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Realizing the presence, promise, and power of the Kingdom of God.
Pastor to Pastor

The Ministry of Authority

For believers, submitting is a way of life.

And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another in the fear of God. Ephesians 5.18-21

Life Together
Dietrich Bonhoeffer (1906-1945)
“Jesus made authority in the fellowship dependent upon brotherly service…The question of trust, which is so closely related to that of authority, is determined by the faithfulness with which a man serves Jesus Christ, never by the extraordinary talents which he possesses. Pastoral authority can be attained only by the servant of Christ who seeks no power of his own, who is himself a brother among brothers submitted to the authority of the Word.”

The idea of “submission” is not very appealing to people these days. Church leaders don’t use it to describe the relationship of pastors and elders to the flock of God, but the Lord does. We submit to someone so that we can serve him, not dominate him. A wife submits to her husband so that she might perfect his shortcomings by her gifts and graces. A husband submits to his wife so that he might, by the example of his love, lift her higher toward Jesus. Church members submit to one another by modeling the love of Christ in everyday ways, and according to the needs and opportunities of the moment. Mutual submission is evidence of a church thriving in God’s Spirit, and it is key to advancing Christ’s Kingdom through our Personal Mission Fields.

Do you talk about “submission” at your church? What caveats must we keep in mind when teaching about this ministry?

Mission Partners Outreach
Men, if you’re looking for a resource to help you equip your members for a lifestyle of ministry, then I urge you to consider our Missions Partner Outreach. This stay-at-home, short-term mission project provides all the resources you need to help your people identify and begin working their Personal Mission Fields. Watch this brief video. If you would like me to take you through this program, with a view to your beginning to use it in your church, drop me a line at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., and we’ll talk about it. The training and resources are free.

Kingdom and Church
The Church is both the sign that the Kingdom has come, and the outpost from which the Kingdom advances on earth as it is in heaven. What is my role as a member of that Body and a citizen in that Kingdom in bringing the Good News of Jesus to my world? These and related questions are addressed in our course One in Twelve: Introduction to Christian Worldview. Using videos, worksheets, study guides, and other resources, you can set your own schedule and study at your own pace through this free, online resource. For more information and to register, click here.

I’m often asked how The Fellowship of Ailbe is supported. Our heavenly Father supports us 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.

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

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