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| PREFACE In the late 1970’s, I was pastoring my first church and was not very happy. The reason for this was that I was going through the common frustrations of working with people that most pastors, along with their spouse, go through. I felt that there was a lack of commitment, disinterest, unfaithfulness, etc., except for a very few. One day in prayer I literally said, “Lord, I do not believe that you have called me into the ministry to make me miserable!” Then the Lord spoke to me and said, “David, much of your discontent you are bringing on yourself.” Needless to say, I was rather surprised. He then went on to speak to my heart, as He said, “The problem is that you and others in the ministry are on the front lines of spiritual battle and you keep your people back in boot camp not allowing them to experience the heat of battle with you, thus, you get frustrated when you sense that they do not understand your heart, nor spiritual warfare. So start training them, develop them, and then get them on the front lines with you. Then they will understand.” This started me on a journey, as I did research, wrote and trained the people in the very truths contained in this book. I can honestly say within approximately one year most of the problems and irritations ceased and the enjoyment of pastoring was elevated to a higher lever. I find it very interesting that some of the words we frequently use today were not as prominent in usage by the early church. Words such as, “convert,” “Christian,” and “believer.” These are good descriptive terms but they do not appear regularly in the New Testament. But the word “disciple” (which we rarely use to describe a follower of Christ) is used at least 250 times in the New Testament. In His mandate to the Church, Christ said, “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations” (or “ethnic groups”). The word for “make disciples” is “matheteuo,” and is the only directive imperative in this passage found in Matthew 28:19. While it is of utmost importance to “go,” we must be committed to “making,” because the ultimate goal is “fruit that remains”(John 15:16). Our military never really knows if a new weapon is going to function as designed until it is tested on the battlefield.. It may be attractive and have great promise, but no one really knows until it is “battle-tested” against a real enemy. The truths in this book are “battle-tested.” They have proven their worth in more that one church, and in the lives of countless numbers of people. This book is not “textbook,” nor “theory,” but is the result of “experiential truth.” In other words, IT WORKS! Due to many years of research, study and experience, much truth is contained in these pages. Not all truth, but enough to make your life more enriching, and will enable pastors to experience more joy and satisfaction in their ministry. May it be as much of a blessing and fulfillment to you as it has been to me. Dave Arnold |
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| TABLE
OF CONTENTS 1.Choice Not Chance Determines Destiny 2. The Generals Only? 3. A Valuable Pearl 4. Those Who See The Invisible Can Do The Impossible 5. Seeing Eye To Eye And Walking Arm In Arm 6. A Revolution 7. It’s Not What But Who 8. Till Death Us Do Part 9. A Vertical Relationship 10. Horizontal Results 11. A Treacherous Animal 12. No One Knows It All 13. Pillars Or Caterpillars? 14. A Medal Of Honor 15. A Polished Shaft |
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