Our Philosophy of Ministry
It is virtually impossible to define a philosophy of ministry adequately in one or two statements. There are a number of underlying concepts and principles that contribute to a church’s understanding of its purpose and mission. Our attempt here will be simply to highlight those positions that serve as a major influence upon the way we approach the local body, the church universal, and the world around us.
Many times, an effective way to explain something is by comparison, a tool that we will incorporate here to highlight some of our distinctives. Our attempt in this is not to be critical of others, but simply to show how we may be different from what you may have experienced, and the reasons for these differences
Many evangelical churches today have philosophies of ministry that are dependent upon the latest fads of church growth or the newest techniques in evangelism. These churches exist primarily to get unbelievers to attend church or to evangelize the unsaved. Such an approach confuses one aspect of mission with the general ministry of the church. According to Scripture, the church is the gathering of believers. In 1 Corinthians, Paul even seems to suggest that unbelievers present in the service would be an unusual or irregular event, certainly not a goal or the central focus of ministry.
The biblical pattern is that believers gather together to grow and mature, to worship God, to encourage one another, and to prepare to reach out to an unbelieving world. As C. S. Lewis so astutely observed:
“In enemy-occupied territory—that is what this world is. Christianity is the story of how the rightful king has landed, you might say landed in disguise, and is calling us all to take part in a great campaign of sabotage. When you go to church you are really listening in to the secret wireless from our friends: that is why the enemy is so anxious to prevent us from going.”
Without pressing the battle metaphor too literally, this seems to be a very good picture of what the church should be. One might say that we gather together privately to receive instructions from our Lord, to encourage each other, to bandage up our wounds, and to return to the mission field prepared to engage the enemy.
The ministry of the local church extends beyond its walls and has ripples that affect both the church universal and the world at large. Perhaps the best way to unpack a biblical philosophy of ministry is to view the church and its purpose as a three-tiered structure.
Tier One: The Local Body
We unabashedly believe that the primary focus of ministry of the local church is the growth and maturing of the members and believers who regularly attend. This is clearly the conviction of the early believers (Acts 2:42-47). Scripture speaks of many ways in which this emphasis is worked out in practice:
1. The mutual encouragement of believers
Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the day approaching. —Heb. 10:25
Here the writer of Hebrews speaks of the central need for believers to gather together, encourage, and uplift each other. To the author, it is a crucial element to keep the Christian from losing his or her mooring or being discouraged and drifting away to other things.
2. Equipping believers for ministry
To prepare God’s people for works of service…the whole body grows and builds itself up in love as each part does its work. —Eph. 4:11-16
Paul here gives a clear statement of the church’s purpose as that of equipping the church to be servants. This is seen as a preparation of the whole group through growth and mutual edification.
3. Teaching and instruction
Do not be carried away by all kinds of strange teaching… —Heb. 13:9
He [the elder] must hold firm to the trustworthy message as it has been taught, so that he can encourage others by sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it. —Titus 1:9
Less emphasized in the evangelical community today is the need of the local church to teach sound doctrine. Even a casual perusal of the New Testament will yield a clear emphasis on teaching sound doctrine and being able to discern and refute false doctrine. Too often today, church is only a gathering of those who enjoy similar styles of worship or social interaction. Without a clear standard of Christian teaching, many are embracing heresies that are outside the pale of orthodoxy. While it is true that doctrine can be divisive, a shared body of beliefs is actually the glue which holds the church together. Without this we have nothing.
See also 1 John 4:1, Jude 3, Acts 20:28-31, 1 Tim. 4:13-16, 2 Tim. 2:15 and 4:2, and Matt. 28:20.
4. Worship in spirit and in truth
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. —Col. 3:15
Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit. Speak to one another with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. —Eph. 5:19-20
These verses remind us of the important place worship is given in our common gatherings. This worship is based in gratitude for who God is and what He has done. Notice too, that in true corporate worship we not only speak to God, but we speak to each other. Good corporate worship will contain both vertical and horizontal elements.
5. Ministry by all
There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men. —1 Cor. 12:4-6
…so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it. —1 Cor. 12:25-26
This entire 12th chapter of 1 Corinthians is perhaps the clearest among many Biblical passages which tell us that the ministry of the local body is not just the realm of the clergy, but belongs to each member. Each individual member is gifted by God to contribute to the common good. Through these abilities we all encourage, edify, and serve the others in the assembly.
See also 1 Peter 4:10-11, Rom. 12:3-8, and Eph. 4:14-16.
6. Sanctification
Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ. From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work. —Eph. 4:15-16
. . . Teach them to obey my commandments… —Matt. 29:20
Our ongoing growth and discipleship was never intended to take place in isolation, apart from the local church body. This becomes quite apparent from the various directives we are given in the New Testament: Build each other up (1 Thes. 5:11); confess your sins to each other (James 5:16); spur one another on toward love and good deeds (Heb. 10:24); Teach and admonish one another with all wisdom (Col. 3:16); and pray for each other (James 5:16). So important is this ministry of nurturing growth and sanctification that God has provided specific instructions on how to deal with members who refuse (Matt. 18:15-17 and 1 Corinthians 5).
Tier Two: The Church Universal
In addition to this primary focus, a secondary tier of concern is for the church universal. Unfortunately, this is an area of ministry seldom taught in evangelical circles. Yet the scriptures are clear that we are obligated to those believers outside our own local body in a number of ways.
1. Unity in mission
Dear friend, you are faithful in what you are doing for the brothers, even though they are strangers to you. They have told the church about your love. You will do well to send them on their way in a manner worthy of God. It was for the sake of the Name that they went out, receiving no help from the pagans. We ought therefore to show hospitality to such men so that we may work together for the truth. — 3 John 5-8
There are numerous passages which speak of a local body’s relationship to other believers elsewhere in the world. In this passage, the author writes to commend the local church for its support to brothers, who, though strangers to them, were in need. In a contemporary setting, this might involve support for those doing work in missions or relief work, which go beyond the local assembly. It would also involve worthy projects that are supported by the wider Christian community.
2. Equal concern
If one part suffers, every part suffers with it, if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it. — 1 Cor. 12: 25-26
Remember those in prison as if you were their fellow prisoners, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering. — Heb. 13:3
The disciples, each according to his ability, decided to provide help for the brothers living in Judea. This they did, sending their gift to the elders by Barnabas and Saul. — Acts 11:29-30
This identification with suffering or rejoicing brothers and sisters elsewhere reminds us that we are part of a larger body of Christ and are expected to share in their joy and sorrow as we remember their needs and celebrate their triumphs. This is especially important in the case of believers suffering persecution throughout the world. It is part of our ministry to hold them in prayer and provide what material assistance we can.
3. Preserving sound doctrine
And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others. — 2 Tim. 2:2
We don’t usually see this as a ministry for the church universal, but it is a very important element nonetheless. As we train believers to understand and hold solid doctrine, we contribute to the well-being of the universal church by passing on to the next generation individuals who are solid in truth and able to understand and defend the orthodox faith.
The Third Tier: The World
Finally, we believe that the church has a ministry to the world at large through evangelism (Matt. 28:19-20), defending the defenseless (Prov. 31:8-9), holding leaders and individuals up in prayer (I Tim. 2:1-4), and serving as salt and light to a culture apart from Christ (Matt. 5:13).