This well-crafted book is for young people making the transition across ‘the blurry cusp from school and life after school’. Parker’s aim is to encourage a creative, bold and careful response to the culture we live in, not just by students, teachers and parents, but also by Christian schools.
Category Archives: Spirituality
HOW TO FULFIL THE MISSION OF THE CHURCH PART 5
In our last article, we learned about the mission of the church. It included the following points:
1. Glory to God;
2. Edification;
3. Holiness;
4. Evangelism;
5. Discipleship;
6. Mission.
At this point
How do we fulfil Six – Mission?
God’s mission is the church’s mission; they are one and the same. God-pleasers will make the mission their highest priority. That leads us to the needful question: How do we fulfil the mission of the church? How do we begin to raise up disciples?
§ 1. Evangelism (Mark 16:15);
§ 2. Prayer (Matthew 9:38);
§ 3. Sending missionaries (Acts 13:1-3; 14:26; Romans 10:15);
§ 4. Going to the nations (Matthew 28:19; Acts 1:8; Romans. 1:13-15; 15:20);
§ 5. Be filled with the Spirit (Ephesians 5:18; Acts 1:8). Pentecost gives power for mission.
§
§ 6. Giving (Philippians 4:15-18);
The Lord’s Church is experiencing an unprecedented amount of growth, especially in the developing world. Current figures forecast that we could have another one billion souls added to God’s Kingdom in less than a decade. What a wonderful prospect! But what a daunting task!
In order to service today’s church and tomorrow’s believers, we need more people serving God. But the fact is that we do not have enough ministers today, let alone for tomorrow. Even if every graduate of every Bible college and seminary entered and remained in full-time ministry, it would still not be enough.
Thank God, we have a Holy Spirit-inspired solution. It is found in Ephesians 4:11-13:And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; 12For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: 13Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:
Verse 12 speaks of equipping the saints to do the work of the ministry. It is simple:
§ If the Great Commission is only the responsibility of full-time clergy, we will be overwhelmed and the commission unfulfilled.
§ But if the saints are equipped to do the work of the ministry, the Great Commission becomes achievable in our time. In order to equip the church, we need to learn. We can divide the commission into three streams:
1. CREED: Sound doctrine is the building block to the Christian faith and is essential for every believer if they are going to effectively serve God. Topics like the Tri-unity of God, the divinity and humanity of Jesus, the atoning redemptive death of Christ on the cross, the inspiration and infallibility of Scripture, the second coming of Jesus, the person and work of the Holy Spirit, sanctification, and justification, are some of the essential doctrinal foundations of faith (also see Hebrews 6:1-2);
2. CHARACTER: Christians are called to be the ‘salt of the earth’ and the ‘light of the world.’ Issues of Biblical integrity, the Fruit of the Spirit, Christian grace, love, truth, and holiness, should be emphasised;
3. COMPETENCIES: Basic skills like prayer, Bible study, witnessing, hearing the voice of God, people skills, and discipline, should be taught.
Combined together, these three streams give the disciple/minister a well-rounded training program for fulfilling mission of the church by recruiting the Body of Christ to do the work of the ministry.
That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God — Colossians 1:10
HOW TO FULFIL THE MISSION OF THE CHURCH PART 5
In our last article, we learned about the mission of the church. It included the following points:
1. Glory to God;
2. Edification;
3. Holiness;
4. Evangelism;
5. Discipleship;
6. Mission.
At this point
How do we fulfil Six – Mission?
God’s mission is the church’s mission; they are one and the same. God-pleasers will make the mission their highest priority. That leads us to the needful question: How do we fulfil the mission of the church? How do we begin to raise up disciples?
§ 1. Evangelism (Mark 16:15);
§ 2. Prayer (Matthew 9:38);
§ 3. Sending missionaries (Acts 13:1-3; 14:26; Romans 10:15);
§ 4. Going to the nations (Matthew 28:19; Acts 1:8; Romans. 1:13-15; 15:20);
§ 5. Be filled with the Spirit (Ephesians 5:18; Acts 1:8). Pentecost gives power for mission.
§
§ 6. Giving (Philippians 4:15-18);
The Lord’s Church is experiencing an unprecedented amount of growth, especially in the developing world. Current figures forecast that we could have another one billion souls added to God’s Kingdom in less than a decade. What a wonderful prospect! But what a daunting task!
In order to service today’s church and tomorrow’s believers, we need more people serving God. But the fact is that we do not have enough ministers today, let alone for tomorrow. Even if every graduate of every Bible college and seminary entered and remained in full-time ministry, it would still not be enough.
Thank God, we have a Holy Spirit-inspired solution. It is found in Ephesians 4:11-13:And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; 12For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: 13Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:
Verse 12 speaks of equipping the saints to do the work of the ministry. It is simple:
§ If the Great Commission is only the responsibility of full-time clergy, we will be overwhelmed and the commission unfulfilled.
§ But if the saints are equipped to do the work of the ministry, the Great Commission becomes achievable in our time. In order to equip the church, we need to learn. We can divide the commission into three streams:
1. CREED: Sound doctrine is the building block to the Christian faith and is essential for every believer if they are going to effectively serve God. Topics like the Tri-unity of God, the divinity and humanity of Jesus, the atoning redemptive death of Christ on the cross, the inspiration and infallibility of Scripture, the second coming of Jesus, the person and work of the Holy Spirit, sanctification, and justification, are some of the essential doctrinal foundations of faith (also see Hebrews 6:1-2);
2. CHARACTER: Christians are called to be the ‘salt of the earth’ and the ‘light of the world.’ Issues of Biblical integrity, the Fruit of the Spirit, Christian grace, love, truth, and holiness, should be emphasised;
3. COMPETENCIES: Basic skills like prayer, Bible study, witnessing, hearing the voice of God, people skills, and discipline, should be taught.
Combined together, these three streams give the disciple/minister a well-rounded training program for fulfilling mission of the church by recruiting the Body of Christ to do the work of the ministry.
That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God — Colossians 1:10
Money: tool or master?
Money is a touchy topic and one we avoid in polite company. But money is not something to fear, nor is it something to pursue at all costs. It is simply a tool, a way to simplify trade. What is its place for us, as Christians?
Link Highlights | June 2018
Highlights of links to online news and opinion pieces from June 2018.
Review: Turn the Tide: Reclaiming Religious Freedom in Australia
This timely booklet raises important issues about freedom of religion in Australia in a succinct way. However, it sometimes succumbs to over-simplification in interpretation of Scripture and the Constitution. And whether persecution is an appropriate word for the situation of the Australian church compared with that of the majority world church is open to debate.
Review: Turn the Tide: Reclaiming Religious Freedom in Australia
This timely booklet raises important issues about freedom of religion in Australia in a succinct way. However, it sometimes succumbs to over-simplification in interpretation of Scripture and the Constitution. And whether persecution is an appropriate word for the situation of the Australian church compared with that of the majority world church is open to debate.
Link Highlights | May 2018
Highlights of links to online news and opinion pieces from May 2018.
Dear Col: letter to a good mate re: ‘same-sex’, ‘not cricket’ and all that
Solving the question of same-sex marriage with a postage stamp and walk to the local post office demeaned the question. But how ought Christians have voted? Jesus, full of Grace and Truth, demonstrated the principles by which we need to live. Dare we live this radical lifestyle in twenty-first century Australia?
Women of Gilead: oppressing and oppressed
Rather than condemn religion itself, or even male-dominated systems, this series highlights the power that women of faith have to influence their environment. It encourages us to use that power for good, like the rabbi who blesses the unwomen, and not for harm, like the hard-hearted Gilead matriarchs.