Planting Churches among the City's Poor - Volume 1

P ART III: P LANTING U RBAN C HURCHES • 343

1 Tim. 1.18-19 (ESV) – This charge I entrust to you, Timothy, my child, in accordance with the prophecies previously made about you, that by them you may wage the good warfare, holding faith and a good conscience. By rejecting this, some have made shipwreck of their faith.

5. S/he possesses a rich theological view of the Church, with an even deeper love for the body of Christ .

2 Cor. 11.2 (ESV) – I feel a divine jealousy for you, for I betrothed you to one husband, to present you as a pure virgin to Christ. 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. Phil. 2.19-24 (ESV) – I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, so that I too may be cheered by news of you. For I have no one like him, who will be genuinely concerned for your welfare. They all seek their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ. But you know Timothy’s proven worth, how as a son with a father he has served with me in the gospel. I hope therefore to send him just as soon as I see how it will go with me, and I trust in the Lord that shortly I myself will come also. 7. S/he coordinates the gifted men and women under their care , enabling the diverse members to make the maximum contribution possible to the church planting endeavor. Col. 4.10-17 (ESV) – Aristarchus my fellow prisoner greets you, and Mark the cousin of Barnabas (concerning whom you have received instructions – if he comes to you, welcome him), and Jesus who is called Justus. These are the only men of the circumcision among my fellow workers for the kingdom of God, and they have been a comfort to me. Epaphras, who 6. S/he identifies fully and pastors sensitively (nurtures) the members of his/her church plant team (apostolic band).