Main Seminar 8: Terry Virgo – Newfrontiers part 3 – Future
The epic conclusion to Terry’s 3 part series at TOAM on newfrontiers- the past, the preset and the future. If you have the privilege of belonging to our international family, you don’t want to miss this (the video and audio files will be made available online soon)! There was such a sense of wonder of all God has blessed us with as once again, Terry glorified and honoured the Lord Jesus as he spoke about what the future had in store for newfrontiers. This is the end of the beginning! Last year at TOAM, we were served brilliantly by Mark Driscoll and he urged us to honour the future and prepare for it. Terry responded to this and laid out the plan for us..
Terry began by showing us what the Bible spoke about apostles and apostolic spheres. Briefly, an apostle is someone sent with authority. Jesus was an apostle, so were the Twelve along with others like Paul, Barnabas and James.
1. The apostles provided the foundation of the Church
Ephesians 2 talks about the new Temple being built on the foundation of apostles. These men gave identity to the Church. The early church gave themselves to their teachings. They were not simply scripture writers. In 1 Corinthians 3, Paul writes to the church that he is the master builder who laid the foundation of their church. They were proof of his apostolic gift.
2. The relationship
There was an ongoing affectionate relationship between Paul and the churches he laid foundations for. he developed a father-son relationship with them. It was not a static relationship, but a dynamic one. And it was by their dynamic involvement that his apostolic sphere saw expansion. The effective functioning of the church will impact global apostolic thrust.
3. The future
There are men who have gone out from us, who are not representing Terry, but who are now growing in their own apostolic gifting. We have been commissioned to fill the earth with sons who become fathers who in turn have sons who become fathers. Jesus did not hand over to a successor. Pentecost was Peter’s moment, not his movement. When Paul became an apostle
- he didn’t come from the Jerusalem stable
- he had revelation of the gospel
- he did not want to run alone
- he wanted recognition and affirmation from those before him
- he challenged Peter but did not walk away. He wanted unity
We must believe for the emergence of apostles. Jesus is the head of the Church and He gives apostles, teachers, evangelists, pastors. We will pray that He gives us laborers for the harvest. Newfrontiers may go but it is more important that apostolic spheres grow and that churches are in dynamic relationship with apostles.
What could hold the spheres together
- fellowship a lot ( you can accomplish more together than apart)
- unity of doctrine and values
- promises that God’s given us to change the expression of Christianity across the world
God has done an amazing thing with one apostolic sphere, imagine when a dozen kick in!
Leadership Main Seminar 7: Joel Virgo – The Armor Bearer
It was a proud moment for Terry as he introduced his son to the preacher’s pulpit. It was also a proud moment for all the Church of Christ the King delegates to see our beloved leader take the stage and do what he does best! And boy did he deliver!
Joel preached from 1 Sam 14:1-15, 20-25 to highlight the role of team players who are not team leaders. He did this through the story of Jonathon and his armor bearer as, together, they won an unlikely victory over the Philistines.
Introduction: There is strength in plurality. There is God given power when you’re joined. God reveals Himself to us as a team with distinct roles. The Son is constantly demonstrating clear submission to the Father. In eternity past and future, the Father has a glorious position of supremacy. It’s just as God like to submit than to lead. In today’s world authority and submission is seen as evil. But it was good before the fall. We must never see submission as imposed. At CCK we have moved away from one man ministry to plurality in leadership. But that doesn’t make it some sort of an egalitarian system with no clear cut roles and distinction. There also needs to be a balance between humility and headship. We need team players who will give themselves to a God given vision.
3 key points
1. Catch his heart (:7)
“Do all that you have in mind,” his armor-bearer said. “Go ahead; I am with you heart and soul.” There was freedom for Jonathon. But be careful of who you say that too. You need to know that they have grasped God’s heart. One way of catch his heart is by praying with your leader. Allow him to grow in faith.
2. Watch his back (:13)
The leader can see God, can see the vision, but sometimes can’t see what it looks like! Let him set the trajectory, you go about getting it done. You bring skills to the table and without you it won’t happen! Covers his back during his absence. If he’s not there don’t try to do it your way. Aaron dropped the vision when Moses was on Mount Sinai. Cover his weaknesses. When a leader is feeling vulnerable, that’s not a time to swoop down like a vulture. Press in to cover him. Work as a team. Sometimes it means confronting but we have to.Leaders should be able to trust their armor bearers. Paul writes of Timothy, “He’s of proven worth.”
3. Share the victory
The rest of the army joined in. Jonathon and his armor bearer did not seek personal glory.
Conclusion: In 3 John, John writes, “but Diotrephes, who loves to be first, will have nothing to do with us.” There’s a sense of laying down which often may be painful for the armor bearer. But he has One he can follow. Jesus’ humility and submission is evident right through His life on this earth. Right from Him being born in the most humble of circumstances to His humiliating death.
Thank God for the privilege of knowing Him rather than the privilege to lead.
Mobilise Main Seminar 2: Tom Shaw – Exposing Idols
Tom leads the newfrontiers church in Canterbury. He also leads the team that runs Mobilise. Tom preached from the story of God delivering His people from the oppressive slavery of the Egyptians to parallel the freedom that Jesus has won for us today. His preach aimed to answer the question posed by many young people, ‘how do we therefore enter into the reality and experience of the total freedom Christ has won for us?‘
It is for freedom that Christ has set us free (Gal 5:1)
1. The Truth about our Freedom
In Exodus 15, we read Moses’ glorious song of worship unto Yahweh who has delivered His people from the Egyptians. Jesus paid a massive price for us to have our freedom – He died. We have been taken from a place of captivity to incredible freedom. The contrast between slavery and our freedom is incomprehensible.
2. The Lie about Idols
- it’s silly
- but it’s subtle
Some key questions in helping us figure out what idols we have in our lives: what do you worry about? What do you rely on to cope with suffering? What are some of your release valves? What do you day dream about? What are you proudest of achieving? What do you want people to know about you?
Anything that occupies the place that should belong to God is an idol in your life.
4 key idols
1. Comfort – crave: lack of stress, responsibility and suffering; fear – responsibility
2. Control – crave: self discipline, certainty, standards; fear – uncertainity; emotion -worry
3. Power – crave: sucess, influence, winning; fear – humiliation; emotion – anger
4. Approval – crave: affirmation, love, relationship; fear – rejection; emotion- cowardice
3. Solution for the future
Through the power of the Spirit, we have one to immitate – Jesus. He did not give into sin, but obeyed His Father. He deserved all power but did not count equality with God something to be grasped, but gave it up for us all and humbled Himself to being a servant. He was drenched in the Father’s approval so He did not seek approval from man.
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