1. 1. Acts 2:42 church. 
   

At the heart of my pastoral ministry is Acts 2:42-47.  The early church was established and we see 4 major elements of that church.  They were committed to the apostles’ teaching, to fellowship, to breaking bread, and to prayer.  They didn’t look for clever ways to market their faith.  They simply focused on these 4 things and as a result, verse 47 says that “the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.”  Real church growth and real discipleship happens when the Lord produces the results.

2.  Every-Believer Ministry and Community

Simply, the church is to be the “body of Christ.” When Jesus was walking around this earth, if you wanted to know what God thought, how God acted, what God’s truth was, you simply followed Him around. He was “the” body of Christ. Now that label has been given to those who have denied themselves, taken up their crosses, and followed Him. We are to be the body of Christ. We are to be the place where God’s truth is known and can be known; we are to be the extension of God’s love and healing grace in our world, both common grace and saving grace. We are to         reveal the plan of God for both salvation/rescue and the best way to live.

3.  Great Commission/ Great Commandment

My desire in ministry is to fulfill the Great Commission of Matthew 28 by “making disciples” and the Great Commandment of Matthew 22 by leading them into a deep and passionate love for God and one another.

4.  Life-Transformation

This is Romans 12:1-2 in a nutshell.  The church exists not to just teach and share great Truth and information.  It exists so that people’s lives can be transformed into the likeness of Christ.

5.  Authenticity

We live in a world and culture that is great at “playing” church but struggling at “being” church.  This necessitates authenticity and transparency which I believe starts with the leadership.

6.  Servant-Leadership (which multiplies)

Jesus modeled perfect church leadership.  In His model, He was the servant par excellence.  He led through servanthood.  I believe the church should be led by leaders, staff, etc. who are first and foremost “servant-leaders”.   I am committed to seeing a healthy leadership structure in the local church which includes biblical competence, godly character, genuine humility, and team chemistry.  Jesus also multiplied servant leaders.  He trained the 12 who trained others, and so on.  I believe an effective ministry is one which is multiplying servant leaders.

7.  Acts 6:4

I am most effective in ministry when I practice the principle of Acts 6:4 which says, “But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.”  In this passage the disciples recognized that pressing needs in the body of Christ could take them from their primary ministry of teaching and prayer.  I am committed in ministry to making this my priority.  My preaching/ teaching will only be as effective as my prayer and study.

8.  Growing not simply maintaining (ministry multiplication)

When we really believe that God can do great things and that the church is destined to win (“I will build my church...” Matt. 16:18) then we will not be content with a church that is simply maintaining.  We will have a “holy discontent” with the status quo. This implies a growing (multiplying) ministry (a church that is reaching its culture, planting churches, etc.).  I have come under great conviction that what a church offers determines what kind of seekers it will attract.  If a church is offering the unashamed Truth of scripture, it will attract people seeking a genuine relationship with Jesus Christ.  In the Parable of the Growing Seed in Mark 4:26-29, Jesus describes the Kingdom of God.  The follower of Christ sows the seed and then goes to sleep.  The seed grows “by itself”.  The implication is that we are not the energy behind church growth, God is.  Our responsibility is to sow true seed and then allow God to germinate it in peoples’ lives.  Church growth will happen “automatically” and will be healthy growth when we are committed to this principle.

9.  Passionate Worship

The body of Christ should be characterized by passionate and genuine worshipers of Jesus Christ.  Psalm 40:3 says, “He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God.  Many will see and fear, and put their trust in the Lord.”  The implications of this verse are that our worship not only glorifies God but it is a witness and testimony to unbelievers.