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These single point extracts are intended to spark fresh thinking individually or in group discussions of up to ten people – (Christian Unions, church home groups, house churches for example).
JDMC extract – 3
Remember that this gift is foundational; read Acts 1:1-4. We can think of the
apostolic as a sending gift, an apostle is an emissary or, indeed, a missionary. People with a large measure of the apostolic gift tend to get things started and then move on to repeat the process again somewhere else; this is what Paul did, over and over again. He also returned from time to time to make sure things stayed on track; when he couldn’t be there in person he wrote letters for the same purpose.
Apostolic people prepare the ground for the prophetic gift to work. They also stir others up to do apostolic things. And they are always concerned about right foundations and right direction. Don’t think of this gift as more important than the others, it is usually first in sequence but if you are apostolic you are a servant in the church.
And don’t think in terms of ‘an apostle’, but rather recognise that we all have a measure of this gift, every follower of Jesus is apostolic to a degree. We need apostolic people around us to remind us constantly that Jesus is the only foundation and that he commands us to go out to the people around us. Apostolic people get troubled and upset if they see people veering away from the truth set out by Jesus and taking control of church life. They know that church life should never be controlled by people, but by the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Christ.
And is Jesus apostolic? You bet he is! Did he lay foundations? He laid himself as the one true Foundation by dying for us. Was he sent? He was sent by the Father and was fully obedient in coming into our world. Did he get things started? He is the Beginning, he is the Way, he is the Truth. It’s through him that everything started. Perhaps the most apostolic words in the New Testament are Matthew 28:18-20.
Discuss
We are all emissaries for Jesus. Is there a difference between reaching
people with the good news, and being apostolic? If so, can you identify this
difference? Discuss or consider carefully.
Based on JDMC page 41.
See also:
- How to set out for foundations – BuildIt website
- Introduction to APEST – Missional Church Network
- Journeys to Significance – Neil Cole
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