Foundations of Christian Leadership, Mentor's Guide, MG07

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

gospel of the grace of God” (Acts 20.24). Paul was intensely and continuously committed to his ends, all of which involved his own calling to help advance the Kingdom of God through his faithful testifying of Jesus of Nazareth as both Lord and Christ. If we look even more specifically at this zeal, it was extraordinarily focused on the people of God, and providing the Church with the requisite care and love needed to bring her to full maturity in Christ. Along these lines, Paul could reveal that God provided apostles like himself and the others in order to equip the saints for the work of the ministry in order that the Church might be built up both in terms of maturity in Christ and fullness of number (Eph. 4.9-16). Undoubtedly, Paul had an affinity with the Church of God that determined all that he did and desired. This great burden for the well-being and nourishing of the body of Christ is spoken of Colossians 1 in a striking and even peculiar way. Paul suggests that his sufferings on behalf of the Church in some mysterious way was a completion, a kind of filling up in his own flesh (through the beatings, fastings, struggles, nakedness, and tortures) “what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church.” This language is both unique and remarkable. In some mysterious way, God has assigned his leaders both the privilege and responsibility to enter into the very sufferings of Christ for his body, the Church. Paul makes plain that this is neither simply the result of his own sincere choice or effort; God himself through his stewardship of grace had made him a minister in order that he might make the word of God’s mystery fully known among the Gentiles. This great mystery had not been known for ages and generations (cf. Rom. 16.25-27; Eph. 3.4-8) but now was revealed to God’s saints through the prophets and the apostles. What is this remarkable mystery? God has chosen to reveal the riches of his grace among the Gentiles, which is Christ in them, the very hope of glory. Those who serve the mysteries of God are intimately connected to God’s people. The ministry exists for them. Paul puts this ministry in a number of different ways, all of which speak of the remarkable honor we have as we serve the Church of God: 2 Cor. 11.2 - I feel a divine jealousy for you, for I betrothed you to one husband, to present you as a pure virgin to Christ. Col. 1.28 - Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ.

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