Planting Churches among the City's Poor - Volume 1

206 • P LANTING C HURCHES AMONG THE C ITY ’ S P OOR : V OLUME 1

Titus 2.14 (NIV) – who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.

2. Ministers of reconciliation, in word and deed, God to man, man to man.

2 Cor. 5.18-20 (NIV) – All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. a. As an agent of freedom, we declare and demonstrate the freedom we have received in Christ through the blood of the New Covenant, Gal. 5.1; Rom. 8.21. b. As an agent of wholeness, we declare and demonstrate how union with Christ has made us well, whole, complete, Col. 2.6-10; Mark 2.17. c. As an agent of justice, we declare and demonstrate the justice of the Kingdom to come in all our dealings, both in the Church and with outsiders, 1 Cor. 6.1-10. 3. The Church as an agent of freedom, wholeness, and justice.

C. The Church is the agent of prophetic signs and wonders which display the power and glory of God’s Kingdom.

1. Continuing signs to the Lordship of Christ are revealed in congregations of Spirit-filled believers.

John 14.12-14 (NASB) – Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go to the Father. And whatever you ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.