Church Life | Christian Ministry Training Blog

Apologetics: The Readiness Factor

Posted on October 16, 2019 by Ministry Tools Resource Center — No Comments ↓

Apologetics

Apologetics comes from the Greek word “apologia” found in 1 Peter 3:15-16 meaning to give a verbal defense.

These verses also tell us to whom we give that defense — to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. This suggests a readiness factor.

But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.

The Importance of the Readiness Factor to Apologetics

Not everyone is ready for apologetics. Too often people are turned off to Christianity because of zealous defenders of the faith. Notice that 1 Peter 3:15 says we give a defense when asked.

We aren’t to go looking for a debate.
We aren’t to be manipulative in getting people to listen to us.

“Apologia” comes by invitation.

Also note that 1 Peter 3:15 exhorts us to share with “everyone” who asks, not just those with whom we are comfortable.

Apologetics Requires Discernment

We need to be discerning when it comes to witnessing and defending the faith. What does the person need most at this particular point in time?

to observe authentic Christians?
to hear the simple Gospel message?
to experience a tangible expression of the love of Christ?
or to engage in a discussion of why Christ is the way, of why the Bible is the inerrant Word of God, of why it makes sense to believe there is a God, etc.?

The Outreach Ministry Manual includes an outline breaking down 1 Peter 3:15-18 to help learn how to engage in apologetics as well as some additional Scripture and questions personalizing this verse to how you defend your faith.

Need help defending specific issues or worldviews? Go to: Apologetics Resources

Why Christians Come Alongside of People in Need

Posted on September 18, 2019 by Ministry Tools Resource Center — 2 Comments ↓

Training Category: People Helping Ministry

Helping people in need is something all human beings with any kind of compassion in their hearts should do. And, we do see both Christians and non-Christians coming alongside of people. But, as Christians we have other reasons to reach out in compassion to those in need, giving added motivation to be people helpers.

4 Good Reasons for Christians to Come Alongside to Help People in Need

You’ll find the following four reasons listed in the People Helping Ministry Manual. The manual focuses in on seven specific ways we can come alongside of others.

1) It’s a way to show love.

Love your neighbor as yourself. (Matt. 22:39) — My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. (Jn. 15:12-13) — Serve one another in love. (Gal. 5:13)

2) It’s a part of making disciples.

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. (Matt. 28:19-20)

3) It’s what body life is all about.

If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it. (1 Cor. 12:26) — Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. (Rom. 12:15) — Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. (Gal. 6:2)

4) It’s a reflection of the character of our Lord Jesus.

For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many. (Mk. 10:45) — Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus. (Phil. 2:4-5)

Fulfilling God’s Purpose to Love

Posted on August 28, 2019 by Ministry Tools Resource Center — 4 Comments ↓

Training Category: Church Purpose

Loving God and people, what Jesus identified as the Greatest Commandments (Matt. 22:37-40), has always been God’s intent. What has changed, however, is that the Christian has a greater motivation, a greater power, and a greater confidence “to live a life of love,” as commanded in Ephesians 5:1-2, than those in previous ages. While we will always have more to learn about loving as He loves, it is possible that our “love may abound more and more” (Phil. 1:9-11).

The Church’s Ability to Fulfill God’s Purpose to Love

Our Motivation:

Prior to the church, people could only look forward to the highest example of love — the death of Jesus. We stand on the other side of the cross, looking back at what He has done. We have a fuller understanding of what love is which becomes a source of motivation for us to love as He loved.

This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters. (1 Jn. 3:16)

Our Power:

Before ascending into heaven, Jesus promised His disciples the Holy Spirit who would come and permanently dwell within them. The Spirit always existed and always worked but in the Old Testament time He came on people temporarily as the occasion required to do a work for God. As we live by the Spirit within us, we will “not gratify the desires of the sinful nature” but rather exhibit the fruit of the Spirit, primary of which is love. We have a Helper within us unlike those in previous ages.

So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. (Gal. 5:16) But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. (Gal. 5:22-23)

Our Confidence:

When Jesus died, the veil to the Holy of Holies was torn in half symbolizing the direct access we now have to God. We no longer must go through the human agent of a priest. We are direct recipients of all God has to give us. That builds within us a boldness to approach God’s throne and a confidence to love as He loves.

And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them. This is how love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment: In this world we are like Jesus. There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.(1 Jn. 4:16-18)

Do the Greatest Commandments to love God and love people form the basis of your church purpose?

Learn more about God’s purpose for us to love God and others in the Church Purpose Ministry Manual. There you will find the content in this post as well as benefits of making this your church purpose, obstacles you might encounter, using a purpose statement, the practical outworking of this purpose, plus more.

Foundational to Following God’s Design for Body Life

Posted on August 7, 2019 by Ministry Tools Resource Center — 2 Comments ↓

Training Category: Body Life

What’s it going to take for us to function according to God’s blueprint design for Body Life so we reach the goals He has for the Church? Romans 12 provides the foundations which must be at the core of church life.

Foundational Requisites for Following God’s Design for Body Life

To not only get on page with God’s design for the church but also maintain it requires more than just a desire to be that way. It’s going to take:

Foundational to Following God's Design for Body Life 1) A Committed Life to the Lord

Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God – this is your true and proper worship. (Rom. 12:1)

2) A Contrasted Life to the World

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. (Rom. 12:2)

3) A Connected Life to the Body of Christ

… so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. (Rom. 12:3-5)

The remainder of Romans 12 provides practical ways we will see that commitment, contrast, and connection lived out in the Body. Order the Body Life Ministry Manual to walk you through these verses plus much more about Body Life.

Functioning According to God’s Design for Body Life

Posted on July 31, 2019 by Ministry Tools Resource Center — No Comments ↓

Training Category: Body Life
Functioning According to God's Design for Body Life

Reaching God’s goals for Body Life in the Church will take functioning according to His design.

He’s the Architect so He knows how it must all come together for His blueprint to become a reality.

What’s Required to Function According to God’s Design for Body Life

In 1 Corinthians 12:14-26 God compares the functioning of the Church to the way our physical bodies function. Here’s what’s required for all the parts to live in unity:

God purposely designed the Body with diversity so we must function in a way that expects members to be different from one another.

Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many. Now if the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? (1 Cor. 12:14-17)

God determines what each member’s part is so we simply need to identify our parts and function accordingly.

But in fact God has placed the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. If they were all one part, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, but one body. (1 Cor. 12:18-20)

Because of the way God designed the Body, with each member having a part, we must function interdependently.

The eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you!” And the head cannot say to the feet, “I don’t need you!” (1 Cor. 12:21)

God’s design gives value to each member and so we affirm each person’s contribution no matter what their part may be.

On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty, while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has put the body together, giving greater honor to the parts that lacked it, so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. (1 Cor. 12:22-25)

All of this can only happen if function like we truly care for one another.

If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it. (1 Cor. 12:26)

The Body Life Ministry Manual provides some additional input on each of the above points.

God’s Goals for Body Life in His Church

Posted on July 24, 2019 by Ministry Tools Resource Center — No Comments ↓

Training Category: Body Life

God's Goals for Body Life

Coming up with a blueprint design requires having goals of what the end result should be. The Bible provides us with God’s objectives for His Church — what following His design will ultimately lead to in the Church. We find this in Ephesians 4:11-16 which begins and ends with God’s plan for reaching His goals, providing the actual goals in verses 13-15.

God’s Ultimate Goals for Body Life in His Church

Here’s the end result of following God’s design for Body Life in His Church:

1) Unity

“until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God” (Eph. 4:13)

2) Maturity

“and become mature” (Eph. 4:13)

3) Christ-likeness

“attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ” (Eph. 4:13)

4) Balance

“… speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ … ” (Eph. 4:14-16)

God’s Plan for Reaching His Goals for His Church

To become the Church of God’s design begins with gifted leaders and teachers equipping believers to serve. It takes everybody doing their part, not just leaders and teachers.

So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up (Eph. 4:11-12)

From him(Christ) the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work. (Eph. 4:16)

— Learn more about God’s design in the Body Life Ministry Manual where you will also find a few questions to help you reflect on your church in light of this passage.