The Equipping Ministry, Student Workbook, SW15

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T H E E Q U I P P I N G M I N I S T R Y

9. Why do we concentrate on generalizing and drawing out key principles in our application of the Word to our students lives? Why ought we never limit an application to this, that, or the other kind of challenge: why must we give the Spirit room to apply the truth to their lives? 10. In what ways can we improve our teaching by paying more attention to the design of our teaching sessions? Give a few examples of this. 11. What ought to be our single aim in our teaching ministry, what is the role of the Spirit in this goal?

This lesson focuses upon the Holy Spirit as the source and resource of the teaching ministry in the NT. The Holy Spirit alone chooses and selects those whom he desires for this important work, preparing and sustaining them throughout the teaching experience. We also focused on the three essential steps make up the “Contact, Content, Connection” model of effective biblical teaching. The concepts below fill out these central truths, and are key for you to master in order to understand the NT’s teaching focus.

Summary of Key Concepts

A Gracious Conspiracy

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What a gracious conspiracy is needed for the liberation of the laity! Pastors for their part must freely confess they know little about equipping people to worship God in their business, homemaking, peacemaking and personal evangelism. They must gently and steadfastly insist that church members not hang around the church building too much. They should see that the church programs get stripped to the bare minimum so the saints have time to talk over the back fence with neighbors or to become involved in anti-poverty groups. They must insist that God’s design is that members should not be church-tenders but missionaries.

~ R. Paul Stevens. The Equipper’s Guide to Every-Member Ministry . Vancouver, BC: Regent College Publishing, 2000. p. 16.

The source and resource of the teaching ministry is the Holy Spirit, who alone chooses and selects those whom he desires for this important work.