Biblical Leadership and christ is all

by Brett Jacobsen

This five part teaching series on reformed New Testament community is taken from Brett Jacobsen’s book Heaven's Underground Blueprint which is available here - http://www.christisall.org/hub-book.

Addressing the current imbalance

Even amongst many who have fled the ranks of the extended Dark-Age church, there is quite a bit of confusion and imbalance; this oftentimes proves to be equally as damaging as the failed system they are fleeing from. Many have swung too far on the proverbial pendulum, from Constantine’s courts of control to independent, Lone-Ranger status; which turns out to be equally imbalanced and unfruitful. Many who have left church institutions still lack clear direction and biblical foundation pertaining to the ‘how to’ of Christian connectedness. Without this biblical foundation, all sorts of humanistic mindsets arise, causing all sorts of false, self-justifiable behavior. It is crucial we refrain from straying beyond the boundaries of the Word of God. It seems that more people would be willing to trade their extra-biblical structures for a biblical one if only they were provided an unambiguous operational example which made apparent the biblical prototype.

The Current Realignment of the Church

Part 2 of 2

But when they resisted and blasphemed, he shook out his garments and said to them,
"Your blood be on your own heads! I am clean. From now on I will go to the Gentiles."

Acts 18:6

Realignment of structure

Returning to the word I received in Canberra, “From now on I am going to the Gentiles!” Dramatically casting out his garments Paul declared this under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. It was a declaration of the intent of God to move out from the traditional religious boundaries of the synagogue. For our ministry in 2005 this meant some significant realignments of our programme – the cancelling of several events that were focussed on the synagogue leaders – in today’s language the pastors of the institutional church. But why was this? I have had it said to me that I am against pastors and the local church. Unfortunately, I have to plead guilty, but not for the reasons they think!

Steadfastly Set on Prayer

The four legged plow horse

The life and ways of Jesus Christ are, and will always be, the primary illustration for Christians to model their lives from. If we are to learn from anyone else’s example, it is imperative that they themselves are, or were, mimicking Christ in their endeavors. Although it is not for us to simply copy the methods of the early church, we should definitely imbibe the principles emulated from the life of Christ.

Unseen in the Scene of Men

Blowing ‘our’ trumpet in Zion

A large part of the western church has become a scene of men that desire and perform to be seen of men. Like the flaunting Corinthians and wayward Jews of New Testament times, many ‘Christians’ these days have fallen prey to a public spectacle paradigm that is rooted in “the pride of life”. (1 John 2:16) Jesus sternly warned many to steer clear from a “seen of men” motivation. In the “Sermon on the Mount” He said: