Philosophy of Ministry
What is a Biblical Philosophy of Ministry?
Every successful organization has some sort of purpose statement – an overarching definition of who they are and what they do. It is a basic declaration of why they exist and how they plan on accomplishing their task. A clearly defined purpose statement ensures that an organization is focused on its goal, undistracted by what is not essential, and able to measure their progress. This is what is meant by “philosophy” in this context. We are not referring to “the study of theories of knowledge” but rather what are “the general principles that undergird our conduct and actions.” Simply stated, your philosophy of ministry describes why you do what you do.
Why should I have Biblical Philosophy of Ministry?
As the old adage goes “if you aim at nothing you will hit it every time.” The same is true for ministry. A church which approaches ministry without a definite aim and direction, that can be clearly defined and communicated, sets itself up for failure in the long run. Valuable time, resources, and energy can be spent in many directions without ever having the sense that anything in particular was ever accomplished. “A hit-and-miss philosophy will have little to show for it after a lifetime of faithful service” and the impact of such a church will be certainly reduced (1 Cor. 9:26).
What Should a Biblical Philosophy of Ministry Look Like?
A Philosophy of Ministry must be rooted in the biblical purposes for the church. The Founder of the church and Chief Cornerstone- Jesus Christ predicted the church’s establishment (Matt 16:18) and provided its mandate (Matt. 28:18-20). The foundation stones- the apostles and prophets clearly explain the church’s function in the world and announce its goal (Col. 1:28; Eph. 1:16; 4:11-16). An approach to ministry that accurately reflects what Scripture teaches concerning the church can be summarized by three categories 1) an upward focus to exalt God 2) an inward focus to edify believers and 3) an outward focus to evangelize unbelievers. The following document attempts to clarify what is meant by these categories and identify some of the key components of a God honoring ministry.
Click below to download my Philosophy of Ministry.
Every successful organization has some sort of purpose statement – an overarching definition of who they are and what they do. It is a basic declaration of why they exist and how they plan on accomplishing their task. A clearly defined purpose statement ensures that an organization is focused on its goal, undistracted by what is not essential, and able to measure their progress. This is what is meant by “philosophy” in this context. We are not referring to “the study of theories of knowledge” but rather what are “the general principles that undergird our conduct and actions.” Simply stated, your philosophy of ministry describes why you do what you do.
Why should I have Biblical Philosophy of Ministry?
As the old adage goes “if you aim at nothing you will hit it every time.” The same is true for ministry. A church which approaches ministry without a definite aim and direction, that can be clearly defined and communicated, sets itself up for failure in the long run. Valuable time, resources, and energy can be spent in many directions without ever having the sense that anything in particular was ever accomplished. “A hit-and-miss philosophy will have little to show for it after a lifetime of faithful service” and the impact of such a church will be certainly reduced (1 Cor. 9:26).
What Should a Biblical Philosophy of Ministry Look Like?
A Philosophy of Ministry must be rooted in the biblical purposes for the church. The Founder of the church and Chief Cornerstone- Jesus Christ predicted the church’s establishment (Matt 16:18) and provided its mandate (Matt. 28:18-20). The foundation stones- the apostles and prophets clearly explain the church’s function in the world and announce its goal (Col. 1:28; Eph. 1:16; 4:11-16). An approach to ministry that accurately reflects what Scripture teaches concerning the church can be summarized by three categories 1) an upward focus to exalt God 2) an inward focus to edify believers and 3) an outward focus to evangelize unbelievers. The following document attempts to clarify what is meant by these categories and identify some of the key components of a God honoring ministry.
Click below to download my Philosophy of Ministry.
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