Pastoral Theology: The Man of God - Albert N. Martin

VI. Directives for Carrying Out the Task of Evangelism

A. The biblical mandate for the task of evangelism

1. Mt. 28:16-20

a. To whom were the words spoken?

b. The essence of the passage

(1) Context- the Exalted Christ, and the ever present Christ

(2) The assumed activity- Going

(3) The clearly commanded primary activity- Make disciples

(4) The specific attendant activities- Baptizing and teaching(

5) His promised presence in the endeavor

c. Its great importance in the pastoral instruction of our people

(1) Its Christ-centered nature is vital.

(2) Its comprehensiveness is balanced.

(3) Its compelling nature is inescapable.

James I. Packer, Evangelism and the Sovereignty of God, (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2008), p. 74 & 75.

2. Acts 1:8

a. The significance of the setting

b. The essence of the task

c. Its great importance in pastoral teaching

3. Phil. 2:14-16

a. The significance of the setting

b. The essence of the text

Robert Johnstone, Lectures Exegetical and Practical on the Epistle of Paul to the Philippians, (Edinburgh: William Oliphant and Co., 1875), pp. 181-184.

c. The importance of this text from a pastoral perspective

4. The example of the Lord in His compassion for sinners. 1 Jn. 2:6; Mt. 9:36; Lk. 15:1-2

5. The example of the Apostle Paul in his sense of indebtedness. Rom. 1:14; 1 Cor. 9:22-23; Rom. 9:1; 10:1; 1 Cor. 11:1

6. The necessity of hearing the Gospel if men are to be saved. Rom. 10:9ff

7. The necessity of public confession of Christ as a badge of discipleship. Mt. 10:32ff

SUMMARY AND APPLICATION:

From these texts it should be clear then it is God’s purpose that the church should be a community whose life can only be exegeted by its message. It is possible to live blameless, gospel transformed lives before men, but unless those men hear the message which has produced such lives, they never will be saved.

On the other hand, it is God’s purpose that the church should be a community whose witness is validated by its life – a lifestyle that enforces the truth that in its message alone is there life and salvation.

In short, it is only when the church is comprised of lights that shine and mouths that speak, that the Church fulfills it’s God ordained mission.

C. Some major biblical data underscoring our duty to cultivate interchurch communion

We will consider first of all some of the key texts found in the book of Acts.  Whenever we are considering data from the book of Acts, we must always remember the distinction between that which is a record of the things that are “programmatic” and those that are “paradigmatic.”

Then there is a second major block of texts, those that are found in the Epistles of the New Testament. Time will not permit me to read all those that I have listed in your notes, but I list them for your future consideration and reference.

1. In the Book of Acts

Acts 9:26-31; 11:19-26; 15:1-35; 18:22

2. In the Epistles

Rom. 15:25-28; 16:1-4; 1 Cor. 1:1-2; 16:1ff, 19-22
2 Cor. 3:1; 8; 9; (esp. 8:19); 13:13; Gal. 6:10; Eph. 6:21-22; Phil. 4:15-16, 21-22; Col. 1:6-8; 4:7-9, 15-16; 1 Thes. 1:7; 4:9-10; 2 Thes. 1:4; 2 Tim. 4:19-21; Heb. 13:3; 2 Jn. 7-11; 3 Jn. 5-7

John Owen, The Works of John Owen, vol. 16, (London: Banner of Truth Trust, 1968), p. 183.John Owen, The Works of John Owen, vol. 16, (London: Banner of Truth Trust, 1968), p. 196.John Murray, Collected Writings of John Murray, vol. 2, (Edinburgh: Banner of Truth Trust, 1977), p. 335.

D. Some practical perspectives and guidelines with respect to the performance of this duty

1. Some of the ways in which we can nurture and express our oneness with the body of Christ and foster real and productive interchurch communion

a. By our acquisition, assimilation, and communication of information. It is impossible to read the Book of Acts, and the New Testament Epistles, and not perceive this principle emerging times without number.

Eph. 6:21-22Col. 1:3-8

At the conclusion of the main issues to be covered this lecture, I will address the subject of “Interchurch Communication – Practical Counsels for Its Implementation”

b. By the communication of concern and good will among the churches through the leaders

This is equally patent in the New Testament literature.

Phil. 4:21-22

c. By the communion of goods and material necessities. 2 Cor. 8, 9; 1 Jn. 3:16-19; Phil. 4:15

d. By cooperation in Scriptural causes. 2 Cor. 8, 9

e. By the sharing of ministerial gifts. Eph. 4:11; Acts 11:22-26; Rom. 16:1-2

f. By the recognition of the validity of oversight and discipline of other churches. 2 Cor. 3:1; 1 Tim. 1:20

g. By the seeking of counsel and offering of counsel when requested. Acts 15; Philemon

h. By the periodic public recognition of other proven servants of Christ. 2 Cor. 8:18

i. By the public intercession for other churches and servants of Christ. Eph. 6:18-19; Col. 4:12-13

John Owen, The Works of John Owen, vol. 16, (London: Banner of Truth Trust, 1968), pp. 192-193.

2. The extent or degree to which we can nurture and express our oneness with the body of Christ.

a. To the extent that there is no erosion, compromise, or contradiction of our clearly defined doctrinal convictions, publicly defined mission, and present condition as a local church

John Owen, The Works of John Owen, vol. 16, (London: Banner of Truth Trust, 1968), p. 190.

b. In proportion to our unity of faith and life

c. In consideration of our providentially arranged relationships in the body of Christ. Col. 4:12-13

John Owen, The Works of John Owen, vol. 16, (London: Banner of Truth Trust, 1968), p. 185.

1689 Baptist Confession of Faith, Chapter 26 paragraph 14-15

14. As each church, and all the members of it, are bound to pray continually for the good and prosperity of all the churches of Christ, in all places, and upon all occasions to further every one within the bounds of their places and callings, in the exercise of their gifts and graces, so the churches, when planted by the providence of God, so as they may enjoy opportunity and advantage for it, ought to hold communion among themselves, for their peace, increase of love, and mutual edification. (Ephesians 6:18; Psalms 122:6; Romans 16:1, 2; 3 John 8-10)

V. Directives for the Cultivation of Interchurch Communion

Introduction

What I do not mean.
Not addressing the issue of “open or closed” or even “semi-closed or restricted”
practice in connection with the Lord’s supper.

What I do mean.
The fundamental issue I will seek to address is that which relates to how the specific
local church in which you are an overseer should relate to other gospel churches
that comprise the church universal.

The areas of frustration in seeking to address this matter in a biblical and realistic
way

A. The foundational Biblical presuppositions of our study

B. Some important introductory qualifications in handling the relevant materials of the New Testament 

1. We must have a conviction concerning the existence of the one body of Christ,
the Church UniversalEph. 1:22-23; 5:22-33Col. 1:18-19Eph. 4:41 Cor. 12:13Heb. 12:23Jn. 17:20-21Acts 9:31John Murray, The Collected Writings of John Murray, vol. 2,
(Edinburgh: Banner of Truth Trust, 1977), pp. 332-333.John Murray, The Collected Writings of John Murray, vol. 2,
(Edinburgh: Banner of Truth Trust, 1977), pp. 334-335.John Owen, The Works of John Owen, vol. 16, (London: Banner
of Truth Trust, 1968), p. 192.2.  We must have a conviction concerning the independence and interdependence
of each local expression of the body of Christ.1 Cor. 12:27
Mt. 18:15-20
Acts 9:31; 16:4-5
Rom. 16:4,16
1 Cor. 7:17; 11:16; 14:33b
Rev. 1:41. The apostles had a unique authority and function in nurturing interchurch
communion in their day.Acts 15:2, 4, 6, 22-231 Tim. 1:3 Titus 1:51 Cor. 7:172 Cor. 8-92 Cor. 11:281 Cor. 1:10Eph. 2:20John Owen, The Works of John Owen, vol. 16, (Edinburgh:
Banner of Truth Trust, 1968), pp. 184-185..
2. Nearly 2000 years of church history have greatly complicated the problems
connected with nurturing interchurch communion in our day.1 Cor. 1:11-13Rom. 14:1-15:81 Cor. 8-10Gal. 1:8-93 Jn. 9-103. The vast expansion of the church numerically, geographically and culturally
has complicated the task of nurturing interchurch communion in our day.
4. The advances in technology have greatly increased our available tools for
nurturing and hindering interchurch communion in our day.

The Priority of Decency, Order and Visible Integrity in the outward Affairs of the Church

Practical Directives for Securing the Efficient Functioning of a Biblical Eldership