The Stewardship of the Mystery - Volume 1

by T. Austin-Sparks

VOLUME 1
ALL THINGS IN CHRIST

The Stewardship of the Ministry was originally published in book form by Witness and Testimony Publishers in 1940. A second edition of the book was published in 1966.

The second edition of the book was based on a series of articles published in A Witness and A Testimony Magazines in 1964, Vols. 40-2 through 42-2.
This web version has been taken from the second edition reprinted by Emmanuel Church, Tulsa, OK.
Chapters
Preface to Second Edition
Chapter 1 - The Purpose of the Ages
The necessity for revelation—Paul’s revelation of Christ— The progressiveness of revelation as illustrated in Paul—The eternal purpose of God in His Son.
Chapter 2 - The Manifestation of the Glory of God
The purpose of the ages—The personification of the divine thought in a being—The lie and its outworking—Conformity to Christ essentially moral and spiritual—The gift of eternal life.
Chapter 3 - A Man After God's Heart
The divine purpose from eternity—The likeness is moral and spiritual—Devoted to the will of God—An utter rejection of the flesh—The price of loyalty.
Chapter 4 - Putting on the New Man
The significance of the term “old man”—The new man—(a) The primary feature—(b) A corporate consciousness—(c) A disposition—God’s quest is a man.
Chapter 5 - His Excellent Greatness
(1) Supreme dominion—The witness of history—(2) The bounty of Solomon’s table—(3) The glory of Solomon.
Chapter 6 - The Heavenly Man-The Inclusiveness and Exclusiveness of Jesus Christ
The Church to be what Christ was and is as the Heavenly Man—Nothing but what is of Christ allowed by God in the ultimate issue.
Chapter 7 - The Heavenly Man as the Instrument of the Eternal Purpose
The restoration of Heavenly relationship—Israel and the promises—Man by nature an outlaw—Christ and the Church —(1) The Word presented—(2) The Word germinating—(3) The Word (Christ) formed within initially and progressively —The gift of the Holy Spirit.
Chapter 8 - The Heavenly Man as the Source and Sphere of Corporate Unity
The unifying centre—Christ—God’s all and ours— Christ as God’s rest in the heart—Dwelling together in unity.
Chapter 9 - The Heavenly Man and Eternal Life
Eternal life in view from eternity—Redemption related to the eternal purpose—The lost treasure—Eternal life the vital principle of redemption—Redemption progressive in the believer by the life principle—The two-fold law of the life.
Chapter 10 - The Heavenly Man and the Word of God
Christ the beginning of the creation of God—The Heavenly Man in relation to the Word of God—(a) Begotten by the Word—(b) Tested by the Word—(c) Governed by the Word —The relation of the Holy Spirit to the Word of God and the Heavenly Man—The Word of God never to be set aside—The Sovereignty of God in the creative Word—The life principle established in the case of the saved.
Chapter 11 - The Heavenly Man and the Word of God (Continued)
The Holy Spirit related to the Word of God and the Heavenly Man (a) In birth; (b) In conflict; (c) In ministry; (d) In the life—A reiteration of the Divine purpose—the principle of incarnation—The Word of God and a living assembly—Christ and the Word of God are one—The necessity for heart exercise—The relation of the Word to the Cross.
Chapter 12 - Taking the Ground of the Heavenly Man
Christ the sole ground of God’s dealings with man—The meaning of the Divine appointment of the Son—The truth illustrated in the case of (a) Nicodemus; (b) The inquiring Greeks; (c) Peter and the Gentiles; (d) Paul and Israel—All natural ground must be forsaken—The witness of the testimonies to the truth (a) Baptism; (b) The laying on of hands.
Chapter 13 - The Corporate Expression of the Heavenly Man
One life in Christ—An inter-related and inter-dependent life—Gifts in Christ—Authority in Christ—The mind of God in Christ—The heart of God in Christ—Resources of God in Christ.
Chapter 14 - 1. Judas-The Indwelling of Satan in its Outworking. 2. The Heavenly Man-The Indwelling of God
The rejected natural man—The Heavenly Man of God’s election—The glorifying of the corporate Heavenly Man—The essential basis of the believer’s everyday life—The Church, a mystery of a Divine indwelling.
Chapter 15 - The Man Whom He Hath Ordained
God has not evolved or produced a religion—God has not presented a set of themes—Vital union with Christ the basis of God’s success—The perfection of the Divine provision seen in relation to (a) The problem of human life; (b) The problem of race; (c) The social problem; (d) The religious problem; (e) The problem of human destiny.