BIBLICAL APOLOGETIC FOR MINISTRY PARTNER DEVELOPMENT

BIBLICAL APOLOGETIC FOR MINISTRY PARTNER DEVELOPMENT Example of the Levites: They are Set Apart (Numbers 1:1-3) 1 The LORD spoke to Moses in the Tent ...
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BIBLICAL APOLOGETIC FOR MINISTRY PARTNER DEVELOPMENT Example of the Levites: They are Set Apart (Numbers 1:1-3) 1 The LORD spoke to Moses in the Tent of Meeting in the Desert of Sinai on the first day of the second month of the second year after the Israelites came out of Egypt. He said: 2 “Take a census of the whole Israelite community by their clans and families, listing every man by name, one by one. 3 You and Aaron are to number by their divisions all the men in Israel twenty years old or more who are able to serve in the army.

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Example of the Levites: They are Set Apart (Numbers 1:1-3) 47 “The families of the tribe of Levi, however,were not counted along with the others.” 48 The LORD had said to Moses: 49 “You must not count the tribe of Levi or include them in the census of the other Israelites. 50 Instead, appoint the Levites to be in charge of the tabernacle of the Testimony--

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Example of the Levites: They are Set Apart (Numbers 1:1-3) 50 over all its furnishings and everything belonging to it. They are to carry the tabernacle and all its furnishings; they are to take care of it and encamp around it. 51 Whenever the tabernacle is to move, the Levites are to take it down, and whenever the tabernacle is to be set up, the Levites shall do it. Anyone else who goes near it shall be put to death.

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Example of the Levites: They are Set Apart (Numbers 1:1-3) 52 The Israelites are to set up their tents by divisions, each man in his own camp under his own standard. 53 The Levites, however, are to set up their tents around the tabernacle of the Testimony so that wrath will not fall on the Israelite community. The Levites are to be responsible for the care of the tabernacle of the Testimony."

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___________________________________ The Path of God’s Provision Numbers 18:8-32 8 Then the LORD said to Aaron, “I myself have put you in charge of the offerings presented to me; all the holy offerings the Israelites give me I give to you and your sons as your portion and regular share.”

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___________________________________ The Path of God’s Provision God

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Levites

___________________________________ Israel

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___________________________________ The Quality of God’s Provision Numbers 18:12 I give you all the finest olive oil and all the finest new wine and grain they give the LORD as the firstfruits of their harvest.”

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___________________________________ The Worth of God’s Provision Numbers 18:20-21 The LORD said to Aaron, “You will have no inheritance in their land, nor will you have any share among them; I am your share and your inheritance among the Israelites. I give to the Levites all the tithes in Israel as their inheritance in return for the work they do while serving at the Tent of Meeting.”

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The Importance of God’s Provision Numbers 18:31 You and your households may eat the rest of it anywhere, for it is your wages for your work at the Tent of Meeting.

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The Responsibility of God’s Provision Do not neglect the Levites. Deuteronomy. 14:27-28; 18:1-8

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The Path Of God’s Provision

In the Old Testament, God called the Levites to come apart from Israel to serve Him. The Lord expected Israel to give a portion of what He gave them back to Him. In turn, He would then give those offerings to the Levites for their provision.

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___________________________________ Example of Jesus Did Jesus always divide up the loaves and fishes to provide for his disciples? (Luke 8:1-3) 1 After this, Jesus traveled about from one town and village to another, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God. The Twelve were with him, 2 and also some women who had been cured of evil spirits and diseases: Mary (called Magdalene) from whom seven demons had come out;

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___________________________________ Example of Jesus 3 Joanna the wife of Cuza, the manager of Herod's household; Susanna; and many others. These women were helping to support them out of their own means.

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Example of Jesus: Sending of the 72 (Luke 10:1-16) 1 After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them two by two ahead of him to every town and place where he was about to go. 2 He told them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field. 3 Go! I am sending you out like lambs among wolves.”

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Example of Jesus: Sending of the 72 (Luke 10:1-16) 4 “Do not take a purse or bag or sandals; and do not greet anyone on the road. 5 When you enter a house, first say, ‘Peace to this house.’ 6 If a man of peace is there, your peace will rest on him; if not, it will return to you. 7 Stay in that house, eating and drinking whatever they give you, for the worker deserves his wages. Do not move around from house to house.”

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Example of Paul: His Practice (2 Corinthians 11:7-9) 7 Was it a sin for me to lower myself in order to elevate you by preaching the gospel of God to you free of charge? 8 I robbed other churches by receiving support from them so as to serve you. 9 And when I was with you and needed something, I was not a burden to anyone, for the brothers who came from Macedonia supplied what I needed. I have kept myself from being a burden to you in any way, and will continue to do so.

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Paul’s Apostleship Questioned: The Right Not Demanded (1 Cor. 9:1-18) 1 Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? Are you not the result of my work in the Lord? 2 Even though I may not be an apostle to others, surely I am to you! For you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord. 3 This is my defense to those who sit in judgment on me.

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Paul’s Apostleship Questioned: The Right Not Demanded (1 Cor. 9:1-18) 4 Don't we have the right to food and drink? 5 Don't we have the right to take a believing wife along with us, as do the other apostles and the Lord's brothers and Cephas? 6 Or is it only I and Barnabas who must work for a living?

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Paul’s Apostleship Questioned: His Defense (1 Corinthians 9:1-18) He appeals to logic. 7 Who serves as a soldier at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard and does not eat of its grapes? Who tends a flock and does not drink of the milk?

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Paul’s Apostleship Questioned: His Defense (1 Corinthians 9:1-18) He appeals to the Law. 8 Do I say this merely from a human point of view? Doesn't the Law say the same thing? 9 For it is written in the Law of Moses: “Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain.” Is it about oxen that God is concerned?

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Paul’s Apostleship Questioned: His Defense (1 Corinthians 9:1-18) 10 Surely he says this for us, doesn't he? Yes, this was written for us, because when the plowman plows and the thresher threshes, they ought to do so in the hope of sharing in the harvest.

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Paul’s Apostleship Questioned: His Defense (1 Corinthians 9:1-18) He appeals to the position of spiritual leadership. 11 If we have sown spiritual seed among you, is it too much if we reap a material harvest from you? 12 If others have this right of support from you, shouldn't we have it all the more? But we did not use this right. On the contrary, we put up with anything rather than hinder the gospel of Christ.

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Paul’s Apostleship Questioned: His Defense (1 Corinthians 9:1-18) He appeals to the example of the Levites. 13 Don't you know that those who work in the temple get their food from the temple, and those who serve at the altar share in what is offered on the altar?

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Paul’s Apostleship Questioned: His Defense (1 Corinthians 9:1-18) He appeals to the Lord. 14 In the same way, the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should receive their living from the gospel.

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Paul’s Apostleship Questioned: His Defense (1 Corinthians 9:1-18) The guideline: To offer the Gospel free of charge. (I Corinthians 9:12, 15-18)

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Paul’s Exception of Tent Making There are three possible occasions where Paul supported himself through tent making.

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Paul’s Exception of Tent Making: Thessalonica (Acts 17; 2 Thessalonians 3:8-9) 8 nor did we eat anyone's food without paying for it. On the contrary, we worked night and day, laboring and toiling so that we would not be a burden to any of you. 9 We did this, not because we do not have the right to such help, but in order to make ourselves a model for you to follow.

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Paul’s Exception of Tent Making: Corinth (Acts 18:1-5) 1 After this, Paul left Athens and went to Corinth. 2 There he met a Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, who had recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla, because Claudius had ordered all the Jews to leave Rome. Paul went to see them, 3 and because he was a tentmaker as they were, he stayed and worked with them. 4 Every Sabbath he reasoned in the synagogue, trying to persuade Jews and Greeks.

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Paul’s Exception of Tent Making: Corinth (Acts 18:1-5) 5 When Silas and Timothy came from Macedonia, Paul devoted himself exclusively to preaching, testifying to the Jews that Jesus was the Christ.

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Paul’s Exception of Tent Making: Ephesus (Acts 20:33-35) 33 I have not coveted anyone's silver or gold or clothing. 34 You yourselves know that these hands of mine have supplied my own needs and the needs of my companions. 35 In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: “It is more blessed to give than to receive.”

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Why Paul was a Tentmaker 2 Corinthians 11:7-9 1 Corinthians 9 Paul’s preferred mode was being supported by gifts from God’s people.

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Why Paul Urged Others to Give: People Need to Give (Philippians 4:10-19) People are more willing to give, than you are willing to ask. 10 I rejoice greatly in the Lord that at last you have renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you have been concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it.

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Why Paul Urged Others to Give: People Need to Give (Philippians 4:10-19) Paul’s need wasn’t his primary concern. 11 I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.

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Why Paul Urged Others to Give: People Need to Give (Philippians 4:10-19) 12 I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. 13 I can do everything through him who gives me strength.

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Why Paul Urged Others to Give: People Need to Give (Philippians 4:10-19) Example of the Philippian Church. 14 Yet it was good of you to share in my troubles. 15 Moreover, as you Philippians know, in the early days of your acquaintance with the gospel, when I set out from Macedonia, not one church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving, except you only;

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Why Paul Urged Others to Give: People Need to Give (Philippians 4:10-19) 16 for even when I was in Thessalonica, you sent me aid again and again when I was in need. 17 Not that I am looking for a gift, but I am looking for what may be credited to your account.

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Why Paul Urged Others to Give: People Need to Give (Philippians 4:10-19) Giving is an act of worship. 18 I have received full payment and even more; I am amply supplied, now that I have received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent. They are a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God.

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Why Paul Urged Others to Give: People Need to Give (Philippians 4:10-19) Promise with conditions. 19 And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.

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Why Paul Urged Others to Give: Because It’s Fun to Give 2 Corinthians (9:7-9) 7 Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. 9 As it is written: “He has scattered abroad his gifts to the poor; his righteousness endures forever.”

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___________________________________ Example of III John 5-8 5 Dear friend, you are faithful in what you are doing for the brothers, even though they are strangers to you. 6 They have told the church about your love. You will do well to send them on their way in a manner worthy of God.

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___________________________________ Example of III John 5-8 7 It was for the sake of the Name that they went out, receiving no help from the pagans. 8 We ought therefore to show hospitality to such men so that we may work together for the truth.

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