Effective Church Ministry

Hebrews 12:2

My cousin Barry sends me an email. Barry is concerned about church growth. He states that within the last five years he has seen a significant increase in seminars on church growth. Pastors want to know how to increase the number of people that attend their church. Barry is concerned for two reasons. First, are we supposed to be more concerned about numbers than making disciples of those that are in our churches? Second, Barry notices that there is an air of competition among pastors. When pastors meet one of them will say, “Last Sunday I had 300 people in my morning service; How about you?” “The pastor who had 53 sits there wondering what he is doing wrong.”

So, you ask what does Barry’s concern with church growth have to do with effective church ministry? As I am reading Barry’s article, I remember that in the year 2010 I was asked to speak to an association from the theme: “Effective Church Ministry 2010: Taking Ministry to a Higher Level.” Do you not see what is happening here? Both the church growth group and the church ministry group are looking for ways to do a better job of what they are trying to do. What do I need to do to have more members? What do I need to do to make the ministry in my church more effective? I should be growing in numbers the people that attend my church. My ministry is not as effective as it should be. I want to take ministry to a higher level. So, I find my notes from my presentation in 2010 and email a copy to Barry. For the remainder of this article I will highlight some of the points of my presentation.

Since the subject matter is ministry, let us start with this question: What is ministry? Ministry is defined as: 1. the act of ministering, or serving. 2. The office or function of a minister of religion. 3. Ministers collectively; the clergy. 4. (a) the department under a minister of government. (b) His term of office. (c) Such ministers collectively (Webster’s New World Dictionary with Student Handbook, Ed. David B. Guralnik [Nashville: The Southwestern Company, 1974]).

The word ministry is found in the News. “Ministry” is translated from the Greek word diakonia. It means “the office and work of a diakonos. Service, ministry, (W.E. Vine, Merrill F. Unger, William White, Jr. Vine’s Complete Expository Dictionary, [Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1996], 411).

From these two sources we get the idea that ministry is serving others and meeting the needs of others. The question now becomes, how can we better serve others? What can we do to be more effective in meeting the needs of those that we serve? These are all good questions, and I am sure that there are many other questions that can be asked. Further, the answer depends on who one is trying to serve. What are the needs of the ones that you are trying to serve? What is your purpose? What are your goals? What motivates you to serve? These are the notes from my presentation.

Ministry is Individual: Every Christian is a minister. Every Christian is called to meet the needs of others.

Ministry is Cooperative: co-operating or inclined to co-operate for obtaining goals and benefits.

Ministry is Corporate: united, combined, being alike

Life is a Journey: Ministry is Life

1. Choices

2. Control

3. Compliance

Church Ministry Begins with Jesus Christ

1. Jesus Christ defines our ministry: "Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." Hebrews 12:2 (NIV)

2. Jesus Christ commissions ministry. The Great Commission: "And he said to them, 'Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned." Mark 16:15-16 (NIV

• “Then Jesus came to them and said, ‘all authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.’” Matthew 28:18-20 (NIV)

• “Again Jesus said, ‘Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.’ And with that he breathed on them and said, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive anyone his sins, they are forgiven; and if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.’” John 20:21-23 (NIV)

• “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” Acts 1:8 (NIV)

The primary ministry of the church is to make God known in the World

1. “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled upon.” Matthew 5:13 (NIV)

2. “You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.” Matthew 5:14 (NIV)

3. “We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” 2 Corinthians 5:20-21 (NIV)

All Ministries must contribute to the overall mission and ministry of the church.

What determines what ministries are needed in a particular church congregation?

1. Discover and answer God’s call for the church. (Acts 16:6-10)

2. The Word of God and the Holy Spirit is the guide for the church. (John 14:25-26)

“What is God’s will for my life? - is not the right question. I think the right question is what is God’s will? Once I know God’s will, then I can adjust my life to Him. In other words, what is it that God is purposing where I am? Once I know what God is doing, then I know what I need to do. The focus needs to be on God, not my life.” (p. 14) “Watch to see where God is working and join Him!” (p. 15)

(Henry T. Blackaby and Claude V. King, Experiencing God , [Nashville: Lifeway Press, 1990.]).

Build on a solid foundation:

Matthew 7:24-27; 1 Corinthians 3:10-15

Establish Relationships:

Acts 2:42-47; Acts 4:32-37 (community)

Ephesians 5:20-6:4; Acts 16:1-2; 2 Timothy 1:5 (family)

1 Corinthians 3:4-8; John 13:34-35; 1 Corinthians 4:16-17; (colleague). Our relationships should not be like that of Saul and David, but like Moses and Joshua; Paul and Timothy

Choose leaders according to biblical standards:

Joseph (Genesis 41:38); Moses and Bezalel (Exodus 35:30-35); Moses’ helpers (Numbers 11:16-18, 24-25); the Twelve (Luke 6:12-16 and Matthew 10:1-5); church leaders (Ephesians 4:11-13; 1 Timothy 3; 1 Timothy 5:21-25; Titus 1:5-16)

Empower the leaders:

Assignment: Giving a person a task to do without having authority to make changes.

Delegate Authority: Giving someone work to do and giving them the authority to make decisions. Examples are: David/Mighty Men; Moses/Joshua; Paul/Timothy

Empower the congregation:

Luke 10:1-4 (seventy-two); Matthew 5:13-16 (salt and light); Acts 4:31-37; Acts 6:1-7; 1 Peter 2:9-10; Ephesians 4:7-9; (Christian Education) John 8:30-32; Matt. 28:18-20; Deut. 6; Joshua 1:7

Compete for the mind:

Rms. 12:1-2; John 1:1-5; Col. 1:24-29; Col. 3:1-17 (8, 16, 18); 1 Peter 2:9-10; Eph. 4:17f

Modern Philosophies: Pluralism; Relativism; Naturalism; Syncretism; Tolerance; Diversity.

In conclusion, I believe that church ministry can be effective only when the church is motivated by love. Yesterday my daughter and I were talking about ministries in the church. Abra says that believes that if we love there will be little need for many of the ministries that we have in the church. She said that we just need to love God, love ourselves, and love others. Jesus says to us, ‘“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself. All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments’” (Matt. 22:37-40, NIV). The church should not feel pressured by the world to meet the needs of the community. There are no magic formulas to make church ministry effect. Jesus gives us the authority, the assignment, and the assurance that He is with us until the end.