Ministry Unit

Theological Foundations for MinistryMMIN 611 • Ross Cochran

Revised: 1.8.09

Dwelling in the Word

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Jesus

Theology

Community Ministry

Spirituality

Our Life in Christ

Four Cornerstones(1 Peter 2:4-12)

Hebrews 10:24

“And let us consider how we may spur one another on to love and good works.”

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And there is an antecedent to the church’s life (Jesus)

let us community

consider theological reflection; theology of the people; by the people; and for the people

How we may

An ultimate question for the church;

The question: “What is the church supposed to accomplish?” must always be followed by “How will the church accomplish this?”

spur one another on

on-going; continuing journey

To love & good works

Lived Christian faith:; Being & Doing; Transformation of Identity & Agency (Romans 12:1-2)

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Ministry - definitions• Any attempt I make because I am a

Christian to assist persons with their needs, whether those needs are immediate or ultimate.

• Any attempt to expose others to or involved others in the life (zoe) found in Christ.

• Any attempt = from a cup of cold water to world evangelism.

Thinking theologically about ministry and thinking ministerially

about theology.

WHY DO MINISTRY?

Jesus commanded it.Jesus embodied it.People need it.It keeps my spiritual focus aligned.

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Questions for Reflection

• What are your convictions about ministry?• How do you do ministry? • What is your praxis of ministry?• What forms does your ministry to others

take?

Create a ministry “pie”

involvement

teaching

preaching

counseling

advocacy

Foundational Texts for Ministry• Matthew 5:13-16• Matthew 11:19• John 8:1-11• 1 Corinthians 9:9-17• 2 Corinthians 5:14-21• Galatians 4:19• 1 Thessalonians 2:1-12• 2 Timothy 2:2

Revisit case:“Soldiers without an Army”

• How would you minister to this family?

Origins of Christian Ministry

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Theological Dimensions of Ministry

In continuity with Jesus’ ministryIncarnational

Exemplified by Jesus and PaulPastoral and Prophetic

Dynamics of Interpersonal MinistryImages of Ministry

As Holistic Engagement with the WorldAs Encounter with God

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Our Ministry in Continuity with Jesus’ Ministry

• Luke Acts• Jesus began Church continues• Incarnation 2nd Incarnation

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The Relationship of the Gospels to Acts is parallel to the relationship of Jesus to the Church

1. Literary relationship: continuity• Luke-Acts = part 1 and part 2

• Theological relationship: continuity • Seed & fruit• Shout & echo• Jesus & church• Gospels & Acts (& remainder of NT)

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Matthew 4:23

Jesus

Teaching

Preaching

Healing

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Matthew 4:23

Jesus Church

Teaching Edification

Preaching Evangelism

Healing Benevolence

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Matthew 4:23

Jesus Church Leadership

Teaching Edification Pastors

Preaching Evangelism Evangelists

Healing Benevolence Deacons

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Incarnational Ministry

• John 1:1-18• Blessing to others• Full of grace and truth• Revelatory• Jesus began ---> Church continues• Incarnation ---> 2nd Incarnation

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Incarnating the Word

• Incarnation: “The Word became flesh.”• We are the body of Christ. (2nd Incarnation)

– Implies Relationship with Jesus– Implies Relationship with each other– Implies Relationship with those not yet in Christ.

• Full of Grace & Truth (John 1:1-2, 14, 18)• You may be the only Bible . . .• How you are living speaks so loudly . . . • “Go into all the world and preach . . . (Francis of Assissi) • We need better “text persons.”

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Ministry as an Embodiment of Grace and Truth

• The structure of Ephesians as clue• The Grace of God dispensed in Christ (1-3)• Relationships within the church as grace-ful (4-6)• Relationships within the family as grace-ful (5:21-6:9)• Me as a grace-ful person.

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Grace in the ChurchGrace in the Family

Grace in Me

Eph. 4 - 6Eph. 5:22 - 6:4

Eph. 1 - 3

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Ministry as an Embodiment of Grace and Truth

• Armor of God (6:10ff)• Watchman Nee’s book on Ephesians

entitled, Sit, Walk, Stand.

Jesus models Ministry• His Incarnation

– John 1:1-2, 14, 18– Philippians 2:5-8

• His commitments.– Jesus was in the marketplace– Jesus’ primary allegiance was with the Father.– Jesus felt &expressed compassion, and that compassion led him to

act.• His compassionate action toward others.

– Luke 7:11-17 the widow of Nain– John 4 the Samaritan woman– Luke 19:1-10 Zacchaeus– Mark 1:40-45

• His teachings. – Mark 10:35-45– Matthew 20:20-28

“I Lay Down my Life”

Ministry Commitments of Jesus, 1

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Ministry Commitments of Jesus, 2

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Ministry Commitments of Jesus, 3

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Pau’s Ministry Roles

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Pau’s Ministry Roles

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Images of “Minister” from Paul

• Aroma (2 Corinthians 2:15)• Ambassador (2 Corinthians 5:14-21) • Midwife (Gal. 4:19)• Father (1 Thessalonians 2:1-12)• Mother (1 Thessalonians 2:1-12)

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Pastoral & Prophetic

• Pastoral (caring for the person; “soul care”)• Prophetic (challenging or condemning)• Examples

– Shepherd and hired hand (John 10)– Matthew 23 “snakes” and “chicks”

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Five Smooth Stones by Eugene Peterson• In Five Smooth Stones, Peterson challenges us as pastors to lead our people

through five somewhat obscure books of the Old Testament. These five books, Song of Solomon, Lamentations, Ecclesiastes, Ruth and Esther are wonderful tools for discovering some of the most important elements of Christian community.

• In Song of Solomon, Peterson illuminates the challenges for us to seek intimacy in our personal relationships - but most of all intimacy with our God through prayer.

• In Lamentations, we are led to give validity to suffering. We are challenged to live out the full scope of suffering with each other in the midst of community, ultimately being fully dependant upon the God who sustains us.

• In Ecclesiastes, everything under the sun/Son is given meaning and time.

• In Ruth, our commitments to community and to each other are emphasized. The power of going beyond what is required or expected are powerful tools that God uses to build true community, and even bring forth Messiah.

• Esther is the call to community through taking risks for the sake of God's people, realizing that God would raise up another, if we choose not to not be a part of God's plan.

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Me as midwif

e

Christ World

Church

Attachment

15:1-11

Paradoxical Tension

15:18-27

Love

(15:12-17)

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3

5

4

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Elements of Ministry• World

– As Context and – As audience & teacher; – Created by God, yet fallen elements

• Word / Message– Spoken– Written & Interpreted– Lived / Demonstrated

• Church– As product and as messenger– Options in self-understanding: fortress, ostrich,

conquestadoras, missionary

• Individual Messenger

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Ministry as Distinctive Engagement with the World

• Salt & Light (Matthew 5:13-16)• In, but not of, the world. (Jn. 17:14-17)• John 15 (rejection, “but you must testify”)• Be different to make a difference.• Go “Outside the Camp” (Hebrews 13:10-13)• The Golden Commission (Greg Taylor)

– Matthew 7:12– Matthew 28:18-20

Christ & Culture (Niebuhr’s proposal)

• Christ against culture• Christ of culture• Christ above culture• Christ transforming culture• Christ & culture in paradox

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The World as Context

• Loved by God (John 3:16)• Created by God

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World as Context• Challenges from Philosophical Shifts (the Rise of

Postmodernism)• Challenges Facing Developing Countries

– Hunger, Housing & Health; Spiritually Lost; Unemployment; Limited Resources

– Require Holistic Approach to Ministry

Mclaren, Everything Must Change

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Four Delivery Systems of Ministry

• Individual. Informal ministry done by individuals based on giftedness, opportunity, need, context.

• Church-based ministry. (Christian education; church programs).

• Para–church. “along–side the church” (children’s homes; Focus on the Family)

• Community-based.– government funded– volunteer (M.A.D.D.)

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Etymology of “World” (kosmos)

• See uses of kosmos in Gospel of John

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Holistic Ministry

• Not Either/Or, but Both/And• Soul and Body• Spiritual and Physical• Evangelism and Benevolence• Matt. 28:18-20 and Matt. 25:31-46

“Tony Campolo & Shane Claborn”

(a movie clip)

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Evangelism & Benevolence

• Evangelism– Sharing the Gospel with others in such a way as

to lead them to become followers of Jesus.

• Benevolence– Taking care of the physical needs of people,

including their health and living conditions.

Evangelism

• Why has it ceased?• What does it require?

– Sowing and reaping?– Sensitivity to “audience sovereignty” (James Engel)– Sensitivity to a pluralistic context– John 14:6 & the radical exclusivity of Christianity– In what way is Jesus “the Way?” – Six point continuum

Boundary, Centered, Process, & Journey Thinking

Adapted from Brian D. McLaren, More Ready Than Your Realize, pp. 137-140. Zondervan, 2002.

D

C A

BE

Boundary

boundary

D

C A

BE

CenteredX

D

C A

BE

ProcessX

D

CA

BE

JourneyX

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Benevolence

• Relief• Development• Transformation

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Benevolence

• Relief–“Give them a fish” –At times, needed and appropriate–Difficult to sustain–Debilitating to recipients if sustained

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Benevolence

• Development– “Teach them how to fish”– Acquisition of skills, knowledge &

appropriate technologies

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Benevolence

• Transformation– “Give them access to a pond with fish

in it.” – Change the economic system that

creates and maintains some forms of poverty.

Gueston & Linda Pacius

• Gonaives, Haiti• Trained in Appropriate

Technologies from SIFAT• Development Ministry• Demonstration Farm in Bois

Marchand• Preaches for Poteau village

church near farm

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Thinking Theologically about Development Ministry

• What did Jesus mean? “The poor you will have with you always.” (John 12:8)

• “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed…” (Luke 4:18)

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Thinking Theologically about Development Ministry

• “If a man won’t work, neither should he eat.” (2 Thessalonians 3:10, 12)

– Context: problem of idleness• …will give him as much as he needs… (Luke

11:5-13)• Discern the blend expectations of others and

assistance to others.

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Thinking Theologically about

Development Ministry • Jesus didn’t heal all sickness. “Jesus’ miracles

were more about love than about power.” (Jeff Spry)

• The needs of humanity provide the opportunities for us to serve.

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Thinking Theologically about

Development Ministry • The Prophets weigh in…• Isaiah 1:16-17 “Stop doing wrong, learn to do right!

Seek justice, encourage the oppressed. Defend the cause of the fatherless, plead the case of the widow.”

• Amos 2:6 “They sell the righteous for silver, and the needy for a pair of sandals.”

• Amos 4:1 “…you women who oppress the poor and crush the needy.”

• Malachi 2:9 “…because you have not followed my ways but have shown partiality in matters of the law."

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Manifestations of Sin

• Individual– From the choice of the individual.

• Systemic– Who was responsible for segregation?

Separate water fountains for blacks and whites in the pre-1960s?

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Questions

• What does “help” look like?• How do we pursue justice today?• Should unjust systems be reformed?• Bumper sticker: “Think globally and act

locally.” To what extent should we “think globally and act globally?” How do blend our commitments to our immediate communities with our commitment to our global community?

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World (context)• NT document speak to the people of God in

specific contexts.• What are the features of our contemporary

context?• Our context is increasingly…

– Global– Spiritual and secular (bifurcated)– postmodern

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Where Postmoderns are partly correct

• Contradiction / paradox• Experience• Partial knowledge• Pluralistic emphasis (not same as “pluralism”)

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Len Sweet

Postmodernity Incarnation of Jesus

E xperiential became flesh

P articipative Dwelt among us

I mage-based We have seen his glory…

C communal All . . . Children of God

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Veith, Gene. Postmodern Times

A Christian Guide to Contemporary Thought and Culture. 1994.

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Ministry in Postmodernity• Opportunity, not despair• Incarnation as a clue• Spiritual friendship (Brian McLaren)• Talk about Jesus, not doctrine• Let them experience the church

– Flavil Yeakley, Why Churches Grow.• Non-manipulative dialogue• Trusted friend (vs. salesman or teachers)• Significant relationships with those in the church

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Norman Denzin, “Postmodernism and Deconstruction.” in Postmodernism and Social Inquiry, eds. David R. Dickens and Andrea Fontana. New York: Guilford Press, 1995, 182-202.

“Postmodernism refers to many things. • In the arts, architecture, and humanities, it signifies recent

aesthetic developments that challenge conventional modernist conceptions of structure, meaning, beauty and truth.

• In the social sciences, it connotes non-totalizing, anti-foundational form of theorizing about the social world.

• Temporally, it refers to a period in world history extending from the end of Word War II to the present era.

• As a new historical era, postmodernism is most often defined theoretically in terms of the emergences of multinational forms of late capitalism…

• More important, as the object of social inquiry, postmodernism refers to a new form of society, one that has been radically transformed by the invention of film and television into a visual, video culture.”

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buffy’s religion[

http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2002/008/36.10.html

]

"I consider myself a spiritual person," she told Scotland's Daily Record. "I believe in an idea of God, although it's my own personal ideal. I find most religions interesting, and I've been to every kind of denomination: Catholic, Christian, Jewish, Buddhist. I've taken bits from everything and customized it."

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Church

• As product• As messenger• Images of the church

Exhibiting a Missional Faith

• To be missional means to live as a sent person/people.

• The gathered church vs. the sent church.• Huddle vs. Line of Scrimmage.• Hebrews 13:10-13• Matthew 25:31-46

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Maxims for ministry

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Message

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Message . . .• Content & Delivery must sing harmony • Felt needs & real needs• Cannot be separated from ministry (2 Cor.

5:14-21)– “all people will know ….by your love for each

other.”– James 2:14ff

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Donald Miller, Blue Like Jazz: Non-religious thoughts on Christian Spirituality

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Messenger

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Self as minister

• Integrity• Work ethic• Purity

– Of motive– Of desire– Resistor of “the flesh” – Peterson five smooth stones

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Ingredients of Effective Ministry(1 Thessalonians 2:1-12)

• Constancy & Courage (1-2)

• Confidence (3-6)• Compatibility (6b-7) • Concern (8)

• Contact (8)• Credibility (9)• Character (10)• Conversation (11-12)

“Henri Nouwen”

(a movie clip)

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Ministry as …

• An Encounter with God• An Expression of Grace & Truth• Embodied in Jesus• An Engagement with the World

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Ministry as Encounter with God

• Matthew 10:40-42• Matthew 18:5• Matthew 25:40• Hebrews 13:10-13

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Ministry as an Exhibition of Faith

• James 2

Exhibiting an Imaginative Faith

• . . . as if . . . you were entertaining angels (Hebrews 13:1)

• . . . as if . . . you were in prison (Hebrews 13:3)

• . . . as if . . . you were working for Christ (Col. 3:23)

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Ten Truths re: Serving

• 1 John 3:16-18• Others NEED to

be blessed. • We WANT to bless

others.

Exhibiting an Intentional Faith

• Intends to make a difference.• Salt and Light (Matt. 5:13-16).• “Be different in order to make a difference.”• Making a difference is God’s intention for us.• Making a diff is our soul’s longing (cf. Harold

Kushner’s observations).

• WWBHWWYWTHIH?

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Exhibiting an Integrated / Holistic Faith

• Eliminating a sacred - secular division. • Sees the sacred dimensions of mundane

activity.• Colossians 3:23.• Daily activities such as work, eating,

recreation, sleep, life maintenance tasks, etc., take on spiritual significance.

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Exhibiting an Viable Faith

• Capable of zoe life• Both Passive & Active• An Active Faith

– Ministry – Holiness – James 1:26-27; 1 Peter 2:11-12

• A Passive Faith • Dick and Rick Holt• Pushing the wheelchair or riding in it?

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Can Roger be Gay and Christian?case

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“Homosexuality and the Evangelical: the Influence of Contemporary Culture” by Robert K. Johnston.

• http://www.religion-online.org/showarticle.asp?title=243

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Major Biblical Themes connected to Ministry

• Covenant • Reconciliation• Love• “The world”

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Reconciliation

• Matthew 5:23-24• Matthew 18• 2 Corinthians 5

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Love

• The Greatest command• God’s initiative love

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Covenant• Adam• Noah • Abraham• Moses• David• Malachi 2:• Jeremiah 31 ??• The new covenant

Discipline

• Corporate• Individual• By God

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