Steve Addison's Blog, page 13

317-Leadership Development – Nathan Shank

Session 1: A Shepherd for Every Flock

From the first church(es) in Jerusalem and consistently emerging from each subsequent harvest field, recognizing elder/overseers in each field is a part of the work of mission (Titus 1:5-6). Paul carried greatly for this task. Paul often returned the venue of persecution to see that elders were appointed (Acts 14:23). What plans and patterns have you and your disciples made for leadership recognition in the midst of your church planting? How do your plans fit with the biblical example and/or expectation? Are we satisfied with the qualifications detailed in scripture? Are these qualifications sufficient? Why or why not?

Session 2: Sent Ones Who Join the Task

The task of mission is multiplied as “sent ones” take up the task of repeating the process of church planting. Developing and releasing such laborers does indeed find precedent in the pages of the NT. In today’s study we consider the use of the word ‘apostle’ beyond the 12 apostles qualified in Acts 1. As we acknowledge both the closed group of eye-witnesses to Christ’s ministry and resurrection and the seemingly ongoing role of “sent-ones” across the Mediterranean world, how might the use of these terms challenge our thinking regarding leadership roles in the NT? Do you and your ministry anticipate and make provision for those called to “go”? How might the ongoing role and expectation for such calling inform our reading or re-reading of the NT?

Watch the series on Youtube

316-Church Formation – Nathan Shank

Session 1: Pictures of Church Identity

One of the most overlooked aspects of church planting is the introduction and local ownership of church identity. Beginning in Acts 2, today’s study considers the matter of local commitment to “the number.” The New Testament utilizes numerous word pictures to catalyze church identity. Today’s study considers these metaphors for church identity and challenges listeners to consider how such passages might be leveraged to call for church identity. To be sure, beyond doing or not doing, being church is a clear expectation across the NT.

Session 2: Discerning NT Venues for Church

There is no example of churches in the NT lacking a venue to gather. In today’s study we consider the simple, practical question: where did NT churches meet? Though many options exist for venue in the 21st century, how might the NT (universal) precedent offer insight into the efficiency and advance of NT church planting? Surely, amidst multiple options available today, beginning new churches in the homes of new believers remains a viable option for church planting in our fields.

Session 3: Decision Making and Church Discipline

Across the NT record, decisions are presented as catalyst to local responsibility for various congregations. In today’s study we consider a variety of such decision. Examples of choosing leaders, designating offering, the confrontation of false teaching and finally, and finally the stand of the local church for holiness each call for congregational responsibility. Where we consider such decisions, how might we employ the NT precedent of local responsibility? Have you considered such responsibility as a catalyst for maturity? Are your default responses to such needs or decisions consistent with this NT precedent?

Session 4: The Value of the Lord’s Supper

The NT ordinances are Baptism and the Lord’s Supper. Each of these introduce and demand identification with the Lord’s sacrifice. Just as Christ died and rose again baptism pictures for us a chance to associate with Christ as we to have died to our old way of life and live in the power of his resurrection (Rom. 6). Similarly, the Lord’s Supper serves as a reminder of the Lord’s death, but also platforms self-examination, confession, unity and worship. How have your disciples and church planting efforts benefited from the Lord’s Supper? How might you leverage its many lessons as a reminder of the Lord’s expectation for his bride?

Watch the series on Youtube: youtube.com/@DiscoveringtheMissionaryTask

Download the 4-Fields manual by Nathan and Kari Shank

That's what it says, but what does it mean?

I was going back and forth with a dear friend of many years about same-sex marriage. Something that would have once seemed inconceivable with this brother just a few years ago.

I went to Genesis 2 and God’s intention from the beginning. Then to Jesus’ endorsement of the biblical vision for marriage in Matthew 19.

The scriptures are clear. Even leading scholars who support same-sex marriage agree the Bible opposes it, but they argue the Bible is wrong.

Here’s the response that floored me, “Steve, that’s what it says, but what does it mean?”

Now we’re back in the Garden and the Serpent asks, “Did God really say?”

The winds of change have swept the Western world and they seek to bend God’s people to their will. “Did God really say?”

Through the ages, movements of disciples and churches have risen as they’ve placed themselves under the living Word of God. These same movements have fallen when they place their word above that living Word. God means what he says.

315-Making Disciples – Nathan Shank

Session 1: Baptism as Expectation

In Matthew 28 disciple-making assumes, or is even initiated by, the acceptance of Baptism. In today’s study, we survey post Pentecost examples of Baptism. As we consider these examples, we intend to wrestle with three key questions; who received baptism? When was baptism performed? And finally, who gave baptism in each example? As you consider the NT examples, how do your own thoughts or commitments to practice Baptism come into view? Are there reasons we diverge from NT precedent? Are we free to adapt, or wise to consider universal examples across the NT?

Session 2: Where might we begin?

Matthew 28 sets a high bar. We are to teach our disciples to “obey all that Christ has commanded.” Amidst the breadth of the NT where might we begin? Today we celebrate the example of Acts 2:42 where new disciples “devoted themselves to the apostles teaching.” Have you considered the personal disciplines initiated in the first churches of Jerusalem? These personal disciples observed in the obedience of the 3000 baptized in Jerusalem were organized in what we call the first church following Pentecost. How might you commit, introduce, and expect such mobilization of disciples and disciple-making in your ministry setting?

Session 3: Scripture Intake as Catalyst

There is no tool for disciple making like the Word of God. Today’s study challenges each of us to reconsider how we might campaign, commit to, and benefit from regular planning and accountability to scripture intake. As you gather your disciples, what commitments have you made? How might the descriptions of the Word of God you read together prompt you to commit again to sit under its authority?

Watch the series on Youtube

My tribute to Michelle

The church gathered around Michelle and I lifting her up to God in earnest prayer. Crying out to God through tears, our hearts filled with faith. I thought if God heals Michelle, this will be the moment.

The cancer continued its relentless march destroying the body of the woman I loved, breaking the hearts of those who loved her. Yet Michelle’s trust in God remained strong.

It all began in 2019 with a year of powerful abdominal pain with no accurate diagnosis. During Covid tests were cancelled. Later she was turned away from hospital emergency twice. Finally a scan revealed it was bowel cancer which was spreading through her lymphatic system. She was rushed into surgery. After months of chemo, the cancer was stopped in its tracks. Her levels were back to normal.

We hoped the treatment had bought us years, in the end it was just twelve months—but what a precious time we had. Every morning we woke up, looked at each other and gave thanks to God for another day. For three months we took off in our camper van and wandered up and down the southeast coast of Australia, cherishing every moment.

Then the cancer came back. This time the chemo was powerless.

Incredibly she was managing her pain with Panadol. She rarely complained and would just focus on the joy of being alive for another day. 

Our last trip together was to the tropical rainforests of far north Queensland. Every day was a gift. Every day Michelle’s condition grew worse.

When we returned home Michelle was placed in the hands of the palliative care team of Calvary Hospital. She was determined to die at home. My downstairs office was transformed into a hospital ward. For the next six weeks our children and I cared for her around the clock. It was awful and it was wonderful.

We never stopped praying that God would heal Michelle, around the world hundreds of people were praying with us. God heard our prayers and answered, just not in the way we hoped.

Yet every day God’s love and light shone out from that woman.

Towards the end the children and I would gather around Michelle’s bed at night and tell her what we loved most about her, then we would read the Scriptures and pray. They were holy moments.

On one occasion I felt led to read the story of the woman who wept at Jesus’ feet (Luke 7:36–50). Jesus said of her, she loved much because she had been forgiven much. Michelle was that woman.

In 1977 Michelle dropped out of college and took off on the hippie trail around Australia. For two years she lived in a tent, eating only raw vegetables, dabbling in drugs, waiting for aliens to save the world.

Then one day, in an outback town someone introduced her to Jesus and she followed him ever since. That was the secret of her incredible life.

At her funeral the church was packed to overflowing. Hundreds attended and hundreds watched online. Michelle had organized the whole thing and it ran smoothly. Her life spoke that day as her sisters and children and I paid tribute to the only grandma I know who rode a Triumph Bonniville 1200cc motorcycle.

Before she passed we talked about our 42 years together. We celebrated and declared, “We did it! We finished well!” Despite all the hardships and failings, we loved each other to the end. We gave thanks for each of our children and our grandchildren. We gave thanks for so many loving friends and family. We gave thanks for all people who have been touched by Michelle life and the many people who came to know Christ through her and are still following him today.

Near the end she told me, “Steve I want to go. Will you release me?” We wept and I placed her in God’s hands.

Michelle and Jasper

She is buried by the ocean at Point Lonsdale and her plaque reads:

Michelle Ann Addison
1956–2023

Beloved wife of Steve. Mother of Danielle, Gretta, Robert and Lachlan
She lived life to bring people to Jesus.

I am the resurrection and the life.
The one who believes in me will live,
even though they die. John 11:25

314-Gospel Seed Sowing – Nathan Shank

Session 1: Clarifying the Gospel

Nathan’s first study examines a survey of passages across the New Testament to clarify the Biblical Gospel. What could be more important than sowing the right seed? Our goal is to answer the question, what do we say? Answer: the core elements of the Gospel must be our message. Considering the biblical Gospel, how might you revisit your seed sowing to ensure fidelity to the message that gives life?

Session 2: Right Response to the Gospel

As we seek to share a biblical Gospel, we ought also to allow the New Testament to instruct us regarding the right response. In today’s study, we survey a variety of passages to consider the call to respond. Have you considered the variety of terms used in the NT? How might the variety of terms used relate to or support each other? As you go about Gospel ministry, which of these passages inform or provide questions worthy of attention in your seed sowing?

Session 3: The Power of the Gospel

As we go about seed sowing we are fully dependent on God to give life. Today we have gathered various verses describing the power of the Gospel to accomplish what we cannot. Have you ever considered the Gospel a “powerful, personal force?” The use of active verbs across the NT led Robert Plummer to suggest the Gospel itself is active, on the march and taking the enemy’s ground wherever it is faithfully sown. Have you considered the stewardship you carry as you share? Have you considered the privilege to carry the very “power of God unto salvation” in your hand?

Session 4: The Advance of the Gospel in the NT

Have you considered the consistent pattern of Gospel advance in the first century? The Bible is the inspired account of Gospel advance from early examples of addition in and around Jerusalem to various examples of multiplication. As we shall see, the NT details entire provinces saturated with the ‘Word of the Lord.’ How might NT precedent inform our expectations for Gospel advance? Have we seen the Gospel ring out among new believers? How might we pray and posture for such multiplication?

Watch the series on Youtube

Download the 4-Fields manual by Nathan and Kari Shank

313-Engaging empty fields

We continue the series with Nathan Shank on Discovering the Missionary Task.

Session 1: Biblical Targets

In today’s study, consider a survey of Old and New Testament descriptions of the targets of God’s mission. If sin causes separation, missions cross the resulting barriers to initiate God’s mission. Were there passages or promises you considered for the first time? As we examine our own targets how do they compare with the consistent message and targets of scripture?

Session 2: Principles for Mobilizing and Joining God at Work

In the second look at the empty field, we consider God’s investment ahead of our missions efforts. How might we join him as we cross barriers and mobilize our disciples to follow his lead and fish for men? Consider with us passages across the Gospels demonstrating Jesus’ sending of his own disciples amidst towns and villages “he himself was about to go.” What principles or patterns might we discern, how do these examples compare with the tools and ideas we employ for engaging new fields?

Discovering the Missionary Task: Youtube channel

Download the 4-Fields manual by Nathan and Kari Shank

312-Discovering the Missionary Task with Nathan Shank

This is the first installment in a series on Discovering the Missionary Task by Nathan Shank. You can listen to the audio on the Movements podcast. If you’d like to view and work through the content as a team, the video is available on Nathan’s Youtube channel.

Session 1: Introduction to Self-Discovery Series

This first video sets the stage for the series. Objectives are clearly detailed along with suggestions for format as you gather your disciples to study God’s word. As detailed in this video the series is intended to assist you as you: define core convictions in missionary practice, focus on Biblical priorities for mission, examine assumptions and traditions, and equip your disciples wherever you engage mission.

Session 2: Defining the Missionary Task

Amidst barriers, immense lostness, and a plethora for options called mission in the 21st Century, where and how do we determine priorities for mission? This study examines Acts 13-14 as a potential source for such priorities. As you study ‘the work’ of Barnabus and Saul, in fact the work of the Holy Spirit (Acts 13:2) we ask a simple question: What had been accomplished by Acts 14:26.

Discovering the Missionary Task: Youtube channel

Download the 4-Fields manual by Nathan and Kari Shank

In memory of Michelle

Where, O death, is your victory?
Where, O death, is your sting?
Thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

On Saturday September 30, the love of my life passed into eternity. I am forever grateful for this precious gift of God.

The service will be streamed live from 10:00am Melbourne time on October 5.
Los Angeles 4:00pm October 4
New York 7:00pm October 4
London 12:00am October 5
Bangkok 6:00am October 5

311-Acts and the Movement of God – Exponential Australia

A conversation with Charlie Burke of Exponential Australia about my book, Acts and the Movement of God.