Adapted from Ralph Mahoney, "The Five Leadership Gifts," The Shepherd's Staff (World MAP, 1993)Ephesians 4:11,121. Apostlesa. Three Groups(i) "Twelve apostles of the Lamb" (Matt.10:1-5; Rev.21:14) have a special relationship to the nation of Israel (Rev.21:12). In the age to come, they will sit on twelve thrones judging Israel (Matt.19:28)(ii) "Ascension apostles" have a special relationship to the Gentile church. Those mentioned in the New Testament are Paul and Barnabas (Acts.14:14), Andronicus and Junia (Rom.16:7), James (Gal.1:19), Silas...
Can We Pray the Lord's Prayer?
"In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name.Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as [it is] in heaven.Give us this day our daily bread.And forgive us our debts, As we forgive our debtors.And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen." (Matt.6:9-13)I've found the Lord's Prayer (so called not because He prayed it but because He taught it) to be the strongest and most readily answered words I could say in times of...
Resolutions
PETERThen 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. (Acts 3:6)PAULFor I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. (1Cor.2:2)GEORGE MULLER'S FOUR RULES1. Not to receive any fixed salary2. Never to ask any human being for help3. To take this command (Luke 12. 33) literally, ‘Sell that thou hast and give alms,’ and never to save up money, but to spend all God entrusted to him on God’s poor, on the work of His kingdom.4....
To preach the Gospel where Christ is not named
"I have made it my aim to preach the gospel, not where Christ was named, lest I should build on another man's foundation....But now no longer having a place in these parts...." (Rom 15:20,23)Mission emphasis has seen focus shifts from geographical to people-group, and more recently to age group (4-14 Window). But, while we look at the other identifiers like people-group and age-group, we must not forget the full picture of the Great Commission to go into all the world (geographical) and preach the gospel to every creature (personal) and make disciples...
We Played Games As Children
We played games as childrenEnacting whole sets of scenes;We played roles as childrenIn these little sets of scenes;We played parents and children,Teachers, toddlers, and teens;We still play games, O children,But games that live on drea...
....in the teaching uncorruptedness, gravity.... (Tit 2:7-8)
"... in the teaching uncorruptedness, gravity, incorruptibility, discourse sound, irreprehensible..." (Tit 2:7-8 YLT)There are few rules of teaching: (1) Don't air opinions; speak the truth alone (2) Don't entertain with unedifying jokes; speak reverently out of passion for God (3) Don't skip the important elements (redeem time properly); teach everything needed to protect the doctrine from corruption and make it stand out -- each munch is just a little munch, of course, but it must be wholesome (4) Don't speak disconnectedly and illogically;...
Wisdom
Wisdom is the ability to rightly use knowledge in order to solve problems, make the right choices, and take right decisions.There are different kinds of wisdom, but not all are good:1. Worldly Wisdom (foolish) - The wisdom that comes from the world (James 3:15; 1Cor.1:20)2. Carnal Wisdom (sinful) - The wisdom of the flesh, its desires and passions (James 3:15; Rom.7:18,23)3. Demonic Wisdom (wicked) - Ideas that come from the devil; demonic doctrines (James 3:15; 1Tim.4:1)4. Divine Wisdom (good)- The wisdom that comes from God (James 3:16)How to...
Meaning of Life
Meaning of Life1. Doesn't consist in the Abundance of Wealth one has (Luke 12:15)2. Doesn't consist in the Amount of Work one does (Eccl.2:4-6, 11; 4:8; Rev.2:2,4)3. Doesn't consist in the Applause of the World one gets (John 5:44; Luke 16:15)Meaning of Life Consists In1. Knowing God in Obedient Faith (John 17:3; Ecc.12:1,13)2. Doing Good in True Love (Isa.1:17; Mic.6:8; Luke 6:27; Gal.6:10; 1Cor.13:3; 2Thess.3:13; 1Tim.6:18; James 4:17)3. Doing God's Will With Wisdom and Finishing His Work (John 4:34; 17:4; Rom.12:2-8; 2Tim.4...
Empty Desire, Encounter with Stranger, The Call of Drunkenness, and Pursuit of Wisdom (Poetic Excerpts from Stranger)
Read the novel at Google BooksEMPTY DESIRE(Caged within Lust's tormenting cell, the man pulls out the Scroll and reads...)Vacuum, the barrenness of empty desire;Insatiable craving, abysmal mire;Deluded by Lust, the cunning liar;The end of all ends, brimstone and fire…Leave the dark dungeon behind;Leap into the Light;Break through the hideous blind:Flee! Stand not to fight!ENCOUNTER WITH STRANGER (Stranger comes to the man's assistance. The man asks Stranger who he is and what he does and gets this reply)“Ask the ground beneath your feet what...
Keeping the Gospel Free (A Preacher with a Price Tag is Anathema)
"What is my reward then? That when I preach the gospel, I may present the gospel of Christ without charge, that I may not abuse my authority in the gospel." (1Cor.9:18)I heard of a recent conversation between two pastors that went something like this:Pastor A: Do you think we can get AA to come and preach in our church?Pastor B: Well, he's too big; your church can't afford him.I was at another place and a pastor began expressing grave disappointment about a preacher/artist whom his friend had invited to come and preach in his television channel....
Fear
Fear can either be positive or negative, healthy or unhealthy, helpful or hindering.Fear is positive when one fears what one is meant to fear.Fear is negative when one fears what one is not meant to fear.Fear is healthy when fear keeps our body, soul, and spirit sound.Fear is unhealthy when it hurts our physical, mental, and spiritual health.Fear is helpful when it helps us to move forward.Fear is hindering when it stops us from growing and moving forward.Examples of Positive FearFear and reverence of the Lord (Departing from evil, Job 28:8; Prov.16:6)Fearing...
Patience
Patience is forbearance, i.e. the moral capacity to endure and forbear delay or imperfection. Other words that explain its meaning are longanimity, fortitude, endurance, tolerance, and longsuffering. Patience is, thus, a word related to time. It is the measure of our durability in faith.1. Patience is giving allowance to more time (Neh.9:30; Matt.18:26,29). Allowing more time is a process of suffering (loss, pain); therefore, patience is also longsuffering.2. Patience is the ability to hold on, i.e. to possess one's self, to endure, to allow things...
Four Pillars of Learning and Theological Education
Workshop Talk Delivered at NATA-AGM, March 2014In its Report to UNESCO in the document Learning: The Treasure Within (1996)[1], also referred to as the Delors Report, the International Commission on Education for the 21st Century, proposed the following four pillars of education as listed below:Learning to knowLearning to doLearning to live togetherLearning to beLearning to know involves “combining a sufficiently broad...
Adam, the Last
This is the title used for Jesus in 1Cor.15:45-47. As the Last Adam, Jesus is contrasted with theFirst Adam. A few contrasts are as follows:1. The First Adam was not born of any sexual union; the Last Adam was not born of any sexual union.2. The First Adam is called son of God (Luke 3:38); the Last Adam is the Son of God.3. The First Adam brought sin into the world; the Last Adam put an end to sin.4. The First Adam was made a living soul; the Last Adam was a life-giving Spirit.5. The First Adam was the head of the sinful race; the Last Adam was...
Feasts of Israel: Three Functions
1. Commemorative . Helps to remember an event.2. Instructive. Helps to instruct this and the next generation.3. Celebrative. Is a celebration of God’s goodness.Exodus 121. It is Personal – “to me” (Ex.12:8)2. It is Social...
