Aktualisasi Amanat Agung Yesus Melalui Tinjauan Historis Pertumbuhan Gereja Kristen Di Pulau Batam

Batam Island has diverse social characteristics that are shown by many ethnicities, traditions, and religions. This diversity exists as a result of the population on this island is dominated by domestic migrants from all around Indonesia. In line with the expansion of industry in Batam, the island's population is rapidly increasing, which is accompanied by the establishment of various types of worship places. Based on population growth, it is essential to examine the historical development of churches of all denominations as well as the establishment of worship places in other religions. The research method used in this writing is qualitative research method by conducting literature review related to church growth. The result of this historical review was, the growth of Christian churches in Batam is not as fast as the growth of mosques, but that does not mean it has decreased in number. They continue to grow and shift geographically in various ways. Clearly, Christianity has spread far from its historical origins and supports Jesus' great commission of making disciples of all nations, baptizing him, and teaching the gospel throughout the world. Abstrak: Pulau Batam merupakan wilayah dengan unsur masyarakat heterogen yang ditunjukkan dengan keberagaman suku, adat istiadat, serta agama yang dianut oleh masyarakat pulau Batam. Keberagaman ini terbentuk karena masyarakat di pulau Batam didominasi oleh pendatang yang berasal dari seluruh Indonesia. Seiring dengan pertumbuhan industri di pulau Batam, maka pertumbuhan penduduk juga meningkat pesat dan diikuti juga bertumbuhnya berbagai macam rumah ibadah. Berdasarkan latar belakang pertumbuhan penduduk tersebut, maka perlu dilakukan tinjauan historis perkembangan gereja dari semua denominasi dan juga berdirinya rumah ibadah agama -agama lainnya. Penulisan ini menggunakan metodologi kualitatif dengan melakukan penelitian kepustakaan atau kajian literatur yang berhubungan dengan pertumbuhan gereja. Hasil tinjauan historis ini adalah pertumbuhan gereja Kristen tidak sepesat pertumbuhan masjid tetapi bukan berarti berkurang dalam jumlah. Mereka terus bertumbuh dan bergeser secara geografis dalam berbagai cara, Jelas agama Kristen telah menyebar jauh dari asal usul historisnya dan mendukung amanat agung Yesus yaitu menjadikan semua bangsa murid, membaptiskannya dan mengajar injil keseluruh dunia.

Discipleship and Stewardship: The Essential Combination that Can Enhance Financial Stability of the Church in Africa

While discipleship and stewardship are essential aspects in Christian life, combination of the two terms can provide financial stability and spiritual growth in the church. This study employed the literary method through the collection of journal articles from America, Europe Asia and Africa with topics which have addressed the two aspects. The findings show that it is important that every church member should surrender his/her life to Jesus before surrendering all that he/she has to Christ. The study recommends that church members must be led to be faithful stewards and faithful disciples by precepts and example. Church leaders and pastors need to call church members to surrender their lives to Christ before calling them to surrender their wealth for supporting the work of God. They should also make calls that church members should not only give tithe and offerings for sustaining the gospel work, but they should also engage themselves in making disciples for Christ.

The Mandate Of Making Disciples: Teaching As Incarnational Ministry

This paper discusses how the Church can achieve the goal of discipleship through an “incarnational” model of teaching. It argues that teaching in the Church should be incarnational so as to realize transformation in the lives of people. Incarnation is used in the sense of the word of God which the Christian leader has been commanded to teach, becomes flesh and makes a dwelling among the people so that the learner can behold the glory of the word being lived out in human life. The Pastoral ministry must engage in teaching so that learners can become new creations who demonstrate the nature of Christ. In discipleship, the pastor acts as the teacher of teachers, equipping the laity so that they can teach others. Teaching, a key aspect in Christian education, is at the heart of discipleship. As such, for the teaching ministry to be incarnate, it must identify with Jesus Christ. What is preached and taught must become flesh in the teacher’s own life and help the learner to behold the glory of Jesus the Christ. Keywords: Discipleship, Pastoral ministry, Incarnational ministry, Christian education, teaching

Making Disciples in Croatia

This project explores how the Evangelical Pentecostal Church (EPC) in Croatia is making disciples of Jesus Christ today. The goal is to demonstrate that despite the worldwide and local deficit in effective disciple making, the EPC has the resources and potential to live in obedience to the Great Commission. This has been shown by looking at the historical definition of a disciple, exegeting Matthew 28:16-20, exploring the proper context of disciple-making, and interviewing several members of the EPC. Upon examination, while there are multiple causes for the lack of disciples in Croatia, the primary problem is that of what will be called naive disobedience. It will be argued that local churches in the EPC have not been taught how to properly make disciples. By presenting the importance of teaching, relationships, and practicing the spiritual disciplines, it will be demonstrated that a solution to the lack of disciple-making exists within the EPC.

Making Disciples in Croatia

This project explores how the Evangelical Pentecostal Church (EPC) in Croatia is making disciples of Jesus Christ today. The goal is to demonstrate that despite the worldwide and local deficit in effective disciple making, the EPC has the resources and potential to live in obedience to the Great Commission. This has been shown by looking at the historical definition of a disciple, exegeting Matthew 28:16-20, exploring the proper context of disciple-making, and interviewing several members of the EPC. Upon examination, while there are multiple causes for the lack of disciples in Croatia, the primary problem is that of what will be called naive disobedience. It will be argued that local churches in the EPC have not been taught how to properly make disciples. By presenting the importance of teaching, relationships and practicing the spiritual disciplines, it will be demonstrated that a solution to the lack of disciple-making exists within the EPC.

Making Disciples of All Nations: Spiritual Formation Education and Training Experience for Chinese Women Leaders

In 2004, a group of American women were challenged by the vision of designing spiritual formation curricula for women in China who were serving as leaders in their churches. This article describes the highly relational context from which the curricula came, and the premises that informed the design of the curricula based on two series of five retreats each held within fifteen months. In addition, the methods by which the curricula are regularly evaluated in order to meet the current needs of the women in China are described. The results have been ongoing use of the curricula since 2007 with documented positive effect upon the women of China, samples of which are included in the article. The curricula will continue to be in use in China and in other Asian nations as opportunity presents itself.

Practice Makes Perfect: Corporate Worship and the Formation of Spiritual Virtue

This article argues that corporate worship is one of the primary means of making disciples through the ritual formation of spiritual virtue. It explains that a disciple is formed not only through transmission of doctrine, but also through cultivating the heart's inclinations. Christian disciples are not only “knowers”; they are “doers,” observing everything Christ has commanded. Since people act primarily according to their hearts’ desires, pastors who wish to make disciples must concern themselves with the heart's inclinations. Such inclinations are shaped most significantly through habitual behavior in community, an apt description of corporate worship. This leads, then, to a discussion of the power of corporate worship liturgy–habitual behaviors done in the context of corporate worship–to incarnate biblical values and transmit them to the worshiper/disciple. When the liturgies of corporate worship are reenactments of what God has done in the gospel, these liturgies help to make disciples, for by reenacting what they are in Christ, Christian worshipers become what they are.