What is the priority in your Church: the “vine” or its “trellis”? People and the progress of the Gospel (the vine) or structures and programs (the trellis)?
It is from this telling image that two Australians, Colin Marshall and Tony Payne, lead a disturbing and sometimes even provocative reflection, but which is always based on Scripture. Starting from the missionary mandate of Matthew 28.19-20, they demonstrate that in any local Church, all Christians are disciples called to make other disciples. This is the principle of multiplication.
Thus, “ministry” is no longer reserved for pastors and elders alone. While encouraging the presence of “recognized workers” in the Church (pastors, elders, deacons, etc.), the authors explain that when Church leaders invest a significant part of their time in the training of Christians, the latter become in turn effective workers in the “vineyard”: they can bear witness, accompany young believers, make visits, help other people to grow.
The exciting vision of this work will help each local church focus on what matters most: discipleship, formation, engaging all Christians in a “ministry of the Word” and spreading the Gospel.
Colin Marshall has spent more than thirty years training men and women for gospel service, both in local churches and on college campuses. He studied at Moore Theological College (Australia) and developed the website vinegrowers.com.
Tony Payne is a well-known author and editor in Anglo-Saxon countries. Also trained at Moore Theological College, he is director of the publishing house Matthias Media. He contributed to the development of the “Two Ways of Living” method of evangelization.
ISBN: 9782358430388