Planting Churches among the City's Poor - Volume 1

144 • P LANTING C HURCHES AMONG THE C ITY ’ S P OOR : V OLUME 1

(1) Luke 24.27 – And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself. (2) Luke 24.44-47 – Then he said to them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.” Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, and said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, and that repentance and forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem.” c. The Scriptures testify to him, John 5.39-40 – You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me, yet you refuse to come to me that you may have life. d. He quoted the Scripture as concerning himself, Heb. 10.5-7 – Consequently, when Christ came into the world, he said, “Sacrifices and offerings you have not desired, but a body have you prepared for me; in burnt offerings and sin offerings you have taken no pleasure. Then I said, ‘Behold, I have come to do your will, O God, as it is written of me in the scroll of the book.’”

C. The fullness of shared spirituality

1. Spiritual wisdom and rootedness consists in being grounded in the person of Christ, united by faith to him in gathered assembly.

2. Supporting texts

a. Col. 2.1-3 – For I want you to know how great a struggle I have for you and for those at Laodicea and for all who have not seen me face to face, that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of God’s mystery, which is Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.