The Evangel Dean School - Developing Wisdom

104 • T he E vangel D ean S chool : D eveloping W isdom , C onviction , and P erspective in C hurch P lant T eams

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

5. S/he must assume all responsibility for the fruitfulness (or lack thereof) of a church planting endeavor.

a. Biblical rebuttal: 1 Cor. 3.4-10 (ESV) – For when one says, “I follow Paul,” and another, “I follow Apollos,” are you not being merely human? What then is Apollos? What is Paul? Servants through whom you believed, as the Lord assigned to each. I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth. He who plants and he who waters are one, and each will receive his wages according to his labor. For we are God’s fellow workers. You are God’s field, God’s building. According to the grace of God given to me, like a skilled master builder I laid a foundation, and someone else is building upon it. Let each one take care how he builds upon it. b. The truth of the matter: Ultimately, only God gives the growth in ministry; we who are called use our gifts in the way and at the time that he dictates. We have no final control over either the number or timing of those who will respond to the Gospel. 6. S/he must have received training from a professional training academy, Bible college, seminary, or at least be credentialed by an accredited academic institution of higher learning. a. Biblical rebuttal: Acts 4.13-14 (ESV) – Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they were astonished. And they recognized that they had been with Jesus. But seeing the man who was healed standing beside them, they had nothing to say in opposition. b. The truth of the matter: Social standing, socio-economic background, or polished education mean nothing for the missionary pastor as do authentic calling and spiritual power from on high.