Earmarks of an Apostolic Church PIII

As I have been reading this book 50 Earmarks of an Apostolic Churches I have been amazed as I see these qualities in the lives of the people of Xtreme. The laity, the everyday Joe, the people who attend on Sundays YOU ARE CALLED TO BE THE MINISTERS! I am very excited about all that God is doing in the lives of our people. As you read through these traits think about how they apply to our church, but also you individually. Remember the ministry is your workplace, your home, your neighborhood, not some church you attend on Sunday morning.

1. Set the Pace
"Apostolic churches are always doing something progressive as they move forward in the things of God. They are better understood if looked upon as God's pace setters. A pace setter is one that leads the way and set the pace for others to follow. In motor sport racing there is a certain car used to set the pace for the racers before the actual race begins. As they follow this car they get up to the correct speed for the race. This pace car can be likened to the progressive movement of an apostolic church."

2. Send
"Apostolic churches will send you forth on ministry assignments. To be sent forth (stello) and out from (apo) an apostolic church is the highest calling for a believer. It is vital to understand that in the New Testament apostolic churches people are not being trained to be separated from the local church forever. We have a misconception of using churches for their ability to raise us up to pursue our own ministries. God forbid! Sent, never to return again, is seldom, if ever, God's plan. Throughout Paul's ministry we see him continue to return to his home base, the apostolic church in Antioch, rather than his hometown of Tarsus."

3. Plant
"Notice that Paul said that he planted. When an apostle plants it is more than planting a new church, it also refers to the planting of a believer. The planting of a believer in an apostolic church is vital to one's spiritual growth and effectiveness. In order for plants to flourish, they must be planted in good soil that is needed for growth and maturity. Good soil is that which has been plowed, prepared and made ready for seed. To be planted means to be set or firmly fixed in position. Plants have roots and apostolic churches will challenge you to be planted in the house of God, and to become active in the life and vision of the local church. Today many people are not planted at all or they have been planted in the wrong places. Allow yourself to be planted in an apostolic church where you can mature and bring glory to our Lord."

4. Multi-Cultural
"The church in Antioch was made up of every culture represented in the city. There were Africans, Greeks, Syrians, and Jews (Acts 13:1). Those that attend apostolic churches come from various cultures represented throughout their cities. These churches are multi-national, heterogeneous, and are full of believers that have conquered racism and prejudice. Prejudice is a preconceived and usually unfavorable idea or opinion of others. It leads to hatred and intolerance of other races and cultures. In apostolic churches the wall of separation has been abolished by love one for another."

5. Set Order
"There are natural and spiritual things that need to be set in order. Apostolic churches will not tolerate things in disarray, neither spiritually nor naturally. Paul also said "Let all things be done decently and in order." (1 Cor 14:40) The word order is the Greek word taxis. This is where we get the English word taxi, like in a taxi cab. This order (taxis) has nothing to do with control but rather creates a structure for a proper flow of spiritual things. It is creating an order that the Holy Spirit likes to flow in. Apostolic churches understand how to set the house in order."