Yeah, things changed when we kicked the APEs (Apostles, Prophets, Evangelists) out of the church and told them to focus outside the 4 walls and have very little influence inside them.
I wouldn’t give what’s going 40%. I’d say it in the teens to 20s. If real believers abandoned what calls itself church were to completely abandon this religious sport, nothing would change.
A quote from your article: "we find the church laying hands upon and sending out missionaries and evangelists, but those operate blessed by and alongside the church as they plant new churches."
I can't help but point out that the word "parachurch" — which you argue against — literally means "alongside the church." In this quote, you describe missionaries and evangelists operating "alongside the church," which is the very definition of the term you're rejecting.
I suspect the distinction you actually want to draw is about oversight and sending — church-blessed vs. independently operating — rather than proximity. But as written, the word choice undercuts the argument. Might be worth naming that distinction more explicitly before finalizing the manuscript.
Thank you for the feedback, Ember! Good to hear from you.
The alongside point would have been great to add here (the book is already published and to market,) but in my mind, that’s actually what I mean. It’s not an issue of working alongside or parallel (which actually includes the word, Para) or perpendicular. The fact that we think that there are two entities working side-by-side. That can’t be, because the Church of God is one. There can’t be two entities that are both part of the church that have separation with one another, which would be required in order for two things to walk parallel. I could’ve clarified the term for sure, but I think the principal holds, and that may even strengthen it, in my mind.
Kevin, I really loved this chapter of your book. It was very well organized and so insightful! Praise the Lord for all His wisdom in forming His Church and giving us the gifts of the Holy Spirit! Cheering for you!
I strongly affirm your presentation. I would only suggest it leaves a couple of matters our. First, the weakness of this model is its strong focus on individualism.
Second, the focus of Jesus and the church biblically is not on individual evangelists but on planting and multiplying orchards.
Your focus on teamwork probably includes that but I think the model Jesus presented is reproducing systems of Christians who together entire assemblies of highly functioning powerhouses of truth, fruit, gifts, and power.
In order to do that, the Holy Spirit must be a central reality.
My hunch is that your approach would do all of that.
Thank you for sharing Gary. Did you have a chance to read the article? This one not quite as much as others, but I try in all of them to say that the great is one unit in equipping the body and that the the individual is insufficient to lead the body. I think this concept is way down the road of community as opposed to the senior pastor CEO model of the Western church. Thank you for your feedback! I love the community here.
If we invest our equipping efforts in gifted, talented, and committed people they are more likely to grow in their wisdom, and understanding of how to lead themselves. However, if we simply ‘Dip new people and Drop’ them rather than invest in their healing and growth, we many grow numerically but never grow exponentially.
Jesus chose a few out of many to focus a lot of his attention and coaching. He expanded the 12 into 72 who he sent out two-by-two to practice showing shalom to everyone.
Paul instructs the Apostles, Prophets, Evangelists, Pastors, and Teachers to “Equip those that were gifted so they, not the Leaders, did the daily ministries. By equipping those that evidenced the gifts of the Spirit he was focusing on exponential growth not just numerical growth.
Jesus wanted growth that was 30, 60, and 100 percent per year! That is Compound Growth.
Yeah, things changed when we kicked the APEs (Apostles, Prophets, Evangelists) out of the church and told them to focus outside the 4 walls and have very little influence inside them.
Thank you, Tim! True. How are you enhoying Substack?
still figuring it out
I wouldn’t give what’s going 40%. I’d say it in the teens to 20s. If real believers abandoned what calls itself church were to completely abandon this religious sport, nothing would change.
A quote from your article: "we find the church laying hands upon and sending out missionaries and evangelists, but those operate blessed by and alongside the church as they plant new churches."
I can't help but point out that the word "parachurch" — which you argue against — literally means "alongside the church." In this quote, you describe missionaries and evangelists operating "alongside the church," which is the very definition of the term you're rejecting.
I suspect the distinction you actually want to draw is about oversight and sending — church-blessed vs. independently operating — rather than proximity. But as written, the word choice undercuts the argument. Might be worth naming that distinction more explicitly before finalizing the manuscript.
Thank you for the feedback, Ember! Good to hear from you.
The alongside point would have been great to add here (the book is already published and to market,) but in my mind, that’s actually what I mean. It’s not an issue of working alongside or parallel (which actually includes the word, Para) or perpendicular. The fact that we think that there are two entities working side-by-side. That can’t be, because the Church of God is one. There can’t be two entities that are both part of the church that have separation with one another, which would be required in order for two things to walk parallel. I could’ve clarified the term for sure, but I think the principal holds, and that may even strengthen it, in my mind.
I guess the bottom line is that the word itself is a contradiction
Kevin, I really loved this chapter of your book. It was very well organized and so insightful! Praise the Lord for all His wisdom in forming His Church and giving us the gifts of the Holy Spirit! Cheering for you!
Janet! Thank you. Thats such an honor coming from you! Thank you for all you do.
Kneel before Him. The fall is less💁🏻 But please don’t go MIA and believe the devil’s lies that your voice doesn’t matter🙏🏻
Love that, Krista! Thats where we all belong kneeling before Him and submitting all of us to him - together.
Absolutely. Humility is a virtue.
I strongly affirm your presentation. I would only suggest it leaves a couple of matters our. First, the weakness of this model is its strong focus on individualism.
Second, the focus of Jesus and the church biblically is not on individual evangelists but on planting and multiplying orchards.
Your focus on teamwork probably includes that but I think the model Jesus presented is reproducing systems of Christians who together entire assemblies of highly functioning powerhouses of truth, fruit, gifts, and power.
In order to do that, the Holy Spirit must be a central reality.
My hunch is that your approach would do all of that.
Thank you for sharing Gary. Did you have a chance to read the article? This one not quite as much as others, but I try in all of them to say that the great is one unit in equipping the body and that the the individual is insufficient to lead the body. I think this concept is way down the road of community as opposed to the senior pastor CEO model of the Western church. Thank you for your feedback! I love the community here.
Yes, I read it and agree with the headline but I take it farther. I see scripture promoting comPound interest that doubles every so often.
As Einstein said, Compound Interest is the eighth wonder of the world!
Curious what you mean bu compound interest related to the article?
If we invest our equipping efforts in gifted, talented, and committed people they are more likely to grow in their wisdom, and understanding of how to lead themselves. However, if we simply ‘Dip new people and Drop’ them rather than invest in their healing and growth, we many grow numerically but never grow exponentially.
Jesus chose a few out of many to focus a lot of his attention and coaching. He expanded the 12 into 72 who he sent out two-by-two to practice showing shalom to everyone.
Paul instructs the Apostles, Prophets, Evangelists, Pastors, and Teachers to “Equip those that were gifted so they, not the Leaders, did the daily ministries. By equipping those that evidenced the gifts of the Spirit he was focusing on exponential growth not just numerical growth.
Jesus wanted growth that was 30, 60, and 100 percent per year! That is Compound Growth.