The Fool Who Would Be Holy > A God who Speaks > God Speaks to Us > Through the church
Through the church
Ian Johnson
December 3, 2020
Pastors are shepherds of flocks of people. Their main function is to guide, guard, tend, and care for the needs of their flock, not to command it. They should not be expected to exercise all of the gifts of the Spirit, to be competent to do every job in the Church, or to do the whole “work of the ministry” in place of the members of their flock.
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Ian Johnson
December 1, 2020
Evangelists, as people given by Christ to the Church, are primarily trainers in evangelism, sent to show the rest of us how to introduce others to a friendship with Jesus. They are not sent to do the work by themselves! But, because of our Western focus on paid “ministers” and on attendance at church “events,” true evangelists tend to be unrecognized and unappreciated.
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A God who Speaks, God Speaks to Us, Other Gifts of the Holy Spirit, Our Oneness in Christ book revision, Purpose of the Church, Through the church
Ephesians 4:11, Evangelist, evangelists, gifts of the Holy Spirit, Gifts to the Church, trainers in evangelism
Ian Johnson
November 29, 2020
Prophets tell forth God’s words to an individual, church or situation, giving God’s perspective which is not plainly visible without God’s illumination. The purpose of prophecy is to edify the Church. Prediction of the future is not the essence of prophecy. Many great preachers were likely prophets, though not recognized as such. This function is still important to the Body, and therefore still present in it.
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A God who Speaks, God Acts by Speaking, God Speaks to Us, God's purpose for us, God's Voice, Our Oneness in Christ book revision, Prophecy, Through the church, To be his ambassadors, What is God's Word
correction, encouragement, guidance, illumination, Prophecy, Prophet, Prophets, Speak forth, Speaking Forth, warning
Ian Johnson
November 27, 2020
The distinguishing mark of the apostle is the apostolic functions of starting new works, of guiding resolution of conflicts, and of ordaining and directing organization in the Body. Since these functions are still needed, it follows God still gives the church people gifted for these functions, whether we call them apostles or not.
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A God who Speaks, God Speaks to Us, In the Church, Meaning of Unity, Our Oneness in Christ book revision, Purpose of the Church, The universal Church and local churches, Through others, Through the church, What is God's Word
Apostle, Apostles, authority, authority figures, authority in the Church, Gifts to the Church
Ian Johnson
November 24, 2020
Ephesians 4:11 identifies five groups of people given to the Church by Christ to equip its members to do the work of the ministry–apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers. These five groups are best viewed based on their functions, and not as fixed “offices” of authority. The common Protestant emphasis on the pastor as the “boss” of the local church is unjustified.
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A God who Speaks, Authority Contests, Church purpose versus church growth, Divisions in the Church, God Speaks to Us, Other Gifts of the Holy Spirit, Our Oneness in Christ book revision, Peril of Seeking Power, Purpose of the Church, Through the church
Apostle, authority, authority figures, authority in the Church, Church Offices, Clergy, Ephessians 4 offices, Evangelist, Laity, Pastor, Pastor-Teacher, Prophet, Teacher
Ian Johnson
November 22, 2020
The New Testament provides for deacons as servants of the local church, administering alms to its widows, orphans and poor members. They are not spoken of as being in charge, but those who serve well obtain good standing and great boldness, as the martyr Stephen and Phillip the Evangelist did.
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A God who Speaks, Disrespecting poor believers, Divisions in the Church, God Speaks to Us, In the Church, Meaning of Unity, Our Oneness in Christ book revision, Purpose of the Church, The universal Church and local churches, Through the church
authority, authority figures, authority in the Church, boldness, deacons, ministry to the poor, Phillip the deacon, Phillip the evangelist, servants, Stephen, Stephen the martyr, widows
Ian Johnson
November 21, 2020
The term term translated “elder” refers to the age and wisdom of persons functioning in this role in the Church. It often seems to be used interchangeably with “overseer” (or “bishop”), and the way a person legitimately functioning in this capacity is to be recognized (often called the “qualifications”) is the same as for an overseer. Like overseers, elders teach and lead by example, not by fiat.
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A God who Speaks, Discipline or Correction, God Speaks to Us, Our Oneness in Christ book revision, Restoration of our Relationships, Salvation, Through others, Through the church, Uncategorized
authority, authority figures, authority in the Church, elder, elders, functions of elders, presbuteros
Ian Johnson
November 13, 2020
Christ is himself the Head of the Church, But visible, local churches, as human organizations, also need visible leadership. “Bishops” or “overseers,” as mentioned in the New Testament refer to people who have the function of overseeing others’ work and providing a model of right living, not an office of lordship over the church,
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In the Church, Meaning of Unity, Our Oneness in Christ book revision, Through the church
authority, authority figures, authority in the Church, bishop, inspector, model, overseer, qualifications
Ian Johnson
November 8, 2020
Unity in the church arises, not from submission to a power structure, but from mutual submission to each other, seeking each other’s good above our own, in submission to Christ.
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A God who Speaks, Desire to have our own way, God Speaks to Us, In the Church, Meaning of Unity, Our Oneness in Christ book revision, Reconciliation, Restoration of God's Image, Restoration of our Relationships, Through others, Through the church, To live in unity
Body, Body of Christ, counting each other more important than ourselves, Equal, equality, equality of members, humility, Love, mutual benefit, mutual submission, power, submission, submit
Ian Johnson
November 6, 2020
Unity in the Church is our mutual recognition that the Church has only one Head, Jesus Christ.
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A God who Speaks, God Speaks to Us, In the Church, Meaning of Unity, Our Oneness in Christ book revision, Through the church
Christ, Church unity, Head of the Church, Jesus, Jesus Christ, oneness, Only One Head, Unity
