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Church Plantology: The Art and Science of Planting Churches
The first comprehensive textbook on effective church planting from a veteran church planter. The Apostle Paul was a veteran church planter who "laid a foundation like a wise and master builder" and there is much we can learn from his example. Paul indicated that there were basic skills and experiences required to successfully plant a church. Church Plantology examines the wide variety of church planting methods and ideologies in contemporary pastoral practice and outlines a biblical model based on the New Testament. During his time in prison, Paul spent much of his time writing to Titus, Timothy, and others who'd served alongside him in the trenches to complete their training as church plantings. We can continue to apply these time-tested, proven methods, following the pioneering example of the early church. Today, the casualty rate in is high. What if we could reduce the odds of failing? Church Plantology by Peyton Jones is a robust guide to planting that will help planters to provide the foundation necessary to survive beyond the initial first years so that they don't end up a walking statistic.
464 pages, Hardcover
Published April 20, 2021
37 people are currently reading
86 people want to read
About the author
Peyton Jones
29 books4 followersPeyton Jones is a serial church planter. Meaning that if he plants a church, he'll probably strike again, and leave a trail of church plants in his wake. He likes to be called a Ninja-planter, because it sounds cooler. Like the apostle Paul, Peyton obtains his mission directives, strikes into an unsuspecting community with the gospel, then steals back into the shadows, until it's time to strike again.
A Huntington Beach, California native, Peyton went into ministry at 19 years old. He was intending to temporarily keep the seat warm while his mentor dealt with a family illness. Years later, Peyton was ordained, chucked his career as a psychiatric/drug rehab nurse, and embarked for 12 years to Wales, the most unchurched part of the UK, with less than 1% church attendance.
It was in the UK that Peyton began discovering the New Testament principles of church planting laid out in the book of Acts. Starting off as the Evangelist at Dr. D. M. Lloyd-Jones's legendary "Sandfields" church, Peyton assisted their launch of a church plant. After that, he became a evangelistic "preacher for hire" of sorts, called in for evangelism by Pastors. Paul's ministry jumped off the page at him, and New Breed Church Planting was formed. New Breed began a wave of church planting in unlikely places such as Starbucks coffee shops, ghettos, pubs, and surf hangs.
To this day, Peyton plants churches as a means to an end; to disciple, raise up, and equip a new breed of church planter, who will plant a new breed of church.
Peyton has lectured at various Universities, and is currently teaching courses on church planting at Calvary University. He received his MA Theology: Pastoral Studies in 2010 from W.E.S.T. in the UK. He lives in Southern California with his family.
A Huntington Beach, California native, Peyton went into ministry at 19 years old. He was intending to temporarily keep the seat warm while his mentor dealt with a family illness. Years later, Peyton was ordained, chucked his career as a psychiatric/drug rehab nurse, and embarked for 12 years to Wales, the most unchurched part of the UK, with less than 1% church attendance.
It was in the UK that Peyton began discovering the New Testament principles of church planting laid out in the book of Acts. Starting off as the Evangelist at Dr. D. M. Lloyd-Jones's legendary "Sandfields" church, Peyton assisted their launch of a church plant. After that, he became a evangelistic "preacher for hire" of sorts, called in for evangelism by Pastors. Paul's ministry jumped off the page at him, and New Breed Church Planting was formed. New Breed began a wave of church planting in unlikely places such as Starbucks coffee shops, ghettos, pubs, and surf hangs.
To this day, Peyton plants churches as a means to an end; to disciple, raise up, and equip a new breed of church planter, who will plant a new breed of church.
Peyton has lectured at various Universities, and is currently teaching courses on church planting at Calvary University. He received his MA Theology: Pastoral Studies in 2010 from W.E.S.T. in the UK. He lives in Southern California with his family.
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
January 10, 2023
This is the best overview of the multiplicative disciple making church planting model I have read yet in my short journey so far as a church planter. The book is thorough, well researched, and very applicable for the church planting journey.
While I appreciate the clarity, and the challenges in this book I still struggle with the idea that the church planter is more missionary than pastor. I believe this is a slight over correction from the last 30+ years of the church making the gospel a “come and hear message”, rather than a “go and tell” message.
I also believe that this is displayed in the authors emphasis of “disciple making” instead of discipleship. I am concerned that too many church planters simply focus on equipping people to share a gospel message, rather than calling people to a life of abiding in Christ.
Again, I appreciate the book I think it is a helpful course correction but I just find myself struggling with so much of church planting rhetoric minimizing discipleship to gospel presentation. This is for sure a huge part of our ministry but there is so much more to welcoming people into a life of following Christ, and the role of a Pastor as shepherd.
While I appreciate the clarity, and the challenges in this book I still struggle with the idea that the church planter is more missionary than pastor. I believe this is a slight over correction from the last 30+ years of the church making the gospel a “come and hear message”, rather than a “go and tell” message.
I also believe that this is displayed in the authors emphasis of “disciple making” instead of discipleship. I am concerned that too many church planters simply focus on equipping people to share a gospel message, rather than calling people to a life of abiding in Christ.
Again, I appreciate the book I think it is a helpful course correction but I just find myself struggling with so much of church planting rhetoric minimizing discipleship to gospel presentation. This is for sure a huge part of our ministry but there is so much more to welcoming people into a life of following Christ, and the role of a Pastor as shepherd.
November 30, 2021
More like a 4.5. Not how I’ve been trained but pushed me to think through a lot of aspects of church planting. Didn’t agree with everything but fun writing style and written from experience and conviction.
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May 2, 2024tbh only read until chp 18 but needed to read this for work 😆
helpful, interesting & practical!
helpful, interesting & practical!
May 27, 2025
Mainly my biggest takeaways is the need for a strong, diversified team, and the importance that's placed on personal growth both spiritually and in general. Ultimately I see a lot of our team in the points of success in this book. It took me a lot longer to get through the second half of the book where he seems to get a bit more practical about planting churches but I was still relatively good.
September 28, 2021
Ännu en bok där en 5-gradig skala är otillräcklig!!
January 4, 2024
Very solid. Peyton Jones is a great story teller.
February 26, 2025
I read this book, as I prepare to plant a church in Newark, DE, in order to have a sustained conversation partner in the work of church planting that is significantly outside my church tradition. I expected to disagree with many of the recommendations about how to church plant; this book was roughly what I expected on that front. Jones is a great writer, and his pages are full of great stories from church history, fun quotes, and interesting anecdotes from other fields of study. There were several observations that I think are completely valid and well received. There were also several helpful criticisms, while I didn’t love Jones’ alternative recommendation. Finally, there several problematic sections, where I find his suggestions worse than what we already have. I’m glad I worked through this book over the last few months!
Mostly great:
- Jones begins by contrasting church planting with church starting. For him, the distinction is whether the goal is to make a church or to make disciples. I think this is a solid mindset shift that will protect a planter from being hyper focused on starting a weekly worship service without really engaging lost people.
- I love the vision of a strike team with balanced gifts planting rather than solo planters. I do think we need to reexamine a team approach, though the speed that Jones pushes for doesn’t seem to set up a mature Christian leadership pipeline.
- “Many teams busy themselves with logos, bank accounts, buildings, and websites, but Paul always began with outreach… You can have the best food laid out at your launch, the coolest logo, and the best worship band, but the only people who will benefit are the Christians you invite. The real work of church planting is gospel penetration, gospel saturation, and gospel maturation. If your people are going to reach the ones nobody is reaching, they’re going to have to go where nobody is going and do waht nobody is doing.” 178-179 Love this!
- I’m grateful for some of Jones’ criticism on established churches that don’t allow Christians to use their gifts for outreach and mission but “use them to build empires” 211.
Good point, but not really with you:
- I enjoyed a fresh take on the story of Acts, overlayed with his letters, see the fuller picture of the Apostle Paul’s life and ministry, but several of his “filling in the gaps” of the narrative are huge stretch that he gets lots of advice out of (for example the Galatian plant failure do to an incomplete team and sickness).
- I think there are a few real parallels between the first century context and the modern world, but Jones really overdoes it. Post-Christendom simply isn’t the first century, and we should overstate the parallel.
- I laughed a lot at Jones’ vision of planting networks. He is basically describing a presbytery, just ignoring that they are already there in the US context.
- I surprisingly wasn’t too disturbed by some of Jones’ emergent style worship context. But really, I think I just agreed with his criticism that sitting as an audience will inspire the church to own the mission (though we don’t need to lose preaching to achieve that end).
- I don’t know what to think about Jones’ critiques of the fully funded before planting model.
Not a fan:
- I really disliked everything Jones wrote on the 5 offices from Ephesians 2 (APEST). He misses the redemptive historical shift from prophets and apostles to shepherds, and turns a text about the church’s foundation into a church leadership personality quiz.
- Jones doesn’t seem to be very discerning in how he appropriates from US Christianity, whether it be subtle endorsement for the NAR leaders or quoting from disqualified leaders like Mark Driscoll and Steve Timmis.
- Jabs at cessasionism are unnecessary.
Mostly great:
- Jones begins by contrasting church planting with church starting. For him, the distinction is whether the goal is to make a church or to make disciples. I think this is a solid mindset shift that will protect a planter from being hyper focused on starting a weekly worship service without really engaging lost people.
- I love the vision of a strike team with balanced gifts planting rather than solo planters. I do think we need to reexamine a team approach, though the speed that Jones pushes for doesn’t seem to set up a mature Christian leadership pipeline.
- “Many teams busy themselves with logos, bank accounts, buildings, and websites, but Paul always began with outreach… You can have the best food laid out at your launch, the coolest logo, and the best worship band, but the only people who will benefit are the Christians you invite. The real work of church planting is gospel penetration, gospel saturation, and gospel maturation. If your people are going to reach the ones nobody is reaching, they’re going to have to go where nobody is going and do waht nobody is doing.” 178-179 Love this!
- I’m grateful for some of Jones’ criticism on established churches that don’t allow Christians to use their gifts for outreach and mission but “use them to build empires” 211.
Good point, but not really with you:
- I enjoyed a fresh take on the story of Acts, overlayed with his letters, see the fuller picture of the Apostle Paul’s life and ministry, but several of his “filling in the gaps” of the narrative are huge stretch that he gets lots of advice out of (for example the Galatian plant failure do to an incomplete team and sickness).
- I think there are a few real parallels between the first century context and the modern world, but Jones really overdoes it. Post-Christendom simply isn’t the first century, and we should overstate the parallel.
- I laughed a lot at Jones’ vision of planting networks. He is basically describing a presbytery, just ignoring that they are already there in the US context.
- I surprisingly wasn’t too disturbed by some of Jones’ emergent style worship context. But really, I think I just agreed with his criticism that sitting as an audience will inspire the church to own the mission (though we don’t need to lose preaching to achieve that end).
- I don’t know what to think about Jones’ critiques of the fully funded before planting model.
Not a fan:
- I really disliked everything Jones wrote on the 5 offices from Ephesians 2 (APEST). He misses the redemptive historical shift from prophets and apostles to shepherds, and turns a text about the church’s foundation into a church leadership personality quiz.
- Jones doesn’t seem to be very discerning in how he appropriates from US Christianity, whether it be subtle endorsement for the NAR leaders or quoting from disqualified leaders like Mark Driscoll and Steve Timmis.
- Jabs at cessasionism are unnecessary.
July 14, 2025
A little lengthy for the majority of readers, but lots of good information. Below are just a few of the takeaways that I gleaned from the book:
Only 70% of US churches are multiplying churches.
The majority of US churches are growing upward, but not outward.
Christ did not tell His disciples to plant churches. To focus on starting a church leads to church starting, but to focus on the Great Commission leads to church planting.
Christ commanded to make disciples. If we focus on church planting, we may or may not make disciples. But if we focus on making disciples, we will inevitably plant churches.
Paul started churches that lived long after he left. This should teach us that it is not about our church plant rather making disciples that will become leaders. It’s about multiplying yourself.
Unless we are willing to be who Paul was, we cannot reproduce what Paul did.
Raising people up from within had been Paul’s method from the beginning.
68% of churches do not last past their fourth year.
You will best get people‘s help if you treat them like Jesus treated His disciples, and how Paul treated his disciples. People followed them out respect and admiration.
Paul started with going to the lost. A church plant must always start evangelism/outreach.
Marketing will not and can not replace the sowing and watering of a church plant.
Don’t sell out your values at the expense of church growth.
Leaders are simply people who have been discipled well.
Only 70% of US churches are multiplying churches.
The majority of US churches are growing upward, but not outward.
Christ did not tell His disciples to plant churches. To focus on starting a church leads to church starting, but to focus on the Great Commission leads to church planting.
Christ commanded to make disciples. If we focus on church planting, we may or may not make disciples. But if we focus on making disciples, we will inevitably plant churches.
Paul started churches that lived long after he left. This should teach us that it is not about our church plant rather making disciples that will become leaders. It’s about multiplying yourself.
Unless we are willing to be who Paul was, we cannot reproduce what Paul did.
Raising people up from within had been Paul’s method from the beginning.
68% of churches do not last past their fourth year.
You will best get people‘s help if you treat them like Jesus treated His disciples, and how Paul treated his disciples. People followed them out respect and admiration.
Paul started with going to the lost. A church plant must always start evangelism/outreach.
Marketing will not and can not replace the sowing and watering of a church plant.
Don’t sell out your values at the expense of church growth.
Leaders are simply people who have been discipled well.
September 15, 2025
The subtitle is helpful in suggesting the comprehensiveness of this book: The Art and Science of Planting Churches. Peyton Jones has an impressive command of not just the practical side of planting churches but also the biblical support for and practice of church planting. And also a solid knowledge of church history. Impressive scope.
The book may be deserving of 5 stars but I’m left with questions of how some of the dots are connected from Scripture to theory and practice and I need to consider them more.
I read this book for a church planting course I’m taking at Wheaton and it’s understandable why this book is assigned reading. It will definitely be a good reference for me going forward.
The book may be deserving of 5 stars but I’m left with questions of how some of the dots are connected from Scripture to theory and practice and I need to consider them more.
I read this book for a church planting course I’m taking at Wheaton and it’s understandable why this book is assigned reading. It will definitely be a good reference for me going forward.
July 7, 2021
Peyton Jones gives us a way to apply first century multiplication principles today. He gives a glimpse into the strategic nature of places and people in the New Testament that I’ve never seen. Also highlights multiplication movements and their simplicity throughout church history. This is the church multiplication playbook and textbook that we need for this hour.
January 24, 2024
Loved this! A little bit of a slow start, only b/c of the massive foundation needing to be set for the rest of the book. Went ahead and purchased the hardcopy to keep, markup, and build information from. If you are looking at expanding your current reach, plant a church, or release others to do the same, this will help you with a framework to make that happen!
April 1, 2023
Challenging and inspirational
Church Plantology has been a great read and inspiration as a church planter on the mission field. The truths in the book can’t be reproduced in a small review. All I can say is this book is a must read for all church planters.
Church Plantology has been a great read and inspiration as a church planter on the mission field. The truths in the book can’t be reproduced in a small review. All I can say is this book is a must read for all church planters.
July 30, 2023
A great and practical read that speaks to what Brendin and I are trying to do. Full of good theology, church history, and tangible exercises and actions…while also creating space for new ideas and strategies.
April 30, 2024
This is an incredible overview of essentials is church planting! After engaging in church planting personally and coaching others in planting this book was a great refresher AND deepening of knowledge and wisdom. It helped form me which was the most impactful part!
March 7, 2025
WOW~ All I can say is WOW! Being a church planter myself this book is a powerful look into the art of church planting~ Thank you to the author. I will be purchasing copies of this and giving it to my team. If you are a church planter this is essential reading.
March 14, 2024
15 hours later. Listening on audio at 1.25 speed. This book has everything from church history, church context in the 21st century, Bible study, and more.
Great read.
Great read.
November 18, 2021
Peyton Jones puts his years of experience and Bible study to good use in this massive undertaking. He writes a textbook that doesn’t read like a textbook though it is well laid out and covers lots of topics. Instead, it flows like an adventure movie that he invites the reader to be immersed in. It’s like a 3-D movie that requires you to put on the special glasses that you get from him as you walk into the theater. But when you walk out you realize that you now see in a new way and the 3-D effect is permanently in your brain, if you walk away and put this into practice.
And you know how so many writers give you what you really need to know in the first chapter or so and you could almost stop there and move on to another book? Well, Peyton gives you plenty in the early chapters to think about and put into practice but then he just keeps giving you more and more good stuff.
From the practical distinction between church planting vs. church starting to the necessity of gathering and pouring into a team and in fact teams, the book brings more and more truth home from the scripture using all of the Bible but in particular the exploits of the Holy Spirit through church planting apostle Paul.
So many stories and principles and history of church planting movements from Paul to the present are presented and yet Peyton Jones won’t let it go with all of that. He calls us to take all that has preceded us and do what is required of us today. He leads us to look at others and network together to do more than we could ever do alone. But again in this, he doesn’t just present an idea, he gives us ways to look and actually do this.
I first got the audio version of this and was drawn by the excellent narrator. Along with the audio comes a PDF of insights and questions to consider that are also found in the hardback and Kindle. Good move in giving that to listeners also.
Then I realized partway in that I needed to be able to have notes of what I was hearing so I bought the Kindle version as well. Now I’ve completed the audio and Kindle versions and have gained from taking it in both ways and have so much highlighted in my Kindle.
Peyton Jones is a gift to the world, the church, and those who get to take in some of what he has learned so far. Church Plantology is exceptional. Now it’s up to us, the readers and listeners, to write the next chapters.
And you know how so many writers give you what you really need to know in the first chapter or so and you could almost stop there and move on to another book? Well, Peyton gives you plenty in the early chapters to think about and put into practice but then he just keeps giving you more and more good stuff.
From the practical distinction between church planting vs. church starting to the necessity of gathering and pouring into a team and in fact teams, the book brings more and more truth home from the scripture using all of the Bible but in particular the exploits of the Holy Spirit through church planting apostle Paul.
So many stories and principles and history of church planting movements from Paul to the present are presented and yet Peyton Jones won’t let it go with all of that. He calls us to take all that has preceded us and do what is required of us today. He leads us to look at others and network together to do more than we could ever do alone. But again in this, he doesn’t just present an idea, he gives us ways to look and actually do this.
I first got the audio version of this and was drawn by the excellent narrator. Along with the audio comes a PDF of insights and questions to consider that are also found in the hardback and Kindle. Good move in giving that to listeners also.
Then I realized partway in that I needed to be able to have notes of what I was hearing so I bought the Kindle version as well. Now I’ve completed the audio and Kindle versions and have gained from taking it in both ways and have so much highlighted in my Kindle.
Peyton Jones is a gift to the world, the church, and those who get to take in some of what he has learned so far. Church Plantology is exceptional. Now it’s up to us, the readers and listeners, to write the next chapters.
July 12, 2021
Starting or Planting
I found the book very readable. Peyton Jones touched on most every topic of interest to a church planter. Though I did not always like the terms used they were well defined and you were given enough information to understand his perspective. I would recommend this book to any follower of Jesus who wants a better understanding of church planting and/or the tools needed to plant a church.
I found the book very readable. Peyton Jones touched on most every topic of interest to a church planter. Though I did not always like the terms used they were well defined and you were given enough information to understand his perspective. I would recommend this book to any follower of Jesus who wants a better understanding of church planting and/or the tools needed to plant a church.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews