Guard the Good Deposit

Section I: Why Must We Guard the Good Deposit? • 25

equip these called, anointed, gifted laborers to guard the good deposit? We believe the same Holy Spirit who descended upon the Apostles, who propelled the Apostle Paul in mission, and who has empowered every great saint across the ages rests on laypeople and leaders throughout the whole Church today. We must find reliable and credible ways to train, authorize, and release these leaders. The danger of sending false teachers into the world is great. Many greedy self-centered people have abused the flock of God for personal gain. How do we fulfill Paul’s instruction to entrust the truth to faithful people, who will be able to teach others also (2 Tim. 2.2)? Again, where traditional methods and strategies fall short, the Great Tradition offers a real way forward. The rule of faith provides a clear theological standard for training and authorization of laborers. The service of the Word and Table provides concrete training material for laborers of the Church. The Church Year gives a big picture for planning the whole life of the Church. Embracing the Great Tradition frees the whole Church to multiply faithful laborers! Freedom to Empower Faithful Churches and Movements The end game of guarding the good deposit is seeing faithful congregations of believers confessing, worshiping, following, and sharing Christ at the very ends of the earth until he comes again in glory. The engine that moves the Church forward is spiritual reproduction, disciples making disciples, churches