the movement he started . The culture he would establish among these men would set the tone for the church for hundreds of years .
As Luke recounts it , after thirty years of personal mission preparation ( 1:1 – 4:13 ), two chapters concisely summarize what Jesus ’ s mission looked like for as much as two years : announcing the coming kingdom of God , teaching with authority , healing , casting out demons , hanging out with sinners , royally ticking people off ( especially Pharisees ), and calling people to follow him as disciples .
In Luke 6:12 , Jesus chooses twelve disciples for an especially close relationship with him . He begins to establish the leadership culture immediately with the name he gives the group : “ apostles .” This English word is borrowed from the Greek term meaning “ envoy .” It is the official representative of an important person — in this case , the King — sent forth to speak on his behalf . Thus , mission is built into Jesus ’ s team ’ s language from the beginning . The top leaders in the Jesus movement are not rulers or governors or directors or managers . They are envoys , men without authority of their own who are sent on a mission with a message .
From observing and listening to Jesus as disciples , the Twelve had already learned about the kingdom of God , obedience , healing , sinners , forgiveness , opposition , and Jesus ’ s unique and mysterious relationship to God . Now , as apostles , they relearn the same lessons , but the demands of Jesus ’ s teaching are even more intense and his deeds even more dramatic than before .
NOW
Will Mancini ( ThM , Dallas Theological Seminary ) is the co-founder of Future Church Company , a church consultant and ministry entrepreneur . In 2015 , he cofounded Younique , a coaching company that delivers gospel-centered life design through local churches , and in 2019 he started Denominee , a consulting group that increases the value of denominational and network leaders to the local church . He has written six books , including Younique , Clarity Spiral , God Dreams , Innovating Discipleship , and Church Unique . He enjoys speaking and writing about how to create clarity and live a life of more meaningful progress . Will lives in Houston with his wife , Romy , and has four children .
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