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Apostolic Leadership and Every Nation Seminary Development

May 30, 2024

Lecture Notes: Apostolic Leadership and Every Nation Seminary Development

Overview of Every Nation Seminary's Vision

  • 2017 Meeting in Manila: Leaders and teachers from around the world gathered
    • Purpose: To work on integrative courses and discuss theological education and leadership development
    • Key Focus: Creating an effective learning environment for Every Nation Seminary
  • Four Desired Categories for Learning Environment:
    1. Relational: Emphasis on relationship-building
    2. Biblical: Deeply rooted in scripture
    3. Apostolic: Cultivating an apostolic culture in every course and event
    4. Global: Cultivating a global cohort with leaders from diverse backgrounds

Core Ministry Skills Development

  • Four Key Ministry Skills: What students should improve upon during their time at Every Nation Seminary
    1. Discipleship Skills: Becoming better disciples and disciple-makers
    2. Leadership Skills: Essential leadership development to complement theological education
    3. Preaching Skills: Enhancing entire preaching process from study to delivery
    4. Missionary Skills: Developing abilities to exegete culture, contextualize, and preach cross-culturally

Introduction to Apostolic Leadership Course

  • Relabeling the Course: From 'Servant Leadership' to 'Apostolic Leadership'
    • Shift initiated by younger generation of leaders
    • Servant Leadership: Important but didn't fully capture the course's essence
    • Apostolic Leadership: More accurately represented the intended goals
  • Misconceptions About Apostolic Leadership: Addressing and clarifying what it means

Ephesians 4 Context

  • Verses 11-13: Roles of apostles, prophets, evangelists, shepherds, and teachers
    • Purpose: Equip the saints for ministry
    • Goals: Achieve unity, faith, and maturity in Christ
  • Three Outcomes:
    1. Ministry Multiplication: Equipping others for ministry
    2. Unity of Faith: Achieving doctrinal and theological unity
    3. Maturity in Christ: Spiritual growth and full realization in Christ's stature

Characteristics of Apostolic Leadership

  1. Spiritual Leadership (Acts 6)
  • Focus on prayer and ministry of the word
    • Delegating tasks like feeding widows while prioritizing spiritual duties
  1. Missional Leadership (Acts 13)
  • Role in expanding mission and growing the church
    • Ensuring new territories and cultures are evangelized
  1. Theological Leadership (Acts 15)
  • Providing doctrinal clarity and engaging in theological debates
    • Ensuring clear understanding of salvation and ethical standards
  1. Relational Leadership (Acts 20)
  • Building deep, emotional relationships within leadership
    • Balancing mission and doctrinal clarity with strong relational connections

Key Models of Apostolic Leadership

  • Ultimate Model: Jesus
    • Exemplifies spiritual, missional, theological, and relational leadership
    • Instruction from Hebrews 3:1-2 to consider Jesus and His faithfulness
  • Paul's Example: Relational ties demonstrated through affectionate and emotional interactions with leaders

Conclusion

  • Faithfulness: Core of apostolic leadership is being faithful to God who appointed the leaders
  • Holistic Approach: Embracing spiritual, missional, theological, and relational aspects to achieve effective apostolic leadership
  • Call to Action: Encouragement to integrate these principles in personal and ministry contexts

Full transcript