CONGREGATIONAL PLANTING
ROOTED IN YESHUA'S WORK
by Sam Nadler
"We are to be praying. We are to be ministering the
Word. We are to be administering and overseeing. Those are the three
elements
that make up a Messianic congregation."
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What is a
Messianic congregation? Is it about a particular model of worship services?
Or is it about meeting on Saturday instead of Sunday? One’s preferred model,
whether traditional or contemporary, is in fact a surface issue and will
vary depending on the distinctives of the leader, the group, and the
community.
Essentially, the effectiveness of the service has to do with systems that
work properly. There are some things that need to be done in order to be an
effective testimony of a congregation. We are to be praying. We are to be
ministering the Word. We are to be administering and overseeing. Those are
the three elements that make up a Messianic congregation: Prayer, Ministry
of the Word, and Overseer (management and administration).
The three aspects of the Body of Messiah are rooted in the person of Messiah
Himself. The redemptive work of Messiah was three fold: Prophet, Priest and
King. Messiah is our high priest according to the order of Melchizedek
(Psalm 110:4). He is the prophet like unto Moses - not only did He
prophetically minister the Word, but He is the Living Word. Then, of course,
he is the Ruler of rulers, the greater son of David. He oversees our
activities in His leadership, reigning over our lives and hearts.
This three-fold ministry is what we are to live out in our leadership in our
hearts, homes, and congregations. As it says in 1 John 4:17,
as He is, so are we in the world. He is
the head, and we are the body. The body lives out the values of the head.
Therefore, the ministry of prayer reflects Him, who always lives to make
intercession for us. In the ministry of the Word, we are actually testifying
of Him, the very truth. In the ministry of overseer, seeing that things are
carried out decently and in order - this reflects King Messiah, who orders
all things. The end result is to manifest Yeshua - that the life of Yeshua
be made known. His values, His character, His name shall be honored and
exalted.*
*Adapted from upcoming book on which the
Planter’s Conference,
reported on in our previous Shofar, was based,
click here to learn more.
*
Sam Nadler is director of Word of Messiah Ministries in Charlotte, N.C. This
article is reprinted
with permission from Word of Messiah's Shmooze Letter of January 2012.
Many other fine articles and other
features may
be found at Word of Messiah's website,
http://www.wordofmessiah.org.
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