Paul and the Missionary’s Relationship to the Mission Church
INTRODUCTION
❖Focus on Paul's relationship with the churches he founded.
❖Emphasis on the church's authority and independence.
❖Paul's mission aimed at promoting the autonomy and authority of the local church.
THE CENTRALITY AUTHORITY AND THE POWER OF THE LOCAL CHURCH
❖Paul's understanding of the church as Christ-led and Spirit-indwelt.
❖Illustration of Paul's collaboration with the church in Acts 13 and 15.
PRINCIPLE 20:
❖Paul never acted independently of the church.
PRINCIPLE 21:
❖Paul planted churches and emphasized their independence and maturity.
PRINCIPLE 22:
❖Paul believed in the power and authority of the local church, not the missionary.
TRAINING OF CANDIDATES: BAPTISM AND ORDINATION
❖Paul's approach to baptism and ordination, emphasizing the responsibility of the local church.
❖Criteria for baptism and ordination based on moral change rather than academic knowledge.
PRINCIPLE 23:
❖Paul sought to establish the organization of the local church quickly for self-responsibility.
PAUL, THE AUTHORITY AND DISCIPLINE IN THE LOCAL CHURCH
❖Paul's cautious use of authority and encouragement for church discipline.
PRINCIPLE 24:
❖Paul used his power in the church sparingly, encouraging the church to address issues internally.
❖Importance of empowering the local church to exercise discipline and grow in maturity.
FINANCES, THE MISSIONARY AND THE CHURCH
❖Paul's approach to finances in mission work, avoiding burdening the churches.
PRINCIPLE 25:
❖Paul as a missionary did not ask for money when founding a church.
PRINCIPLE 26:
❖Paul focused on preaching and teaching rather than administering funds.
THE FINANCIAL RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE FOUNDING CHURCH AND THE MISSION CHURCHES
❖Potential issues with financial dependency between founding and mission churches.
PRINCIPLE 27:
❖Emphasis on the local church's financial independence and responsibility.
❖Challenges of external funding and its impact on the mission's focus and witness.
PAUL DEMANDED/EXPECTED A GREAT DEAL FROM THE NEW CHURCH
❖Paul's high expectations for new churches in terms of commitment and ethical living.
❖Paul's demands for evangelism, spiritual growth, giving, and prayer.
CONCLUSION
❖Recap of the central role of the church in mission according to Paul's model.
❖Summary of Paul's approach to authority, discipline, oversight, and finances in relation to the mission church.
❖Final emphasis on the importance of the local church's empowerment and responsibility.
Rev. John Owen Butler
The Lord's Seminary Reformed
Missiology 101
29 авг 2024
