The Evangel Dean School - Developing Wisdom

A ppendix • 111

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

2. More than anything else, the missionary apostle (the church plant team leader) must understand his or her identity as God’s called person to lead a pioneer mission effort. Acts 20.24 (ESV) – But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God. 3. Mastery of and being able to equip others with the Word of God is the single most important asset needed to be possessed by a church plant team leader. 2 Tim. 3.16-17 (ESV) – All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work.

B. What is the relationship of a called missionary apostle and Legitimate Partnerships with others?

1. RMO is a missionary apostolic class devoted to pioneer mission.

2. No partnerships can ever eclipse or take the place of the Missionary Apostle’s call to go to the unchurched, proclaim the Good News, and establish congregations of disciples among them. 3. As missionary apostles, we go to the unchurched by compulsion of the Lord’s call on our lives first and foremost, not because of the willingness of any other group, however legitimate to go with us.

4. We ought to partner with others, not by losing our identity, but joining forces for maximum impact .

Gal. 2.6-10 (ESV) – And from those who seemed to be influential (what they were makes no difference to me; God shows no partiality) – those, I say, who seemed influential added nothing to me. On the contrary, when they saw that I had been entrusted with the gospel to the uncircumcised, just as Peter had been entrusted with the gospel to the circum cised (for he who worked through Peter for his apostolic