RM Value 4 - Elders in each local church

Below is a re-post blog from our dear friends at PLANT NIJMEGEN outlining the key values our network of churches (Relational Mission) holds dear. We recently sent a wonderful couple called Ben and Mikka Parker to be part of the core team that is pioneering the church plant. Ben served as an elder at Redeemer, and Mikka was on staff. They helped plant Redeemer in 2015 and are going again. Head to the PLANT NIJMEGEN website to find out more.

In our previous posts we’ve been looking at 3 doctrinal values. In the coming 3 posts we will be looking at 3 leadership values. We seek to build churches with:

1. Elders in each local church
2. Ephesians 4 ministries 
3. Servant-hearted leadership. 

Elders in each local church because this is the structure for leadership we see in the New Testament churches, Ephesians 4 ministries because they are God-given gifts within the church to bring itself to maturity and Servant-hearted because this is the culture of leadership Jesus modelled to us.

In this blog post we will look at what it means for a church to be led by elders.

Good leaders are a gift. Businesses, schools, sports teams, governments and churches can flourish when good leaders lead well. Leadership brings energy, clarity, direction and helps to unleash creativity to pursue a combined mission. Jesus left his disciples with a clear mission; to reach the nations and make disciples. And he appointed its first leaders; the Apostles, to help and guide his people into this mission. When the mission started to expand into new regions, Apostles in their turn appoint leaders in each of the local churches. These leaders in the New Testament are called elders. They are also at times called overseers or shepherds (Acts 20). These names are used interchangeably and describe different aspects of the role and character of elders. Elders don’t lead exclusively, they are responsible for raising up and releasing many other leaders in the church so it can grow and build itself up.

The term elder describes their maturity and character. Elders are to be mature, faithful, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach and a good leader of their own families (1 Tim 3, Titus 1). The term overseer describes the role of an elder. It is a term that was used for a city official who was responsible for the affairs of the city. Elders are responsible for overseeing the affairs of the church. They do not so alone or exclusively but they bring structure and guidance so everyone can play their part. The term shepherd describes the way elders lead. The job of a shepherd was not glamorous. It meant long days in close proximity with their sheep protecting and guiding them. Elders without character are dangerous. Overseers without deep care for people are cold. Shepherds who bring care but no direction are ineffective. But mature, capable, caring leaders bring fruitfulness.

In the bible the church is never described as an organisation instead the image of a family is used. Therefore, its leadership is structured like a family, not a business. Elders are fathers to the church in the way they lead and care. Therefore the role of elderhip in the bible is always fulfilled by men. Eldership is a specific calling by God for some men to represent the fatherly care of God the father himself to his church. Under their care everyone will find a place to play a part regardless of their age, sex or ethnicity. 

Elders are always mentioned in plural in the bible. They are to function like a team and never operate in isolation. Elders shepherd, teach, lead (by example), equip and release others to lead. They are accountable to God, apostles (more about this in future posts), each other and the church and work together with deacons who bring practical oversight in areas of church life to help elders oversee the affairs of the church well. We are called to follow their leadership by active, intelligent and generous participation and invite them to speak into our lives whilst we pray for them with care.

Sadly, there are plenty of examples of leaders in the world that have not functioned well. Often either leadership is dominant or absent. The church is no exception to this. Due to bad experiences it’s easy to approach leadership with suspicion and quick criticism. As a church planting team, we are fully aware that both leaders and followers are still people and not perfect. Yet we are wholeheartedly committed to lead and follow in a way that honours God. It’s for that reason we seek to lead humbly whilst being accountable to our apostolic team, each other and the church community. It’s in the godly care and leadership from elders and the generous submission of the church that we have a unique opportunity to display something of the beautiful relationship between God and his people through Jesus. Jesus did not come to be the boss, but win the hearts of his people by laying down his life for his people. Shepherds after God's own heart do so too. It’s our desire to see Nijmegen filled with people who are able to lead in every area life in the same way.

A church can survive without a building and coffee. Yet no church will function well without leadership. Therefore, It’s our mission to raise up elders who are able to release many others to lead in the area of gifting God has given them. Some elders we will need to lead the church as it gets started, some elders to prepare for future growth and many elders to give away to plant healthy fruitful churches all across the Netherlands and the rest of Europe.

Wouter Vertegaal

Team leader at Plant Nijmegen

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RM Value 3 - Spirit Empowered

Below is a re-post blog from our dear friends at PLANT NIJMEGEN outlining the key values our network of churches (Relational Mission) holds dear. We recently sent a wonderful couple called Ben and Mikka Parker to be part of the core team that is pioneering the church plant. Ben served as an elder at Redeemer, and Mikka was on staff. They helped plant Redeemer in 2015 and are going again. Head to the PLANT NIJMEGEN website to find out more.

As we pursue our mission to plant churches, it is absolutely vital to clarify on which foundations we seek to build these churches. We identify 3 maindoctrinal values. We seek to build churches that are

1. Word based
2. Grace filled
3. Spirit empowered.

Word based because we want to build upon the blueprints of scripture.
Grace filled as this is how God relates to us and we are called to relate to one another.
Spirit empowered as we believe that Jesus builds his church through the work of the Holy Spirit.

In this blog post we will look at what it means to be a Spirit empowered church.

We believe that Jesus builds his church through the work of the Holy Spirit. It is God’s desire to empower us for Christian life and witness and we count on him to move in power both in our meetings as a church, and in our daily lives as his disciples.

As part of the Trinity (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) we see the Holy Spirit actively present throughout the entirety of the bible. In the Old Testament, the Holy Spirit played a specific role in empowering certain individuals (such as Judges, Kings, Prophets) to be used greatly by God and guide his people; but one of them, the prophet Joel, prophesied with expectancy that there would be a time coming when God would pour out his Spirit on all people (Joel 2:28-29). Jesus reiterated this prophecy and told his disciples that he would soon fill them with his Holy Spirit (John 14:26).

On the day of Pentecost (Acts 2), we see that promise fulfilled. A group of believers are all filled with the Spirit together at one time: They felt a rushing wind, some began to speak in other languages as the Spirit enabled them, and they were empowered to spread the good news of the Kingdom of God. We continue to see believers being filled with the Spirit and empowered with heavenly boldness throughout the New Testament. Not only does the Holy Spirit live in and mark us as believers, but he also empowers us to be his witness to every nation on earth (Acts 1:8). 

Baptism in the Spirit in the New Testament usually happens at the start of a believers journey after prayer and the laying on of hands. However, the apostle Paul urged the church in Ephesus, and we believe this still applies today, “Do not get drunk on wine… Instead, be filled with the Spirit.” In the original translation, the verb “to fill” is in the present tense, so in essence Paul is saying, “Be (continually) full of the Spirit”! We see this as an ongoing action, not just a one-and-done event when first submitting to Christ.

As Jesus’ followers, we are a people of the Spirit! We believe, and even expect, that the Holy Spirit will work among us and that all the gifts in Scripture are available to build and empower the church today. We believe that being filled with the Holy Spirit is available to each believer who seeks to receive him and that the Spirit alone keeps a church flourishing and full of power and life.

God speaks in general ways through the world around us showing us his existence, and specifically through his word so we may know him, and also by his Spirit speaking into specific areas of our lives and changing our hearts to be aligned with his. The Holy Spirit makes the Word living and active and brings conviction to our hearts, through words of wisdom from others, impressions, dreams or miracles. It is crucial that the Word and Spirit go hand-in-hand, and we test and interpret when the Spirit speaks to us, to ensure what we’re hearing is in line with what the bible teaches. Furthermore, we believe that the manifestation of the Spirit is given to the body of believers as we hear God together and build each other up (1 Cor. 14:26).

On a personal level, we see the fruit of those who live by the Spirit results in love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control (Gal. 5:23). We believe that the church is more than just a Sunday meeting; we are sent to be a blessing to our local communities and to every corner of the world. The Holy Spirit empowers us to be Christ’s witness and example of his goodness in our lives, which is shown in the way that we treat people with the fruit of his Spirit (kindness, gentleness, etc). We aim to be a people who are overflowing with these traits of the Spirit and who are wholeheartedly sharing the good news of the Gospel in our spheres of influence. Through the Spirit, we get to enjoy the delight of the Triune God and share that with others.

We want to be a church empowered by and fully relying on the Holy Spirit because we see that Jesus equips his church through the power of his Spirit. There are different kinds of gifts, i.e; faith, healing, miracles, prophecy, words of knowledge, discernment of spirits, tongues and interpretation, and the Spirit distributes them as He determines (1 Cor. 12:4-11). We eagerly desire the spiritual gifts, taking the book of Acts as a vision of what church life can be rather than a record of what it once was. As a church plant team, for example, we have each received (many!) prophetic words from God, that have encouraged us to take this step of faith, and we continue to desire His direction and expect Him to lead us as we bless the city of Nijmegen and all of The Netherlands. We believe that the local church should enjoy the presence, power, fruit and gifts of God’s Spirit and we continue to earnestly desire it!

Beverly Meijers
Part of the Plant Nijmegen team

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RM Value 2 - Grace Filled

Below is a re-post blog from our dear friends at PLANT NIJMEGEN outlining the key values our network of churches (Relational Mission) holds dear. We recently sent a wonderful couple called Ben and Mikka Parker to be part of the core team that is pioneering the church plant. Ben served as an elder at Redeemer, and Mikka was on staff. They helped plant Redeemer in 2015 and are going again. Head to the PLANT NIJMEGEN website to find out more.

As we pursue our mission to plant churches, it is absolutely vital to clarify on which foundations we seek to build these churches. We identify 3 main doctrinal values. We seek to build churches that are

1. Word based
2. Grace filled
3. Spirit empowered.

Word based because we want to build upon the blueprints of scripture.
Grace filled as this is how God relates to us and we are called to relate to one another.
Spirit empowered as we believe that Jesus builds his church through the work of the Holy Spirit.

In this blog post we will look at what it means to be a grace filled church.

The story of the bible starts off with unimaginable potential. In the garden of Eden human beings are created in the image of God and for an intimate relationship with God. Yet soon tragedy strikes as Adam and Eve seek to put themselves at the centre of creation. This is how sin, sickness and death came into the world. The first part of the bible tells us the story of how ever since that tragic day God's people have been trying to make their way back to God, to restore the broken parts. In his kindness God gave them His law showing them how life ought to be lived in order to relate to a good and perfect God. But however hard they try, they all fall short. The law is like a perfect husband who is always right and constantly points the finger. It becomes quickly clear that however hard we try we are not perfect and one way or another we always fail. 

Although unable to find their own way back to God, God never gave up on his people. Right from the start he promised to send a rescuer. This rescuer would not be some sort of valiant warrior. No, this would be God himself coming down to rescue his people. This is the miracle that lays at the heart of the Christian faith; it's called grace. The undeserved favour of God. For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life [John 3:16].

Jesus was the only human being who fulfilled the law by living a perfect life. Yet he offered to take upon himself the sin and failures of everyone. The bible teaches us that the wages of sin is death [Romans 6:23]. Jesus being God used his divine life to pay the debt that is outstanding to God on all our lives by dying in our place. We needed the law to show us our need and lead us to Jesus. But the moment we accept Jesus, through his death we die to the law too. Our relationship with the law stops. Mr. Law is no longer our husband, instead we become the bride of Jesus who is like a husband who gives joy, life and peace.

The gospel means that we are more flawed than we would ever like to admit, yet at the same time we are more loved than we could ever imagine! It's when we experience this beautiful, kind love of God that our hearts begin to change. We no longer want to live for ourselves, but start to respond to God's love with a love that seeks His will in return. We no longer waste time with ‘dead works’, trying to tick all the right boxes to earn his favour, but instead start to seek his will out of love. Doing ‘good works’ that are full of faith, expectation, hope, the power of God and are motivated by love.

When the church operates in this way it becomes beautiful and attractive. When He saved us it’s like Jesus gave us a beautiful, white garment, we are free and forgiven. Nothing we do can add or take away the grace. Now He’s giving us a needle and golden thread to embroider on it the things He gives us to do, out of joy and love for Him! Showing the world around us, that this grace is freely available for anyone, no matter your background.

Being a grace filled church, means that our times together overflow with a celebration of God’s love for us. And out of this deep, found joy, good works start to bubble up as a natural response. Our relationship with those around us starts to change radically. Rather than seeking our own interests, we start to love others like we have been loved.

This works through in every layer of church life. From the way we are able to engage in authentic community; to the way we welcome those who don’t yet know God; to the way we treat those who are different to us; to our care for the poor and needy; to our ability to forgive those who wrong us; to accept and love those who find it hard to stay on the right path; to servant-hearted leadership that seeks to lay down our lives for others like Jesus did for us. 

It’s by grace that God saved us, it’s through His grace that we continue to follow Him in every day, even amidst failure and it’s through grace that one day we will be welcomed to make our home with God forever in perfect intimacy once again.

Simone Vertegaal

Part of the Plant Nijmegen team

RM Value 1 - Word Based

Below is a re-post blog from our dear friends at PLANT NIJMEGEN outlining the key values our network of churches (Relational Mission) holds dear. We recently sent a wonderful couple called Ben and Mikka Parker to be part of the core team that is pioneering the church plant. Ben served as an elder at Redeemer, and Mikka was on staff. They helped plant Redeemer in 2015 and are going again. Head to the PLANT NIJMEGEN website to find out more.

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As we pursue our mission to plant churches, it is absolutely vital to clarify on which foundations we seek to build these churches. We identify 3 main doctrinal values. We seek to build churches that are

1. Word based
2. Grace filled
3. Spirit empowered.

Word based because we want to build upon the blueprints of scripture.
Grace filled as this is how God relates to us and we are called to relate to one another.
Spirit empowered as we believe that Jesus builds his church through the work of the Holy Spirit.

In this blog post we will look at what it means to be a word-based church.

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The word ‘Bible’ comes from the Greek word for ‘book’. The Bible is not just one book but really a collection of books. It consists of 39 books collated in the Old Testament (that tells the story of God and his people) and 27 books in the New Testament (that tells us the story of Jesus and the church). Together they contain many different genres such as narrative, poetry, law, songs, prophecies, letters, sermons etc. The bible has been written over a period of more than fifteen hundred years by more than forty authors of varying ages and backgrounds across three continents.  From prophets to kings, shepherds to fishermen and doctors to scholars. 

Although the bible contains writings from many different authors, they were all inspired by God. The bible is God’s word, God spoke through the words of the authors as his own words. The bible is absolutely truthful, without error and provides us with all we need for living in relationship with God. By learning to understand the times and circumstances in which each of the books were written, we are able to understand the meaning of the text, draw principles from it and then apply these principles practically in our lives today.

Over time the different books of the bible were gathered, examined and ultimately put together in one final book. We call this the canon of scripture which happened officially at the council of Hippo in 393 AC and the council of Carthage in 397 AC. In the sixteenth century chapters and verses were added to the bible by monks, for easy use and reference of the bible. The Old Testament is mainly written in Hebrew and the New Testament mainly in Greek. As not everyone speaks these ancient languages the bible has been translated into many different languages to make it possible for us to read it.

As language dynamically develops over time there are regularly new translations that come out. Some seek to translate the bible as literally as possible (making it more literal, but less readable) such as the ESV (English Standard Version). Other translations seek to interpret the meaning of the writings and seek to translate this into our current day (making it less literal but more readable) such as the NIV (New International Version). Also, there are some transliterations that are more like retellings of the original writings in ordinary language rather than actual translations, such as the Message.

We believe that God speaks in general ways through the world around us, showing his existence. Yet He speaks specifically through his word so we may know him and know how we might live in relationship with him. Together all the different books in the bible tell one overarching story. The whole of the bible points us to the Living Word of God; Jesus. In him all the promises of the Old Testament find their fulfilment. 

Being a word-based church means that the bible shapes all of our teachings, practices, values and ways we seek to outwork church life. Therefore, you can expect our preaching series to teach through the whole bible both through teaching through books of the bible and addressing cultural topics to which we bring scripture as our foundation.

In our pastoral work we will use the bible as our base and help people to live out what it says in every area of life. From the way we lead our marriages, do family, build relationships to the way we handle finances, leadership and forgive one another. What the bible is clear on we will be clear on and what the bible holds with an open hand, we also hold with an open hand. We will equip every member to make the bible central in their personal walk with God and encourage them to simply take regular time to read it and meditate on it so we may know God better and apply all that we learn in practical ways in everyday life.

We believe that God still speaks today through his Holy Spirit. Whether through words of wisdom from others, impressions, dreams or miracles. Yet all these things are tested and interpreted by comparing them to what the bible teaches. The word of God is not some sort of book of wisdom, but has authority in all matters of life. As someone ones said.

‘The bible is not beside us so we can pull it out of the cupboard for support when we need it. It is not under our feet so we can use it to justify our actions. It is over us, it has the final say in how we live and what we teach’.

Wouter Vertegaal
Team leader at Plant Nijmegen

SOUTH BULGARIA MISSION TRIP

Recently we had the privilege of financially supporting Yani on a mission trip to South Bulgaria with ‘Christ For The Nations’. Yani (bottom right of the above pciture) was part of Redeemer until recently moving back home to Bulgaria. Below is here report…

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I just got back from the week of mission in rural South Bulgaria with Christ for the nations. It was a really incredible time and just want to say a huge thank you again for covering the cost of me joining the team and wanted to send a few photos and words about the experience….

So, we were essentially working with local churches where there was one, and supporting with children and youth events including team testimonies, Bible-based lessons or in some of the dangerously Muslim areas moral lessons aiming to develop friendships and to show love. You'll see on the photos some of the activities we had with children. I was mainly serving as an interpreter as well as praying with people during response time. At one of the youth events in Sandanski we prayed for baptism in the holy spirit with the youth and got to celebrate with them as they experienced the Holy spirit for the first time and it was such an honour. There was a woman who couldn't hear and we saw God heal her right then, she couldn't stop laughing and smiling and hugging us. After that we moved toward Smolyan and the Rhodopi mountain region, where the church is quite small and split into Roma and Bulgarian, because of the difference in culture, but it was brilliant to serve there also. I met two young Roma boys - Emil and Mitko around 8 years old, who knew all the stories we were presenting and were paying attention more than most. One of them has good strong input from a God-loving family  and the other comes to church alone and leaves alone, and he prays and reads his Bible and soaks in everything they teach at Sunday school and I was blown away by his faith and dedication, humility and obedience. He would like to be a pastor one day and I prayed for him and he prayed for me and it was so beautiful. God really placed in my heart that children will pray for one another and see miracles, and they will pray for adults too and be a real example to them. Anyway we met a lot of amazing people and we got to minister in many different ways and it was an incredible time of refreshment for me, I was really blessed to be part of the team from the moment I joined.

The Rhodopi mountain is so beautiful but spiritually we all felt such burden to pray against spiritual oppression. Therewere a lot of prophecies and words spoken over the area. Some areas are actually dangerous for anyone openly Christian and Islam has a serious stronghold, with support from abroad etc. What I didn't expect was how encouraged and inspired I'd be from the believers in these places. Their dedication and faith is really beautiful to me.  A lot of the prophesies that came out were really building up for the church and nation. A lot of words about Bulgaria being a training, equipping and sending nation, that the faith of these people who feel isolated and often alone will touch the nations and bring healing and freedom to others, God will be glorified via this small and seemingly insignificant country. There is a few different evangelical activities going on this summer and I'd love it if Redeemer could pray over what God wants to do here. 

Love and miss y'all, blessings from Bulgaria!