewardship that compel me forward. How can we reach more people with the Gospel? And how can we be the best stewards of our resources in doing so?
I see no theological fault in a multi-site church nor do I find any Biblical text that forbids a multi-site church dynamic.
So, prayerfully and carefully, we proceed, seeking God’s will and blessing as we “aggressively communicate the love of God to Northwest Indiana and beyond.”
Cheerfully.
Pastor Bob
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