Focus on Reproduction, Mentor's Guide, MG12

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F O C U S O N R E P R O D U C T I O N

Our work of ministry builds upon the Apostles’ work. “The Twelve were chosen that they might be with Christ (Mark 3.14), and this personal association qualified them to act as his witnesses (Acts 1.8); they were from the first endowed with power over unclean spirits and diseases (Matt. 10.1), and this power was renewed and increased, in a more general form, when the promise of the Father (Luke 24.49) came upon them in the gift of the Holy Spirit (Acts 1.8); on their first mission they were sent forth to preach (Mark 3.14), and in the great commission they were instructed to teach all nations (Matt. 28.19). They thus received Christ’s authority to evangelize at large. But they were also promised a more specific function as judges and rulers of God’s people (Matt. 19.28; Luke 22.29–30), with power to bind and to loose (Matt. 18.18), to remit and to retain sins (John 20.23).” ~D. R. W. Wood. New Bible Dictionary . 3rd ed. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1996. p. 202.

A. Importance of Evangelism in reproducing urban churches

1. Evangelism is the centerpiece of all Christian mission and outreach; the Good News is the power of God to salvation to all who believe, Rom. 1.6-17.

2. No church or church plant that refuses to work tirelessly in sharing the Gospel will be dynamic or healthy.

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3. Demonstrating both the power of the Spirit as well as proclaiming the Word of God is essential for effective disciple-making in urban communities.

a. Signs and wonders of the Holy Spirit, Rom. 15.18-20 “For I will not venture to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me to bring the Gentiles to obedience—by word and deed, [19] by the power of signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God—so that from Jerusalem and all the way around to Illyricum I have fulfilled the ministry of the Gospel of Christ; [20] and thus I make it my ambition to preach the Gospel, not where Christ has already been named, lest I build on someone else’s foundation”

b. Good works which reveal the power of the Kingdom, Matt. 5.13-16

c. Clear, bold presentations of the good news of the grace of God, Gal. 3.1ff.; 1 Thess. 1.5ff.

B. Keys to Evangelizing the Lost