21 Sep 2006
Apostolic Work Outline
1. In Church Planting
A. Determine where
B. Gather a team
C. Evangelize
D. Gather converts
E. Disciple
F. Establish foundational truths and vision
G. Raise up and appoint elders
H. Leave
I. Release
J. Provide ongoing support and input as needed (influential not positional)
K. Positional authority is accepted in points A through I
2. In Existing Churches
A. Three basic types
1. Crisis intervention such as
a. Leadership failure, moral or otherwise
b. Leadership transitions
c. Turmoil/conflict in leadership team
d. Gross doctrinal error, etc.
2. Generations transitions — trying to move an existing congregation from yesterday’s
vision into today’s
3. Ongoing impartation into local congregations and leaders by
a. Apostolic teaching
b. Vision
c. Perspective
d. Administration
B. Basic rules regarding this type of apostolic work
1. Authority here is influential rather than positional
2. Local leadership represents the government of God in that church to which the apostolic men and team submit.
3. The apostle appeals to the leadership and congregation through the eldership’ permission and invitation.
4. Relationship is the doorway through which the apostolic ( or any other ministries)
impartation is received.
3. Apostolic Work “At Large” — Apostolic Administration
A. Will have concern for, and involvement with more than one church at a time.
B. Will have concern for and involvement in training future leaders
C. Will be involved in ongoing training for current leaders.
D. Occupied with general concern (pastoral) for leaders.
1. in transition
2. in recovery
3. in development
4. in the midst of
a. intensive labor
b. assignment
c. in development
d. in physical sickness, etc.
E. General Christian/pastoral concern for welfare of saints individually and collectively.
F. Networking of churches and leaders in bonds of the Spirit
1. conferences
2. seminars
3. publications
4. prayer gatherings
5. strategy sessions
6. friendships, etc.
7. ongoing training
G. Involvement in the spread and application of the gospel to ends of the earth
H. Cross cultural
4. Marks of Right and Wrong Apostolic Administration
Wrong Right
1. Aborts babies 1. Apostles raise apostles
Q. How many other apostles are working with him and being trained by him?
2. One man show 2. Apostolic companies/teams
Q. Where is his team?
3. One who has an organization to join 3. Linking is relational, heart to heart. Not an organization but an organism, although organisms have divine organization
Q. Once you are in the Body of Christ, what else is there to join other than a local church?
4. One who creates codependent relationships. 4. One who eventually expects you to stand on your own. His goal is your full stature/maturity.
Q. Is he enabling you to stand on your own or is he trying to make you dependent on Him?
5. One who continues to exercise positional 5. One who defers to your authority
authority instead of influential authority and accepts his role as counselor.
Q. Does a father always want to keep his children at home?
6. Is mono-cultural 6. Is cross-cultural, an ends-of-the-earth man
Q. Does he want a Colonialist church or an Indigenous church?
7. One who says you have to give systematically 7. One who is interested in giving, not taking from you, and is living an Apostolic life-sty;e
Q. Does he pressure you overtly or subtly for money?
8. One who preaches false doctrines and motives. 8. One who labors to establish true doctrine.
Q. Does he labor to rightly divide the Word of Truth?
9. Lack of character 9. Character matches gift
Q. Is he a man of honor and integrity?
10. A TV type apostle. 10.One you have a personal relationship with
Q. Is he your friend?
Now add to this list your own addition or marks of good and bad Apostolic Administration. This outline is for the purpose of stimulating discussion on the Apostolic work. In no way is it complete of infallible. It is simply an attempt to stir discussion on a very relevant issue.
General Comments
• Apostles are a dime a dozen
• Do you want on apostle consulting 120 churches or 12 apostles consulting 10 churches each?
• An apostle’s sphere is increased as the faith of the people increases and to the degree it increases.
• Apostles can be elders (pastors), too… Apostles do pastor churches, especially in the formative seasons of a congregation. And when churches have an apostolic call, such as an energy center.
• All leadership is plural
Eldership = pastoral companies
Apostolic teams = Apostolic companies
Prophets = School of the prophets (Agubus/Silas)
Pastors = Pastoral teams/communities
Teachers = Seminaries, Bible colleges (Teacher Groups)
• Apostolic teams exist to support, establish and encourage pastoral communities
• Apostle/Prophet foundational ministries work closely together.
• Pastors beget pastors and impart pastoral element into church. Likewise:
Teacher beget teachers and impart teaching element into church.
Evangelists beget evangelists and impart evangelistic element into church.
Prophets beget prophets and impart prophetic element into church.
Apostles beget apostles and impart apostolic element to church.
• All Ascension gift ministries need Apostolic perspective, which means EVEN IF THEIR FUNCTION IS LOCAL, THEY MUST LEAD LOCALLY WITH WISDOM AND VISION that is extra-local in perspective… This is a mark of ascension gift person.
• All Ascension gift ministries need each others perspectives.
ie. Apostles need prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers perspectives… applies to each one. They need to understand how each one sees and fits in.
I. The Main Problem of Apostles!
A. They don’t know what they are.
What is their distinctive difference that is needed?
B. They don’t now what they are supposed to do!
What is their role, job, and job description?
C. They don’t know the guide lines for how to do it!
Parameters, ethics, strategy
II. Apostles are Administrators of the Kingdom
A. In order to administrate
1. Think structure
2. Think strategy
3. Think nuts and bolts
4. Think from the perspective of the whole
B. David — Prophet/King Solomon — Administrator/King
1. David’s assets were worship, seeing government. God wanted His nation ruled prophets (Samuel). David saw the Temple, gathered the resources, and turned the nation’s heart toward God’s house.
2. Solomon built it! Administrator of David’s vision and wealth!
3. Solomon’s main interest was wisdom ( he should have re-prioritized)
4. Notice that the prophet came before the apostle. It is always that way. Without the prophets, apostles have nothing to administrate.
III. What are we administrating?
A. People whose hearts have been turned toward God become the material used to build (David’s Temple) — The Church.
B. We are concerned primarily with Church, Bride, Body, Garden, Temple, Royal Nation, Holy Priesthood, Building. (familiar Apostle Paul and Peter stuff)
Question:
Do you want the administrator in charge all the time? NO. He will kill the Spirit. Architects are needed for specific purposes and times only!
IV. The uniqueness of the apostle is he is gifted to see how to build it — and build it to look like David’s picture.
Now you see the Prophetic/Apostolic Foundation…
A. Apostles are only one part
B. All parts are needed
C. Not one is more important than the other
D. Main leadership (authority) is not based on your gift/call — but on God’s placement and individual character and maturity!
Authority — is it positional/influential?
Apostles — are they owners or consultants?
Steve Youngblood
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