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The Gates of the CityMonday Church Project September 2007Darrow Miller

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The Nature of the ChurchWithout Walls

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Martin LutherThe Babylonian Captivity

of the Church, 1520

“The works of monks and priests, however holy and

arduous they be, do not differ one whit in the

sight of God from the works of the rustic laborer in

the field or the woman going about her household

tasks, but that all works are measured

before God by faith alone…

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Martin LutherThe Babylonian Captivity

of the Church, 1520

…Indeed, the menial housework of a manservant or

maidservant is often more acceptable to God

than all the fastings and other works of a monk or

priest, because the monk or priest lacks faith.”

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Jesus’ PrayerJohn 17:15-19

15My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one.

16They are not of the world, even as I am not of it.

17Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.

18As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world.

19For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified.

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Small Group Discussion John 17:15-19

What is the principle Jesus is articulating in

His prayer?

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ConformedIndistinguishable from the World

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DisengagedIn the Church and Out of the World

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Impacting the WorldIn the World but not of the World

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Gathered & Scattered

Gathered for worship & equipping

Scattered for service & discipling the nations

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The Externally Focused Church

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Every Christian a Minister

“But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a

holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you

may declare the praises of him who called you out

of darkness into his wonderful light.”

1 Peter 2:91 Peter 2:9

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Like Christ -Every Christian A Minister

Prophet – Speaking on behalf of God to the people – ministry in word (Acts 1:8; 2:14-18)

Priest – Speaking on behalf of the people before God – ministry of service and mercy-deed (John 14:6; Hebrews 10:19-20; 1 Peter 2:9)

King – Having delegated authority – ministry of steward (Matt. 28:19; Revelations 1:6)

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Out of the BuildingTo the Gates of the City

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Kuyper on the Domains

“ no sphere of human life is conceivable in which

religion does not maintain its demands that God

shall be praised, that God’s ordinances shall be

observed, and that every labora shall be

permeated with its ora in fervent and ceaseless

prayer.

Abraham KuyperThe Stone Lectures,

1898

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Kuyper on the Domains (cont.)

Wherever man may stand, whatever he may do,

to whatever he may apply his hand, in

agriculture, in commerce, and in industry, or his

mind, in the world of art, and science, …

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Kuyper on the Domains (cont.)

… he is in whatsoever it may be, constantly

standing before the face of his God, he is

employed in the service of his God, he has

strictly to obey his God, and above all, he has

to aim at the glory of his God.”

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Proverbs 31:23

Her husband is respected at the city gate, where he takes his seat among the elders of the land.

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The Gates of the City –The Place of Public Life

Business and commerce

The Law read and adjudicated

Governing and administration

News and public announcements

Public meetings and discourse

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The Gates of the City

The defense of the city

As a metaphor, represents the glory of the entire city

In pagan times, the place of cultic worship

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The Modern Equivalent

Sectors of Society Spheres Spheres of influence Domains

• The Province or Sphere of Influence• The Place of Occupancy• Equivalent to The Gates of the City

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Christ’s Sovereignty

“… there is not a square inch in the whole domain of our human existence over which Christ, who is Sovereign over all, does not cry: ‘Mine!’”

Abraham KuyperFree University's inaugural convocation,

1880

Building Up the City

Through the blessing of the upright a city is exalted,

but by the mouth of the wicked it is destroyed.

Proverbs 11:11

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Three Fundamental Institutions

The Family – Social Civil Governance – Government and Law The Church

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The Domains of Society

Social (Families, Churches, Communities, etc.)

Government and law Business and economics Art and communication Education Science and technology Health

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The ChurchThe Conscience of the Nation

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Gates of the City

SocialSocial

CommunicationCommunication

Business Business & Economics& Economics

ArtsArts HealthHealth

Government & LawGovernment & Law

Science &Science &TechnologyTechnology

EducationEducationKingdomizersKingdomizers

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The Circles of Influence

IndividualIndividual

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The Gatekeepers

Responsibilities included: Works of service Guarding the city Opening and closing the

gates

Modern gatekeepers to bring: Truth Beauty Justice

Hebrew shoer: “one who is occupied with the gate”

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“Kingdomizers”

Truth

Bea

uty

Goodness

Tru

thTru

thBea

uty

Beauty

GoodnessGoodness

Tru

thTru

th

TruthTruth

Truth Truth

Beauty

BeautyBeauty

BeautyBea

uty

Beaut

y

GoodnessGoodness

Goodness

Goodness

Good

ness

Good

ness

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“Kingdomizers” A doctor, not for money, but for Jesus and for

health in the community. A lawyer, not for money, but for Jesus and for

justice in society. An engineer, not for money, but for Jesus and

for the fight against the ravages of natural evil.

An artist, not for money, but for Jesus and the advancement of beauty in the world.

A businessman, not for self-aggrandizement, but for Jesus and for economic sufficiency for the society.

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The Old Paradigm Dualistic/Gnostic Bridge

The Call

Carpenter Mechanic Teacher Musician Artist Caterer Nurse Housewife

10% Religious10% Religious TheologianTheologian

Church Church PlanterPlanter

PreacherPreacher

90% Secular90% Secular

Preacher Carpenter Artist Church

Planter Teacher Musician Housewife Nurse Mechanic Theologian Caterer

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The New ParadigmBiblical Worldview Bridge

The Call Theologian Church

Planter Preacher Carpenter Mechanic Teacher Musician Artist Caterer Nurse Housewife

““Kingdomize” Kingdomize” allall

Preacher Carpenter Housewife Church

Planter Teacher Musician Artist Nurse Mechanic Theologian Caterer

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Equipping the SaintsFor the Gates of the City

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Equipping the Ministers

It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.

Ephesians 4:11-13

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Equipping the Saints

“The church is to train God’s people for the work of ministry.

If our nation is to have thoroughly equipped pastors, then the church must train young men for the ministry of the gospel.

George Grant, The Changing of the Guard

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Equipping the Saints

“If our nation is to have thoroughly equipped teachers, then the church must train young mothers and fathers for the ministry of education…

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Equipping the Saints

“…If our nation is to have thoroughly equipped craftsmen, artists, musicians, philosophers, doctors, laborers, lawyers, scientists, and merchants, then the church must train them for the ministry of acculturation.

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Equipping the Saints

“And, of course, if our nation is to have thoroughly equipped magistrates, then the church must train them for the ministry of cultural and political involvement.”

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What will it take to equip ministers for the market place?

1) The pastors-teachers being equippers.

2) Consistent teaching from the pulpit on biblical worldview, precepts and theology of vocation.

3) Discipling classes to prepare people to work wholistically in the market place and public square.

4) Public ceremonies to commission and send equipped businessmen to minister in the market place, lawyers into the judicial system, and public servants into government.

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What will it take to equip ministers for the market place?

5) Establish local church sectoral cell groups to study and apply biblical truth and principles into their occupation.

6) Establish Church in the City sectoral groups to strategically plan and affect their sector.

7) Establish Church in the City Action Councils to develop multi-sectoral integrated strategy for impacting the city.

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Lives of Impact

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Social Domain

Wilberforce – Slavery Amy Carmichael – Liberating girls/women Larry Ward – Poor and hungry Gary Skinner – AIDS patients and AIDS

orphans

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Domain Impact

Government and law Business and economics Art and communication Education Science and technology Health