I’ve been reading a book lately that is advocating getting people out in the gospel and discipling others quickly. I’m all for that – but felt like one of their reasons for doing so was a little … different.

The book states that there is an order to the events in Eph 4

Ephesians 4:11-16 (ESV)
And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.

NOT “believe – mature – serve” BUT RATHER “believe – serve – mature”

Maybe it’s because I’ve never heard this before but this has made me think. It’s coming at the process from a different perspective certainly.

The book doesn’t seem to be saying that it has to be this way, just that we can (and should) grow through serving – that it is more healthy for the church to do so.

I’m still thinking it through…

What do you think?

I was reading this week in 1st Cor and have been pondering what Paul says in chpt 4

¹⁸ Some are arrogant, as though I were not coming to you. ¹⁹ But I will come to you soon, if the Lord wills, and I will find out not the talk of these arrogant people but their power. ²⁰ For the kingdom of God does not consist in talk but in power. ²¹ What do you wish? Shall I come to you with a rod, or with love in a spirit of gentleness?

When I started college (a long long time ago) cell phones were just gaining popularity with maybe 1 in 10 students having one. By the time I graduated five years later they were pretty much everywhere and texting was next the big thing.

But now it’s taken another turn altogether with maybe 1 in 100 not having a phone and maybe 1 in 3 people having a smart phone that is connected to the web (facebook/twitter/google) ALL the time.

Students have a new sort of friendship through frequent connection with people online that they rarely see face to face.

Obviously there will always be a need for face to face communication and fellowship. A virtual pat on the back doesn’t feel the same as a real one.

But, I do believe that we have new opportunities for the gospel to get out through the connectedness of this new generation as long as we use it well. There are more opportunities for distraction, distance and hiding yourself from others but if given to God it can be used well.

Facebook, Youtube, Twitter, Google, blogs, websites – I believe that they all can be useful in spreading the gospel.

How is the next question.