Passion about re positioning for maximum impact : Terry Virgo| THE HUB 2014

This message was preached by Terry Virgo  at THE HUB , the annual conference of Regions Beyond, an apostolic sphere that is a part of Newfrontiers, an international family of churches joined in apostolic partnership.

Here is the video link.

We are living with passion about re positioning for maximum impact. I think of the valley of dry bones that was re positioned for maximum impact.

1Sam18:5 -16, 19:1, 20:1-2, 22:1-2, I Cro 12:22

God is looking for men and women whom he can breathe fresh promises over. You have promises and suddenly you hit problems. That’s always God’s way.

How God does choose a man? He did not start with Jacob who had 12 sons but with Abraham who had none. Abraham’s wife was barren. God works with an impossible situation. He starts with a people who seem insignificant (David was the youngest) . 

Paul writes to the church in Corinth when they were being ensnared with all kinds of things that are not the gospel, all kinds of worldly wisdom, arrogance, pride etc. Paul reminds them “I will destroy he wisdom of the wise.  God will destroy the culture that does not need God.

God loves his creation but he has seen it being destroyed by wisdom that does not come from God. Through the gospel we will be humbled and bring them to the ground. God chooses the foolish things of this world.

Gideon was the least. God called him and the Holy Spirit comes upon him. God always does something contrary to human wisdom. Paul spoke to the Galatians to come back to the truth.

So David –  God came upon him. Today we have a fresh outpouring of the Holy Spirit like we have not see. David started with a harp and a sling but he finished with a great army and a temple. God takes faithfulness and blesses it.

David was a loyal captain in Saul’s army . He wins great battles……….. Saul is moved to jealousy and then there is unfair opposition.Saul started well but he did not come through. 

As a leader pressures come, we look for ministry but God looks for character. We look for success God looks for faithfulness. In ministry is often shocking where opposition come s from.  For David it comes from within Israel itself. People will challenge your motivation. The same happened with Nehemiah- he wanted to build the city but people questioned his motive.

A warning to us – that we don’t get challenged by the next anointing that God raises up. We need to guard our hearts. Be careful when fresh leaders are coming through. Never speak against other churches, groups that God is blessing.

For David it is a pruning thing – we go through pressures where you feel restricted and limited in a church planting situation. We are often in a “basement moment” where foundations are being built. There is joy in the basement. Paul writes to the Philippians from prison and it’s the most joyous letter. 

You can be in times of fruitfulness and success then again be cut back. It’s a pruning happening. How we handle ourselves during this time is important. You feel cut back but because you came through, you don’t know what God will do at the end of that. Paul was in prison for 2 years.

Rose bushes are pruned down to a stump before spring. Even old bushes are pruned, It’s painful and tough. “One of the worst things that can happen to a young man is early advance” M. L . Jones.  95% of church plants fail because of wrong methodology that depends on worldly wisdom. God is not fascinated with it, in fact he is at war with worldly wisdom.

God is raising up an army whose values system is very different. Jesus did not come to Rome or Greece but to Nazareth!! HE came to nothingness. HE grew up as a tender shoot; he learned obedience to the point of death. The gospel is foolishness to the wise. He is looking for us to trust Him and demonstrated trust in Him. 

God is looking for people who will not retaliate. God wants a heart that is pure – that will not hit back. David’s men watched how he lived. That is how you build your core team. You build your core around steadfastness and faithfulness and consistency. 

Are we willing to please God? We should not listen to close friend or even our spouses who encourage you to fight back. Wait for God to do it for you. David learned to wait for God.

It’s positive character that will under gird the army of God.  It’s internal skill and heart issues that matter. David did not give into self pity but battled it. We have to learn not to yield. God is interested in building character and gifts will be added to it. Don’t chase it.

Another temptation: to give up and go back to secular employment, leave the church and join another church because you are bitter. David knew what it was to stand.

What was the fruit he received?

1Sam18 Jonathan loved him and made a covenant with him. HE found a brother that really loved him. This how we build. It’s a tragedy when we see loneliness, hire & fire in the church. God wants hearts joined – inter woven in love and caring for one another.

Hire and fire is foreign to the house of God. Jesus said “All that you gave me, I have not lost one of them” , except Judas. WE are not merely trying to be successful; we are building a different value system.

Sometimes a big work can be very fragmented. 1Cor12:8 Before there was a public acknowledging of David there were men who felt drawn to him. WE can grow in peace and in a peaceful pace because “all that the father has given me will come to me”. These people came to David. They are mighty men now, not the depressed etc that had come initially. They were drawn to him. They gave themselves to David. Cone could say this is dangerous – like a cult. No this wa the work of the Holy Spirit. These were not “yes men” but “mighty men

 In spite of being strong and gifted they gave themselves to David

This will happen with leaders in your church when they come to you and give themselves first to God and to you. They were willing, gifted and devoted. They did it with an undivided heart. WE need to build teams that are of one heart. WE need a team that does not disagree with you in the corridors. Good team has vulnerability where you can say “ I need help”. Good teams know how to disagree in the room face to face.

Sometimes teams don’t work because the team leader is too gifted and the others are clones .The team leaders should give great freedom to the team members. Team members should be able to disagree- not clones, you should be able to ask questions, talk about it etc. 

Sometimes a leader has to make a call. We should do everything in prayer. So there is harmony that is not spooky. The unbelievers see a community of love that is foreign to the world. The army of God is going through all kinds of discipline. So David not only replaced Saul but raised up an army established a kingdom, built a temple.

So wait fro God’s timing, know he is working for out good. Be ambitious to see others succeed. Learn to handle people who hurt us. The basement affects the size of the house.

Let's Go! : Franco Lonappan | THE HUB 2014

This message was preached by Franco Lonappan at THE HUB , the annual conference of Regions Beyond, an apostolic sphere that is a part of Newfrontiers, an international family of churches joined in apostolic partnership.

Here is the video link.

Let’s Go!  Franco Lonappan . THE HUB 2014 Session 1

2 Kings 6:1-7

This scenario is similar to church life. They felt the place was too small. Elisha’s fame was increasing and they were growing. Elisha did not think about planting out but the people came to him and told him it was time to take new ground and take some initiatives.

Jesus said “I will build my church” anything healthy will grow. Anything healthy will need more space. 

Is 54 Introduces the church? “Sing O barren woman”.

Your descendants will dispossess the nations. We are here to go to the ends of the earth.

1) Let’s go – the sons of the prophet said “Let’s go” Let’s plant out. Elisha said “Go” Jesus said “Go and make disciples of all nations”

God wants to commission us to go and reach new communities. Many will be re commissioned.

God’s first words to Abraham was “go” to a new country (Gen12)

Acts 7: Stephen starts the story of the Bible with “go”

Our Story starts with “go and make disciples…”

Mk37-38 Jesus said “Let’s go” to the other side because he wanted to preach. That is why he had come.

Mk.4:35 Jesus goes to the other side. There is one demon possessed man- through him the region is saved.

2001 – Stoneleigh the theme was “let’s go!”

2 Cor. 10:14 they wanted to go to the regions beyond.

We need to have a lets go attitude. Jonathan and his armour bearer- because they went they had great victory. Sometimes we can be hesitant to take new ground. God is coming with a spirit of encouragement. There are new things that God has assigned for you. There is no dead end in God. God is gracious and kind.

God is looking for individuals who will say “let’s go” and take initiative.

2. God is with us – As we take steps of faith and take initiative God will go with us. The prayer of Moses . God says “My presence will go with you” Matt28:20 surely I will be with you always” Emmanuel – God with us. God’s authority and power will be with us. God is going before us, with us, behind us as we take steps of faith.

Ray’s prophesy of the locomotive train that pushes against obstacles put on the track encourages us to know that we will push through difficulties and obstacles because God is with us. Apart from Him we can do nothing.

3. There will be disappointments .When you decide to take new ground you will face opposition. But these are opportunities to see God do the miraculous. Mission creates an atmosphere and opportunities for the miraculous.

Rom4:17 God who calls things that are not, as though they are.

In the NT we live in the resurrection power of God. It’s working in us. If you are in a place of disappointment its time to call things that are not as though they are.

As we step out we will experience God working through us.

V7. “Lift it out”. There are acts of faith that are needed where we have to reach and take it. We need to take it up and not miss opportunities. You know what God is showing you. If you can’t see it, ask God to show you – like the axe head to float.

Steve Oliver spoke some things to the churches in India. I feel for us too. There are some things we have to lay down in order to take up some things. For some of us our gifting has gone blunt- we need to take it up again.

God has brought you here for a purpose to divinely position you for maximum impact.

Regions Beyond leaders gathering | Session 4 | Mark Jones

This message was preached by Mark Jones who is a part of Regions Beyond  which is  led by Steve Oliver. Regions Beyond is an apostolic sphere within Newfrontiers Intl. 

Mark shares on what  does it mean to be an Apostolic people, how do we build apostolic churches whose foundation is on Jesus and not about Jesus. Great foundational stuff you do't want to miss reading about and listening to. Get your church folk to listen to this as well. Please share this freely. This is Newfrontiers DNA.

You can hear the audio by clicking here.

Acts 2 is essential to understand being an apostolic people group

Acts 2:1- 13.

Jerusalem must have been an incredible site, a very varied people group- every nation under heaven was in Jerusalem. They wanted to celebrate the giving of the law and they came some distance for this purpose. But what happened to them next changed their whole world-view. They encountered the presence of God and had an entire world-view change.

Peter stood up explaining what was happening glorifying Jesus, representing Christ whom they crucified- that has made Him both Christ and Lord. An amazing conviction fell on all of them- this was a brand new community not an appendage to what existed already- not a new Jewish sect. They were a brand new community and had new power and new purpose- to establish God’s mandate in every nation and every people group. They became an apostolic people.

Jesus in John 20 appeared before the disciples- ‘as the Father has sent me, so I send you’- in like purpose with the same outcomes. This new community devoted themselves to the apostles teaching. They were given new principles and values to live by. The power of God has affected them and what they were going to do? They were given teaching and understanding about what they are to do- this new people of God made up of Jews and gentiles, free and slave, rich and poor- a temple not made of bricks and water but of living stones; a dwelling place of God in the spirit- no longer subject to the law but free to call Him ‘Abba! Father’.

Apostolic doctrine gave them identity- establishing foundations they never had before. And thus the foundations of the early church were laid and I believe that every church must built on those foundations. The vision of local church should not be defined by an enthusiastic leader’s particular favourite subjects or cultural relevance, historic preferences or sentiment or latest techniques or even the desire of the masses. They must be defined by this apostolic call that has Christ Jesus at its foundation if we want to have a people group who will go to the ends of the earth.

Any foundation will control the quality and shape and structure of what is built upon it. Whatever you put in the ground is going to determine what is built upon it. If the foundation is not Christ, what we build will be inferior and will not bring true transformation on the earth. If church growth is done by referring to Jesus instead of building on the foundation of Jesus- we end up copying what God wants for us instead of building what God wants for us. The church is called to be an original. Paul makes this clear in Romans 1:4-6- Jesus “was declared to be the Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness by his resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord, through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith for the sake of his name among all the nations, including you who are called to belong to Jesus Christ”. We have to catch the heart of God. Paul understood that his apostleship is to bring the obedience of faith among all the nations including those who are now being called.

We need to be clear that we need to build from the heart of God. It’s easy to come to God with our plans and try to find a reference in God’s word to gain credibility, but we need to build on a foundation of Jesus Christ. Revelation has to always precede our methodology. We can’t start with our methodology hoping to find something to match it. An apostolic people always live in the revelation of God to produce a transformational methodology. If our starting point is God’s view, then the end result will be biblical transformation.

Q. So what is God’s view? What is His purpose?

Ephesians 1:9-10: “making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth together under one head, even Christ.”

Our world is far too parochial but God’s goal has always been to bring everything in heaven and on earth under the rule Christ Jesus. In Ephesians 2 it talks about how we are no longer strangers and aliens and we now become one new man in Christ. That’s God’s goal- where there is no segregation and separation between who we are, what we are and where we come from.

An apostolic people are concerened about how to make Jesus known and how to bring everything under His authority and His rule. It’s always been God’s intention from the beginning that this would happen.

In Genesis when God breathed purpose into Adam- to go forth and multiply, to fill the earth and subdue it. He was talking about developing God centered families, governments, nations, that establishes a culture that glorifies Jesus- A world where the glory of God would fill the earth like the waters cover the sea. It’s God’s goal that that should happen.

As we move through Genesis we come to the passage about Babel- where they turned around the call of God to fill the earth. So often, we get into that consolidation point. But God scattered them- the purposes of God would be fulfilled.

In Genesis 12, the promise of God comes again to Abraham. Paul picks it up in Galatians- Abraham’s seed was Christ. It was in Jesus that His promise was fulfilled. Nothing invalidates God’s promise that every nation under heaven shall be blessed. Every family on the earth shall be blessed through Christ Jesus.

In psalm 2- He who sits in the heavens laughs…“As for me, I have set my King on Zion, my holy hill.” God says, possess what I’ve called you to possess for he has set His king on His holy mountain. And it goes on to say, “Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage, and the ends of the earth your possession”

We can become very pastoral. But God says, it’s too small a thing. The vision I’ve given you to go to the needs of the earth, so that my salvation goes to the ends of the earth.

It’s not an either or- God wants us to lift up our gaze. Do you see the nations? Our energy goes out but the impartation comes in. the transformation happens within us in the local churches as well.

God’s purpose is an apostolic people group who establish to genuinely reach out to the ends of the earth.

Sometimes, the gospel becomes too therapeutic- the gospel of salvation instead of the gospel of Jesus Christ.  It’s first about God, before our sin i.e when peter encountered Jesus.

This gospel is about Jesus Christ and His authority to the ends of the earth. We are saved by grace, but our methodology doesn't reflect that sometimes. The answer to not becoming institutional is that we are diverse! It’s fantastic. Sometimes we can put up barriers because we don’t understand how grace works out. An apostolic people group don’t deny access to the poor!

We will never reach the nations if we don’t understand the grace of God. Unless we are secure in it, we want others to become like us and that’s just another legal system. They are comfortable and understand the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit came to empower God’s people to reach the ends of the earth, so that we are prepared to engage with people that He wants to reach.

He loves to take what belongs to Him and make known to us.   We are an apostolic group. We are  not here just  to train discipleship groups to populate our children’s groups. We are to equip them to reach the ends of the earth!

Q. Are we training and equipping to send or simply training and equipping to maintain?

Our training and discipleship changes because we are an apostolic people. When we do this, it changes our worship- worship that’s full of the presence of God-where Jesus reaches the ends of the earth. Psalm 95- “Oh come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the Lord, our Maker!”

·        Q. How are we raising our children?

Genesis 18: 19 says “ For I have chosen him, that he may command his children and his household after him to keep the way of the Lord by doing righteousness and justice, so that the Lord may bring to Abraham what he has promised him.”

My greatest regret is that we did not prepare our children better to do what God has called us to do. We must do that. Teach them to be pioneers. How well do we prepare them to do that?

·        Q. How do we manage our finances?

We have a new view of finance. An apostolic people don’t hold on to their finances for a rainy day. They give it away. In 2 Corinthians, the Macedonians begged Paul to give away their money because of their relationship with the Lord and to the apostle. A people group who live like this, put God at the center of things.

·        It effects how we develop teams. We need to have diverse leadership teams so that our conversations are diverse, our prayers are diverse. Acts 6- ‘choose from among you’- there must have been some diversity in that.

·        Joining in apostolic partnership- an apostolic people will look out for one another- genuinely interested in what’s going on in other churches. Build partnerships to fulfill the purpose that God’s called us to. The whole church must be caught up!

·        Works among the poor- an apostolic people know how to do psalm 113- (He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap, to make them sit with princes, with the princes of his people) lift up those who cannot afford to get involved. Church is not a middle class programme- it’s the purpose of God. The poor get lifted by an apostolic people, because it matters.

We are an apostolic people group because we are drawn into the ministry of Jesus Christ and into His purposes. 

Regions Beyond Leaders gathering |Session 2| Ray Lowe

This message was preached by Ray Lowe who is a part of Regions Beyond an apostolic sphere within Newfrontiers Intl. 

Ray shares on what the the major influences that have shaped us as Newfrontiers. What is our history and where are we going from here.

You can hear the audio by clicking here.

Ray Lowe - Where we've come from .

Five years ago I helped plant a church on the Isle of White. But prior to that, 5 years before I had preached at a conference of 5 churches there. The next day we had a Q&A and they asked why the charismatic churches of the 1960s have diminished but Newfrontiers  has continued to grow.

There are 3 reasons I have put down. 1. The Bible is still the ultimate authority.2 We have never given up on church as the vehicle for change and 3. Terry has always looked out for the increase and multiplication of leaders.

Every movement has its DNA and so do we.

There are 8 influences in our DNA

1 Scripture –

we have never departed from this and this is the only way (Acts 11:19) to establish NT churches. Barnabas discovered that  Jews and gentiles could worship together without having to be circumcised. Paul has had a decade of frustration because he longed for “one new man” but it’s only with Barnabas he saw that it was possible.

Having a year of teaching, what did he teach? On, One New Man in Christ. The grace that is evident in Anticoh and that what he models after.

The Dynamic and power of God. When Paul goes to Ephesus and prays for the Holy Spirit. This was another model. It does not take much for heresy to creep in depart from scripture. In the early church the Gnostic heretics were very charismatic and dynamic. Ignatius’ letter towards the close of the first century syas there is no apostle, no prophets and gifts.

Then we have the century’s of persecution till the 4^th century. Constantine adopts Christianity and owe it become s the official religion of the Empire and Christianity gets watered down and the leading Church fathers become leading politicians and heresy gets into the church.

So for us Scripture is our first protocol.

2. Reformers  

In 1516 Erasmus translated the bible into Greek and he wrote a commentary on how scripture has been corrupted to give in and how doctrine has been corrupted. He was not a Reformer but he put tools into the hands of the reformers to study for them. So Luther, Zwingli etc were the Reformers. The issue was can you sell indulgences. Zwingli was challenging the doctrine of the church in Switzerland and then in 1521 in Germany the taught of the Word of God was coming through and Jesus ( and not all the saints etc ) became the object of worship once again.

INFLUENCE  THREE   -   The Anabaptists’ understanding of a gathered community

Ulrich Zwingli became the leading minister of the church in Zurich and was commissioned by the state authorities to turn the church to evangelicalism. .  A disputation took place, the outcome was inevitable and those disagreeing with Zwingli were ordered to present their children for baptism by sprinkling.  Those believing in a “Gathered Church” split and formed independent churches and began to baptise one another by immersion (hence name “again baptisers”).  For this, they were imprisoned and many executed by drowning.  This was a blight on Zwingli and the Zurich authorities.  Anabaptist’s notion of church as a community of believers was a great influence on later denominations, especially the Baptists in 17^th century.

Despite constant persecution by both the Zwinglians, Lutherans and Roman Catholics, they appointed travelling ministries to evangelise and start new congregations.  It is reckoned some 5000 were martyred for their faith.

INFLUENCE  FIVE     -   18^th century missionary movement

Surprising as it is, English speaking Evangelicals did not take seriously the “Great Commission to go into the world and preach the gospel” until the end of the 18^th century.  William Carey, a young Baptist pastor much influenced by the Moravian leader Count Zinzendorf, raised the issue among the Northamptonshire Baptist Association.  At first he was almost ridiculed, the famous response “Young man, if God wants to save the Pagans, He will do it without your help and mine.”  Carey left for India and landed in Calcutta November 1793.  Hostile authorities sought to forbid his labours but amidst personal hardship and off time depression, he pressed on until by the end of his life in 1834 he paved the way for the establishment of many missionary societies.

Carey’s influence has often gone unrecognised as he was more than a preacher.

Areas of influence

Education in both spiritual and secular fields - appointed by Governor of India  to train civil servants and future leaders of India.

Reformer – Many Indian superstitions practiced were abolished by Act of Parliament ie Sati (burning of widow), slavery (great supporter of Wilberforce).

Translator – Translated Bible into many languages and parts thereof into 26 languages.

Team builder – Serampore Trio, famous for work in the community, set up with openness, honesty and mutual submission and admonition.

By his death, he had set up 19 mission stations, appointed some 50 missionaries of whom only 6 were European and seen 1000s saved and baptised.  Against all odds, he became rightly called “The Father of Modern Missions”.

Married 3 times, lost several children, including his son and co-worker Felix at 37 years of age.

  

INFLUENCE  SIX    -   The Pentecostals

1898 Charles Parham living in Topeka, near Kansas City,  leaves his 40 students to study the early chapters of the Acts of the Apostles.  3 days later each state it seemed  the baptism of the Holy Spirit and speaking in tongues was central to the missionary success of the Early Church (first 30 years).  Agnes Osman has hands laid on her and can only speak in Chinese for 3 days.  Each of the other 39 students speaks in known languages and later go as missionaries to those countries.  (Such a corporate manifestation of the Holy Spirit not evidenced since Pentecost.)  Parham was generally given a hostile response by the church and became an itinerant evangelist in the Kansas City area.  It is reported some 2 million came to faith before his death in 1927.

W.J. Seymour, a black pastor much influenced by Parham, moved to Los Angeles where he was mightily used by God in what is known as the Azusa Street Revival.  For several years, many evangelicals worldwide visited and received an anointing of the Holy Spirit.  From Azusa Street, Pentecostalism spread around the world and such men as Smith Wigglesworth, William Branham and the Jeffrey Brothers were raised up.  Again the orthodox evangelical church did not embrace the Pentecostal Movement, some even calling it a “cult”.

INFLUENCE  SEVEN    -   The Restoration Movement

Post war Europe, especially the UK, was spiritually dry.  Only bright spots were Billy Graham’s visits in the mid 60’s but church not ready for those responding to Graham’s brand of evangelicalism.  However there were many in the mainstream denominations dissatisfied with their personal spirituality and church life in general.  A young Church of England clergyman Michael Harper, gathered a few like minded friends and re-discovered the baptism of the Holy Spirit from studying the early chapters of Acts.  Less emphasis on tongues but an emphasis on a deeper personal walk with Jesus and sensitivity to Holy Spirit promptings.  However, again not welcomed by majority of evangelical Anglicans and “splits” began to take place.    Slowly Evangelicals left the mainstream denominations and met informally for worship, fellowship and ministry in houses but as they grew began to hire school halls etc and then later purchased buildings to house their church family.

  Beginning in the 1960s this movement had various names, such as “House Church Movement”, “New Churches”, “Restorationists”. Their theological differences were not immediately highlighted as main aim was to restore church to its former glory and to reach the masses.  Among those who influenced this were Arthur Wallace, Bryn Jones, Ern Baxter, Terry Virgo, Gerald Coates, John Noble etc.

In recent years, much of restoration influences has been adopted by the denominational churches but begs the old question “Can you put new wine into an old wine skin?”.

INFLUENCE  EIGHT     -   Terry Virgo, father of Newfrontiers

He can tell us his own story but Terry Virgo, converted as a happy pagan with little religious background, found his relationship with Jesus a lot better than the church he attended.  Dissatisfied, he went to a renewal meeting in London and there encountered the Holy Spirit.  After a year as a door to door evangelist living by faith, he spent 3 years studying at London Bible College and took on the pastorate at Seaford Free Evangelical Church but on the condition that he had freedom to build on New Testament principals as well as New Testament practice.  After some opposition, he began to enjoy fellowship with the people named “Restorationists” – Arthur Wallace, Bryn Jones and prophetically gifted David Mansell.  Soon it became clear to them that Terry had a growing apostolic ministry and they encouraged him to pursue that, first on the South Coast and South London.  This led to the Downs Bible Weeks followed by Stoneleigh which over 2 weeks gathered some 30,000.  Guided much by prophetic words as well as the Scriptures, Terry took Coastlands (with a vision of restoration in South East England) to Newfrontiers International with a global vision.  Terry raised up 100s of leaders in his time, many of whom served on mission worldwide in Terry’s apostolic sphere.

In 2011, Terry released those apostolic leaders who served alongside him worldwide to develop and multiply apostolic spheres whilst still remaining part of the Newfrontiers family of worldwide churches.  Terry remains the father of Newfrontiers but increasingly takes the message of grace and the dynamic of the Holy Spirit to church leaders in many nations.

CONCLUSION

Is our history important, should we not be more concerned about the present and the future?  Some would say we can dwell too much on the past but I personally do not agree with that.  We must always remember that this is not mere history but God’s ongoing record of His dealings with His people until He wraps it all up.

Knowing what our forbears have achieved, even failed and struggled with, should cause us to worship intelligently the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who has purposed to have a people of His own and for us to rejoice that He has mercifully caught us up in this great calling of taking Christ to the nations.  In surveying our ancestry, there are many lessons to learn, heroes of the faith to honour and emulate and mistakes not to repeat.  It is for us now to make our own history and leave a mark on our generation.

                             ……………………………………………………………………………………………………

Ray Lowe’s recommended reading list.

Reading material I have found helpful and enlightening

Rodney Stark  -  The Rise of Christianity

Jerome Murphy-O’Connor  -  Paul his Story

Heiko A. Oberman  -  Luther, a man between the devil and God

Prof. Stephen Neil  -  A History of Christian Mission

Roberts Liardon  -  God’s Generals I

Julian Wilson  -  Wigglesworth

John Pollock  -  Whitefield, the Evangelist

John Pollock  -  Wesley, the Preacher

Terry Virgo  -  No well worn paths

Ray Lowe   -  www.tabletalks.co.uk

 Word of Grace is an Evangelical (Born Again),  Spirit filled (Charismatic), Reformed, English speaking church in Pune that upholds the Bible as God's inspired Word for life. We are a church community that have people from every part of India and parts of the world. We are here to put the Great Command and the Great Commission into practice by equipping and releasing every member into works of service. To know more about us please log ontowww.wordofgracechurch.org.

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