Planting Churches among the City's Poor - Volume 1

P ART II: T HEOLOGICAL AND M ISSIOLOGICAL P RINCIPLES AND I NSIGHTS • 117

3. The Word of God, Eph. 6.17

4. The Shield of Faith, Eph. 6.16

5. The Blood of Christ and the word of their testimony, Rev. 12.10-11

E. Soon, God’s rule will consummate in the Age to Come at the Second Coming of Jesus Christ, Rom. 16.20.

IV. Implications for Church Plant Team Leaders

A. You must be a submitted disciple under the authority of Christ in order to represent his rule.

1. Others will follow you as you follow Christ.

1 Cor. 11.1 (ESV) – Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.

2. When disciples are fully trained they will be like the one who trained them.

Luke 6.40 (ESV) – A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone when he is fully trained will be like his teacher.

B. The battle is not yours personally, but the Lord’s; church planting is simply his people responding together God’s commands as he leads and empowers by the Holy Spirit. Exod. 14.13-16 (ESV) – And Moses said to the people, “Fear not, stand firm, and see the salvation of the Lord, which he will work for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall never see again. The Lord will fight for you, and you have only to be silent.” The Lord said to Moses, “Why do you cry to me? Tell the people of Israel to go forward. Lift up your staff, and stretch out your hand over the sea and divide it, that the people of Israel may go through the sea on dry ground. C. Only God-called people should apply for church planting: you cannot effectively face spiritual darkness in your own name and power; only those called and gifted by God are authorized to represent him in the battle.