Comments on: How Jesus recruited leaders http://www.steveaddison.net/2006/05/30/recruitment.html Steve Addison's blog about movements for the renewal and expansion of the church. Sun, 07 Sep 2008 12:09:32 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5 By: Guy Muse http://www.steveaddison.net/2006/05/30/recruitment.html#comment-1129 Guy Muse Wed, 31 May 2006 00:32:45 +0000 http://www.steveaddison.net/2007/05/22/recruitment.html#comment-1129 Most of our church planters here in Ecuador come from the #2 fringes. They have been undervalued or overlooked by their own traditional churches. Once they are "empowered" and understand their authority for ministry comes directly from Christ, they are DYNAMITE. A lot of our work as church planting catalysts is to "perfect the saints for the work of service". Much of what I do as a missionary is help shape these beautiful people into all that God intends them to be in his harvest fields. Most of our church planters here in Ecuador come from the #2 fringes. They have been undervalued or overlooked by their own traditional churches. Once they are “empowered” and understand their authority for ministry comes directly from Christ, they are DYNAMITE. A lot of our work as church planting catalysts is to “perfect the saints for the work of service”. Much of what I do as a missionary is help shape these beautiful people into all that God intends them to be in his harvest fields.

]]> By: Sean Michael Murphy http://www.steveaddison.net/2006/05/30/recruitment.html#comment-1119 Sean Michael Murphy Tue, 30 May 2006 17:35:07 +0000 http://www.steveaddison.net/2007/05/22/recruitment.html#comment-1119 I couldn't agree with Pete more. People would rather focus on the stuff that they can do....and this depending on God things gets kind of messy... I couldn’t agree with Pete more. People would rather focus on the stuff that they can do….and this depending on God things gets kind of messy…

]]> By: Michael Foster http://www.steveaddison.net/2006/05/30/recruitment.html#comment-1117 Michael Foster Tue, 30 May 2006 14:17:10 +0000 http://www.steveaddison.net/2007/05/22/recruitment.html#comment-1117 Steve, Thanks for the quote. I'm currently recruiting a leadership core for my church plant and this is the very thing thats been on my heart. #2 has really got me thinking. Steve,

Thanks for the quote. I’m currently recruiting a leadership core for my church plant and this is the very thing thats been on my heart. #2 has really got me thinking.

]]> By: Tim O'Neill http://www.steveaddison.net/2006/05/30/recruitment.html#comment-1116 Tim O'Neill Tue, 30 May 2006 11:46:15 +0000 http://www.steveaddison.net/2007/05/22/recruitment.html#comment-1116 Hi Steve I agree entirely with your (point 3) comment about the necessity of moving with power. Paul says: "For the Kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power" 1 Cor 4:20. What I find interesting is that many bible colleges seem to teach evangelism by focusing on the Acts 17 Mars Hill episode. The fruit of this encounter was that a few believed (note - a few), others ridiculed Paul, whilst still others wanted to do café church and talk more about it. Paul's response was to leave. Paul of course left Mars Hill and went to Corinth. There is no further reference to Athens in the New Testament or to a church being established there. His method was brilliant, yet surely Mars Hill is one of the least fruitful episodes in his ministry. Why then do we tend to emphasise this method as perhaps the primary way to engage Gen x, who probably aren't that different to the epicurean scholars Paul was debating with. (the other scholars, the Stoics surely resemble our Greens.) Read what Paul writes to the Corinthians. In chapter 1 he makes it clear that great wisdom and clever speeches aren't enough to save the day. Instead, in chapter 2:4 and 5 he says: ...My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit's power, so that your faith might not rest on men's wisdom but on God's power. The word used for power is of course dunamis with the Holy Spirit / miraculous connotation. In fact in 2 Timothy 3:5 Paul warns us against engaging with those who have a form of godliness but deny the Spirit's power. Paul warns us not to settle for powerless religion when we can have the power to be world changers who bring glory to God. When we understand the power that is available to us and walk in that power, perhaps we will be like the early disciples who went out and preached everywhere. Mark 16::20 tells us that the Lord worked with them and confirmed his word by the signs and wonders that accompanied it. Now, that's power ministry, and that's what we are called to walk in. Tim O'Neill Hi Steve
I agree entirely with your (point 3) comment about the necessity of moving with power.

Paul says:

“For the Kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power” 1 Cor 4:20.

What I find interesting is that many bible colleges seem to teach evangelism by focusing on the Acts 17 Mars Hill episode. The fruit of this encounter was that a few believed (note – a few), others ridiculed Paul, whilst still others wanted to do café church and talk more about it.

Paul’s response was to leave.
Paul of course left Mars Hill and went to Corinth. There is no further reference to Athens in the New Testament or to a church being established there. His method was brilliant, yet surely Mars Hill is one of the least fruitful episodes in his ministry. Why then do we tend to emphasise this method as perhaps the primary way to engage Gen x, who probably aren’t that different to the epicurean scholars Paul was debating with. (the other scholars, the Stoics surely resemble our Greens.)

Read what Paul writes to the Corinthians. In chapter 1 he makes it clear that great wisdom and clever speeches aren’t enough to save the day. Instead, in chapter 2:4 and 5 he says:

...My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power, so that your faith might not rest on men’s wisdom but on God’s power.

The word used for power is of course dunamis with the Holy Spirit / miraculous connotation.

In fact in 2 Timothy 3:5 Paul warns us against engaging with those who have a form of godliness but deny the Spirit’s power. Paul warns us not to settle for powerless religion when we can have the power to be world changers who bring glory to God.

When we understand the power that is available to us and walk in that power, perhaps we will be like the early disciples who went out and preached everywhere. Mark 16::20 tells us that the Lord worked with them and confirmed his word by the signs and wonders that accompanied it.

Now, that’s power ministry, and that’s what we are called to walk in.

Tim O’Neill

]]> By: Pete Aldin http://www.steveaddison.net/2006/05/30/recruitment.html#comment-1110 Pete Aldin Mon, 29 May 2006 23:16:21 +0000 http://www.steveaddison.net/2007/05/22/recruitment.html#comment-1110 Thanks Steve, it's a helpful start for us. I think number 3 is the one that keeps God involved; ie., I could do the other two without him, but 3 is entirely dependent on Him and on the Planter-Apostle's absolute surrender to Him. Darn it, I thought I could get away with not surrendering!!!! :) Thanks Steve, it’s a helpful start for us. I think number 3 is the one that keeps God involved; ie., I could do the other two without him, but 3 is entirely dependent on Him and on the Planter-Apostle’s absolute surrender to Him. Darn it, I thought I could get away with not surrendering! :)

]]>