Somewhat controversially I have said that leadership is not the deal-breaker for Jesus mission in Australia. That status goes to discipleship that can multiply. In my book “The Genius in the Kingdom: How Discipleship Impacts Church Planting” I write:
“At the Exponential Conference, in October 2023, I attended a workshop by Alan Hirsch speaking on the matter of leadership arising in the Ephesian letter and I recollect that he said of Ephesians that this is Paul’s best theology of the Church. Over the years I have reflected on the leadership paradigm recorded in chapter four of the letter and remembered how the Acts 13:1–3 passage specifically mentions this type of leadership that was vitally involved in the initiative to announce the Gospel widely and establish groups of people in every City who lived their lives in allegiance to Christ.
Years later, with considerable missionary experience, it was Paul who enunciated a leadership paradigm that would be involved in the founding of new churches by summarising it as follows “the household of God built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Himself being the cornerstone” (Eph2:20 ESV). As you read Acts this is exactly how Church planting was initiated and sustained. So, I want to comment on why I think this Ephesian passage is important to Church planting in Australia going forward.”
The letter of Ephesians is about to be (in my opinion) the most studied of Paul’s letters. My book is available on paperback and Kindle from Amazon.
Peace
Colin
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