The Evangel Dean School - Developing Wisdom

A ppendix • 107

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

through slander and praise. We are treated as impostors, and yet are true; as unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and behold we live; as punished, and yet not killed; as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, yet possessing everything. We have spoken freely to you, Corinthians; our heart is wide open.

3. S/he affirms with confidence the calling of God to represent him in pioneer church planting.

Gal. 1.1 (ESV) – Paul, an apostle – not from men nor through man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised him from the dead.

4. S/he submits joyfully to their leaders under the authority of Jesus Christ.

1 Tim. 1.18-19 (ESV) – This charge I entrust to you, Timothy, my child, in accordance with the prophecies previously made about you, that by them you may wage the good warfare, holding faith and a good conscience. By rejecting this, some have made shipwreck of their faith.

5. S/he possesses a rich theological view of the Church, with an even deeper love for the body of Christ .

2 Cor. 11.2 (ESV) – I feel a divine jealousy for you, for I betrothed you to one husband, to present you as a pure virgin to Christ. Col. 1.24-27 (ESV) – Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church, of which I became a minister according to the stewardship from God that was given to me for you, to make the word of God fully known, the mystery hidden for ages and generations but now revealed to his saints. To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.

6. S/he identifies fully and pastors sensitively (nurtures) the members of his/her church plant team (apostolic band).

Phil. 2.19-24 (ESV) – I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, so that I too may be cheered by news of you. For