The Equipping Ministry, Student Workbook, SW15

8 0 /

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

4. Celebrate all true responses as gifts of the Spirit.

a. For those who come to Jesus for the first time in faith

b. For those who return to Jesus after turning their backs

c. For those who desire to give Jesus even more than they have before

Declare the Kingdom Come in Jesus Christ

In the Gospels Jesus is characteristically portrayed as One who came ‘heralding the kingdom of God’. In Luke 4.16–21 Jesus interprets his ministry as the fulfilment of Isaiah’s prophecy of a coming Servant-Messiah through whom the kingdom of God would at last be realized. This kingdom is best understood as God’s ‘kingly rule’ or ‘sovereign action’. Only secondarily does it refer to a realm or people within that realm. That God’s eternal sovereignty was now invading the realm of evil powers and winning the decisive victory was the basic content of Jesus’ kerygma. ~ R. H. Mounce. “Preaching.” In The New Bible Dictionary . D. R. W. Wood, ed. 3rd ed. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1996, p. 951.

2

Conclusion

» Three critical dimensions lie at the heart of planning and applying an effective preaching ministry. » We must first establish contact with hearers, communicate the content of the Word clearly and boldly, and finally strive to make connections with the truth of the message and the lives of the audience. » In all of these efforts, we must never forget that it is only the Holy Spirit who makes the delivered Word effective in our preaching.