Tim Keller puts it like this:
‘We never “get beyond the gospel” in our Christian life to something more “advanced.” The gospel is not the first “step” in a “stairway” of truths, rather, it is more like the “hub” in a “wheel” of truth. The gospel is not just the A-B-C’s of Christianity, but it is the A to Z of Christianity. The gospel is not just the minimum required doctrine necessary to enter the kingdom, but the way we make all progress in the kingdom.’
Last week the iServe Africa apprentices gathered to spend time in Romans, Acts and 1 Thessalonians, exploring more of the height, breadth, length and depth of the gospel of Christ crucified and how this gospel impacts every area of life and ministry.
Some tweets:
MTC2 Day2. Pst Samuel Maina on Servant Leadership from 1 Thess 1-2: 1) Not looking for Praise from Men; 2) Concerned about Interests of Others; 3) Sharing Christ; 4) Not lording over – worked with hands
A sermon without Christ, ugali bila unga, how can it feed the soul? [Fidel contextualising Spurgeon] #MTC2
‘Sin is not the biggest problem. The biggest problem is the wrath of God on us sinful men’ Jerry Otieno #TheCrossOfChrist #MTC2
Resources and Notes:
First years:
- When and how to use Bible commentaries
- Intro to Faithful Bible Teaching (1 Thess 1)
- Preaching from OT Prophecy
- Gospel outlines: 2 ways 2 live & 3-2-1
- Doctrine of Man
- Biblical Servant Leadership
- Self Care: Stressors of Pastors and Leaders (The Briefing)
- How to ask good questions
- Resources on Complementarianism and Egalitarianism
- Relationships, sexuality and sanctification: Keep Fighting (Adam4D); Make War (John Piper); DeYoung on ‘How far is too far?’
- Festo Kivengere and the East African Revival (James Wainaina)
- Basics of Faithful Bible Teaching: Applying Christ
- When and how to challenge false teaching or leave a church
- 5 Keys to Personal Support Raising
- Doctrine of the Cross
- Wisdom in the Workplace: Conflict Resolution (Col. 3)
2nd years:
- Introduction to the Trinity
- 1 Timothy sessions – church, calling, sacred/secular, admin, tithing
- Introduction to Apologetics and Atheism
- Challenge of Liberalism
- And from the last of the Training Wednesdays of the term: A short reading list on African history, colonialism, postcolonialism, Afrocentrism and Eurocentrism
It was such a great time of learning, focusing on the true total gospel and now we are out to practice that which has been conveyed to us. Am seeing the fruits already manifesting in my daily study of the Word and as I preach now at home. Becoming cautious not to pull a text and apply it directly as if written to me and not for me, this is of course not very obvious but gradually I believe to be more faithful. I am also grateful of answered prayers; finding one of my uncles now devoted to the faith, as He said it’s really through God’s mercies that he got saved. Now we have so much to talk about as pertains this journey. I am grateful of iServe Africa, through these lessons and an opportunity to serve at Kerugoya; I continue to see the Word manifest in my daily engagement.