2026 Edinburgh Intensive Schedule
September 15-18

The mornings will focus on the following topics. The afternoons will be spent interviewing local church planters.

Day 1

September 15

  • Sashko and David

    Brief introduction to the conference

    Location:

    Edinburgh Theological Seminary
    15 N Bank St, Edinburgh EH1 2LS

  • Sashko Nezamutdinov

    Perhaps no other topic apart from the gospel itself is so central to church planting as the art of contextualization. This ability to adapt the truth of the gospel to a sub-culture without over-adapting is essential if listeners are to “get it”. As soon as you choose a language to preach in and illustrations and humor, you've contextualized. You are closer to some people and farther from others. How far can you go with this and how to find the right balance without compromising the gospel? 

    Recommended Reading:

    Center Church, part 3 (Chapters 7-10), Timothy Keller 

  • David Stoddard

    This seminar walks through the full life cycle of a church plant—from the initial dream and strategic vision, through evangelism, leadership development, and public launch, to maturity and reproduction.

    Drawing on biblical models and real-world examples from European church-planting contexts, we explore each phase with honest attention to where churches commonly stall or lose their sense of mission.

    Participants will consider what it looks like to plant strategically rather than just conveniently, to prioritize gathering unbelievers rather than simply consolidating Christians, and to build a reproductive DNA into a church from day one—so that multiplication isn't a late-stage afterthought but a founding conviction.

    Whether you’re in the early stages of dreaming about a plant or leading a church that has plateaued, this seminar offers both a diagnostic framework and a forward-looking vision for what healthy, multiplying churches can look like.

  • At ETS Building

    Meeting at: Presbytery Hall

    15 N Bank St, Edinburgh EH1 2LS, United Kingdom

September 16

Day 2

Day 3 (in Glasgow for the day)

September 17

  • Robbie Sweet

    In this session, we will consider why a healthy vision for NEXT generation ministry is not simply something for established churches to focus on. We will look at both the global realities that are impacting the next generation as well as look at ways our local churches can reach the young people in our communities. The next generation is a strategic people group to reach and our church plants are uniquely equipped to participate in the mission of reaching the nations and the next generation.

    Location:

    Glasgow City Church

    340-348 Cathedral Street
    Glasgow, G1 2BQ

    Suggested reading:

    Growing Young, by Kara Powell, Jake Mulder, and Brad Griffin

    The Anxious Generation, by Jonathan Haidt

    Mission NEXT, by Eric Larsen

  • Andrew Lupton & Nate Taylor

    So where do you start? And once the first steps in church-planting are taken, where do you go from there? In this seminar we will focus on defining the “big picture” and the life-cycle of a local church from its beginning to maturity.

    Location:

    Glasgow City Church

    340-348 Cathedral Street
    Glasgow, G1 2BQ

    Recommended Reading:

    Authentic Ministry, Michael Reeves

  • Merchant City FCoS, Glasgow

    The Social Hub
    15 Candleriggs Square, Glasgow, G1 1TQ

Day 4

September 18

  • Sashko Nezamutdinov

    In Acts 2 worship happens by miraculous divine intervention. In 1 Corinthians 14 it happens by human design and effort. But it cannot be missed that Paul directly tells a local congregation to adapt its worship because of the presence of unbelievers. It is a false dichotomy to insist that if we are seeking to please God we must not ask what the unchurched feel or think about our worship. Our purpose is not to make unbelievers comfortable. Our aim is to be intelligible to them. We must address their heart secrets (1 Cor. 14:25). That means we must remember what it is like to not believe. 

    Recommended Reading:

    Christ-Centered Worship, Bryan Chapell

    “Evangelistic Worship” (white paper), Timothy Keller  

September Intensive Info
Edinburgh, Scotland

September 15-18, 2026

  • Anywhere near the seminary:

    Edinburgh Theological Seminary
    15 N Bank St, Edinburgh EH1 2LS, United Kingdom

  • Chalmers Hall at Edinburgh Theological Seminary
    15 N Bank St, Edinburgh EH1 2LS

  • You can get a taxi, bus, or tram to Waverley Train Station. From there, it is typically an easy walk to lodging either in OId Town or New Town.  Alternatively, you can take a taxi directly from the airport to your lodging.

  • We ask that participants bring any snacks they want during the day.  Lunch and dinner are on your own, or hopefully with others in the intensive.

  • Please Google for the many yummy food choices in Edinburgh.

    11 Fascinating things to do in Edinburgh via Visit Scotland