Ministry in a Multi-Cultural and Unchurched Society

Ses s i on 5: The Chur ch and the Wor l d

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2. Stewards of God’s mysteries to protect the faith

1 Cor. 4.2 (ESV) – Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found trustworthy.

Jude 1.3 (ESV) – Beloved, although I was very eager to write to you about our common salvation, I found it necessary to write appealing to you to contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints.

3. The supremacy and necessity of the Apostolic witness

1 Cor. 15.1-4 (ESV) – Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, [2] and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you – unless you believed in vain. [3] For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, [4] that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, Gal. 1.8-9 (ESV) – But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed. [9] As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed. 1 John 1.1-3 (ESV) – That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands, concerning the word of life – [2] the life was made manifest, and we have seen it, and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was made manifest to us – [3] that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellow ship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ.