THE THREE FORS OF EPHESIANS 4:12
The Pastor-who is the-Teacher: What are you here for?
1. For the perfecting [equipping] of the saints...
2. For the work of the ministry...
3. For the edifying of the body of Christ...
A= Your aim is to build up the church numerically and spiritually.
R= Your responsibility is the perfecting [equipping] of the saints so they are
able to do the work of the ministry.
E= Your end is to continue doing the above till they all come into the unity of
the faith and complete maturity.
What is being described in Eph 4:11-31 relates to the command in the Great
Commission (Matt 28:19-20) to teach [make disciples] of all converts so that
they become able and fruitful members of the Body of Christ. Another part of
this process is given in (Eph 6:10-18) where we are told to put on the whole
armor of God so we can stand in the day of battle. Could you name the 7 pieces
of armor mentioned in these verses? If someone in your church would be asking
the people in the pews this same question, how many do you think would be able
to name them and then how many would know how to use these pieces of armor like
a skillful soldier? Who is doing the training and teaching that is required to
turn a new recruit in boot-camp into a soldier ready for battle?
TIMOTHY CLASS CROSS ROADS BAPT CH March 2, 2014
Principles
Preaching
Partnership
The Start
The Art
The Heart
·
Faith Is The Key That Opens
Every Door
o
Pr 3:5-6 Trust in the LORD
with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
·
The Call Has Two Doors
o
1. Desire Implicit call
§
1Ti 3:1 This is a true saying, If a man
desire the office
of a bishop, he desireth a good work.
o
2. Directive Explicit call
§
Rom 1:1 Paul,
called
to be an apostle
1Cor 1:1 Paul,
called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God
§
Note: Preaching
is a part of a mans call, but preaching is not the call.
The call is to a specific task.
·
The Call Has Two Demands
o
1. Moral confirmation the
15 musts of 1Tim 3
o
2. Divine confirmation 1Ti
3:10 And let these also first be proved
§
Note:
There are no officers in boot camp
·
The Call Has Two Degrees
o
1. One is informal self
taught
o
2. One is formal classroom
taught
§
Note: In
either case one is required to know how to rightly divide the Word of truth and
to have the ability to make others learn so they can become skilled in the work
of the ministry.
·
The Command Has Three
Distinct Parts
o
1. Matt 28 teach and
disciple
o
2. Mark 16 preach the
gospel
o
3. Luke 24 preach repentance
and the forgiveness of sins
