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

Kingdom, using the Bible’s methods of images, symbols, and stories, being organized in a plain and simple manner. • Explain how use of the liturgy and the Church calend a r allow us to provide our audiences with a continuous retelling of the Story of God in the life and work of Jesus, and thus highlight the whole counsel of God annually through his story. • Gain skill in making connections in our preaching with the audience by inviting them to specific and particular responses, helping them to understand their spiritual condition before God by making clear appeals and bold invitations for repentance and change, and when responses are made, gaining insight as to how these should be followed up on quickly and thoroughly.© 2 Cor. 4.1-7 - Therefore, having this ministry by the mercy of God, we do not lose heart. [2] But we have renounced disgraceful, underhanded ways. We refuse to practice cunning or to tamper with God’s word, but by the open statement of the truth we would commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience in the sight of God. [3] And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled only to those who are perishing. [4] In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. [5] For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. [6] For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. [7] But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. How effective can our own preparation, investigation, practice, and work be in terms of communicating the Word of God with power? In many ways, our heartfelt desire as Christian leaders is to communicate the Word of God regarding Jesus of Nazareth in a convincing and compelling way. We spend untold hours of preparation, prayer, study, and instruction for this end. Yet, sometimes, in spite of all the hard work that we do to prepare ourselves for urban ministry, the results are the opposite of our desires. Why do our best laid plans, prayerfully conceived and diligently carried out, often result in fruitless, even hostile reactions? What exactly are we doing wrong to get such unwelcome, even mean-spirited responses to the Word of God? An Enemy of a Different Sort

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Devotion