Planting Churches among the City's Poor - Volume 1

P ART III: P LANTING U RBAN C HURCHES • 303

many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God. And when they had appointed elders for them in every church, with prayer and fasting they committed them to the Lord in whom they had believed.

A. The God-called cross-cultural missionary: apostolic ministry

1. God the Holy Spirit calls men and women to cross barriers and declare the Good News to the lost, Acts 13.1-3 (ESV) – Now there were in the church at Antioch prophets and teachers, Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen a member of the court of Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” Then after fasting and praying they laid their hands on them and sent them off. 2. These specially gifted, particularly called persons are gifts of the Lord to the Church for the purpose of equipping the saints for the work of the ministry, Eph. 4.11-12 (ESV) – And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip the saints for the work to ministry, for building up the body of Christ. 3. The role of gifted men and women who can entrust the Good News to faithful laborers can never be underestimated or substituted by any technology, model, or effort. a. Acts 20.24 (ESV) – But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God. b. 1 Cor. 4.1-2 (ESV) – This is how one should regard us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found trustworthy. c. 2 Cor. 5.18 (ESV) – All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation. d. 2 Tim. 4.5 (ESV) – As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.