There should be; based on comments on my last post a sense of us being new creatures in Christ. In order to share the hope within us a testimony should be something we have "in and out of season." ( 2 Tim. 4:2). At least as important as how we first came to faith is a continuing testimony of our sanctification; and in particular how He has been faithful to us; often through answered prayer and circumstances of trials meant for our good. Let the reader look up the verses on God's chastisement for those He loves. We should if growing in God a healthy respect for that and should be able to testify how we have learned appreciation for such measures because it demonstrates His lovingkindness. (I am still working on finding it all joy to face various trials as James 1:2 exhorts).
Such "mundane" things related to family and God working things through those relationships is just as important as we find on a foreign mission field as it is part of our mission field. The same can be said; of course of our vocation and even recreation (hopefully where we have opportunities to share with those we hang out with and have similar interests). It is always facinating to me to see how God uses different individuals with different giftings to fulfill His purposes. There tends to be an unhealthy skew towards those with say a teaching gift if and when those with wisdom or discernment should be allowed to contribute helpful things to build up the church. For instance; a Pastor IF they are teaching truth will realize when someone is coming into the camp with doctrine contrary to scripture; but a discerning person can sense evil very fast and can preempt certain damage being done. From a practical viewpoint Pastors need to delegate responsibility much as Moses did after Jethro's good advice.
In short doctrinal truth needs to accompany the Spirit; lest we be as the Ephesians and lose our first love or preach another gospel to our ruin.
There should be; based on comments on my last post a sense of us being new creatures in Christ. In order to share the hope within us a testimony should be something we have "in and out of season." ( 2 Tim. 4:2). At least as important as how we first came to faith is a continuing testimony of our sanctification; and in particular how He has been faithful to us; often through answered prayer and circumstances of trials meant for our good. Let the reader look up the verses on God's chastisement for those He loves. We should if growing in God a healthy respect for that and should be able to testify how we have learned appreciation for such measures because it demonstrates His lovingkindness. (I am still working on finding it all joy to face various trials as James 1:2 exhorts).
Such "mundane" things related to family and God working things through those relationships is just as important as we find on a foreign mission field as it is part of our mission field. The same can be said; of course of our vocation and even recreation (hopefully where we have opportunities to share with those we hang out with and have similar interests). It is always facinating to me to see how God uses different individuals with different giftings to fulfill His purposes. There tends to be an unhealthy skew towards those with say a teaching gift if and when those with wisdom or discernment should be allowed to contribute helpful things to build up the church. For instance; a Pastor IF they are teaching truth will realize when someone is coming into the camp with doctrine contrary to scripture; but a discerning person can sense evil very fast and can preempt certain damage being done. From a practical viewpoint Pastors need to delegate responsibility much as Moses did after Jethro's good advice.
In short doctrinal truth needs to accompany the Spirit; lest we be as the Ephesians and lose our first love or preach another gospel to our ruin.
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