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In this episode of God Is Not a Theory, Ken Fish is joined by Richard J. Roberts and Joel Taylor for an insightful conversation about what healthy apostolic leadership really looks like.
With more than forty years of church leadership experience—and a unique background in family medicine, psychotherapy, theology, and missional leadership—Dr. Richard Roberts brings a thoughtful perspective to one of the Church's most pressing questions: How do we cultivate leaders who build healthy, flourishing communities instead of unhealthy systems?
Together, they explore the biblical model of leadership, contrasting today's organizational approaches with the New Testament vision of the Church as a spiritual family. They discuss why spiritual fatherhood matters, the dangers of pursuing titles and status, how authentic apostolic ministry produces communities rather than platforms, and why identity must always come before function.
Topics Include:
What healthy apostolic leadership looks like
Why the Church is called to be a family
Spiritual fathers and mothers in the Kingdom
The problem with titles and status
Leadership through relationship instead of hierarchy
Why identity comes before function
Building genuine Christian community
Family-based churches and church planting
The role of hospitality in discipleship
Creating healthy cultures for future generations
Whether you lead a movement or simply love Jesus and serve in your local church, this is a clarifying, refreshing conversation about what the church was always meant to be.
🔑 Key Takeaways
"Apostle" is best understood as a description, not a title
Identity precedes function—who we are comes before what we do
The church is fundamentally a family, not an organization
Authority in the kingdom is exercised through relationship, not position
Genuine community, not big meetings, formed the early church
Hospitality and shared life are central to mission
Suffering, not status, marks true apostolic ministry
For every believer: ask who is discipling you, and whom you are discipling
How to Engage with Orbis:
Check out Ken's book: On the Road with the Holy Spirit
Partner with Orbis Financially: GIVE
Are you interested in learning about Holy Spirit-led ministry? Visit Orbis School of Ministry at https://orbissm.com or email our Registrar, Jo McKay, at jo@orbisminstries.org
Upcoming Orbis Ministries overseas ministry trips are posted on orbisministries.org under the Train tab
Do you want to join Ken's private Facebook discussion group, "God is not a Theory?" Please send a Facebook Direct Message to Bryan Orbis and a friend request to be added to it.
📘 Check out Dr. Richard Roberts' book, Rediscovering Church as Networks: https://a.co/d/0hD3wTJW
👉 This is Part 1 of 2. Next week, Dr. Roberts returns to discuss toxicity in the church and its leadership—don't miss it.
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