What is needed now are servant leaders, Monday Christians, in every area of leadership in society.
Darrow Miller · Occupy Till I Come
Darrow Miller, from “Discipling the Nations Through Culture W/ Darrow Miller” (Commonwealth Policy Center)
Equipping the Saints
In Ephesians 4:11–13 the apostle Paul explains the need for equipping saints: Christ “gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.”Occupy Till I Come
The pastor, educator, and apologist Dr. George Grant explains in Changing of the Guard: The Church is to train God’s people for the work of ministry. If our nation is to have thoroughly equipped pastors, teachers, craftsmen, artists, musicians, philosophers, doctors, laborers, lawyers, scientists, and merchants, then the Church must train them for the ministry of acculturation. And if our nation is to have thoroughly equipped magistrates, then the Church must train them for the ministry of political action. Grant isn’t suggesting that the church should be a skills training center. He’s advocating for the reinstatement of the organized church’s role in equipping the next generation with principles and a vision for their vocational callings, for being godly citizens, and for becoming contributors to kingdom advancement through their everyday lives. In essence, he’s recommissioning the church to raise up those who would be respected at the city gates—domain transformers who bring something of Heaven to Earth in their spheres of influence.Occupy Till I Come
The Church: Gathered and Scattered
The church is a community of believers that operates in two complementary movements: Gathered (Sunday): The church gathers for corporate worship, teaching, and equipping. Members receive spiritual nourishment and preparation for their weekly work as the Monday church. Scattered (Monday–Saturday): The church scatters throughout the week, deployed across the city to minister to people and contribute to discipling the nation at the level of culture.Occupy Till I Come
Pastoral Leadership
To reform society and the nation, the church needs bold pastoral leadership to proclaim the vision of the Great Commission, training believers to engage as disciples at the city’s gates. Leaders must cultivate a culture within the congregation that empowers members to represent Christ in both the marketplace and in civic spaces.Occupy Till I Come
Leadership Development
Leadership Development: We must raise leaders who can influence others using the discipleship method Jesus employed with the Twelve. We must walk alongside young leaders to help them grow in their relationship with Christ, their understanding of worldview, the application of biblical principles to their vocation, and their ability to influence others. This is one of the primary purposes of this book.Occupy Till I Come
From the study guide
Chapter 27 · Beyond the Building
The early church’s transformational power came not from large buildings or centralized institutions but from organic house church networks that functioned as one united church in the city, creating institutions and movements where biblical doctrines became enfleshed through believers, ultimately transforming entire civilizations through kingdom collaboration and organic transformation.
Acts 2:46–47—The early church attended the temple together and broke bread in homes, having favor with all people while the Lord added to their number daily. Reflection: What made the early church so attractive to the surrounding community that they had “favor with all the people”? How can your church develop this same kind of positive community impact through both gathered worship and scattered house-to-house ministry?
Chapter 29 · Bringing Heaven to Earth
Ephesians 4:11–16—The church’s role in equipping saints for ministry. Reflection: How has your church equipped you for ministry in your domain? What additional equipping do you need to become more effective in your sphere of influence?