Twelve Ordinary Men

by John MacArthur

Contrary to popular belief, we do not have to be perfect to do God's work. Look no further than the twelve disciples whose many weaknesses are forever preserved throughout the pages of the New Testament. Jesus chose ordinary men - fisherman, tax collectors, political zealots - and turned their weakness into strength, producing greatness from utter uselessness. MacArthur draws principles from Christ's careful, hands-on training of the original twelve disciples for today's modern disciple - you.

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Hardcover, 224 pages

Published November 18th 2002 by Thomas Nelson (first published 2002)

tags: theology, spirituality, faith, christianity, religion, nonfiction, christian living, discipleship, history, christian

Book Quotes

“There's a third element of the raw material that makes a true leader: involvement. True leaders are always in the middle of the action. They do not sit in the background telling everyone else what to do while they live a life of comfort away from the fray.”

― John MacArthur

“A dozen men under the power of the Holy Spirit are a more potent force than the teeming masses whose initial enthusiasm for Jesus was apparently provoked by little more than sheer curiosity.”

― John MacArthur

“The New Testament tells us plenty about Judas—enough to accomplish two things: First, the life of Judas reminds us that it is possible to be near Christ and associate with Him closely (but superficially) and yet become utterly hardened in sin. Second, Judas reminds us that no matter how sinful a person may be, no matter what treachery he or she may attempt against God, the purpose of God cannot be thwarted. Even the worst act of treachery works toward the fulfillment of the divine plan. God's sovereign plan cannot be overthrown even by the most cunning schemes of those who hate Him.”

― John MacArthur

“El verdadero líder es alguien que sirve, no alguien que exige que se le sirva.”

― John MacArthur

“un verdadero líder no solamente exige sumisión; él es un ejemplo de sumisión a través de someterse al Señor y a aquellos en autoridad sobre él. Todo”

― John MacArthur

“J. R. Miller wrote, "The only thing that walks back from the tomb with the mourners and refuses to be buried is the character of a man. What a man is survives him. It can never be buried.”

― John MacArthur

“It is significant that Scripture doesn't cover their defects. The point is not to portray them as superholy luminaries or to elevate them above mere mortals. If that were the aim, there would be no reason to record their character flaws. But instead of whitewashing the blemishes, Scripture seems to make a great deal of their human weaknesses. It's a brilliant reminder that "[our] faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God" (1 Corinthians 2:5).”

― John MacArthur

“If Christ in His perfect humanity could not pour equal amounts of time and energy into everyone He drew around Him, no leader should expect to be able to do that.”

― John MacArthur

“Dios escoge a lo humilde, lo bajo, lo manso y lo débil, de modo que no haya la más mínima duda sobre cuál es la fuente de poder cuando sus vidas cambien el mundo. No es el hombre; es la verdad de Dios y el poder de Dios en el hombre.”

― John MacArthur

“For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called. But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, that no flesh should glory in His presence. —I CORINTHIANS 1:26-29”

― John MacArthur

“instant destruction would be fitting every time anyone sinned, if that were how God chose to deal with us. But, thankfully, it ordinarily is not. "His tender mercies are over all His works" (Psalm 145:9).”

― John MacArthur

“Por lo tanto, cuando observamos a Pedro, estamos viendo cómo Dios forma a un líder.”

― John MacArthur

“God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, that no flesh should glory in His presence" (1 Corinthians 1:27-29).”

― John MacArthur

“La primera es la curiosidad, en el sentido de inquirir. Cuando está buscando a un líder, usted quiere a alguien que haga muchas preguntas. Los individuos que no son curiosos, sencillamente no son buenos líderes. La curiosidad es fundamental en el liderazgo. Las personas que están contentas con lo que no saben, que se sienten felices de su ignorancia sobre lo que no entienden, que son complacientes sobre lo que no han analizado, y que se sienten confortables viviendo con problemas no resueltos, no pueden liderar. Los líderes deben tener una curiosidad insaciable.”

― John MacArthur

“Esa era la clase de fibra de la que Pedro estaba hecho: un deseo insaciable de saber, una disposición para tomar la iniciativa y una pasión para involucrarse personalmente.”

― John MacArthur

“Para que un liderazgo perdure debe estar cimentado en el carácter. El carácter produce respeto. El respeto produce confianza. Y la confianza motiva a los seguidores.”

― John MacArthur

“Mateo 10:2-4 Marcos 3:16-19 Lucas 6:13-16 Hechos 1:1-13 Pedro Pedro Pedro Pedro Andrés Jacobo Andrés Jacobo Jacobo Juan Jacobo Juan Juan Andrés Juan Andrés Felipe Felipe Felipe Felipe Bartolomé Bartolomé Bartolomé Tomás Tomás Mateo Mateo Bartolomé”

― John MacArthur

“La elección de los doce apóstoles fue un juicio contra el judaísmo institucionalizado. Fue un rechazo a aquellos hombres y a sus organizaciones que se habían corrompido totalmente. Por eso fue que Jesús no escogió a ni un solo líder religioso. En cambio, escogió a hombres que no tenían preparación teológica: pescadores, cobradores de impuestos y otros hombres comunes y corrientes.”

― John MacArthur

“Que Mateo, un ex cobrador de impuestos, y Simón, un ex zelote llegaran a formar parte del mismo grupo de los doce apóstoles es un testimonio al poder y gracia de Cristo que cambia vidas.”

― John MacArthur

“Pedro era exactamente como muchos cristianos son hoy día: carnales y espirituales. A veces sucumbió ante los hábitos de la carne; otras, actuó en el Espíritu.”

― John MacArthur

John MacArthur

John F. MacArthur, Jr. is a fifth-generation preacher who serves as a pastor-teacher of Grace Community Church in Sun Valley, California. He is also a prolific author, conference speaker, and is president of The Master's College and Seminary. MacArthur received a B.A. from Los Angeles Pacific College, his M.Div. from Talbot Theological Seminary, Litt.D. at Grace Graduate School, and D.D. from Talbot Theological Seminary. In addition to his administrative responsibilities, he regularly teaches Expository Preaching at the seminary and frequently speaks in chapel.

MacArthur's pulpit ministry has been extended around the globe through his media ministry, Grace to You, and its satellite offices in Australia, Canada, Europe, India, New Zealand, Singapore, and South Africa. In addition to producing daily radio programs for nearly 2,000 English and Spanish radio outlets worldwide, Grace to You distributes books, software, audiotapes, and CDs by John MacArthur. In thirty-six years of ministry, Grace to You has distributed more than thirteen million CDs and audiotapes.

John Fullerton MacArthur, Jr. is a United States evangelical writer and minister, noted for his radio program entitled Grace to You. MacArthur is a fifth-generation pastor, a popular author and conference speaker and has served as the pastor-teacher of Grace Community Church in Sun Valley, California since 1969, and as the President of The Master's College (and the related The Master's Seminary) in Santa Clarita, California.

Theologically, MacArthur is a conservative far-right Baptist, a strong proponent of expository preaching, a dispensationalist and a self-described Calvinist. He has been acknowledged by Christianity Today as one of the most influential preachers of his time, and is a frequent guest on Larry King Live as representative of an evangelical Christian perspective.

MacArthur has authored or edited more than 150 books, most notably the MacArthur Study Bible, which has sold more than 1 million copies and received a Gold Medallion Book Award. Other best-selling books include his MacArthur New Testament Commentary Series (more than 1 million copies), Twelve Ordinary Men, (more than 500,000 copies), and the children's book A Faith to Grow On, which garnered an ECPA Christian Book Award.

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