What!! The pastor actually copies his Sunday Sermon
outline?!
I was very surprised to come across an article in the
internet with the same passage outline and the sermon preached in Church, 2
Sunday ago.
Sermon Plagiarism? Not sure whether this is acceptable, but
I feel that a pastor shouldn’t do this. I actually try other similar sermon
outline for his message on my own and it is easily done. Why didn’t he try it
out on his own?
The Pastor preached on a 5-fold ministry of the church from
the passage in Eph 4:11-13 = (1)Apostles; (2)Prophets; (3)Evangelists;
(4)Pastors; (5)Teachers. Many of the Charismatic churches use this passage as
the basis to appoint their leaders as Apostles. Also in 1 Corinthian 11:28,
Apostle Paul stated that: “in the church God appointed
first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then workers of miracles,
also those having gifts of healing,
those able to help others, those with gifts of administration, and those with
speaking in different tongues.
Go, google “Fivefold ministry” and you will have a better
understanding. The leaders are going to appoint an Apostle that is outside their founding leaders. What a big title! Another
preacher stated that an apostle is the highest rank, like the General in the
army. [I am sure he misunderstood the word, “first” in 1Cor 11:28].
Question Now, who appoint these ministries? Why
is there a need to appoint Apostle?
Question: So, how do we know that someone is
appointed by God for a ministry?
My Answer: Let the fruits
show the tree. You know that it is an apple tree by looking at its fruits. That
is how God chooses it to be an apple tree. If people are blessed by your
teaching, then you know what God has appointed you to be. In the same way, if
every time you speak, crowd of people accepted Jesus Christ as their Savior,
then you will know what God has appointed you to be. Likewise, it is for all
other ministries and leaders.
Question: So, we don’t need to actually give
people label and title?
My Answer: Exactly! The label
and title comes naturally after a while when people see your fruits. Just keep
doing what is passionate and what you know God calls you to do. Let the fruits that you bore be the label that people will tack on you. This is how God’s
calling is. We should call those serving in full-time Christian ministry as
“servant of God” rather than preacher, pastor, etc. Then after a while, let
people see their fruits and their title will change to be Teacher so-and-so,
Pastor so-and-so, Apostle so-and-so, etc.
Question: So, don’t need to appoint Apostle,
meh?
Matthew 12:33 (NRSV) "Either make the tree good, and its fruit good; or make the tree bad, and its fruit bad; for THE TREE IS KNOWN BY ITS FRUIT."
Agape
