Planting Churches Among the City's Poor - Volume 2

P ART I: C OACHING U RBAN C HURCH P LANTERS • 105

3. Examples of direct calls from Messiah, disciples (e.g., Mark 1.16-20; 2.14; 5.18-19; 10.17-22; 10.46-52; Luke 5.1-11; 9.57-62; John 1.35-51).

a. The call of Simon and Andrew, Matt. 4.18-20

b. The call of James and John, Matt. 4.21-22

c. The call of Levi (Matthew), Mark 2.14; Luke 5.27

d. The call of Peter, Luke 5.1-11

e. The call of the Twelve, Mark 3.13-19

f. The call of Paul, Acts 9.1-29

4. Examples of calls through God’s elected representatives

a. Timothy, 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 I have no one like him, who will be genuinely concerned for your welfare. They all seek their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ. But you know Timothy’s proven worth, how as a son with a father he has served with me in the gospel. I hope therefore to send him just as soon as I see how it will go with me, and I trust in the Lord that shortly I myself will come also. c. The elders of the church by Paul and Barnabas, Acts 14.21-23 (ESV) – When they had preached the gospel to that city and had made many disciples, they returned to Lystra and to Iconium and to Antioch, strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying that through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God. And when they had appointed elders for them in every church, with prayer and fasting they committed them to the Lord in whom they had believed. b. Titus’ selection of elders in Crete, Titus 1.5-9

Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonorable, he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, ready for every good work. ~ 2 Timothy 2.21 (ESV)