REFLECTIONS ON THREE RECENT GATHERINGS #1: Relational Mission 'Unpacking the Vision' Gathering

REFLECTIONS ON THREE RECENT GATHERINGS

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I recently been to three significant gatherings. I have outlined the gatherings below and then in separate posts I will fill out my reflections

The FIRST was our network’s (Relational Mission) ‘Unpacking the Vision’ days where the apostolic team and others unpacked how, as a family of churches, we are responding to what we feel God has called us to.

The SECOND was a gathering of leaders representing the churches that were planted out of and/or are are in partnership with The City Church, my former home where I served as an elder for seven years and from where we were sent from to plant Redeemer Church Colchester.

The THIRD was The City Church’s ‘Global Sunday’ gathering when the church take a Sunday to celebrate all that God has done and is doing in them and through them - inviting churches that have planted out of City to join them. They also take up an offering to further advance church planting initiatives.

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Relational Mission Vision Days

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The City Church Pioneer Leaders Gathering

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The City Church Global Sunday

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#1 Relational Mission ‘Unpacking the Vision’ Gathering

Two days together with elders and other leaders across the Relational Mission family during which the apostolic team and others unpacked how, as a family of churches, we are responding to what we feel God has called us to. Things that I was struck by;

AUTHENTICITY

• One of the things I love about RM and those that lead us is the aroma of authenticity. Our leaders are not trying to be something they are not. They are not trying to fit a mould of what some expect ‘leadership’ to look like. They are honest, open, vulnerable, faith filled worshippers of Jesus who are seeking to serve God in the sphere of influence given to them.

VISION

• I often get asked the question for us as a church plant ‘what is your vision’ and I often wrestle with the question because I think I know what people are after…a succinct, heart stirring, action directing, resource calling goal. That’s great - I am pro-vision! I think the Bible is packed with vision that stirs our hearts, directs our actions and calls us to give everything for…however I am always uneasy when the vision as outlined in a statement or the like stirs my heart more than the Bible does with its grand vision! I realise the two are not necessarily separable…all godly vision should be a clear outworking and faith goal of what is already laid out in the Bible…maybe broken down into what we feel God has particularly called a specific group to at a specific time. So hear me - I am pro-vision! But I know my heart and want it to be as excited day in day out to outwork the holistic biblical vision that will live beyond me…many ‘heroes of the faith “died not having received what they ‘had vision’ for”. It did not deter them…

• These ‘Unpacking the Vision' were brilliantly put together and led by men who live out the above. They first love Jesus, His Church and have a vision to see Him and His bride glorified. Any numbers, goals, resolve were brilliantly expressed as our ‘faith response’ to that much larger and far more sustaining vision. If you are a wonderful vision caster it can be easy for people to each year look forward to being stirred to action by another ‘exciting vision’ chapter…that is not necessarily bad! But the only vision that will sustain you, fuel you, call you to sacrificial grace given resolve and action is one of Jesus and His grand mission. I get nervous when I, or our people, are more stirred by my best efforts to express vision than they are by Jesus, his purposes and the glory of His bride. I walked away from these days more eager to serve Jesus, more excited about Jesus and His church. I love the dates, the numbers and the goals…they bring focus for this people in this season - fantastic! But the way the Vision was unpacked was brilliant - humble, faith-filled, Jesus saturated.

HUMILITY

• Similarly to the above, the ‘aroma of humility’ was tangible. Someone once said that humility is not thinking less of yourself, of thinking of yourself less…the difference is that thinking less of yourself leads to ‘I can’t do it/I am nothing…’ whereas thinking of yourself less leads to ‘Jesus I look to you, you can, you are almighty, by your grace we can…’ During these days humility was tangible…there was faith, resolve, hope and hunger fuelled by the grace of God and His greatness and goodness.

• We were also wonderfully led to ‘weigh together’ the prophetic words that had shaped the particular vision being expressed. The ‘vision’ was the na response to ‘If these words are legitimate then what is our faith-response.’ Stef Liston led us through this asking the following helpful questions;

  • Is the word-piece reliable and trustworthy?

  • Does it chime with other prophetic words?

  • Does a word like this reflect the expression of New Testament Christianity?

  • Does it reflect the character of God?

FRIENDS

• It was a joy, as alway at these gatherings, to have such fun, depth, honesty and camaraderie with dear friends. This sustains and strengthens me. I am grateful that such a culture is modelled, prioritised and facilitated. It smells New Testament like! It is not professionals simply coming to be ‘trained’…it is family - brothers, sisters, mothers and fathers coming to be drawn together, equipped and sent out to enlarge the family - HIS family.

I am very grateful to be part of such a family, led by such Fathers who call us to our best and in all things point us to Jesus.

Ch 3 - Fathering Leaders, Motivating Mission (Book)

'BOOKS'

'Books' is a variety of blog posts summarising/commenting on books I am reading through - at times chapter by chapter and at other times commenting on the whole book. This will generally be 'light' reading but I hope will help me to distill my own reading - and if of any help to others then great! These posts will be a summary of the book - where I want to add my personal reflections and thoughts I will make that clear! Hopefully this will give you a taster and a link to get the books and work through the issues yourself.

 

CHAPTER 3 - THE APOSTLE'S JOB DESCRIPTION

David makes the point that we need to draw our PATTERN of hoe apostles should function from the New Testament, bearing in mind they were unique in various ways - calling, function, measure of gifting and anointing etc. Very early on he aims to DEFINE THE TERM and refers to connections the word has to Naval expeditions, Commanders, Ambassadors, Messengers, Delegates and Envoys. He refers to Lightfoot who says that in common use 'It was a title borne by those who were despatched from the mother city by the rulers of the race  on any foreign mission...a highly responsible mission.'.

The Commissioning of the Twelve - he draws out 3 key aspects of Jesus' commissioning; (1) They were to be 'with him', (2) Commissioning - go and preach the  good news, (3) To have authority.

Their functions (Reveal, Establish, Care, Engage, The Poor)

1. REVEAL: Apostles bring understanding of the revelation concerning the overall purposes of God in the earth
2. ESTABLISH: Apostles Establish churches
3. ESTABLISH: Apostles lay good foundations in churches
4. CARE: Apostles become Fathers to their established churches and leaders within them
5. CARE: Apostles provide ongoing care
6. ENGAGE: Apostles involve churches in the wider mission to unreached regions/people
7. POOR: Apostles are concerned for the poor

SUMMARY

David's personal experience and stories continue to add rich fabric to the book. His great desire for Apostolic ministry to be Fathering - strong, caring, not hierarchical and yet full of God-given authority is reassuring and encouraging. It gives me a greater respect and admiration for apostles who will one day give account to God and who live daily with the care and concern for the churches.

Ch 2 - Fathering Leaders, Motivating Mission (Book)

Click the book to buy!

'Books'

'Books' is a variety of blog posts summarising/commenting on books I am reading through - at times chapter by chapter and at other times commenting on the whole book. This will generally be 'light' reading but I hope will help me to distill my own reading - and if of any help to others then great! These posts will be a summary of the book - where I want to add my personal reflections and thoughts I will make that clear! Hopefully this will give you a taster and a link to get the books and work through the issues yourself.

Fathering Leaders, Motivating Mission (Chapter 2)

Written by David Devenish, the subtitle of the book is 'Restoring the role of the apostle in today's Church' and is ultimately an appeal for the ongoing role of the apostle today. There is no chapter 1 summary as that is more of an introduction to the book. You can buy the book HERE.

Chapter 2 'Apostles Today?'

The chapter starts with highlighting the 4 overarching views people have of apostles;

1. NO LONGER NEEDED: There aren't any more apostles today
2. A LIMITED NUMBER: The only apostles were the twelve and Paul
3. ONLY SOME MINISTRIES CONTINUE: Other gifts continue to be present but not apostles
4. APOSTLES CONTINUE: All the gifts continue today, including apostles

Unsurprisingly, given the title, view #4 is favoured. The reasons for that and for not holding views #1-3 are given below;

1. NO LONGER NEEDED: There aren't any more apostles today

This view is based appeals to 1 Cor 13:8-10 where we read of some gifts ceasing 'when the perfect comes and the imperfect disappears'. What and when this 'perfection' is/occurs affects this position. Those who say there are no longer any apostles would hold that 'perfection'. to quote 'This view suggests that the 'perfect' ...refers to the full revelation given in the New Testament, and that once this was complete, there was no further need...' Other thoughts on what 'perfection' might mean are given and dismissed and 'perfection' is held to be 'an eschatological reference to the time when Jesus returns and the final purposes of God's saving work in Christ have been accomplished.'

2. A LIMITED NUMBER: The only apostles were the twelve and Paul

The only apostles were the 12 and Paul ,and appointing Matthias (Acts 1:21-26) was a mistake by the 11! Another qualification to be such an apostle is held to be that they would have had to witness Jesus' resurrection and been with him from the start of his earthly ministry - however there is no evidence that Paul fits the bill! Furthermore the NT mentions many other apostles for whom there is no evidence they ticked all these boxes. (Rom 16:7, 1 Cor 4:6-9, Acts 14:14...)

Another point made is that the church was warned to look out for 'false apostles (2 Cor 11:5), which is confusing if it was only the 12 and Paul!

3. ONLY SOME MINISTRIES CONTINUE: Other gifts continue to be present but not apostles

'The gifts of the Holy Spirit continue today, but not the gift of the apostle.' The author highlights the different way people have tried to explain the separation of the gifts (and which continue as opposed to which do) and the differences and variation of attempts to unpack their views.

4. APOSTLES CONTINUE: All the gifts continue today, including apostles

The key passage is Ephesians 4:11-13 which speaks of the ongoing need of the church throughout history and fundamentally when 'perfection' is hasn't happened yet! Other points made are;

• not all apostles were witnesses of the resurrection/all witnesses were not apostles
• the flexible usage of the term 'apostle' in the NT

An appeal is then made for the need for 'apostles today' and the author  states 'Given all these varied references to apostles in the NT churches, it is not justifiable, in my view, to deny the validity of apostolic ministry today...In summary, I believe that a strong case can be made for the apostolic ministry today, while recognising the unique role of the original apostles who witnessed the resurrection, and while thoroughly submitting to the truth revealed in the pages of the NT and seeing that truth as God's final revelation.'

 

Summary

I personally find none of the arguments against apostles today to be compelling enough to ignore what seems a straightforward reading of scripture. I agree with the conclusion of chapter 1 and look forward to seeing how he fleshes out the remainder of the book. His appeal that 'apostles' are a preferable term and role for the oversight of churches ,in comparison to many institutionalised titles, terms and roles I find compelling and more biblical. Read on!