2. Church Leadership: Formulating A Biblical Philosophy Of Church Ministry

We talk about ministry as though it is self-evident what that term means and implies. As a general statement, we could say that Christian ministry is the activity and responsibility of the local church in the fulfillment of its biblically defined mandate in the world.

In this article, I am going to try to briefly define my biblical philosophy of church ministry by addressing the following questions: What is the purpose of ministry? What is “church” all about? Why does the church exist? These are fundamental questions that a biblical theology of ministry must answer.

I. What Is Church Ministry?

Further to what we saw in Part 1 of this series, the purposes of church ministry in their most basic form may be summarized as follows…

A. Obeying Jesus’ Commands.

1. The Great Commandment (Matt. 22:37, 39).

a) Worship of God.

b) Service for God.

2. The Great Commission (Matt. 28:19-20).

a) Preaching the gospel.

b) Teaching the truth.

B. Imitating The Early Church (Acts 2:42-47).

1. Teaching the apostle’s doctrine

2. Engaging in fellowship

3. Commemorating the breaking of bread

4. Praying together

5. Caring for one another

6. Worshipping God together

7. Actively evangelizing the community

C. Equipping The Saints (Eph. 4:12-15).

1. For the work for the ministry (4:12a)

2. For the edifying of the body of Christ…

a) “…until we all come to the unity of the faith and the knowledge of God’s Son, to mature adulthood, to the measure of the stature of Christ’s fullness” (Eph. 4:12b-15).

b) “…so that we may present everyone mature in Christ” (Col. 1:28; cf. also 1 Thess. 2:19).

D. Fulfilling Jesus’ Prayer (John 17:20-23).

1. For Christian unity through the presence of divine life.

2. For Christian unity through the evidence of divine glory.

From these summary texts and the broad scope of Scripture, it is evident that Christian ministry has as its priority, the worship of God followed by service for God in (1) the proclamation of the gospel, the fruit of which is the baptism of repentant sinners, and (2) the edification of the saints, all of which must be done within the context of Christian unity. These parameters continue to be the basis of biblical, balanced ministry today.

II. Why Formulate A Biblical Philosophy Of Ministry?

The tendency is for us to make up our own philosophy of ministry, based on our own concept of what the church is supposed to do and be. The truth is, however, that God has clearly laid out for us in Scripture what the ministry of the church is. We don’t decide on the mandate of the church - why the church exists (its purpose) and what it is supposed to do (its mission) - because the mandate of the church is already addressed and defined in the Bible. The Head of the church has already prescribed for us who we are and what we are to do because the church is his body on earth, his household, his family, his living entity on earth, not ours!

Our responsibility is to determine how to most effectively and appropriately achieve the biblical mandate we have been given in our local community and around the world at our time and place in history.

A helpful way to approach this is (1) to outline the biblical mandate; (2) to compare the biblical mandate to your actual ministry; and (3) to set goals to fulfill what is missing and / or to improve what you are not doing well. As one commentator has said: “Ministry does not exist independent of the church but rather as the means for fulfilling the purpose of the church” (Alex D. Montoya, “Approaching Pastoral Ministry Scripturally” in Rediscovering Pastoral Ministry, 66). It would take another series of lectures to outline a process for analyzing your church’s present ministry, setting goals etc. Suffice it to say here that it is vital to formulate a biblical theology of ministry to enable your church leadership to conduct an objective analysis of your church’s ministry in the light of its biblical mandate in order to ensure that your church is ministering effectively and fully according to its biblical mandate and mission.

III. What Is A Philosophy Of Ministry?

A philosophy of ministry is…

1. A simple a statement that consolidates and synthesizes the biblical material on the subject in systematic form (i.e. under certain appropriate headings).

2. A yardstick by which to measure the progress of your ministry.

3. A benchmark by which to assess the degree to which you are achieving your ministry responsibilities.

4. A structure that helps you to decide every course of ministry action in your church.

IV. The Benefits Of Defining A Biblical Philosophy Of Ministry

(Adapted From Alex Montoya, Approaching Pastoral Ministry Scripturally, In “Rediscovering Pastoral Ministry,” John Macarthur Ed., 66-67)

1. It forces us to be biblical. This keeps us from making up our own philosophy which might be unbiblical. When we impose our own philosophy over the biblical teaching of ministry, we begin to move away from God’s foundation and become focused on our personal goals, pet ministries, etc.

2. It makes practical sense. It helps us set actual goals that are consistent with our biblical mandate (cf. 1 Cor. 9:26) so that our philosophy of ministry becomes practical in our culture and community in our time.

3. It improves efficiency by preventing us from spending time on activities which are not part of the biblical mandate for the church. It defines the limits (scope) of current ministries and it is a measuring stick by which to make decisions regarding potential new ministry activities.

4. It heightens our effectiveness. If we have no clearly defined operational or philosophical parameters, then we won’t have clearly defined, achievable goals that are consistent with those parameters. We won’t have a road map, therefore, we won’t know where we are going, and, consequently, we probably won’t get to where we need to be. The early church knew exactly why they existed and where they were going and all their activity was focused on achieving those ends.

5. It helps us, as pastors, to stay on track. Ministry is a vocation in which it is very easy to get caught up with activities that are not necessary or are not part of the church’s biblical program on earth. We need to keep on course in our own ministry, doing what God has called us, gifted us, and mandated us to do.

6. It motivates the church to conduct itself in accordance with God’s plan for the church.

III. My Personal Biblical Philosophy (Theology) Of Church Ministry

Taking into account the purposes of the church as we have already defined them above, I have organized my personal theology of church ministry under seven headings. The sequence in which these topics are presented is not intended to indicate their order of priority but simply to provide you with systematic headings for these essential aspects of a biblically-based church ministry.

A. The Foundation For Ministry Is The Authority Of Scripture (2 Tim. 3:16-17).

The Bible is our ultimate authority for faith and practice. Therefore, the accurate and relevant teaching and preaching of God’s Word is central to who we are and what we do (e.g. Acts 2:42a; 2 Tim. 4:2; Col 1:28; 1 Cor. 1:23; 2:1-5; 1 Tim. 4:11). The exposition and application of the Scriptures is fundamental to the spiritual growth and development of God’s people (2 Tim. 3:16-17; 4:2-4; Eph. 4:11-16; Col. 1:28).

It is the responsibility of the pastor (and others who have the gift of preaching and teaching) to instruct God’s people in the “whole counsel of God” (Acts 20:27). This is best done by systematically preaching and teaching through books of the Bible, both Old and New Testaments, so that the scope of Scripture is covered. Such preaching and teaching should…

1. Nourish God’s people with spiritual food that they need to “grow in grace and the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ” (2 Pet. 3:18).

2. Equip the saints “for the work of the ministry” (Eph. 4:12-16).

3. Build up the body of Christ in their “most holy faith” (Jude 20).

The pulpit ministry, while very important, is only part of the whole process of Christian education and nourishment. I believe that the education, exhortation, and encouragement of believers takes place in a balanced environment of personal study, small groups, individual mentoring and discipleship, and pulpit ministry. What is of paramount importance is that the Word is preached and taught accurately and relevantly. “If the Word is taught, the church will grow in faith and love (Rom. 10:17) … The church leaders must see to it that God’s people continually devote themselves to the study and practice of the Word of God” (Montoya, 78-79).

Expository preaching is the biblical model for the public proclamation of God's Word. The term “expository preaching” is often misunderstood and associated with the clinical, dry exegesis of Scripture. However, that is not fair or accurate. Expository preaching, properly defined and practiced, is “the proclamation of God's Word in the power of the Holy Spirit, that explains its meaning accurately and clearly, and that applies its message relevantly and concretely to contemporary life, with a view to generating a spiritually life-transforming response from the hearers” (my definition). Paul’s exhortation is probably the shortest and simplest definition of true expository preaching: “Preach the Word” (1 Tim. 4:23).

B. The Confidence For Ministry Is Prayer (Acts 2:42d).

An active and dynamic prayer ministry is vital for the survival and growth of each individual believer and the church body. A prayer ministry should be diverse in its form (e.g. small groups, prayer partners, corporate prayer), broad in its objectives, and widespread throughout the church body. Prayer should be part of the life of the church body on a consistent basis (cf. Acts 1:14; 3:1; 4:23-31; 6:4; 10:9; 12:5; 1 Thess. 5:17) and must begin with the example of the church leaders (Acts 6:4).

Among other things, the church is to pray for its leaders (1 Thess. 5:25; 2 Thess. 3:1), pray for one another (James 5:16), pray for the authorities (1 Tim. 2:1-2), pray for the widespread and bold proclamation of the gospel (Eph. 6:18-20; 2 Thess. 3:1), pray for those who are sick (James 5:14-16), and pray for the unity and testimony of the church (Jn. 17:11-23).

We can learn much about the form and content of our prayers from the example of the apostle Paul’s prayers (Eph. 1:15-23; 3:14-21; Phil. 1:2-11; Col. 1:3-14; 1 Thess. 5:23; 2 Thess. 1:3-5, 11-12).

C. The Power For Ministry Is The Holy Spirit (Acts 1:8).

The Holy Spirit alone can and does make the ministry of the church effective and powerful. He alone changes people’s lives by bringing people into submission to and faith in Christ. He alone changes people’s lives into conformity with the will of God and into the image of God's Son (Rom. 8:29; Col. 1:9). The Holy Spirit alone has the power (1) to convict people of sin (Jn. 16:8) and grant them new life in Christ (Jn. 3:5; Tit. 3:5); (2) to enable us to live holy lives (1 Cor. 6:19; 1 Pet. 1:2); (3) to pray effectively (Rom. 8: 26; Jude 20); (4) to minister the Word with power (1 Cor. 2:1-5; 1 Thess. 1:5-6); (5) to glorify God in our lives (1 Cor. 6:20); and (6) to illuminate our understanding of God's Word (1 Cor. 2:13-16; 1 Jn. 2:20, 27).

D. The Bond Of Ministry Is The Fellowship Of Believers (Acts 2:42-47).

Our common bond in Christ is the source of our fellowship and our unity. Through fellowship believers express the local representation of the body of Christ (1 Jn. 1:7; Rom. 12:5; Eph. 3:6; 4:15-16; 5:23; Col. 1:18, 24; 1 Cor. 12:27). When believers are interconnected through authentic, loving relationships, they form a unity that provides strength and stability to the church (Eph. 4:1-6). This fellowship is demonstrated practically by serving and caring for one another physically (e.g. visiting and caring for the sick and elderly), emotionally and psychologically by bearing one another’s burdens (Gal. 6:2), economically by supporting those in need through the gift of mercy (Rom. 12:8, 13) and, of course, spiritually by using our gifts for the benefit of all (Eph. 4:12-16).

The care of God’s people is the responsibility of the local, denominational, and worldwide church, in which all the members of the body care for the interests of each other, supporting each other in practical ways, in prayer, and in love (cf. Acts 4:32-37; 6:1ff.; 1 Cor. 12:25; Gal. 5:13; 6:2; Eph. 4:32; 5:21). As Gene Getz succinctly states it: “Christians cannot grow effectively in isolation! They need to experience each other” (in “Sharpening the Focus of the Church,” 164). Church leaders, therefore, should ensure that the church body engages in regular fellowship as a community of believers with a common life in Christ, common goals, common needs, and common interests.

E. The Expression Of Ministry Is Intimate Worship Of God (Heb. 13:15).

In worship the church expresses collectively its awe of God and its debt of gratitude to God for who he is and what he has done. Don Carson describes worship as “the proper response of all moral, sentient beings to God, ascribing all honour and worth to their Creator-God precisely because he is worthy, delightfully so” (“Worship by the Book,” ed. D.A. Carson, 12). Vibrant and dynamic worship is vital to the life and health of the church as a body and its members individually. Worship must be a lifelong, daily practice for all believers individually in order for corporate worship to be effective and meaningful.

What does public worship include? Public worship includes (1) praise to God in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs (Eph. 5:19); (2) reading Scripture (1 Tim. 4:13); (3) prayer (Acts 2:42; Eph. 6:18; 1 Tim. 2:1); (4) preaching the Word and our response to it (1 Cor. 1:21; Titus 1:1-3; 2 Cor. 5:19-20; Heb. 4:12); (5) observing the ordinances - communion (Acts 20:7; 1 Cor. 11:23-26; Matt. 26:26-28) and baptism (Acts 2:37-38; 22:16; Rom. 6:3-5; Matt. 28:19); and (5) public testimonies by believers of God's saving grace (Acts 22:1-21; 26:1-23; Gal. 1:11-24).

The Lord’s table is central to worship because it symbolizes the very basis for our existence as believers and as a church. It focuses us on the remembrance of Christ’s death from the perspective of his resurrection, and, therefore, looks forward to his return (1 Cor. 11:23-26). The event to which the entire O.T. looked forward and which is the fulcrum of redemptive history ought to be vitally important and a regular occurrence in our churches.

F. The Thrust Of Ministry Is The Salvation Of The Lost (Rom. 10:14-15).

Not only is practical Christian ministry expressed in caring for each other as believers, but also in caring for unbelievers. Christian ministry must be missional in its character just as Jesus’ ministry was. We are to boldly proclaim the goodness of God in the gospel in order to reach the lost for Christ (Acts 5:42; Mk. 16:15; Rom. 1:16; 10:14-15).

This should be done in culturally relevant ways, both individually and corporately. The message of “repentance toward God and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ” (Acts 20:21; Rom. 10:9-10) should be regularly preached from the pulpit and our people should be trained and motivated to tell others the way of salvation.

In this way the church and its members become a light for God in the community (Matt. 5:14). Through prayer and financial support, they can also contribute to world missions and evangelization. Church leaders and pastors should facilitate corporate outreach, encourage and train the members in personal outreach, and motivate participation in world missions.

G. The Task Of Ministry Is A Church Wide Responsibility (1 Pet. 2:5, 9).

Ministry is not the responsibility of only the pastor but of all members of the local church - this is the doctrine of the priesthood of all believers. Ministry is a task to which every believer has been called (Eph. 4:12; Rom. 12:4-8; 1 Pet. 4:10-11) and, therefore, it is a task in which every believer should participate in some measure. As Christians learn and grow, so they must use the gifts God has given them in his service and for the benefit of the whole church (1 Cor. 12:1-31).

Church leaders should help each person identify his or her gift, affirm them in their spiritual gifts, train them in the use of their gifts, provide them with opportunity to use their gifts, motivate them to do so (Eph. 4:11-16), and commission them for ministry (2 Tim. 1:6; 1 Tim. 2:7, 4:14; Acts 13:3) either within their church, on the mission field, or wherever God calls them. In this way, new leaders are also identified and trained to provide spiritual leadership.

Indeed, church-wide ministry is not limited to each individual local church but extends to the body of Christ in its broadest scope. Thus, churches of similar theological persuasion should co-operate together at a local, national, and international level to engage in the full scope of church ministry that a local church could not do on its own, to hold local churches accountable to a wider body, to give visible evidence of the truth that we do compose a united body, and to make united decisions on issues that might otherwise be divisive. This practice was evident in the early church in discipleship training (Acts 11:25-26), relief efforts (Acts 11:27-30), as well as important doctrinal and practical decisions (Acts 15:1-36).

If a church becomes self-focused and separatistic in its attitude it runs the risk of becoming cultish, if not an outright cult. It cuts itself off from the larger body of believers and it fails to operate in practice as a New Testament church.

IV. Summary: What Then Is Ministry About?

The purpose of ministry is (1) to bring people to saving faith in Christ and then assist them to grow in Christ-likeness; and (2) to bring people into a vital, authentic relationship with God through the grace of Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit, such that every believer glorifies God in thought, word, and deed both in the church and in the world with the ultimate goal of presenting everyone complete in Christ (Col. 1:28; Eph. 4:13).

The purpose of ministry is not to “do” church. As Glenn Wagner points out, “The essence of the church must be more than just doing. The church must draw its essence from God and his righteousness and holiness. It must take shape based on his worth as Creator. It must reflect his glory as God, and when it meets and ministers, it ought to express back to God the glory due his name. There must be more to church than simple psychological encouragements, tips for improving interpersonal relationships, and helpful religious seminars.” (E. Glenn Wagner with Steve Halliday, “The Church You’ve Always Wanted,” 33).

Church ministry is not about ritual or routine religion but a living relationship with God, not about numerical growth but spiritual maturity, not about programs but about people. Ministry is about people who are wholly focused on God, powerfully filled with the Spirit, happily united in a community of grace, vibrantly exalt Christ, openly perform works of faith, accurately teach the truth, boldly proclaim the gospel, and authentically depend upon prayer.

Ministry is about people who are God-centred, Spirit-filled, gospel-driven, grace-related, Bible-based, Christ-exalting, community-focused; and prayer-dependent.

Soli Deo Gloria.