The Evangel Dean School - Developing Wisdom

A ppendix • 105

The Heartbeat of a Church Planter: Discerning an Apostolic/Pastoral Identity , continued

7. S/he must be eloquent and either endowed with or trained in the art of public speaking.

a. Biblical rebuttal: 1 Cor. 2.1-5 (ESV) – And I, when I came to you, brothers, I did not come proclaiming to you the testimony of God with lofty speech or wisdom. For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. And I was with you in weakness and in fear and much trembling; and my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God. b. The truth of the matter: God uses both men and women whose ministries are not primarily public in terms of speaking, but effective in terms of personal witness. a. Biblical rebuttal: 2 Cor. 12.9-10 (ESV) – But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong. b. The truth of the matter: Missionary pastors are acquainted with their own weaknesses within and difficulties from without, and God demonstrates his power through them in spite of these weaknesses and hardships. 8. S/he must not be a person prone to weakness, insecurity, or neediness.

9. S/he must always be perceived by everyone in leadership as valuable, helpful and credible.

a. Biblical rebuttal: Acts 15.35-40 (ESV) – But Paul and Barnabas remained in Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord, with many others also. And after