©1994
Thomas A. Wolf
Almost
a century ago, Roland Alan stirred the 20th century by reminding us
of the “spontaneous expansion” of the early church.
Now,
entering the 21st century, with all the open doors to the gospel, we
must re-evaluate just how the apostles were able to go into an area,
preach the good news, gather converts, nurture them, and move on in such a way
that they could later write back and with such confidence “remind” them of a
core teaching that seemed to be so pervasive and so commonly understood by all
(1 Thess. 3:3-4; 2 Thess. 2:5).
Even
mire perplexing is the fact that Paul and the church planting team were often
only in a city a few weeks, a few months, or at most a few years. How did they
do it? That is the issue I want to address.
Q:
How did Paul establish leadership
v
so
quickly
v
so
solidly
v
so
reproducibly
that
basis for the Christian church?
A:
He had a pattern, a standard
v
that
could be remembered
v
that
could be received personally
v
that
could be reproduced strategically
This
standard is referred to in II Timothy 1:13
“Retain
the standard (hupotuposis) of sound words which you have heard from me,
in faith and love which are in Christ Jesus”
Paul
even knew himself to be a living standard/model/paradigm/example of
God’s unlimited patience (I Timothy 1:15-17, vs, 16: hupotuposis.
And
the writer of Hebrews reminds us that all the types of our salvation were
sculptured according to a divine plan. And that Moses was warned (yes, that’s
the word: warned) when he was “about to build the tabernacle: “See to
it that you make everything according to the pattern (tupos) which
you were shown.” (Hebrews 8:5. See also Titus 2:7)
Paul
and the early church had a standard, a pattern, a model that was to be
v
retained
v
remembered
v
reproduced
KEY
to The Universal Disciple Pattern
ROCK
In one way or another, you introduce people to who Jesus is: the
Rock to build your life on, The Rock. Matthew 7: 24-28; 1 Cor. 10:4; Eph.
2:19-22; 1 Peter 2:6-8.
WORSHIP
Through whatever process and time, the person must come to personal
commitment and surrender to Jesu as Lord and God. John 20:26-31; Acts 8:26-40;
Romans 10:8-15.
WALK
Personally, the new believer must begin to walk worthy of Christ.
To do this, he/she must put off the old style of living – old vices,
and put on the new life in Christ – new virtues.
WORD/SPIRIT
But the personal transformation (from the putting off/putting on) impacts the convert’s circle of influence (the oikos/”household” composed of family, neighbours, co-workers, and friends).
The core experience here is
Word: “let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly” (Colossians 3:16)
Spirit: “be filled with the Spirit”(Ephesians 5:18)
What follows in the universal discipleship pattern is identical in order.
*Attitudes: TSTS
Teaching psalms, hymns and spiritual songs
Singing with your heart to The Lord
Thanking God for all things, and whatever you do in word deed, doing all
in the name of The Lord Jesus.
Submitting to one another out of reverence to Christ.
*Actions
5 dual sets: the same 5 pairs, the exact same order, with one
basic action for
each, which can be condensed or explained according to the audience’s
needs, with the minority person always first and the majority person always
second.
Wife: submit Husband: love
Child: obey Father: train
Slave: work hard
Master: be fair, just
Christian: be in subjection Authorities: praise good, punish evil.
Note: Colossians is compact and Ephesians is expanded. For example, wife/husband: Colossians 3:18-19 and Ephesians 5:22-33. The apostles, using the outline, developed the truth themes according to their audience’s needs.
WARFARE
Spirituality, the disciple will be tempted to think that people are the enemy. But that is not so. For such were some of us – fornicators, idolaters, adulterers, effeminate, homosexuals, thieves, covetous, drunkards, revilers, swindlers – but we were transformed by God. Surely others can be also (Corinthians 6:9-11, 1 Timothy 1:12-17 and Titus 3:1-8)
For our struggle is not against other people, but against the rulers, the powers, the, the world forces of this present darkness, the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places (Ephesians 6:12). And in this ministry we never lose heart, for even of our good news is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, “in whose case the god of this age has blinded the minds of the unbelieving, that they might not see the light of the Gospel of the radiance of Christ, who is the image of God.” (II Corinthians 4:1-6)
We are to –
v
Stand and Resist
v Watch and Pray
And out on the whole armour of God
1. Belt of Truth 4. Shield of Faith
2. Breastplate of Righteousness 5. Helmet of Salvation
3 Feet shod with the gospel of peace. 6. Sword of the Spirit
Prayer of the 4 alls.
WITNESS
Thus, we boldly, frankly witness with great joy, even in tribulation, which we know is our destiny (I Thessalonians 1: 2-10, 3:1-13, I Peter 2:11-12), telling His excellencies Who called us out of darkness into His marvellous light, making us a global people (I Peter 2:9-10).
So, then, while there will be those who sneer, there will also be those who desire to hear more, and even some who believe and join us. (Acts 17: 32-34)
Those who believe and join us are those who have come to know Jesus as their Rock, and the universal disciple pattern is retained, remembered and reproduced.
By the universal disciple pattern we all put off the old self, corrupted by various deceitful cravings and learned behaviour patterns of the cultures, worldviews and social environments of the world, and are renewed in the spirit of our minds, putting on the new self, being renewed to a true knowledge according to the image of the One who created us all --- a renewal in which there is no cultural, religious, ethnic, economic, or gender distinctions, but Christ is all, and in all (see Ephesians 4:17-24 and Colossians 3:9-11).