Start A Church or Ministry With No Money Biblically

I’ve got great news for anyone on a tight budget who wants to start a church or ministry. That news is this: According to the scriptures, money is not a requirement for either church or ministry. This might sound contrary to popular religious teaching but think about it: Where in the Bible did Jesus teach his disciples to fundraise? 

Starting a church or ministry doesn’t require money. Businesses need capital to get started, but the church isn’t a business. It isn’t a building or a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Nor does it need to register with any government agency to be a legitimate church. The church is the people of God, with or without a building, branding, or financial backing. In fact, here’s a great definition of what the church is:

1 Pet 2:9-10

But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.

Neither Jesus nor the apostles taught about raising money to fund a ministry. Quite the opposite, really. Take a look at these examples from the Bible…

Mark 6:7-10

And he called unto him the twelve, and began to send them forth by two and two; and gave them power over unclean spirits; And commanded them that they should take nothing for their journey, save a staff only; no scrip, no bread, no money in their purse: But be shod with sandals; and not put on two coats. And he said unto them, In what place soever ye enter into an house, there abide till ye depart from that place.

Matt 14:16-21

But Jesus said unto them, They need not depart; give ye them to eat. And they say unto him, We have here but five loaves, and two fishes. He said, Bring them hither to me. And he commanded the multitude to sit down on the grass, and took the five loaves, and the two fishes, and looking up to heaven, he blessed, and brake, and gave the loaves to his disciples, and the disciples to the multitude. And they did all eat, and were filled: and they took up of the fragments that remained twelve baskets full. And they that had eaten were about five thousand men, beside women and children.

We can all rest assured of this fact: Jesus isn’t broke. He'll provide the means if he’s leading you to serve in a certain way according to the scriptures. You just need to exercise faith, stay in the word, and walk in obedience. This might require some unlearning because so much of what is called ministry today isn’t ministry; it’s a business. There’s nothing wrong with starting a business and doing what you can to raise money for it. Just be clear and honest about it. If it’s a business, don’t call it a ministry. 

After his conversion, Paul often preached Christ, making tents on the side to support himself. He frequently didn’t receive any food or money from anyone to not be chargeable to anyone or to burden the poor. He would serve God with or without anyone’s help because he was truly called to be an apostle and a teacher to the Gentiles. If you are truly called or led by Christ to do something, you will be tested in such ways. This is how our motives and revealed!

2 Thess 3:7-9

For yourselves know how ye ought to follow us: for we behaved not ourselves disorderly among you; Neither did we eat any man's bread for nought; but wrought with labour and travail night and day, that we might not be chargeable to any of you: Not because we have not power, but to make ourselves an ensample unto you to follow us.

Do you know what separates a lot of real ministry from fake ministry? Faith and power - not money. Ministry is serving and enriching others - not ourselves. It edifies the church, glorifies God, and turns people to righteousness. Consider this example of Peter and John meeting a lame man on their way to the temple to pray in Acts 3:6-9:

Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk. And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up: and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength. And he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God. And all the people saw him walking and praising God:

My faith is being tested right now, even as I write this. And I’m encouraging myself in the Lord by remembering how God has always provided for his people when they obeyed him. If you are struggling to walk out in faith right now because the numbers don’t add up, praise him for the trials, speak life, and trust him. 

Quite often, God will speak to us to do something or trust him for something without seeing all the details first. Many can’t do that yet, but that’s what faith is. 

Heb 11:8

By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.

Now let’s talk about power. Do you know what separated Jesus and the apostles from every other teacher, preacher, pharisee, or scribe? Power. The undeniable power of Almighty God.

John 3:1-2

There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews: The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.

1 Cor 2:4-5

And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God. 

Our God is powerful, and real ministry is often accompanied by the power of God! Sometimes subtle and quiet, other times dramatic and very public, but powerful nonetheless. Miracles, wonders, and signs are part of genuine ministry. Take a look at how Jesus commissioned his disciples after his resurrection in Mark 16:15-20:

And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover. So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God. And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen.

Let us endeavor to live a life full of the Holy Ghost and great faith! Let God confirm our ministry to ourselves and the world around us with signs following!

Start A Church or Preach the Gospel?

For anyone who wants to start a church, I applaud you. I’m sure your heart is in the right place. But let me ask you, is that what Jesus commanded his disciples to do? Did he tell them to go start or plant churches? Let’s go to the end of the gospels to find out.

Matt 28:19-20

Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

Mark 16:15-16

And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.

Luke 24:46-47

And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.

The Book of John doesn’t end the same way, but the other three gospels have a consistent message that can be roughly summarized this way:

Preach the gospel, baptize those who believe the word preached, 

teach the commands of Christ.

Jesus Christ commanded his disciples to preach and teach the word, not to build or plant churches. Churches are the result of preaching the word. And preaching the word can be done anywhere, anytime, and it won’t cost a dime!

The Church In Your House

Did you know that churches, the people of God, often gather together in houses? It’s true and biblical:

• Rom 16:5 “Likewise greet the church that is in their house….”
  
  

• 1 Cor 16:19 “The churches of Asia salute you. Aquila and Priscilla salute you much in the Lord, with the church that is in their house.”
  
  

• Phil 1:2 “And to our beloved Apphia, and Archippus our fellowsoldier, and to the church in thy house:”
  
  

• Col 4:15 “Salute the brethren which are in Laodicea, and Nymphas, and the church which is in his house.”

The church is admonished not to forsake the assembling of ourselves together, but the location can be anywhere. A house, temple, restaurant, beach, theater, cafe, anywhere. Date, time, or place is irrelevant. What’s important is what happens when we gather together.

The early church was vibrant and dynamic. It wasn’t glued to a building with a costly mortgage or lease payment. Consider this description of the church in the last part of Acts chapter 2 after Peter preached the gospel, and notice the atmosphere of faith and power, not how much money was raised to fund ministry:

Acts 2:41-47

Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls. And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles. And all that believed were together, and had all things common; And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need. And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.

If you’re interested in learning how to start a church in your home, I invite you to check out the How To Start A Dynamic Home Church Course. 

To offset our online expenses, you might see affiliate links to helpful products or services that we use mixed in with the articles. If you make a purchase, we might be compensated in some way at no cost to you. It’s a win-win advertising option for businesses that helps us too! For example, this blog was made with JetPage. A very simple website maker. Check out JetPage here!