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1. Introduction:
Distinctives Are Important
Distinctives have to do with the way we, as a family of churches,
approach God's Word and how we apply that Word to our lives and ministry.
This then defines us and determines the direction and shape of our work.
Another term for distinctives: core values. 1 Cor
14:8; 2 Cor 13:5
Some of the words and phrases used to communicate our core values:
Practice the Word; Discipleship; Equipping the Saints; Purpose
and Vision; Covenant; Spiritual Authority; Spiritual Identity; Training
Your Soul; Believe, Confess and Act.
Some of what our distinctives have produced or are capable of
producing:
- Men of covenant.
- Constancy, steadiness, stability.
- An emphasis on character.
- Men who walk in submission to authority.
- A non-professional view of ministry.
- Concern for the greater body.
- An unwillingness to say "We've gone far enough."
- Willingness to be conformed to Christ.
- Vision for the work of God in a broad base of people.
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2. What is "Apostolic Foundation" ?
Jesus is the foundation. 1 Cor
3:10; Mt 16:18 Jesus is the foundation when His word is obeyed and
practiced. Mt 7:24 Believing is not enough.
Some important premises:
- The promises of the Bible, of an abundant, victorious,
overcoming life are meant for every believer.
- These promises are fulfilled only as we live God's way, that
is, we obey and practice the Word.
- Practicing the Word, or applying God's truth to every area of
life, is a living relationship with Jesus and a deep trust in
God.
The concept of "practice the Word" builds in
us a deep knowledge of our personal responsibility in life and confronts
the destructive and all-too-common tendency to blame-shift.
Out of "practice the Word" came an
introduction to discipleship. Lk 6:40;
14:26,27,33 Some of the implications of discipleship: Jesus as
Lord, not just Savior. Putting God's will first. Obedience to God's Word.
Accountability. Jesus is the Master. We are all His disciples. There is no
hierarchy. We are all brothers. Mt 23:8
The foundation of Jesus Christ -- and His Word obeyed
-- is laid by the apostolic-prophetic ministry. This introduced the
concept of the equipping ministries and the equipping mandate. Just being
good and going to church was not enough. The believer must be a vital,
living and giving member of the body of Christ. This means becoming
equipped. Eph 2:20; Eph 4:12
Some implications, on the individual level, of
equipping:
- Everyone is called to minister, versus a few trained
professionals.
- Each believer discovers his gifts and uses them, versus mere
attendance
- and entertainment.
- The goal is saints who bring the kingdom of God into every
sphere of ife, versus a spiritual-secular dichotomy, and only serving
God within church activities.
- The body builds itself up in love, versus the clergy, church
staff and a gifted few meeting the needs of the body.
- Quality, committed relationships, versus shallow social
relationships.
- Results of equipping: see "Indicators of an equipped
Christian."
Some implications, for the
church, of equipping:
- We raise up ministers. We do not "hire talent" -- all the
gifts resided within our reach.
- A multiplicity of gifts is needed, because no two equipping
ministers are alike, and each has a distinct contribution.
- We must regularly call upon outside ministry, because there is
only one body meant to be interdependent, and no one local church, even
if it had each of the five gifts, is complete.
- The apostolic ministries, being representative of the ministry
of Jesus, implies teamwork in ministry. No one equipping minister is
complete.
3. Purpose and Vision:
"What Should I Do With My Life?"
"Practice the Word" naturally leads to
"purpose and vision" because it causes us to say
not only: "How am I to handle each and every situation in life God's way?"
but: "What am I to do with my whole life?"
What is purpose and vision?
Purpose is simply the conclusion that we exist to glorify God, to exalt
Jesus in this life, and to enjoy His presence forever. Rom 15:6; 11:36; Ps 145:11,12; 105:1; 113:3,4; 1 Cor 6:20;
10:31; Phil 3:12; 1 Thess 4:1; 2 Thess 1:12; Col 1:17,18; 3:17;
This purpose finds immediate direction in what we call God's vision,
which has three primary aspects:
- Be conformed to Christ. Rom 8:29; Phil 3:10; Gal
2:20; Col 3:1-3
- Maintain the unity of the body of Christ. Jn
17:21; Eccl 4:9,12; Rom 12:5; Eph 4:1-4; Jn 13;34,35; Rom 12:10; Gal 6:2
- Preach the gospel and make disciples of all
nations. Mt 28:19,20; Acts 1:8; Rom 10:14,15; Mt 10:8
Out of purpose and vision comes:
- A deeper understanding of discipleship
- An emphasis on covenant
- An understanding of spiritual authority.
Discipleship:
Living to accomplish what God wants. Purpose and vision gives a
framework within which to make decisions about the direction of our lives.
Discipleship implies wholeheartedness and dedication. Purpose and vision
directs the dedication.
Covenant:
The basic concept flowed from the second aspect of the vision, the
unity of the body of Christ. God is a covenant-making, covenant-keeping
God. Made in His image, we are designed to be a covenant-making,
covenant-keeping people, and thus glorify His name. 1
Cor 12-14; Eph 4:1-6; Eph 4:25-5:2; 5:21; Col 3:12-14
Spiritual Authority:
Acts 14:23; 15; 16:4,5; 20:25-31; 1 Cor 16:16; 1 Ti
5:17; Tit 1:5-9; Heb 13:7,17; 1 Pe 5:1 The New Testament model for
church government and authority incluses an eldership, with a presiding
elder, governing the local church. Apostolic authority oversees the
eldership of the churches. We also recognize that within a sphere of
ministry (2 Cor 10:13) there is one apostle in
general oversight, with apostolic authority delegated as needed. Equipping
ministers operate under apostolic direction to equip the saints in all the
churches. Eph 4:1-16
Our understanding of spiritual authority yielded some important
principles:
- The strength of authority is in serving. 1 Pe
5:1-5; Mt 20:25-27
- Submission to authority is always to God.
- In counsel we may disagree. In final decision and direction we
agree.
- Your authority is always upheld to the extent that you uphold the
authority of the one God has placed over you.
- The more you use your authority, the less of it you will
have.
4. Spiritual Identity:
What Do I Believe About Myself?
Purpose and vision provokes a crisis. It challenges personal priorities
by bringing them into a bigger framework than just: "What fulfills me
personally?" It causes us to give our gifts to God's work. Ultimately, it
causes us to "go" and do something, thus exposing us to the unknown and
the risk of failure. This forces upon us the question: "Who am I?" This, I
would say, is the single greatest battleground of ministry: spiritual
identity.
We believe that God's gifts and grace are in every saint. This
yielded our understanding of "dreams and visions". Whatever apparent
problems, failures, sin, weakness or lack, God, through your obedience to
His Word, is able to transform you into a mighty man of God. Equipping is
designed to bring out in each saint the fullest understanding of their
identity in Christ."
The teaching of identity in Christ brought out the importance of the
principles of faith or what we often called "believe, confess and
act".
Believe: Implies knowing God's Word and being
saturated with it. Also, meditating on the Word. Josh
1:6-9; Ps 1; 119; Mk 11:24; Phil 4:8
Confess: Don't speak your fears and your feelings.
Speak the Word. This led to "Training Your Soul", with the
basic concept that I am spirit, with a soul and body; that I can speak to
my soul, train it and expect it to comply. Ps 118:24;
Pr 15:28; 16:23; 18:21; Mt 10:32; Rom 4:17; 10:10
Act: Faith requires action. Step out in faith. Do the
Word. Show your faith by your deeds. Mt 7:21-27; Jas
2:17
CONCLUSION
Each of these teachings had a strong emphasis among us, and helped to shape the core
values that are now embedded in the "culture" of Gospel Outreach. It is
critical to our future, if we are to fulfill the work for which God has
designed us, that we understand, strengthen and pass on to faithful men
these distinctives. Ps 78:1-7; 2 Tim 2:2
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