Planting Churches Among the City's Poor - Volume 2

106 • P LANTING C HURCHES AMONG THE C ITY ’ S P OOR : V OLUME 2

B. The profile of the missionary call

1. A clear and unambiguous call from Jesus to represent his interests and testify of his gospel as his agent

a. Gal. 1.1 (ESV) – Paul, an apostle – not from men nor through man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised him from the dead. b. Gal 1.11-12 (ESV) – For I would have you know, brothers, that the gospel that was preached by me is not man’s gospel. For I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ. c. Gal. 1.17 (ESV) – . . . nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me, but I went away into Arabia, and returned again to Damascus. a. Col. 1.24-27 (ESV) – Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church, of which I became a minister according to the stewardship from God that was given to me for you, to make the word of God fully known, the mystery hidden for ages and generations but now revealed to his saints. To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. b. Phil. 1.27 (ESV) – Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel. c. 1 Thess. 2.2 (ESV) – But though we had already suffered and been shamefully treated at Philippi, as you know, we had boldness in our God to declare to you the gospel of God in the midst of much conflict.

2. A guardianship of the revelation entrusted to the callee