Philosophy Of Ministry

Introduction

The goal of this paper is to outline the Biblical philosophy of ministry for Grace Bible Church of Tampa. In doing so, one will be given the answers to the following questions: How do we know if we at GBCT are conducting ministry effectively? What is the primary mission or purpose of the ministry at GBCT? What does this purpose look like when it is practically worked out at GBCT? The Biblical philosophy of ministry for GBCT will be explained in two main areas: 1) The priorities of a Biblical philosophy of ministry; and 2) The practical application of the Biblical philosophy of ministry.

The Foundation of a Biblical Philosophy of Ministry for GBCT

There are four Principles that must be the foundation for a Biblical philosophy of ministry at GBCT. These principles are what drive a Biblical ministry. The ministry at GBCT must always be examined in light of these principles. If the ministry at any time changes or undermines the validity of these principles the ministry at GBCT must change its direction. The application of a Biblical philosophy of ministry must be based on these four priorities for it to be a true Biblical ministry.

I. A High View of God

A. Character of God

The character of God must be a foundation for all ministries at GBCT. The need for a balanced understanding of ‘Who God is’ is a requirement. God is described in Scripture as holy. This means God is without sin. He is separate from all forms of sin and evil. His holiness requires holiness from all His worshipers. God is also revealed as one who is compassionate and gracious. These characteristics must be kept in mind. The kindness of God was revealed well by the Lord Himself in Exodus 34:6-7a. He stated He was compassionate and gracious; slow to anger, and abounding in loving-kindness and truth; who keeps loving-kindness for thousands, who forgives iniquity, transgression, and sin. It is crucial that these characteristics of God are understood by every ministry because the sinner needs hope for forgiveness.

Knowing and embracing God’s justice is as equally as important as knowing and embracing God’s grace for a ministry. The other side of this balance of God’s grace was revealed by the Lord Himself in the second half of the self-revelation found in Exodus 34:6-7. God stated He was just, in that He will by no means leave the guilty unpunished. God is also described as a just God who judges impartially in 1 Peter 1:17. God’s justice is righteous and gives a proper punishment for every sin. God’s Justice is not something to be taken lightly. It means that apart from the grace of salvation through faith in His Son, the sinner is bound for an eternal justice in hell. Ultimately, God’s holy character requires His justice.

However, it is mandatory to remember God is also love. His character is one of unconditional sacrificial love that is demonstrated to mankind through sending His Son to die for sin. His great love is also shown through His provision of rain for the crops and food for His people. He is a caring and generous God!  The ministry at GBCT must maintain a proper view of God’s character knowing that GOD is not defined by a person’s own personal opinion, but instead the character of God is revealed in the Word of God.  (Exo.34:6-7; Isa. 6:3; Rev. 4:8; Psa. 139:4, 99:5; John 3:16; 2 Peter 3:9)

B. Roles of the Trinity

1. The Father

God is revealed in Scripture as a Triune God, three distinct persons in one essence. Each of the members of the Trinity must be understood because each plays a tremendous role in the ministry of GBCT. The Father is revealed as the One who has sovereignly ordained all things. He is revealed as the One who causes a person to come to salvation. He is revealed as being perfect, thus He sets the standard for living. He is revealed as the One to be prayed to and the One who answers prayer. He is revealed as the One to be obeyed. He is also revealed as merciful and forgiving. He is revealed as the One who draws a person to salvation. He is revealed as all knowing and able to see even the secret things man does. He is revealed as the One who sovereignly prepared the works mankind is to walk in. He is revealed as active in the world He created. He is revealed as the One to be praised and thanked for the salvation that He provided through His Son. A proper understanding of the Father and His role will motivate a church to do things the way God that Father wills (Mat. 5:48, 6:8, 7:11, 11:25, 20:23, 25:34; Mark 11:25; Luke 6:36; John 4:23, 5:17, 5:21, 6:44, 6:65, 17:11, 17:25; 1 Cor. 8:6; Eph. 1:3-4; Col. 1:12-1)

2. The Son

The Son is the member of the Trinity who became a man and dwelt among humanity. He is both God and man. He is revealed as being God in Scripture especially in the Gospel of John. He is the foundation of the church. Faith in Him is a requirement for eternal life. He stated that there is no other way to get to the Father except through Him. He is revealed as the Good Shepherd who laid down His life for His sheep. He is revealed as an instrumental part of Creation. He is revealed as being the head of the church. He is revealed as the advocate for the church. He is revealed as the sacrifice for the church that provides forgiveness of sin through His blood. He is revealed as the High Priest who is making intercession for His church. A ministry must understand the role of the Son. Understanding the Son’s role in the church will produce a Christ centered ministry. The ministry must make the proclamation of Christ a priority because salvation is found in no one else! ( John 1:1, 5:18, 6:40, 10:15, 14:6; Acts 4:12; Col. 1:15-22; 1 John 2:1-2)

3. The Holy Spirit

The Holy Spirit is revealed as God. He is the member of the Trinity that is involved in the conversion and sanctification of the Believer. He is revealed as the Helper who comes along side of the believer to provide encouragement, illumination, and conviction. He is described as an integral part of regeneration. He is a guide to the believer. He helps the believer to remember the word and to apply the word to his heart. He is also the ultimate source of fruit in the life of the believer. Without a proper understanding of the role of the Holy Spirit, a ministry will become man centered. The ministry will think that it is one who talks people into salvation. A proper understanding of what Scripture says about the role of the Holy Spirit will keep the ministry from falling into this trap. (John 14:16, 14:26, 15:26; Phil. 1:6; Titus 3:5; John 16:7-14; 6:63; Gal. 5:22-23)

II. The Supremacy of Scripture

Understanding that Scripture must be the priority in ministry is a requirement for having a biblical ministry. The Scriptures have three aspects that make it a priority in ministry. These three include the Scriptures’: 1) accuracy; 2) authority; 3) sufficiency. The following will provide further detail regarding these aspects.

A. Accuracy

Scripture is revealed to be one-hundred percent accurate. While the church does not have the original autographs the reliability of the textual critical method guarantees a very, very high degree of accuracy for the present collection of Greek and Hebrew manuscripts. The church can count on the reliability of the Scriptures because of the inward testimony of the Word. The Scriptures are revealed to be true, inspired by God, and holy. Counting on the Scriptures’ accuracy is a priority for ministry because it gives the foundation of the ministry. Scripture also gives the ultimate framework for the way in which a ministry should be run. The accuracy of Scripture also gives validation to the message of the ministry. (Psa. 119:160; John 17:17; Col. 1:5; Psa. 33:4, 119:140; 2 Tim. 3:16; 2 Peter 1:20-21; Rom. 7:12)

B. Authority

The Word of God is revealed as living and active and sharper than any two edged sword. It is what the Holy Spirit uses to convert the soul. The Word of God is revealed in Scripture as foolishness to the unbeliever apart from the work of the Holy Spirit, but it is revealed as the power of God to salvation for those whom the Holy Spirit illumines. The Word is the Sword of the Spirit as revealed in Ephesians six, thus it is the weapon that is able to bring victory to the Christians life. The Scriptures are authoritative because they find their source in God. Because God is almighty, His word is just as powerful. What God says goes! For this reason the Bible should be the primary source of training and teaching for any ministerial programs. It is powerful; therefore it should be the primary object of what is taught. What makes a pastor’s sermons authoritative is not his position, but what he teaches. The sermon has authority because it is God’s Word not the preacher’s words. (1 Cor. 1:18; Heb. 1:3; Exo. 8:13; 2 Tim. 4:1-2; 2 Tim 3:16-17; Heb. 4:12)

C. Sufficiency

According to Psalm 19, the Scriptures possess the power to restore the soul, make wise the simple, bring rejoicing to the heart, enlighten the eyes, and endure forever. It also asserts to be more desirable than material or substance. For this reason, the Scriptures give us all we really need in life to live God honoring lives. The Scriptures are also described as the guide for the righteous man. The Bible also reveals itself to be profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work. This means there is nothing more needed to make a Christian adequate apart from the Holy Spirit applied Word of God. Therefore, any ministerial program must be conducted with this in mind (Psa. 19:7-11, 119:9, 11, 105; Eph. 6:17; 2 Tim. 3:16-17; Heb. 4:12).

III. An Accurate View of Mankind

Mankind has remained in a fallen state since the fall in the garden. He has lived with the effects of the curse, and his heart is so corrupted by sin that he is unable to do things that honor his Creator. This sinfulness of mankind affects everyone including the church. However, there is a way to stem the effects of the fall. This comes through the regenerating work of the Holy Spirit. He gives the believer a new heart and a new ability to avoid sin. A ministry must keep in mind this understanding of mankind in order to be effective. The complete understanding of mankind (before Christ and after Christ) is developed further below.

A. Before Christ

The intent of man’s heart is, as described by God Himself, evil from his youth. The Psalmist in Psalm 51 understood that he was brought forth under the curse of wickedness. The prophet Jeremiah describes the wickedness of man’s heart this way, “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?” The New Testament the Apostle Paul stated that all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. In Ephesians chapter, two Paul describes the state of the believer before they were born again. He stated, “And you were dead in your trespasses and sins, in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience. Among them we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging in the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest.” There is no doubt that mankind is sinful apart from the work of God in their heart. Therefore a Biblical ministry should keep this in view. If the ministry is dealing with unbelievers they should not expect them to act like believers. But it does mean that the ministry should teach the Word in love, calling the unbeliever to repent and believe. (Psa. 51:5; Gen. 8:21; Jer. 17:9; Rom 1:21; Eph. 2:1-3; Rom. 3:10-18, 23)

B. After Christ

The believer in the Church age obviously has a dramatic advantage over the unbeliever. First of all, He has been born again. This means that he has been given a new nature. This new nature desires not sin, but desires to know God. It desires to follow God’s Word. The believer also is indwelt with the Holy Spirit. This means that he has God living in his heart and thus having the convicting work of the Spirit to help keep him from sinning continually. However, there is still the lingering effect of the sin nature in the believer as revealed by the apostle Paul in Romans 7 and Galatians 5. The believer must continually put to death the old man. This battle will continue until he goes to glory. This truth must be kept in mind as Christians deal with fellow believers. There is not perfection until glory. People are going to say things that hurt one another, and this must be dealt with compassionately and gracefully. The believer is given the ability to avoid sin, but this comes through his relationship with the Lord. Ministry should focus on this relationship. The ministry should help the believer to grow in his/her understanding of the Bible and prayer for it is these two instruments that the believer is empowered by the Holy Spirit to become holy. Any ministry that does not keep this dichotomy in view will fall short of the Biblical illustration. (Rom. 6:4-10, 7:15-25, 8:10-13; Gal. 2:20; 5:13-26)

IV. A Proper Understanding of the Purpose of the Church

The purpose of the GBCT is to Glorify God. To glorify God means to give an accurate picture or explanation of God. Thus GBCT is to give an accurate picture of God. After all, the church is called Christ’s body. A Biblical philosophy of ministry should make this a priority. The way GBCT manifests this purpose is seen in four general categories: 1) the exaltation of God; 2) the evangelization of the lost; 3) the equipping of the saints; 4) the edification of the believers. The following will develop both the purpose of the church and the manifestation of the purpose.

A. The Purpose: To Glorify God

There are several scriptures that reveal that the purpose of the church is to glorify God. Worshiping God is an act of ascribing worth to God, thus glorifying God. This is what God required of the Israelites as they came to Mount Sinai after God had rescued them from Egypt. Worship is carried out both in the form of song, and in praise to God, but it is also seen by the obedience of the worshiper. When the believer is obedient to God’s Word, and having correct motives, it can be an act of worship. Jesus gave a great metaphor of what glorifying God looks like when He stated, “Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.” When people see a ministry doing good works that are obviously born of God, they will then worship or glorify God. The believer should automatically glorify God with His life and words out of gratitude for his redemption from sin provided by the Savior. The apostle Paul gave the extent to which the church should glorify God when he stated, “Whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” This should be the primary purpose of the ministry. All ministerial functions must be evaluated in light of this purpose. If they do not give an accurate picture of God’s character then they should not be conducted. (Exo. 3:12; Mat. 5:16; Rom. 15:5-6; 1 Cor. 6:20, 10:31; 1 Peter 4:14)

B. The Manifestations of the Purpose:

There are four general categories of ways a church can glorify God. These four will be developed in the following section.

1. The Exaltation of God

To exalt God is to magnify or proclaim His name. This exaltation of God is done by proclaiming the Word of God, by singing Hymns and Praise songs that magnify God, by living obedient lives and by praying with an attitude of dependence on God. This exaltation of God is done as a result of knowing God. The more a believer knows God, the more he/she will be able to properly exalt God. For example as the believer further understands God’s holiness, he/she will then be encouraged to live holier lives. The Apostle Paul stated it well in Romans 12:1, “Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.” Therefore a primary function of the church is to magnify and exalt God. Ministries must be evaluated based on this truth. (Psa. 34:3, 99:5; Romans 12:1-2).

2. Evangelization of the Lost

The second main way a church can glorify God is by evangelizing to the lost. The proclamation of God’s Word to the lost is one of the greatest expressions of worship to God. God had set apart Israel in the Old Testament to be a light to the gentiles. In the New Testament this is the role of the church. They are to proclaim the truth of the gospel, namely, Jesus coming to the world to save sinners from the eternal punishment of God. Many places in Scripture this expression of worship is demonstrated. The book of Acts is probably the greatest demonstration of this. The disciples went out after being given the Holy Spirit and began to proclaim to the Gospel to the ends of the known world. The responsibility is no different today. The church can glorify God greatly by proclaiming the Good news of Jesus to the lost and dying world. (Acts 1:8, 8:35; Mat. 5:16, 28:19; 1 Peter 2:12; 2 Tim 4:5).

3. Equipping of the Saints

A primary function of a Biblical ministry is the equipping of the saints. This literally means getting the believer ready for the Christian life. This involves continual teaching, training, and counseling of every believer until they go to be with the Lord. The apostle’s made it apparent that this was one of their primary goals. Paul spoke of his desire to complete what was lacking in the believers in Thessalonica, Colossea and in Corinth in his epistles to them. He also explained that this was one of the primary functions of the pastors, teachers, and evangelists in Ephesians 4:12. He stated the believers were to be equipped to do the work of the ministry. Jesus in His great commission appears to link ‘evangelism’ and ‘teaching the believers to obey the word’ together to form the full corpus of what is required of ‘making disciples’. The equipping of the saints is what causes the ministry to grow and to be an effective means of glorifying God in the community. It is the equipped saint who can then equip other saints. This should be one of the primary functions of the church. (Eph. 4:12; 2 Cor. 13:9; Col. 1:28; 1 Thes. 3:10)

4. Edifying One Another

While ‘Edifying One Another’ may be taken by some as the least of the general ways that a Biblical ministry can Glorify God, this could not be further from the truth. Personal contact between believers is an imperative for making a church strong. The western society appears to make this even harder than in other parts of the world. The church members appear to be extremely busy, and thus the fellowship that was so readily seen in the early church appears to be lacking. As people are around other believers, there is a natural discipleship that takes place. People are confronted in a loving way by their friends. There is also a level of accountability that takes place when people are highly involved in each other’s lives. While the meeting could become secularized in nature if not carefully watched, fellowship is a great way to edify one another.

The call of the Lord was to ‘love one another and then the world will know that you are My disciples’. ‘Edifying one another’ means to build one another up, encourage one another, pray for one another, and listen to one another. These are essential aspects of every Biblical ministry. (1 Thes. 5:11; Acts 2:42; 1 Cor. 10:23-24)

THE PRACTICAL APPLICATION OF A BIBLICAL PHILOSOPHY OF MINISTRY

There are two main practical applications of a Biblical philosophy of ministry: 1) the roles of the members; and 2) the roles of the ministries. These two main applications give some practical approaches to the ‘four foundation stones’ that can be conducted in a Church ministry. These two practical applications will be developed to present a frame work for the church ministry as a whole.

I. The Roles of the Members of the Church

The roles of the members are broken down into the roles of the general church body and the role of the leadership. These roles help to delineate the requirement of every member in the body and pinpoint some specific areas that must be addressed in establishing a ministerial focus.

A. Roles of Members

The role of each individual church member is one aspect that should not be under-emphasized or even neglected. Each member of the body has been given gifts from God that were given with the specific purpose of fulfilling the purpose of the church. These gifts are described in 1 Corinthians, Ephesians, and Romans. Each genuine believer has at least one of these gifts and most likely a kaleidoscope of them. Each member is thus required by God to exercise the gifts God has given him or her to help with the exaltation of God, the evangelism of the lost, the equipping the saints, or the edifying of the body. No one gift should be looked down upon as being a lesser gift. They are all given by God and important for the growth of the church. While some may involve more people and may be more noticed by the body this does not mean the less visible gifts are any less important to God’s Glory. What determines the effectiveness of the member is their willingness to use their gifts, and the quality they are willing to use them. For example, the man who does the sound system in a honoring way as unto the Lord is just as important and can bring just as much glory to God as the preacher who preaches a well prepared sermon. Both are being used to help with the proclamation of the word. (Rom. 12:3-12; 1 Cor. 7:7; Eph 4:11-16; 1 Cor. 12)

The roles of different age groups and different genders are well developed in the Bible in 1 Corinthians, 1 Timothy, and Titus. While each group has some specific areas of discipleship appointed to them, they are by no means lesser in value in God’s eyes. Their roles also help to define how the Christian is to behave outside of the church gathering. They explain how husbands are to treat their wives and vice versa. These roles at home are just as important as those in the church. They help to set the tone for worship in the home, the work place, the school yard and the church service on Sunday. While western society may see differences in these roles, the key discernment is found in the Scriptures where the roles are defined.

Again a role does not mean lesser or greater in importance. This is best seen in the Trinity. The Father is the one who gave what the Son was to say and the Son obeyed the Father. This in no ways points to the Father being of greater quality or essence because the two members are equal in essence. Equality does not mean, however, that everyone can be the leader, for this leads to anarchy and disunity. (Husbands: 1 Peter 3:7; 1 John 2:14; Eph. 5:25-30; Gal. 3:28; Single people: 1 Cor. 7:7; Wives: Titus 2:3-5; 1 Peter 3:1-6; Eph. 5:22-24; 1 Tim. 2:12; Gal. 3:28; Young adults: 1 John 3:18; 2 Chr. 34:3; 1 Tim. 4:12; Gal. 3:28)

B. Role of Leadership

The role of the leadership in the church is a very important part of a philosophy of ministry. It helps to establish a standard for which the leadership may be evaluated. The definition of a leader in the church is clearly developed in Scripture. There are three main terms that are used to describe the leader: elder, overseer, and pastor. These terms are often used interchangeably. Each term helps to give an explanation of the roles of the leaders of the church.

1. Elders

The qualifications of an elder are well delineated in 1 Timothy 3 and in Titus 1. In the explanation of the qualifications there are some insights into what the role of the elder in the local church is. The elder must be an example to his flock as a man of integrity. He must also be a wise leader who is not taken to the things of the world. He must be able to teach the Word of God. His family life is to be a good indication as to whether he will be an adequate leader of the church. Based on these qualifications, one can see the elder’s personal walk with the Lord and strength in their home life must be a priority. (1 Timothy 3:1-7; Titus 1:5-7)

2. The Overseer

‘Overseer’ is another term used to describe the role of the leadership in the local church. This term is closely associated with shepherding in Acts 20:28. Thus the overseer’s position is one of protecting or watching over the flock of God. He must protect his flock. He must help by pointing out the wolves in sheep’s clothing that are trying to devour the flock. He is required to understand that enemies that will come against the flock. He must preach the Word making application to the present day’s evils. This oversight must be voluntary, not out of compulsion, and with eagerness. The overseer must have a genuine love for his flock, and possess a willingness to share his life with his flock, helping them in their Christian walk. (Acts 20:28; 1 Peter 5:1-3)

3. Pastors

Lastly, the term ‘pastor’ or ‘preacher’ is used to describe the leader. This term points to the role of the proclamation of the Word of God. This is a very important role as the pastor. He is to do it with accuracy and with much diligence. He is required to preach the Word even when it is not a popular thing to do. He is required to preach the Word with excellence and in much prayer. This means the pastor is required to spend an ample amount of time to prepare His messages. He is not to take lightly this role. He is required to both explain the text and apply it to the church member. This complete process of studying, interpreting, explaining, illustrating and applying the text is called expository preaching. This is the required way of preaching the Word. The Word of God as mentioned previously is the power of God that brings salvation. So this task must be a priority for the leadership. (Heb. 4:12; 2 Timothy 2:15, 4:1-5)

4. The Listener

The leadership role is a very important role and is under a very strict warning as recorded in James 3, but the role of the listener is also very important. A person must be quick to listen and slow to speak. The rest of the body of believers must be quick to call upon the Lord to help him/her apply and understand the truth of the message so he/she can be a ‘doer’ of the word not just a ‘hearer’ of the Word. The leadership of the body of Christ must also be good listeners.  The leadership must encourage the entire body to approach them with their questions and concerns.  A biblical church has good communication between the leadership and the rest of the body.  If there are ever misunderstandings, the members must be quick to approach the pastors with their questions.  It is important to approach the leader directly if there are questions and avoid gossip for the sake of the unity of the church and exaltation of Christ. (James 1:21-27)  

II. The Ministries of the Church

A. The Cooperate Exaltation of God

The Cooperate act of worship has many different aspects. While there is much diversity in this area there are some major requirements. When the church body gets together to worship there are some general principles that must be maintained. First, the service should be God-centered, and avoid being man-centered. The principle reason for worship is to acknowledge the worth of God, not man. Secondly, the service should be conducted properly and in an orderly manner. This means each member should be careful to make sure that they are not a dramatic distraction away from God and on to themselves. Thirdly, the service should be one of excellence. This is more of a heart issue. The participants should be careful to give their best and to do all to the glory of God. Fourthly, the lyrics in the worship music should be Biblically accurate. This is a priority and sometimes it will eliminate some of the more contemporary songs. But there are some cultural differences when it comes to styles of music. These styles are a matter of preference more than Biblical mandates. These style differences are not to be a divisive issue. Each member must be careful to examine their own hearts as they come to worship with the congregation (1 Cor. 14:30; Ephesians 5:19; Col 3:16)

There are two main ordinances that are also acts of worship: Baptism and the Lord’s Supper. These two ordinances are both outward expressions of one’s faith. They both must be conducted after salvation. Baptism is to be done by believers and by immersion. This is a sign of the believer’s commitment to follow the Lord. It also points to their new life that started when they were born again. This is not to be taken lightly. In western society because the vast majority of people in churches who have been baptized, the risk of people getting baptized to feel that they are a part of the church or to think they are saved by baptism is a valid concern. So a brief class explaining what baptism is should be attended before baptism. In some of the Middle Eastern countries, this would not be necessary because if a person got baptized they were putting their life at risk, and it would likely indicate a true conversion. The Lord’s Supper is a sign to remind the believers of the death of the Savior for their sins. It is by no means a means of grace like the Roman Catholic Church claims. It is however something that should not be taken lightly. The apostle Paul warned the Corinthians of going to the Lord’s Table drunk. It is important that each believer examine himself or herself before they take the Lord’s Supper. (1 Cor. 11:20-30, Mat. 28:19)

There are two other major services that are different than the normal service: Weddings and Funerals. Both of these services are great opportunities to worship the Lord. The wedding is something that marks the beginning of a life-long marriage between a man and woman. This is to be something where the two people make a commitment before God and their friends and relatives to follow Christ as they take on the roles of husband and wife. This means it is a very serious act of worship and commitment. It should not be entered into lightly and there should be adequate premarital counseling before this is entered into. The service should be between two believers. While it is obvious that there are many unbelievers that get married it is best for the ministry to only allow for weddings between to Christians in the church. This is so that the support base of the Christian church is in place to help the marriage work. Along those lines the Word of God should be proclaimed in the wedding service so that anyone who is not a believer in the family may hear the Gospel. (Psa. 149)

The next major service outside of the normal service is the funeral. The funeral is a time to give both compassion and hope. The service should include an explanation of the hope that is found in knowing the Lord and Savior. It is another great opportunity to give the gospel to family members who are not saved and may be at point for receptiveness to the gospel. Jesus is a great example of how to deal with death. While we are unable to raise the dead like Him, we are able to point people to Jesus who is able to guarantee eternal life for all those who believe.

B. Evangelizing to the Lost

The church has a responsibility to evangelize to the lost in their own community. Jesus said to his disciples before he left that the Holy Spirit would come upon them and they would be His witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria and even to the remotest part of the earth. While this is not a direct call for the church today, there is a principle that can be extracted from this passage found in Acts. The principle is that the believer should proclaim Jesus’ power to save both in their own community (Jerusalem), and in their region and to the remotest parts of the world. This means the church should be evangelizing both in the community, in their country, and in the world. This is accomplished by personal evangelism, supporting missionaries, and even short term mission trips of their own. The local church should be training missionaries constantly. The local church should make missions a major part of their ministerial efforts. Programs can be used that help in evangelizing to the lost as long as the programs follow the Biblical philosophy of ministry. (Mat 28:2-19-20; Acts 1:8)

As much as possible, the church should be directly involved in the lives of missionaries. This can be completed by having mission conferences, having visiting missionaries speak before the congregation and even some short term mission trips. The young adults have a schedule that is especially conducive to these short term mission trips during their summer break. This is an option that should be considered depending on the maturity of the group. The church planting model is one that is very effective, and should be adopted. It states that churches should be trying to plant churches rather than simply paying for a missionary to stay in an area for a long period of time. By God’s grace, the local church should become self supporting as soon as possible. Then, that self-sufficient church should then start planting more churches. Obviously, in some third world countries this is very difficult and should be considered with a different standard. Some of these churches may need help for longer durations of time but they should still be working toward becoming self-sufficient. In order for all of this to take place the pastor must have a heart for missions similar to the apostles. (Roman 1:15-16)

C. The Proclamation of the Truth

The main way the believers can be equipped is through hearing the proclamation of the Word of God. This is done by expository preaching, group Bible studies, and personal Bible studies. As previously mentioned, the most effective way of preaching the Word is the expository sermon. Expository sermons attempt to proclaim the meaning of a specific passage.  The expository sermon strives to present a particular in the original context.  This sermon gives the author’s original meaning interpreted using the historical/grammatical method of interpretation.  The expository sermon includes application for the listener in their present context.  This is the method of proclaiming the Truth that has been shown to be the most faithful to the original meaning of the Scriptures, so it should be the primary method of proclaiming the truth to the church.  In Bible studies, the Bible is explained and discussed and then applied on a personal basis. Bible studies should also be faithful to attempt to give the precise meaning of all texts used from the Bible. The small group setting helps to make for more personal application. It also provides for accountability when it comes to being a ‘doer’ of the word, not just a ‘hearer’ of the Word. The small group leaders should also attempt to direct the group to the original meaning of the text because this is where the power for change in the believer’s life is found.  The Word of God explains what is required for ministry. Therefore, the Scriptures should be the primary instrument used to equip the saints for the work of ministry. (2 Tim. 2:15; 4:2; Titus 1:9; 1Timothy 4:13; 2 Timothy 3:16-17; 1 Peter 2:2)

D. Modeling of the truth

Another effective way of equipping the saints for the work of the ministry is modeling by the leadership. The pastor has a responsibility not only to teach the word but also to live the word. The pastor should be a model to the believers on what ministry looks like. He should be sure to train others to do what he does. This is exactly what Jesus did with His disciples. For example, the pastor should take people with him when he is witnessing to people in the community. He should have people sit in with him when he is counseling. He should teach the elders how to prepare a message from the Word of God. One of the keys to an effective ministry is delegation. In order for the pastor to delegate a task he must make sure the person first knows how to do the ministry task. (1 Tim. 4:12; Jn. 13:15; Phi 3:17; 2 Thes. 3:7; Titus 2:7; 1Cor 4:1)

E. The Prayer ministries

Ultimately, the Holy Spirit equips the believer. As previously mentioned, it is the Holy Spirit who works within the believer to complete what He has started. So, there must be a major emphasis in a church on prayer. The church must understand its need of God to work with them in order for them to have an effective ministry. Prayer should be a major part of every service and every person’s personal Christian life. Prayer is not simply coming before God and giving one’s physical needs, but should also include a major plea for God to work in the hearts of the believer’s and unbelievers in the community. A prayer emphasis should be modeled by the pastor, and should be a priority in every Christian’s life. The early church showed this emphasis on prayer as recorded in Acts 2:42. (Acts 2:42; Neh. 1; John 17; Eph. 1:15-22; 3:14-21; 6:18-19; Phil 1:4; Col. 1:9-10; 1 Tim. 2:8)

F. Biblical Counseling

Biblical counseling is another major part of the ministry of equipping the saints. The Scriptures assure the reality that all believers have been given all things needed for life and godliness. God has given the Holy Spirit to help the believer in His walk with the Lord. He has given Scripture that is sufficient to direct a person in what is necessary for living a Christ-like life. The only thing necessary is for the personal fellowship and counseling that the church provides. The Lord has gifted certain people to help in counseling people from the Word of God. These people are able to train others to help in the process of counseling. The church today has adopted many of the secular ways of psychology. This has watered down and even ignored the power of effective Biblical counseling. When applied properly, the Bible gives all that is necessary to deal with many of the problems that the average Christian faces.

This does not mean that there are not some major psychiatric problems out there that God has sovereignly given medical doctors to benefit these people. However, this obviously is not the majority of the cases. A person who appears to have a medical problem should be advised to see their medical doctor immediately. However, the vast majority of the rest of the problems with Christians can be dealt with through the grace, love, and truth of God! Biblical counseling is far superior to the psychotherapy that many offer today. (2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Thes. 3:12; 2 Tim 4:2; Titus 1:9; Titus 2:15; Heb.3:1; Acts 20:20)

G. Church Accountability

The Bible is very clear on how disputes are to be resolved between two people. As a matter of fact it comes from the Lord Jesus Himself. He stated, “If your brother sins, go and show him his fault in private; if he listens to you, you have won your brother. But if he does not listen to you, take one or two more with you, so that by the mouth of two or three witnesses every fact may be confirmed. If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector.” The important thing to remember in this process is the purpose of the discipline in the restoration of the brother or sister. This process should be bathed in prayer and should not be taken on lightly. The time the process takes to get to the church taking action is not set in stone. The process is something that should be well explained and taught over a period of time in a church before the process is fully implemented. This is to avoid a legalism mentality infiltrating the church. (Mat. 18:15-17; 1 Tim.1:20; 1 Cor. 5:5

H. Support for the Hurting

One of the major ministries of the local church is reaching out to the hurting in the congregation. At some point everyone in the church will go through some type of traumatic event. The church must be faithful to lift up the hurting and encourage them. This can be done through visiting them, sending cards, calling them, praying for them, helping financially, caring for cooking and cleaning needs, etc. The early church was an amazing example of this. The church should be careful to take care of their widows and orphans. They should also be attempting to help their community in these areas. This work can be a little overwhelming and can get out of balance with other ministries. If the church is not careful, this could get neglected. (Acts 4:34-35; James 1:27; 1 Tim. 5:3)

I. Fellowship gathering

The fellowship of the church is a major priority. In the western society the people are sometimes so busy that this can be neglected. Fellowship gatherings are a way of helping with the unity of the church. It is also a way of helping with training and equipping the believers. These events also open up opportunities for evangelism of those that might be more intimidated by the normal church service. These fellowship gatherings are a great way for believers to practice their Christ-like character to one another. (Acts 2:42)

The Church Covenant at GBCT

Having been led, as we believe, by the Spirit of God, to receive the Lord Jesus Christ as our Savior, and on profession of our faith, having been baptized in the name of our Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, we do now, in the presence of God and this assembly, most solemnly and joyfully enter into covenant with one another as a local church in Christ.

We engage, therefore, by the aid of the Holy Spirit, to walk together in Christian love; to strive for the advancement of this church in knowledge, holiness, and comfort; to promote its prosperity and spirituality; to sustain its worship, ordinances, discipline, and doctrines; to give it a sacred preeminence over all institutions of human origin; and to contribute cheerfully and regularly to the support of the ministry, the expenses of the church, the relief of the poor, and the spread of the gospel through all nations.

We also engage to maintain family and private devotions; to religiously educate our children; to seek the salvation of our kindred, acquaintances, and all others; to walk wisely in this world; to be just in our dealings, faithful to our engagements, and exemplary in our behavior; to avoid all tattling, backbiting, gossip, and excessive anger; to abstain from unbiblical amusements and activities.

We further engage to watch over one another in brotherly love; to remember each other in prayer; to aid each other in sickness and distress; to cultivate Christian sympathy in feeling and courtesy of speech; to be slow to take offense, but always ready for reconciliation, and mindful of the rules of our Savior, and to secure reconciliation without delay.