trusted online casino malaysia
Realizing the presence, promise, and power of the Kingdom of God.
Pastor to Pastor

An Equipping Vision

Is this how you envision your ministry?

Healthy, Growing Churches (2)

And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.
2 Timothy 2.2

Treatise on Christ and Antichrist 1
Hippolytus (f. 222-245)
“[Only] see that you do not give these scriptural teachings over to unbelieving and blasphemous tongues, for that is a danger greatly to be avoided. But impart them to pious and faithful men who desire to live in a holy way and righteously with fear.”

We glimpse something of Paul’s vision for equipping the saints. He could see three generations beyond himself of those who would receive his teaching, grow in piety, faith, and holiness, and then pass that teaching on to others: Timothy, faithful men, others also. Every Christian is called to be taught. This is the essential meaning of the word disciple learner. Teaching is part of the work of equipping, but teaching in such a way as that others “desire to live in a holy way and righteously with fear.” Every disciple is also called to teach others, because Jesus taught the disciples to teach us everything He’d taught them (Matt. 28.18-20). Our vision for equipping the saints entrusted to our care is incomplete unless all the members are submitting themselves to the Word of God, and all members are also serving – and thus discipling – others by sharing what they are learning. And, in a complete vision for equipping, a pastor should be able to conceive a means – as Paul did – by which he may enlist for teaching and training those who are specially gifted and called to teach others also, so that the congregation as a whole becomes a true flock of disciples – learners and teachers, growing together in the grace and knowledge of the Lord. Such is a healthy and growing church, even if it meets only in a home, and has but a handful of members.

What is your vision for equipping the saints entrusted to your care?

T. M. Moore

Organizing with the Spirit
The Lord Jesus is building His Church. His Word is the blueprint, His Spirit is the General Contractor, and we are all builders together of the Body of Christ. But are we doing our work God’s way, or ours? The Spirit has His ways of organizing our work, and we do well to understand as much as we can about His methods. This is the argument of Dr. Kent Miller of Michigan State University, and you can watch our Conversation with Dr. Miller, and download a free copy of his paper on the subject, “Organizing with the Spirit,” by clicking here.

The Fellowship of Ailbe is supported through the generous and faithful gifts of those who benefit from and believe in our work. Does the Lord want to use you in this way? Please look to Him in prayer over this question. You can contribute to The Fellowship of Ailbe by using the Contribute button at our website, or by sending your gift to The Fellowship of Ailbe, 19 Tyler Drive, Essex Junction, VT 05452. Thank you.

Except as indicated, Scripture taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Quotations from Church Fathers are from the
Ancient Christian Commentary Series, published by InterVarsity Press.

T.M. Moore

T. M. Moore is principal of The Fellowship of Ailbe, a spiritual fellowship in the Celtic Christian tradition. He and his wife, Susie, make their home in the Champlain Valley of Vermont.
Books by T. M. Moore

Subscribe to Ailbe Newsletters

Sign up to receive our email newsletters and read columns about revival, renewal, and awakening built upon prayer, sharing, and mutual edification.