The spread of the gospel and establishment of new communities of believers is a central theme throughout Scripture. As Jesus commands in Matthew 28:18-20, His followers are commissioned to make disciples of all nations, leading to the multiplication of local churches. The apostle Paul's ministry, as seen in Acts 20:28 and 1 Corinthians 3:6, involved planting and nurturing churches, while 1 Thessalonians 3:12 encourages believers to abound in love for one another. Ultimately, the vision of Revelation 7:9, where people from every nation worship together, inspires and guides the effort to establish new churches, that all may know and glorify God.
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After this I looked and saw a multitude too large to count, from every nation and tribe and people and tongue, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and holding palm branches in their hands.
Keep watch over yourselves and the entire flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which He purchased with His own blood.
Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey all that I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
And may the Lord cause you to increase and overflow with love for one another and for everyone else, just as our love for you overflows,
And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it.
The reason I left you in Crete was that you would set in order what was unfinished and appoint elders in every town, as I directed you.
They preached the gospel to that city and made many disciples. Then they returned to Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch, strengthening the souls of the disciples and encouraging them to continue in the faith. “We must endure many hardships to enter the kingdom of God,” they said. Paul and Barnabas appointed elders for them in each church, praying and fasting as they entrusted them to the Lord, in whom they had believed.