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The Purpose of the Church According to Scripture: Navigating the Tension Between Evangelism and Internal Spiritual Growth

 

The Purpose of the Church According to Scripture: Navigating the Tension Between Evangelism and Internal Spiritual Growth

Introduction

The question of the church’s purpose is perennial within Christian theology and ministry—a question that reaches to the heart of both biblical self-understanding and practical church life. In recent decades, a noticeable tension has developed between two poles: the outward focus of evangelism (often associated with the church's numeric growth and fulfillment of a commission) and the inward journey towards spiritual maturity through teaching, pastoring, and prophecy (the building-up of the body of Christ so it is mature and reflects Christ's image bearing fruit in the world). 

This essay explores the scriptural foundations for the church’s existence, examines the delicate balance (and sometimes unhealthy imbalance) between evangelistic and discipleship ministries, and assesses whether the prioritization of evangelism over internal growth might represent a subtle distortion of biblical intent. 

Particular emphasis is given to Ephesians 4, which provides a comprehensive taxonomy of spiritual gifts and a theology of maturity and unity, alongside an exploration of the roles within the body of Christ, a critique of numeric-driven church growth strategies, and perspectives from both church history and contemporary ecclesiology.

Biblical Definitions of the Church and Its Purpose

Scripture presents the church—from the Greek term ekklesia, meaning “assembly” or “called-out ones”—as both a universal and local reality. The church is depicted as the body of Christ, comprised of all believers in every age and place, but actualized in local gatherings that worship, learn, and serve together. Jesus’ declaration, “I will build my church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it” (Matthew 16:18), frames the church as a divine initiative, founded not on human strategy but on the confession of Christ and the work of the triune God.

The fundamental purposes of the church in the New Testament are multi-faceted:

  • Glorify God through worship and transformation
  • Foster unity and fellowship in truth and love among believers
  • Build up the faith and maturity of members through teaching and discipleship, so they reflect the image of Christ.
  • Serve as the primary agent for the proclamation of the gospel (evangelism)
  • Demonstrate Christ’s love through acts of mercy and justice
  • Serve as stewards of the apostolic faith and guardians of scriptural truth
  • Provide lifelong spiritual transformation and preparation for eternity

Key passages (Ephesians 2:19-22;1 Corinthians 12) emphasize the church’s essential character as a spiritual family, a functioning body, a temple of the Holy Spirit, and a chosen people with a distinctive calling in the world.

Mission of the Church and the Commissions 

At the heart of the church’s mission stands the commissions—Jesus’ final directive to his disciples. One is called the "great commission" saying; "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them... and teaching them to obey all that I have commanded you” (Matthew 28:19-20). 

Though the one in Matthew is called the "great commission" by men the writers of the gospels each record a somewhat different version, for a broader view see The Commission According to the Gospels. As the article states the writers were probably biased in what they perceived their commission to be because of their gifts. 

Careful exegesis of Mathew reveals the commission as a dual command: to make disciples and to teach them to obey all that Jesus has commanded. This integrates evangelism (the winning of converts) with teaching and discipleship (the transformation of followers), placing neither above the other but binding them together as inseparable aspects of the same mission. 

Mark and Luke is more evangelistic focused, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel..." (Mark 16:15-18). This text, along with "You will be my witnesses... to the ends of the earth" (Acts 1:8; John 20:21l;Mark 16:15) has provided impetus for the global spread of Christianity and undergirds church outreach and missionary endeavor.

The last words of Jesus we see in the gospel of John are related to taking care of his sheep, being a shepherd or pastoring (John 21). So is one commission greater than the other? Is one gift greater than the other? Not according to Paul. Each member works together for the work of ministry, and greater honor is given to the least so there is no division. 

Each member must exist for a body to function wholly. Evangelism, and pastoring, and teaching... are gifts given to the church for the purpose of building it up (Ephesians 4). Think of how disjointed the body would be if all were to focus on evangelism. For example, instead of a pastor "caring for the sheep" he is neglecting them in the name of evangelism and outreach. The argument that evangelism is the primary gift and primary goal of the church doesn't fit with this idea in Ephesians 4. 

Contemporary application often overemphasizes “going” and “making disciples” as universal commands, sometimes leading to the impression that every Christian is equally called to the work of evangelist. Yet the passage’s communal character, coupled with supporting texts such as 1 Corinthians 12 and Ephesians 4, reflects that not every member has the same role, but all are necessary for the fulfillment of the church’s trans-cultural, holistic, and lifelong mission.

Ephesians 4: Unity, Diversity, and Maturity in the Church

Context and Structure

Paul’s letter to the Ephesians contains perhaps the most profound theological treatment of the church’s internal life and spiritual purpose. Ephesians 4:1-16 is particularly foundational for understanding the interplay between unity, diversity of gifts, and the maturation process of the body of Christ. Paul’s vision moves in three phases:

  1. Unity of the Spirit (Ephesians 4;1-6): Believers are urged to preserve the unity given by the Spirit, rooted in the one hope, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one Father of us all who is in all and above all... God placed Jesus as head of the church, Ephesians 1, so we grow into fullness in him. 
  2. Diversity of Gifts (Ephesians 4:7-12): The ascended Christ distributes spiritual gifts to all (not authority which belongs to Christ who is head, but the great or mature become last for the purpose of building up the least), with a particular listing of gifts—apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers—whose role is to equip all believers for ministry.
  3. The Goal of Maturity (Ephesians 4:13-16): The ultimate aim is the attainment of spiritual maturity—defined as unity in faith, knowledge of the Son of God, and mature adulthood, the measure being like Christ's stature—such maturity protects from false teaching and grows the church truth in love. Evangelism plays a role in this end goal as it brings God's chosen elect into the fold.

Taxonomy of Spiritual Gifts in Ephesians 4

Ephesians 4:11 enumerates five “equipping gifts”—apostle, prophet, evangelist, pastor, and teacher (sometimes rendered pastor-teacher as a composite role). Unlike lists in 1 Corinthians 12 and Romans 12, these are less about individual charisms and more about persons given to the church for specialized functions:

  • Apostles: Sent ones, foundational witnesses to Christ's resurrection and doctrine, responsible for establishing and guiding the early church.
  • Prophets: Spirit-inspired speakers who both foretell (predict) and, more commonly, forthtell (illuminate) God’s word, calling the church back to fidelity and holiness.
  • Evangelists: Carriers of the gospel to new contexts, possessing a special passion and ability to proclaim Christ persuasively.
  • Pastors (Shepherds): Guardians and nurturers of the flock, overseeing, protecting, and caring for believers at the personal and communal level.
  • Teachers: Those with the gifts of knowledge and wisdom thus the capacity to communicate biblical truth clearly, fostering comprehension, discernment, and spiritual development.

This taxonomy underscores the need for a holistic ministry in which none of these roles is superfluous, and all are required for the robust health of the church.

The Goal: Maturity in Christ

Paul defines the purpose of these gifts as “to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain... to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ” (Ephesians 4:12-13). Can there be any greater purpose? Fullness is in regards to maturity and is both individually and corporately applicable to bear fruit and being a light to the world, "in him was life and that life was a light unto men" (John 1:3). 

There is evangelism that produces numerical growth and these elect are brought into the church and taught so they grow up into maturity. There is a Reasonable Service for new believers to enter, thus gifs of teaching are needed where the primary focus is maturity through transformation and growth, not outreach. To neglect or distract children into employing gifts like evangelism, serving and giving, neglects growth. 

Maturity is corporately attained; no believer is to develop in isolation or to grow lopsidedly or to neglect this reasonable service. Instead, each part, functioning according to its divine gifting, contributes to the spiritual stability and doctrinal soundness of the whole body (v. 14), enabling the church to avoid deception by “human cunning and craftiness” and to grow up speaking the truth in love (v. 15).

Ephesians 4 is unequivocal that maturity, not merely expansion, is the ultimate biblical measure of church health. The profound wisdom in this is that when the church matures to be like Christ, they exist a light to the world, bearing fruit.

Paul’s metaphor of the body (cf. 1 Corinthians 12/Romans 12) is deployed to illustrate the interdependence and necessity of every member and gift, and is explicit that unity is not uniformity—diversity is essential for the church to reach its goal in Christ.

Spiritual Gifts: Evangelism, Teaching, Pastoring, and Prophecy

Evangelism: Gift and Universal Responsibility

Is evangelism a calling for all, or a special gift enjoyed by the few? Scripture bifurcates between the vocation of the “evangelist” (Ephesians 4:11; 2 Timothy 4:5)—a person specially gifted for outreach—and the broader responsibility of all believers to be a witness to the world. 

Ephesians 4, with its specific office of evangelist, suggests not everyone possesses this particular anointing, just as not all are teachers or prophets. Other spiritual gifts lists (Romans 12, 1 Corinthians 12) focus on gifts but do not specifically name “evangelism”; rather, they describe evangelists as people given to the church.

Nevertheless, Christ’s command to his disciples and the apostolic example make clear that witness-bearing is a characteristic of all who follow Jesus (Matthew 28:19-20; Acts 8:4; 1 Peter 3:15). 

The question is one of emphasis and function: some are called (and empowered) to be evangelists, while all are called to embody and articulate faith to the degree they are able. To be a testimony and give account of the hope that is within them. Think of a fruit tree, it does not bear fruit until it is mature, then it naturally produces fruit in season as divinely purposed, no one has to tell the apple tree to produce apples. 

A mature tree was planted, watered, nurtured along the way, even a little pruning of bad branches is needed after it becomes fruit bearing. This is an analogy of what it means to be a witness and a light to the world and exemplifies the importance of growth in the church, so that it reflects, not dimly but brightly, the image of Christ to the world.  

The bifurcation of “evangelism as universal discipline” and “evangelism as special gifting” is therefore resolved by recognizing that the gifted evangelist equips the church for the shared, though diverse, work of outreach.

Teaching: Gift, Role, and Indispensability

The gift of teaching, referenced centrally in Ephesians 4:11 and elsewhere (Romans 12:7; 1 Corinthians 12:28), is integral to the internal health and maturity of the church. Those with this gift have a unique ability to communicate theological truths and apply them to life in ways that edify and mature the hearers. 

One chooses a teacher who builds up their faith. The great become servants of all for this purpose, not lording over them, but giving themselves up to build them up in their faith and knowledge of Jesus. 

The New Testament sees the teacher not merely as an information dispenser but as one who constructs spiritual foundations, preserves doctrinal soundness, and protects against heresy, (Titus 1:9; James 3:1). Establishing and rooting children in faith and love is important for growth and what strengthens the church, see Faith Made Effective Through Love.

A neglect of teaching—whether by downplaying its importance, treating it as spiritually inferior to more “dynamic” ministries, or failing to develop and recognize teachers—inevitably leads to spiritual immaturity (Hebrews 5:12-14), susceptibility to false doctrine (Ephesians 4:14), and a fragile Christian identity.

Certainly, lack of identity in the church will hurt evangelism. Do not be fooled, we are warned by scripture of false teaching that would hurt church growth and the world is watching what we do to one another inwardly. The commands of Jesus to love each other and the least of these his brethren are commands to focus inwardly and can not be ignored as they are intricately connected to whether we know Jesus and that to evangelism.

Pastoring (Shepherding): Nurturing and Leading the Flock

The role of the pastor (or shepherd) in Ephesians 4 is primarily that of spiritual nurturer, protector, and guide. This gift is often blended with teaching (hence "pastor-teacher") but carries distinctive pastoral functions: tending to the sick and weak, leading the lost, watching for spiritual dangers, and maintaining the unity and health of the flock.

Shepherding is not synonymous with “leadership in general” or mere administration; it is a calling to sacrificial, day-to-day involvement in the spiritual formation and well-being of souls. Like Christ who emptied himself and laid down his life, pastoring embodies the idea that once mature, the great embody Christ's example, a sacrificial service to become last to build up children in faith and love (Mathew 20:25-26). 

The prioritization of numeric growth or organizational expansion and administration at the expense of faithful shepherding can undercut both the church’s integrity and its long-term vitality.

Prophecy: Forthtelling, Accountability, and Edification

The prophetic gift in the New Testament is multidimensional, encompassing but not limited to prediction. Its principal task is to bring God’s message to bear upon the life of the church—encouraging, warning, rebuking, and igniting passion for holiness. Ephesians 4 lists prophets as necessary to the building up and correction of the church, alongside teachers and shepherds.

Most contemporary scholarship distinguishes New Testament prophecy from apostolic or Old Testament prophecy in authority and function, but not in essential purpose—edification, comfort, and conviction for the people of God (1 Corinthians 14:3-5, 29-33). Prophetic ministry is indispensable in confronting cultural compromise, calling the church to faithfulness, and witnessing to divine realities that transcend managerial approaches or demographic trends.

Discipleship and Internal Spiritual Growth: The Foundation

Biblical discipleship is more than a program or a set of classes; it encompasses the entire process of leading believers from spiritual infancy to maturity in Christ. This involves not only acquiring biblical knowledge, but having a spirit of wisdom and revelation in knowing Christ, an applicable faith, lived out in community and energized in love, that transforms others. To focus on numerical growth here is detrimental to spiritual growth.

Characteristics of Spiritual Maturity

Scripture describes spiritual maturity through several markers:

  • Knowledge and application of God’s Word (Hebrews 5:13-14; Colossians 3:16)
  • Christlike character, fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23). Think of correcting in humility and gentleness of Spirit, not demanding or lording over but being examples (1 Peter 5)
  • God grants a spirit of wisdom and revelation in knowing Jesus (Luke 8:10; Ephesians 1:15-18)
  • Perseverance and resilience in trials (James 1:2-4)
  • Capacity to accept truth or correction having a teachable spirit (James 1:20-23)
  • Unity and love within the body (Ephesians 4:13-16; Colossians 3:14-15)
  • Compelled by love not fear to obey Christ (John 14:15; 1 John 4:18)
  • Capacity to teach and guide others (Hebrews 5:12)
  • Doctrinal stability (Ephesians 4:14)

Discipleship is not instant but gradual, relational, and holistic. The church’s teaching and mentoring ministries are therefore not optional add-ons, but integral expressions of its identity.

The Tension: Evangelism vs. Internal Growth

The Current Emphasis on Evangelism

Contemporary evangelical churches—especially those influenced by the Church Growth Movement, missional theology, and the pressures of “celebrity culture”—frequently prioritize evangelism and outward expansion over internal spiritual formation. High-profile events, seeker-sensitive strategies, and an almost corporate enthusiasm for growth metrics can sometimes obscure deeper issues of spiritual health. 

Evangelistic fervor is certainly biblical and necessary. However, if it becomes dissociated from robust discipleship, the result is often a spiritually immature congregation susceptible to every wind of doctrine and every cultural trend. 

Blown about in all winds of doctrine, humans deceitfulness, will produce a church not able discern between a spirit of error and a Spirit of truth. If the blind lead the blind both will fall into a ditch. Children leading children will not cause healthy growth and maturity to flourish in the church.

The Dangers of Prioritizing Evangelism Over Teaching

By incessantly emphasizing outreach, the church risks:

  • Neglecting the biblical command to “equip the saints for the work of ministry” (Ephesians 4:12)
  • Fostering shallow faith and consumer Christianity. Think of false humility, piety, and obedience in order to be promoted.
  • Creating an environment where leaders and members feel pressured to “get results” rather than to pursue faithfulness
  • Depriving the church of its ability to recognize and nurture all spiritual gifts, especially those with gifts of teaching, wisdom, and discernment
  • Falling into spiritual deception, where numeric growth becomes synonymous with divine blessing, regardless of spiritual maturity.

Breaking the commandments of God.

This is the greatest danger of incessantly emphasizing outreach. A sign of a mature church is one who follows the commands of Jesus, primarily in how they love each other. This truth is spoken of in the words of Jesus and the new testament, see Prioritizing God's Children in Service and Care
    • We can't neglect the commands of Jesus in the name of outreach. 
      • There is a terrible mindset that is developed within the church that overlooks God's children in the name of outreach. As if outreach is being a dutiful servant and more important than obedience to the commands of Jesus. 
      • A servant that doesn't reflect the loving and merciful heart of his master toward the master's servants is an evil servant.
    • What we do to "the least of his brethren" we do to him. The least can be in the church, in the pew next to you... 
    • Jesus warns of doing mighty works in his name but not knowing him. Knowing him is loving his children. How can you love God whom you have not seen and not his children whom you have seen?
    • A lack of love for one another within the church is detrimental to evangelism.

The relentless push for numeric increase can, intentionally or not, become a form of “deceitfulness”—emphasizing external success while disguising spiritual stagnation or decline. This could be a conscious act or not, we are warned of wolves in sheep's clothing, false teachers, doctrines of humans and demons being introduced into the church to prevent growth... Certainly, it reflects an accommodation to the world’s priorities rather than a faithful engagement with Scripture’s priorities.

The Body Metaphor and the Necessity of All Gifts

Paul’s use of the “body of Christ” metaphor in 1 Corinthians 12 and Romans 12 is foundational to understanding the church's nature and functioning. The analogy achieves several objectives:

  • Affirms the equality and diversity of members: All parts are necessary; none is superfluous, the least are given honor to avoid division.
  • Underscores the differentiation of gifts: Not all are apostles, not all are prophets, not all are evangelists, not all are teachers (1 Corinthians 12:29).
  • Insists upon interdependence: The eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you.”
  • Warns against envy, pride, or disregard for less visible gifts.
  • Unifies these diverse functions under the single headship of Christ which emphasizes love as more important than gifts.

This metaphor stands as a corrective to all forms of spiritual elitism (where some gifts are prized and others neglected), and also to pseudo-democratic flattening (where all are expected to do everything, think of serving, giving, and evangelism which have been applied to everyone but are individually called out as gifts also). The biblical view is that every person is given unique gifts; the maturity and mission of the church require every member to discern, develop, and exercise their contribution in concert with others.

Scriptural Models of Church Maturity

The New Testament vision for church maturity is consistent and clear. As believers grow in Christ, the church reflects the fullness of the Savior's image, is protected from error, is marked by love and unity, and becomes ever more fruitful in mission.

Maturity does not stand in contrast to evangelism, but is its necessary partner. Mature disciples are the most effective witnesses; weak, untaught, or spiritually immature churches struggle to sustain missionary activity or resist cultural syncretism.

The call to “no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine” (Ephesians 4:14) is an explicit warning against churches that remain satisfied with first principles, while neglecting the solid food of Christian maturity (cf. Hebrews 5:12-14). Here, the gift of teaching and other edifying gifts are not mere supplements or “second string” to evangelism; they are primary, indispensable, and ultimately intertwined with the church’s mission.

Historical and Contemporary Church Growth Strategies: Critique

The Church Growth Movement, its “numeric intent,” and its pragmatism have shaped the modern ecclesial landscape, often for good but sometimes with unintended negative consequences. These include:

  • Reduction of success to metrics: Growth is often measured in terms of attendance, baptisms, or campus launches—sometimes at the expense of spiritual depth, doctrinal fidelity, and the nurturing of hard-won, lifelong faith.
  • Pressure on leaders and congregations: Focusing solely on numbers often leads to burnout, discouragement, and a distorted sense of failure among pastors and small churches.
  • Homogenization: Church growth strategies may neglect contextual differences and spiritual needs for the sake of reproducibility or branding.
  • Subordination of teaching and shepherding: When teaching, pastoring, and prophecy are seen as secondary to outreach (or even obstacles to rapid expansion), both the biblical mandate and the spiritual health of communities suffer.

Thoughtful scholars and practitioners now advocate a more holistic approach: numeric growth, while biblical, must flow from and support qualitative growth. Discipleship and mission are not in competition; rather, they must operate in creative tension and mutual reinforcement.

The Theology of Missio Dei and Church Purpose

The “Missio Dei” (Mission of God) motif, derived from the sending nature of the triune God, clarifies that the church’s mission is rooted not in its own ambition or programming, but in God’s self-giving, redemptive activity. God sends:

  • The Son into the world for salvation (John 3:16; Galatians 4:4-5)
  • The Spirit to empower and guide the church (John 14:26; Acts 1:8)
  • The church to participate in God's redemptive work among all peoples (Matthew 28:19-20; John 20:21)

Missio Dei theology insists that the church is not the source of mission, but the participant; the origin of mission is the heart of God. This corrects every form of triumphalism, programmatic activism, or myopic focus on numbers, and calls the church to a posture of humble, discerning, and holistic engagement with the world.

Conclusions: Toward a Holistic and Faithful Church

The highest calling of the church, according to Scripture, is to grow into full maturity in Christ—“to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ” (Ephesians 4:13). This maturity is wholeness and fullness of life and it is this life in life that is  alight unto the world. "For in him was life, and that life was a light to the world" (John 1:3). The word of life is proclaimed to the world so they too are have fellowship and joy, filled to the fullness of God (1 John 1).

Evangelism is an essential aspect of the church's calling, rooted in the very nature of God and the command of Jesus. However, making disciples means more than making converts; it obliges the church to teach, shepherd, prophesy, and nurture each believer to spiritual adulthood. None of these roles or gifts is dispensable.

The prioritization of evangelism to the neglect of teaching, pastoring, and prophecy is not only a strategic error; it represents a form of spiritual malpractice, potentially rooted in subtle deceit—placing numbers before souls, activity before authenticity, and publicity before holiness. It is not that evangelism and internal spiritual growth are at odds; rather, both flourish in the healthy, Spirit-led, and biblically faithful church.

The body of Christ is only complete, and only grows, when every part is valued, equipped, and active. The vision is not of a church full of hands, feet, or mouths, but of a symphonic whole moving toward the fullness of Christ. Pastors, teachers, prophets, and evangelists—men and women of every gift—must serve together, so that the world may see not a shallow crowd, but a holy, radiant, and mature church, “joined and held together by every supporting ligament... as each part does its work” (Ephesians 4:16).

In conclusion, the biblical purpose of the church is not reducible to evangelism or to internal nurture, but paradoxically to both. Evangelism without discipleship creates spiritual infants; discipleship without outreach breeds irrelevance and neglects the world Christ came to save. The only faithful church is that which, in the unity and diversity of the Spirit’s gifts, “declares the praises of him who called [us] out of darkness into his wonderful light” (1 Peter 2:9), demonstrates the transforming power of Christ, and builds itself up in love until all reach full maturity in him.

Key Takeaways:

  • The church exists to glorify God by both evangelizing the world and building believers to maturity in Christ, as set forth especially in Ephesians 4.
  • Evangelism is both a universal call and a special gift, but not all are called to be evangelists in the same way; the same is true for teaching, pastoring, and prophecy.
  • The body of Christ metaphor demands appreciation of every member and every gift; no single role should be exalted at the expense of others.
  • Numeric growth is not the ultimate biblical metric; maturity, love, unity, and faithfulness are.
  • Prioritizing evangelism over teaching, pastoring, and prophecy risks creating shallow churches vulnerable to false doctrine, discouragement, and unhealthy pragmatism. And people who do not love and prioritize God's children.
  • Scriptural ecclesiology, Missio Dei theology, and the historic witness of the church point toward a holistic model where all gifts are prioritized, all are equipped, and the church flourishes—as God intended.






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🕊️ New Testament Love: Loving One Another as Christ’s Brethren 📖 Introduction Love is the defining mark of the New Testament church. While outreach and evangelism are vital expressions of Christian witness, the New Testament places a profound emphasis on inward love—love among believers, especially toward the “least” of Christ’s brethren. This love is not sentimental or abstract; it is sacrificial, covenantal, and rooted in the very character of Christ. Jesus and the apostles consistently taught that the authenticity of our faith is revealed in how we treat fellow members of the body. 💬 Jesus’ Command: Love One Another as I Have Loved You Jesus inaugurated a new ethic of love within the community of His disciples: “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another. ” —John 13:34–35 (ESV) This command is not generic humanitar...
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True Widows: A Biblical Perspective

True Widows: A Biblical Perspective Throughout Scripture, God's compassion for widows is evident. He is portrayed as their defender, provider, and source of justice. The Bible repeatedly calls believers to care for widows, reflecting God's own heart for the vulnerable. However, in his letter to Timothy, the Apostle Paul provides a specific definition of a "true" widow, emphasizing the church's responsibility in supporting those who are genuinely in need. God's Compassion for Widows The Old Testament is rich with passages that reveal God's concern for widows. In Exodus 22:22, God commands, "You shall not afflict any widow or fatherless child." This verse underscores His protective nature, ensuring that widows are not mistreated or neglected. Similarly, Deuteronomy 10:18 declares, "He administers justice for the fatherless and the widow, and loves the stranger, giving him food and clothing." Here, God is depicted as a just and loving prov...
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Those He Calls He Equips

Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen . Hebrews 13:20-21 When God calls us he equips us, the God of Peace, the one who brought us from the dead by the blood of the Eternal Covenant, will equip you so to do his will. So in this concept of being equipped, we see the calling being irrevocable. "For it is God who works in you to Will and to act on behalf of his good pleasure" ( Philippians 2:13 ).  God called you, he's working in you equipping you to work on behalf of his good pleasure. "So that the man of God may be complete fully equipped for every good work." 2 Timothy 3:17 .  In Hebrews 12 we read God disciplines those he loves, so that we share in his holy character. As the scrip...
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