Ever since the year 2000, I have attended the Willow Creek Global Leadership Summit most years, and have regretted the years I had to miss this annual conference.  I’ve always participated at one of their satellite sites near my residency. These last eleven years in Nashville means that People’s Church in Franklin has been the host site by which I have experienced this wonderful event. The Global Leadership Summit is one of the highlights of my year. This event is like fuel to my leadership passion tank.

This year is no exception, as my wife Beth, CIL Operations Pastor Deborah Jackson, and myself will be filling our minds and hearts with great leadership insights from thought-provoking speakers.  These presenters come from both the church and corporate world, which brings quite a nice balance of the Lord’s wisdom.

The event occurs today and tomorrow, and though it originates from Chicago, it will occur literally around the globe through simulcast technology.

Pray that God will use this time for both the CIL team, and the tens of thousands of leaders around the world who will be experiencing this intellectual and spiritual event.  As the founder WCA founder Bill Hybel often says, “When a leader gets better, everybody wins.”  There are a lot of wins ahead of us!

My newest message series is called Bowling Together, but it doesn’t have much to do about the sport.  Instead, this series is about Christian community – something we all need.  Join me for part two of this series on Sunday (August 17).

To discover the meaning behind this series title, watch this video:

https://vimeo.com/103200992

It depends on your definition.

Does the specific definition of apostles that are described in the New Testament exist today? No.

Are there special messengers for the LORD’s message today, that the word “apostle” could be? Yes.  We functionally call those messengers, missionaries.

In recent years there has been a lot of interest in studying Ephesians 4:11-12 which states:

And He personally gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, for the training of the saints in the work of ministry, to build up the body of Christ

I have gone back and forth some in my working definitions of the term apostle, so I give you my current opinion with caution.  Yet, when faced with theological ambiguity, its probably best to choose a conservative position, which I currently take.

Much of the debate over the role of an apostle today is differences in nomenclature, and not a reason for further division in the church.

1. The narrow Biblical definition of an “apostle” seems to be a temporary position that no longer exists.

In order to be an apostle in the Bible, you must have:

a. Seen Christ physically (Acts 1:22)

b. Personally been appointed by Christ to be an apostle (Matthew 10:1-7, Acts 9:5-6, 1 Corinthians 9:1, 15:7-9)

c. The apostles’ letters were authorized as Scripture (with the exception of Mark, Luke, Acts, Hebrews and Jude – who were written by men close to the apostles, and apparently authorized by the apostles.).

We know that there were twelve original apostles appointed by Christ (the eleven plus Matthias), Barnabas, and Paul (Acts 14:14).  The original twelve are so important an unique that their names are inscribed on the foundations of the New Jerusalem (Revelation 21:14).

There were likely other apostles, such as James the brother of Jesus, but there seems to be no apostles appointed after Paul.

2.  It’s not sinful to use the term “apostle” – just not helpful

There are powerful, Biblical ministers who call themselves an apostle.  While I don’t think using the term today is accurate or beneficial, it certainly wouldn’t be the exclusive reason for me to not receive from those who call themselves an apostle. Again, it can simply be a disagreement on terminology.

3. If you need the term “apostle” to be a functioning term, an apostle is a “missionary”

Some people simply cannot accept that a Biblical office is no longer functioning. For those who need a definition for the word apostle, it is good to refer them as a missionary.  A general meaning of the word apostle is the term messenger. This is used three times in the New Testament (Philippians 2:25, 2 Corinthians 8:23, John 13:16).

__________________

* Note: The main resource that has guided my current opinion is Wayne Grudem’s Systematic Theology text.  Much of what I write is a summary of his research and interpretation.

Grudem, W. A. (1994). Systematic theology: An introduction to biblical doctrine. Leicester, England: Inter-Varsity Press.

 

We were in the middle of our 8th annual Back-to-School Blessing, and it was so fulfilling for so many reasons.  Here are a few reasons why . . .

– The event didn’t feel like condescending charity. The families we helped were neighbors, co-workers and classmates who just needed a boost after an eventful summer. The volunteers from CIL and the recipients interacted as friends, not as separated factions.

– So much prayer happened.  The prayer was authentic, sweet and so human.  The divine presence of our holy God was in the parking lot of the Goodwill that morning.

– There was joy in the recipients, with no trace of shame or embarrassment (as there shouldn’t have been!).  I believe the tone of our volunteers created this Christ-honoring culture.

– The gorgeous weather was a remind of God’s sovereignty, and our vulnerability.  We can’t control the weather, the seasons or our days. We think we can control our health and finances, but we’re vulnerable in these areas too.

For some reason, I believe I will always remember Saturday, July 26.  All seemed right that morning. 

I don’t know what your definition of maturity is, but I’m sure you consider yourself mature.

In my current message series called Maturity, we are looking at key verses in Ephesians Chapter Four that helps us define maturity from God’s perspective.

If you missed the first two messages in the series you can listen to them here

http://indianlake.sermon.net/main/main/20145403

Or, listen to them on iTunes.

https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/sermons/id344996718?mt=2

Or, you can get the jest of the series very quickly in these two points:

– Maturity is demonstrated in unity.

until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of God’s Son . . . – Ephesians 4:13 (HCSB)

– Maturity is being like Christ.

growing into a mature man with a stature measured by Christ’s fullness. – Ephesians 4:13 (HCSB)

Well, I have a long ways to go to be like Christ.  Maturity is not a destination, its a constant ideal to live.

I’ll share on this subject again this Sunday (August 3).  It’s going to be a great Sunday, with water baptism and Back-to-School prayer.

It’s not too late to be baptized, as we will have people doing so in both the 9:00 a.m and 10:45 a.m. service.  Let me know if you have any questions about water baptism. To learn more about water baptism now, click here.

This is a picture I post some years ago of my great-grandfather, Pastor James Tracy McKissick baptizing in a river in the early 20th Century.  I never met him, but I’m grateful for the Christian heritage in my ancestory.