Peyton Jones(0/0)
Conservative descriptions tend to domesticate the more offensive gifts
Conservatives [i.e. Shepherds and Teachers] would rather talk about “abiding,” discipleship, and community–all low-risk activities–and would rather describe the work of evangelists as simply being excellent neighbors who throw good barbeques. This is the domesticated version of what shepherds and teachers think evangelists should be. In truth, evangelists cause offense with frontline preaching of the gospel in public. If your evangelists don’t cause your leadership team occasional embarrassment, they are not evangelists.…
The apostle sees wasted mission potential
Whereas the apostle sees wasted mission potential when the church is sick, the prophet sees a stubborn bride refusing to listen.
The apostles burden is kingdom expansion
One might think that the apostle is burdened for the lost, but that’s only a part of it. Apostles are dominated by a burden for the expansion of the kingdom of God and are passionate to see the glory of God cover the earth like the seas. The first order of business, therefore, is kingdom expansion–not just geographically, but crossing societal frontiers into marginalized groups where Christ is not named.
The responsibilities of an apostle
Because of their function, the bulk of the apostles' contribution to the team and area of responsibility will be: Discipling their replacements Mobilizing every believer on mission Strategizing the gifts of others and planning how to match those gifts to needs Analyzing culture Penetrating culture Developing strategies to engage the church in risky maneuvers Working with prophetic leaders to hear God’s collective voice on the team Prioritizing prayer in advance of mission Calling attention to the marginalized Gifts commonly associated with apostolic functioning are faith, administration, wisdom, and knowledge.…
A master has failed more times than a beginner has tried
The difference between a master and a rookie is that a master has failed more times than the beginner has ever tried.
A strong team will mitigate nearly every disaster that can befall a planter
A strong team will help mitigate nearly every disaster that can befall a planter, yet few planters are intentional about it on their first try.
Acts was written to trace the expansion of the kingdom
Acts wasn’t written to demonstrate how to plant a church. Rather, the book of Acts was written to trace the expansion of the Kingdom: “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” (NIV, Acts 1:8)
Apostolic planters have a wildness that doesnt function in the domesticated church system
Apostolic planters have a sense of wildness in them that doesn’t function in the domesticated church system.
Jesus modeled taking the gospel to the people
Paul’s methodology was to proclaim Christ in the synagogue, home, workshop, city square, hall, and even when publicly on trial. Jesus had primarily preached, too, but about himself. Jesus modeled taking the gospel to the people, rather than expecting them to come to him. Schabel points out that Jesus says that gospel proclamation must take place in palaces (Luke 7:25), marketplaces (Luke 7:32; 11:43), roads and streets (Luke 10:10; 13:26; 14:21), law courts and prisons (Luke 12:57-59; 18:2), and city gates (Luke 13:24).…
Pauls first missionary journey was chalked up as mistakes
Much of what occurred on Paul’s first missionary journey was chalked up as mistakes Paul chose not to replicate in his later ministry, nor should we.
Pauls genius was church planting networks
If Paul had merely planted solitary churches, his speed alone would be enough to impress us at an average of one plant every three or four months. But Paul’s true stroke of genius on his serial missionary journeys was his creation of multiple church planting networks that geographically spanned a continent in just over a decade.
Planters who embark with wisdom are afraid and unsure
A failure to learn from the expertise of a builder like Paul will most likely result in building an unhealthy church to the detriment of all, including the planter. Arrogant planters (and there are many) start out with a refusal to learn from anyone, convinced that they have much to teach. They learn in the end, but they learn the hard way. In contrast, most successful planters who embark on their first voyage with wisdom are afraid, unsure, and doubt they are up to the task.…
The new testament was written by practitioners
The entire New Testament was written exclusively by missionary practitioners.
The test of a church plant is how it fares once the planter departs
The true test of any church plant is how it fares once the planter departs.
The way to practice dependence on the spirit was to need him
The instructions of Matthew 10 indicate that the key objective of this trip was to foster the missionaries' dependence upon the Holy Spirit. As Steve Addison says in What Jesus Started, “This was not a classroom approach to learning.” The only way they could practice dependence upon the Holy Spirit was to place themselves in situations where they’d need him.
Train your team for your absence by taking them everywhere
The key to training your team for your absence is to take them with you wherever you go, having them shadow you like a disciple would a rabbi.
Wise planters learn everything they can about leadership
Once a planter recruits a team, it takes constant communication to maintain the bond of working together. In the same way that a modern soldier must clean his gun, so the planter must regularly look after the team. Many planters have not been taught basic leadership principles and know little about managing teams. Therefore, wise planters learn everything they can about interpersonal communication, team leadership, conflict resolution, and Christlike leadership.
Christ never commanded his disciples to plant churches
Christ never commanded his disciples to plant churches, because it’s not what He wanted them to focus on. Focusing on the church to be planted leads to church starting, whereas focusing on the Great Commission itself leads to church planting.
Planters sent by God are nearly impossible to stop
Planters who are sent by God are nearly impossible to stop. The only way to slow the apostle Paul was to lock him up, and the only way to stop him was to separate his head from his shoulders. Eventually, as an apostolic planter, you will wrestle with every kind of argument and excuse throughout the process of your calling; but, in the end, that call to sent-ness will defy logic, haunt you in bed at night, and keep you awake when the rest of the house is sleeping.…
I had a lifecycle in a place
If I were to go back, I would tell that young man that he was apostolic; before it was cool. Because, I didn’t understand I had a lifecycle in a place. It still to this day doesn’t matter. You put me in a position, you give me a job, you pay me a bunch of money, you give me an executive card, and I’ve been there in different roles. I don’t stay.…