GFC Philosophy of Ministry

I suppose that if you were to visit a mall in your city and ask a number of people, "What is the church?" the most frequent answer would probably center on buildings and programs. But when God speaks of the church in the New Testament, He is not referring to a building or programs, but rather to people from diverse ethnic, social, and economic backgrounds that share a common faith in the saving work of Jesus Christ.

While the church can be viewed in a universal sense (all born-again believers in this present age: 1 Cor 15:9; Eph 1:22-23; Col 1:18), it finds its most practical express in local assemblies of believers (1 Cor 1:2; Gal 11:22; Php 1:1; 1 Thes 1:1; 2 Thes 1:1) who profess faith and allegiance to Christ and meet regularly for the purpose of worship, instruction, fellowship, and evangelism (1 Cor 11:18-20; Heb 10-:25).

One of the terms used in the scriptures to describe the church is a "body." This metaphor is particularly helpful in expressing the relationship that exists between individuals within the church (the members of the body) and their relationship with Christ (the head of the body). Just as a body is composed of many members, so is the church. While members are unique in their gifts and abilities (1 Cor 12:17-20), they cooperate together in accomplishing the will of the head.

As head of the church, Christ exercises His lordship over the church. Only as members of the body are in subjection to the Head and respond to His commands can the body function properly. It is under this Lordship that the member finds their unity and purpose.

Why does the church exist? What is its primary purpose? Why do we buy land, rent or construct buildings, sing hymns, and preach sermons?

At the risk of sounding a bit over simplistic, permit me to answer these questions with the simple statement "The church exists to bring glory and honor to God!" (Rom 11:36; Eph 1:11-12; Gal 1:4; Rev 4:11) No explanation of purpose can begin without an understanding of this foundational truth. If the church (the people of God) do indeed have a purpose or task which they have been called upon to fulfill, one can only assume that its ultimate goal is the glory of God.

In 1 Corinthians 10:31 the Apostle Paul explains that "Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God." Every action, every word, every church program is intended to bring Him glory.

While giving God glory is the ultimate goal for Christian endeavor, it still falls short of answering the more specific question, "in what way is the church to bring glory to God?" The answer can be found in the following, more specific purpose statement of the church: "The church exists for the purpose of glorifying God through the presentation of the gospel of Jesus Christ and the promotion of spiritual growth and maturity among her members."

In Matthew 28:18-20, a passage commonly referred to as Great Commission, Jesus clearly articulates the central purpose of the church:

"All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age."

At the heart of this instruction is the mandate to "make disciples of all nations." In Acts 1:8, just prior to His ascension, our Lord reminds His disciples that they are to be His witnesses, "... both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth." Our goal as a New Testament church should be to offer a clear and passionate presentation of the gospel of Jesus Christ that leads to the salvation of the lost.

In addition to evangelism, the church is also to be involved in promoting the spiritual growth and maturity of its members. In Ephesians 4:11-16 the Apostle Paul explains that Christ has given to the church gifted men for the purpose of preparing God's people for the work of the ministry in order that the body of Christ may be built up "until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ." (Eph 4:13). Paul's great goal in ministry, a goal for which he labored intensely, was to "present every man perfect in Christ" (Col 1:28-29).

Some questions:

• What is the motivation of the Church?
• What compels the child of God to faithfully share the gospel message with others, pursue spiritual growth in his own life and promote it in the lives of his fellow church members?
• Is it the prospect that he can in some way secure or enhance his eternal salvation through his own deeds?

Absolutely not! The Apostle Paul, in Ephesians 2:8-9, makes it clear that our relationship with God is not the result of our works, but is based solely on God's gracious love. It is God who has "predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved" (Eph 1:5-6). For the Christian, the desire to be faithful to the calling of God comes as a result of experiencing His grace and love. "We love, because He first loved us" (1 John 4:19).

When the Lord Jesus was asked by an expert in the law, "Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?" He replied (Matt 22:37-40):

'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.' This is the great and foremost commandment. The second is like it, 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets.

The love commanded in this passage is a willful, determined love with generously chooses the interests of others over one's own interests. This quality of love is expected from the Christian because it has been expressed to him by God, who demonstrated His love in giving His son to die for sinners (John 3:16; 15:13; Rom 5:87; 1 John 4:10), and because it is an identifying mark of a true believer (1 John 4:7-8, 20-21). It is the love of God and the love for God that motivates the Christian to a life of faithfulness and service and compels him to reach out to those who need the forgiveness of sin that only God can provide (2 Cor 5:14).

"How then is the purpose of glorifying God through the presentation of the gospel of Jesus Christ and the promotion of growth and maturity in the lives of believers accomplished?" "What path is the church to follow in accomplishing these tasks to the glory of God?" The answers can be found in a consideration of the activities of hte early church as in Acts 2:42-47.

They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles' teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone kept feeling a sense of awe; and many wonders and signs were taking place through the apostles. And all those who had believed were together and had all things in common; and they began selling their property and possessions and were sharing them with all, as anyone might have need. Day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved.

There are at least four activities that were evident in the life of the early church as they gathered together, and therefore should be a part of every church program today. While these activities have been described in many different ways, I prefer to outline them using the acronym W.I.F.E. for Worship, Instruction, Fellowship, and evangelism. This seems to be particularly appropriate in light of the fact that the church is often referred to as the Bride of Christ (Matt 22:2; 25:10; Eph 5:32; Rev 19:7).

Worship

When the early saints gathered together, their meetings were characterized by an intense devotion. As they sat under the apostle's teaching, assembled for fellowship and prayer, and took meals together, it was apparent that the Lord was their central focus.

The immediate result of their devotion was a "sense of awe" (Acts 2:43a). This was more than music-induced goose bumps or "warm fuzzies" from a sermon. As their worship carried them into the presence of God, these Christians were overcome with the magnificence of His holiness.

True worship is not something God gives to man, but rather something that man gives to God. It is always personal before it is public and springs forth form a life that has been redeemed through work of Christ on the cross. Years ago, William Temple described worship in this way:

"To worship is to quicken the conscience by the holiness of God, to feed the mind with the truth of God; to purge the imagination by the beauty of God; to open up the heart to the love of God; to devote the will to the purpose of God"
     John Piper, The Supremacy of God in Preaching (Grand Rapids: Baker, 1990), 19.

It is this kind of devoted worship to God that is central to the program of the New Testament Church. Truly, God alone is worthy to receive our honor and adoration (Rev 4:11; 5:9-12).

The pastor must first and foremost be a true worshipper of God. He must then assist the congregation in the worship by helping them to understand the New Testament aspects of worship and by leading in the corporate worship of God during the various gatherings of the Christian community.

Instruction

A closer examination of Acts chapter two reveals that the early Christians not only worshipped God, they learned His word. Verse 42 explains that these believers "...were continually devoting themselves to the apostles' teaching...." Biblical teaching is the process through which new believers, likened to babies who have tasted the milk of the gospel (1 Peter 2:2-3), begin to grow. The Apostles considered the ministry of God's Word so important that they delegated other duties in order to ensure unobstructed teaching (Act6s 6:1-6). They refused to allow the pressing demands of the ministry, as important as they were, to keep them from the primary task of feeding the flock.

The ministry of the Word is no less important today than in the days of the apostles. Biblical teaching gives substance to the believer's faith and stabilizes him in times of testing. It enables the believer to handle God's Word correctly and to detect and confront error. And finally, the ministry of the Word equips the believer for every good work that God has prepared in advance for him to do (Eph 2:10; 2 Tim 3:16).

Fellowship

A third activity characteristic of the early church was fellowship. Early Christians would undoubtedly have a difficult time relating to the present day custom of sitting inconspicuously in church, then slipping out the back door during the closing prayer. When they gathered, they not only met to worship and learn, but to be with one another and to care for and share with one another.

The Greek word for fellowship, koinonia is a relational term which is also translated as "sharing," "partnership," and "contribution." Acts 2 gives us a picture of the church fellowship in Jerusalem.

And all those who had believed were together and had all things in common; and they began selling their property and possessions and were sharing them with all, as anyone might have need. Day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people.

Although we are not called to duplicate the first church's experience, we are called to build relationships that are marked by the same mutual commitment and care for fellow believers. In the early church, a real sense of community was felt as people generously gave for the benefit of others. Today, the local church supplies the same opportunities for meeting the needs of our Christian brothers and sisters.

When a person becomes a Christian, they now have a basis for an intimate relationship with God and with other believers. Because of Jesus Christ, we are invited to experience the shared joys and sorrows, intimacy and honesty, and forgiveness and encouragement that comes with being a part of the family of God.

Evangelism

The fourth and final activity in which every New Testament Church should be engaged is evangelism. Evangelism simply mean's "sharing the good news." For the Christian, the "good news" is rooted in the fact that, in Jesus, God has acted to meet the deepest needs of humans beings and to rescue us from the penalty and power of our sin.

The Christian message does not simply present a better philosophy, a higher moral vision, or a more pleasant prospect of life after death. The Christian message presents Jesus Christ, God's Son, as the one and only way in which sinful man can be brought in a right relationship with holy God. In Jesus, we meet God in the flesh. In Jesus, we meet resurrection power. In Jesus, we meet forgiving grace. In Jesus, we meet the living Lord.

As noted earlier, the church has received a clear mandate in Scripture to proclaim the gospel message throughout the world (Matt 28:18-20; Mark 16:15-16; Luke 24:46-47; John 17:18). Evangelism is the mission of the entire church. The secret of the church's explosive early growth is not found in its pastors, missionaries, or evangelists alone. The secret is found in the practice of average believers who faithfully shared Jesus with those to whom they came in contact (Acts 8:4). Their witness was not limited to their words but carried over into their lifestyles as well. Paul writes, of himself and Christians in general, "...we have renounced the things hidden because of shame, not walking in craftiness or adulterating the word of God, but by the manifestation of truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God."

Each local church must take seriously the role that they are to play in fulfilling the Great Commission. We must do the work of evangelists as we reach out with the gospel message to unbelievers living across the street and around the world. We are to pray that God would raise up laborers among us who will answer the missionary call (Matt 9:37-38; Acts 13:1-3), and we are to be faithful in supporting these missionary endeavors with our prayers and financial support.

Gifted Members

As I noted earlier, the church is not viewed by God as buildings or program but people who have been saved by grace and placed into the body of Christ to participate with God as He accomplishes his purpose in the world. To that end, God give the church spiritual gifts. First, He gives men chosen for the purpose of equipping the saints for the work of the ministry (Eph 4:7-12) and He also gives unique and special spiritual ability to each member of the body of Christ (Rom 12:6-8; 1 Cor 12:4-11, 28-31; Eph 4:7-12).

A careful study of the Scriptures seems to indicate that two kinds of gifts are given to the church: miraculous gifts of divine revelation and healing, given temporarily in the apostolic era for the purpose of confirming the authenticity of the Apostle' message (Heb 2:34; 2 Cor 12:12); and ministering gifts given to equip believers for edifying one another. With the New Testament revelation now complete, Scripture becomes the sole test of the authenticity of a man's message, and confirming gifts of a miraculous nature are not longer necessary to validate a man or his message (1 Cor 13:8-12). Miraculous gifts can be counterfeited by Stan so as to deceive believers (1 Cor 13:13-14; 12; Rev 13:13-14). The only gifts in operation today are the non-revelatory equipping gifts given for edification.

Spiritual gifts are bestowed upon believers for the edification of the church, the formation of Christian character, and he service of the community. This reception of a spiritual gift brings with it a serious responsibility, since it is essentially an opportunity for self-giving in sacrificial service for others.

Godly Leadership

Among the participants of the church are biblically designated officers serving under Christ and over the assembly. These two officers include elders (also called bishops, pastors, and pastor-teachers: Acts 20:28; Eph 4:11) and deacons both of whom must meet biblical qualifications (1 Tim 3:1-13; Titus 1:5-9; 1 Peter 5:1-5). These leaders leads as servants of Christ (1 Tim 5:17-22) and have His authority in directing the church. The congregation is to submit to their leadership (Heb 13:7, 17).

Certainly, much has been written detailing the responsibilities of an effective leader. Two portions of scripture are particularly helpful in formulating a biblical job description for spiritual leaders. The first is 1 Peter 5:1-3:

Therefore, I exhort the elders among you, as your fellow elder and witness of the sufferings of Christ, and a partaker also of the glory that is to be revealed, shepherd the flock of God among you, exercising oversight not under compulsion, but voluntarily, according to the will of God; and not for sordid gain, but with eagerness; nor yet as lording it over those allotted to your charge, but proving to be examples to the flock.

Peter touches on one of the keys to spiritual leadership - humility. Though it is quite rarer in today's world, humility is the essential ingredient in being an effective servant and leader. C.H. Spurgeon once wrote "if we magnify ourselves, we shall become contemptible; and we shall neither magnify our office nor our Lord. We are eh servants of Christ, not lords over His heritage. Ministers are for churches and not churches for ministers.... Take heed that you be not exalted above measure, lest you come to nothing (cited by John MacArthur, An All-round Ministry, [reprint, Pasadena, Tex: Pilgrim 1973], 256-257)

A second portion of scripture that sheds great light on the responsibilities of a leader is found in the epistles of 1 and 2 Timothy. In these two letters, written by the Apostle Paul to his young protégé, Timothy, Paul provides helpful instruction on the duties of a faithful minister. These duties can be summed up in five categories:

1. to be faithful in his preaching of biblical truth
2. to be bold in exposing and refuting error
3. to be an example of godliness to the flock
4. to be diligent and work hard in the ministry
5. to be willing to suffer hardship and persecution in his service for the Lord
   (John MacArtheur, Rediscovering Pastoral Ministry [Dallas: Word, 1995], 33)

And so we have come full circle. We have sought to establish a framework for ministry by drawing from a biblical understanding of the role and purpose of the church. Our deepest desire is that Jesus Christ might be glorified in all that we do. Together we join the Apostle Paul in voicing the prayer of Ephesians 3:20-21:

"Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen."