Church As Jesus Began To Do And Teach

The Church today seems to have a hard time communicating the Good News and then Equipping those who respond to that Good News by giving their lives to Jesus. There seems to be this battle that rages between being living witnesses and Spirit filled disciples in some churches today. One group wants to win the lost at all cost while another wants to equip people to do great and mighty things through God without a priority to win the lost, as if they were actually opposite objectives.

I would like to suggest that we all reread the Gospels and the other New Testament books to see that reaching the lost with the Good News and providing Discipleship opportunities and relationships are at the heart of all that Jesus began to do and teach. These opportunities which should be clearly designed for spiritual and personal growth can be made up of short term tracks which once each track is completed can provide the foundation for additional growth opportunity tracks designed to equip believers to be effective disciples of Jesus who can experience healthy growth in every part of their life, with God, at work, in their family, church and community.

The New Testament Church saw all that Jesus began to do and teach as their responsibility as they were directed by the teachings, commands and example of Jesus, as well as, the direction and power of the Holy Spirit!

No matter what the name or affiliation of your church are you doing all 'Jesus Began to Do and Teach?' If not you have work to do to be doing God the Father's will.

Call out to Him today! He desires to do a complete work in you, your family, your work, your community and your church!

Church That Equips and Understands Our Calling

The Church That Equips must be built on an understanding of the Calling we who follow Jesus have.

Becoming an Equipped and Passionate Disciple and the Call of God in Your Life

Introduction:
Have you ever wondered what the call of God is, who are called of God and what that has to do with you and your life as a follower of Jesus?

I. Who are the called of God?

Is it only the giants of the faith?

Is it only a select few?

Is it only those who are called to the five offices listed in Eph. 4:11-14?

Is it only those who operate in the more visible gifts listed in I Corinthians 12, Romans 12 and elsewhere in the Bible?

"We can discover who the called of the Lord are if we will look into our Bibles with an open mind and heart."

1. The Call of God is for whom so ever … John 3:16-17 16 "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

2. The Call is to those he has qualified Col 1:12-14 12 giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light. 13 For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. NIV

3. The Call is to those who have said yes to the Gospel 2 Thess 2:13-15 4 He called you to this through our gospel that you might share in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. 15 So then, brothers, stand firm and hold to the teachings we passed on to you, whether by word of mouth or by letter. NIV

4. The Call is to those that he predestined Rom 8:28-30 28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. 29 For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. 30 And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified. NIV

Informative note:

This predestination is based on the advanced knowledge of God. (This is the God who knows the beginning from the end and who sees all things. It is He knows the fact that on a certain day and at a certain time certain place we will accept the Lord Jesus as our savior and Lord.)

5. The Call of God is spoken of throughout the New Testament
Eph 1:17-23 18 I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, NIV

Eph 4:1-13 4:1 As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received.

2 Peter 1:10-11 10 Therefore, my brothers, be all the more eager to make your calling and election sure. NIV

2 Thess 1:11-12 11 With this in mind, we constantly pray for you, that our God may count you worthy of his calling, and that by his power he may fulfill every good purpose of yours and every act prompted by your faith. NIV

Heb 2:17 3:1 Therefore, holy brothers, who share in the heavenly calling, fix your thoughts on Jesus, the apostle and high priest whom we confess NIV

Informative Note

The Doctrine of the Nicolaitans which is briefly mentioned in Rev. 2:6. Jesus says the believers in Ephesus are to be commended because they hate the doctrine of this group. This group believed there were two groups of people in the Kingdom of God. Those who were more favored or anointed and therefore had special knowledge of the things of God and those who did not and were therefore not as called by God. This false doctrine is today seen in the separation between professional clergy and lay people in many churches. Although there are specific offices in the church to equip God's people; Ephesians 4:10 to 14, The people called to fill these offices have not been put in their office to lord it over God's people or deny the people of God a clear revelation of all that God has for them and the blessings which come from Him to all who call on His name.

II. What is the Call of God?

a. Is it to become a minister, missionary, evangelist, teacher or prophet?

b. Is it to do some weird thing like putting your underwear in the mud of a river bank and then bring them out and wave them around and tell everyone that this (these soiled underwear) represent how they and their sin appear before God as Ezekiel was called to do?

Answer

It is to recieve, become and particpate in all that God has for us in Him.

Ephesians 1-3 Read and be amazed. Below are more verses that give us insight.

1. To become fellow inheritors of God's mercy and power.
Rom 8:17, Eph 3:6

2. To be grafted in to the vine (Israel)

Jn 15
3. It is to become new creations in Jesus christ

2 Cor 5:17

As a Result of who and what we have become in Christ:

It is to do the things that Jesus began to do and teach,

Acts 1:1

1. Jesus came to seek and save that which was lost,

Lk 19:10

2. Jesus came to set the captives free,

Lk 4:18

3. The Call is for us to be witnesses by the power of the Holy Spirit

Acts 1:8

4. We are to make disciples of all people groups and nations,

Matt 28:19-20
5. We are to be living letters or epistles to those around us concerning the Good news of Jesus.
6. We are to be Christ's Ambassadors or representatives, Ephesians 6:19-20.

It is to do what Jesus instructed us to do through the Apostles.

7. We are to go and make disciples of nations and people groups, teaching them to do all that I have commanded. Matthew 28:20

8. We are to do the work of the ministry, build up one another, and work on becoming mature in Christ Ephesians 4:10-14

Conclusion

1. Today as in Jesus’ day God is calling each of us to follow Jesus, to answer His call and do the things that Jesus began to do and teach. We are to be His disciples as He empowers our lives by His Spirit.

2. We need to give ourselves to Him completely, we also need to seek to build a relationship with Him and be available to be a living witness of His work in and through us.

3. We also need to continually seek to be equipped so that we will become mature in Him and then we can do more to help others walk out their calling!

Call to Action
Jesus wants to raise up a new generation of passionate disciples who will say yes to Him and be His voice and hands extended in this day and to this generation.

WILL YOUR SAY YES TO HIM TODAY?

I would like to ask you to check out what the Bible says for yourself and be Acts 17:11-12 Christians 11 And the people of Berea were more open-minded than those in Thessalonica, and they listened eagerly to Paul's message. They searched the Scriptures day after day to check up on Paul and Silas, to see if they were really teaching the truth. NLT
_______________________________________________________________

Artwork by Graham Braddock http://www.grahambraddock.co.nz/

HighCallingsBlogs.com

TheHighCalling.org

I want to introduce you to a new resource that will assist you as you seek to be a believer who is Equipped and someone who is a part of a Church that Equips God's people.

With a vision to be the internet source for people seeking the high calling of their work and daily life, TheHighCalling.org seeks to connect people with the faith that undergirds and sustains all that we do.

That's why it is the high calling of our daily work. Daily work embraces all aspects and activities of daily life—including home, community, leisure, as well as occupation.

http://www.thehighcalling.org/

The Church That Equips

A Church that Equips is a daily demonstration of Ephesians 4: 11-16 in everyday life.

When we say that the leadership that is called by God is given the assignment to Equip the People of God (the church) What are we saying? What might it look like and what might the values of an Equipping Church be? How might it function?

From the English Standard Translation.
And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds [2] and teachers, [3] 12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, 13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, [4] to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, 14 so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. 15 Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, 16 from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.

Eph 4:11-16 The Amplified Translation
11 And His gifts were [varied; He Himself appointed and gave men to us] some to be apostles (special messengers), some prophets (inspired preachers and expounders), some evangelists (preachers of the Gospel, traveling missionaries), some pastors (shepherds of His flock) and teachers.
12 His intention was the perfecting and the full equipping of the saints (His consecrated people), [that they should do] the work of ministering toward building up Christ's body (the church),
13[That it might develop] until we all attain oneness in the faith and in the comprehension of the [full and accurate] knowledge of the Son of God, that [we might arrive] at really mature manhood (the completeness of personality which is nothing less than the standard height of Christ's own perfection), the measure of the stature of the fullness of the Christ and the completeness found in Him.
14 So then, we may no longer be children, tossed [like ships] to and fro between chance gusts of teaching and wavering with every changing wind of doctrine, [the prey of] the cunning and cleverness of unscrupulous men, [gamblers engaged] in every shifting form of trickery in inventing errors to mislead.
15 Rather, let our lives lovingly express truth [in all things, speaking truly, dealing truly, living truly]. Enfolded in love, let us grow up in every way and in all things into Him Who is the Head, [even] Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One).
16 For because of Him the whole body (the church, in all its various parts), closely joined and firmly knit together by the joints and ligaments with which it is supplied, when each part [with power adapted to its need] is working properly [in all its functions], grows to full maturity, building itself up in love.

1. What might it (the church that Equips) look like and what might the values of an Equipping Church be? How might it function?

A. It has a plan to make disciples who are passionate for all that God has for them. This plan is based in all that Jesus began to do and teach.

B. It adapts to and connects with current culture, technology and ideas to reach people with the life that God freely gives us in Jesus to be released in every layer of society.

C. People are focused on being not just doing.

D. Their individual gifts are explored and developed so that they may fulfill Ephesians 4:11-16.

E. Leaders are Equippers not Performers, Controllers or Do it all themselves people.

F. Each person ministers within their gifting and skills and a pathway is provided for continual growth.

G. Every person including leadership seeks to grow into the maturity of Christ which is a life long joy and process.

H. Building up one another is participated in with passion, it is not just a truth to agree with.

I. Doing the work of the ministry is embraced by all in every day life not just in the gathering of believers.

J. It is open to either owning or renting facilities and decides which to do on how to best accomplish its vision.

God so values people, which He has chosen to, create us in His image with His DNA. His people (the ones who have decided to give themselves to Him) are the means by which He unfolds or reveals Himself and His ways to all people and all of creation.

Church: Equipping God's People

I recently attended a service where the Teaching Pastor compared what happens in many churches to a child's play at school, where everyone had rehearsed their part and then presented it for those in attendance to see how well they had performed, or memorized their lines. This made me laugh until I realized what a powerful truth she had revealed.

When we say that the leadership that is called by God is given the assignment to Equip the People of God (the church) What are we saying? What might it look like and what might the values of an Equipping Church be? How might it function?

To start we should review the passage in Ephesians 4: 11-16.

The passage below is from the ESV.

11 And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds [2] and teachers, [3] 12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, 13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, [4] to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, 14 so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. 15 Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, 16 from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.

Previously I have stated in other articles that the Church or people of God must continue all that Jesus began to do and teach through the power of the Holy Spirit to accomplish the will of the Father. The verses above give us insight and direction for the accomplishment of doing all that Jesus began to do and teach as He fulfilled both the Law and the Prophets.

1. The first observation from these verses is that this is about God's people not programs. Equipping God's people is not about pulling a program out of a box or copying what some other church or ministry is doing, but leadership serving as a catalyst, teacher, encourager and resource so that God's people will fulfill His plan through them.

Below I have provided definitions of these key words so that we might know with greater depth what we are saying. In my next article we will look deeper into being a Church that continues to do what Jesus began to do and teach by obeying the truths stated above in this passage.

According to Websters dictionary:
cat·a·lyst Pronunciation: \ˈka-tə-ləst\ Function: noun Date: 1902
1 : a substance that enables a chemical reaction to proceed at a usually faster rate or under different conditions (as at a lower temperature) than otherwise possible
2 : an agent that provokes or speeds significant change or action

To Teach:

Pronunciation: \ˈtēch\ Function: verb inflected Form(s):
taught \ˈtȯt\ ; teach·ing
Etymology:
Middle English techen to show, instruct, from Old English tǣcan; akin to Old English tācn sign — more at token
Date: before 12th century transitive verb

1 a: to cause to know something

b: to cause to know how

c: to accustom to some action or attitude

d: to cause to know the disagreeable consequences of some action

2: to guide the studies of

3: to impart the knowledge of

4 a: to instruct by precept, example, or experience

b: to make known and accepted

5: to conduct instruction regularly in intransitive verb: to provide instruction : act as a teacher

To En·cour·age
Pronunciation:
\in-ˈkər-ij, -ˈkə-rij, en-\
Function: transitive verb
Inflected Form(s): en·cour·aged; en·cour·ag·ing
Etymology:
Middle English encoragen, from Anglo-French encorager, from en- + curage courage
Date:
15th century
1 a: to inspire with courage, spirit, or hope : hearten b: to attempt to persuade : urge

2: to spur on : stimulate

3: to give help or patronage to : foster — en·cour·ag·er noun

Re·source
Pronunciation:
\ˈrē-ˌsȯrs, -ˌzȯrs, ri-ˈ\
Function: noun
Etymology:
French ressource, from Old French ressourse relief, resource, from resourdre to relieve, literally, to rise again, from Latin resurgere — more at resurrection
Date: circa 1611
1 a: a source of supply or support : an available means —usually used in plural b: a natural source of wealth or revenue —often used in plural c: a natural feature or phenomenon that enhances the quality of human life d: computable wealth —usually used in plural e: a source of information or expertise

2: something to which one has recourse in difficulty : expedient

3: a possibility of relief or recovery

4: a means of spending one's leisure time5: an ability to meet and handle a situation : resourcefulness