Christ-like Communication

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Jesus valued relationships with people and hence communication since it is such a vital element to healthy relationships. Christ-like communication makes such a difference in all we do. It only stands to reason that we follow His example if we want effective ministry.

Christ-like Communication Guide for Church Leaders

The Christ-like Communication Guide for Church Leaders encourages leaders to see such Christ-likeness as imperative, going beyond mastery of a skill-set to something that flows from the core of our being “for the mouth speaks what the heart is full of” (Lk. 6:45). The guide includes implications of aspects of Christ-like communication that follow below.

The Way Jesus Communicated and the Content of His Communication Flowed from the Essence of Who He Was

The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. (Jn. 1:4)

Being called “the Word” lets us know that Jesus came to earth to communicate what God the Father wanted people to know. He came full of BOTH grace and truth. He spoke out of the essence of who He was.

Other Specific Aspects of Christ-like Communication

Read through the Gospels and you should be able to pinpoint various aspects of Christ-like communication. Click on the following links to learn how Jesus communicated in these ways.

Be sure to check out the Christ-like Communication Guide for Church Leaders.

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Bible Verses about Ministry Qualities

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When it comes to ministry, skills do matter but God cares most about our heart qualities for who we are affects what we do.

Ministry Qualities Matter to GodBrothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. (1 Cor. 1:26)

The LORD does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart. (1 Sam. 16:7).

Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it. (Prov. 4:23)

As water reflects a face, so a man’s heart reflects the man. (Prov. 27:19)

A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of. (Lk. 6:45)

Ministry Qualities Needed to be Effective

The Bible provides a list of specific traits that will help us be both effective and productive.

For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. (2 Pet. 1:5-8)

The Ministry God’s Way Discipleship Tool highlights some important ministry qualities and emphasizes how character development needs to be grace-based and a growth process. This resource looks at nine key elements to doing ministry God’s way with ministry qualities being one of those elements.

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Ministry Qualities

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To do ministry God’s way, we must not only “do” ministry in alignment with Him, but we must also “be” in alignment with Him. Being God’s servant requires ministry qualities He views as important.

Lots of Important Ministry Qualities But One that Matters Most

We can look at Christ-like qualities like humility and servanthood.

Such qualities, as well as many others, should be found in those who serve the Lord. But, God identifies one trait as most important — love. Without love, all of our ministry efforts are nothing (1 Cor. 13:1-3). When we love, the other needed qualities tend to be there as well.

Ministry Qualities, a Key Elements to Doing Ministry God's WayFor more about ministry qualities as God looks for them, check out the Ministry God’s Way Discipleship Tool. That resource also examines eight other key elements in doing ministry God’s way. Three pages are devoted to each element with the first two answering questions about that element and the third being a Bible study guide about it.

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Reliability Makes a Difference in Ministry

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Reliable in MinistryIn a previous post we looked at some characteristics of an effective ministry worker. Reliability could have been added to the list.

Reliability makes a difference in ministry because it captures attention and impresses upon people that they are valued enough for you to go the extra mile to be there. Reliable leaders, teachers, and ministry workers, bring a sense of stability to our churches, a welcomed change from what people are experiencing around them in a world of political unrest and so much uncertainty.

3 R’s That Will Help Us be More Reliable:

1) Reinforcement

We need to yield our lives to God for Him to build into us positive qualities that will make us more reliable, such as the fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22-23). We will reap what we sow (Gal. 6:7-8), so we need to make sure the right things are being sown into our lives.

2) Resources

We need to know where to turn for help in ministry. First and foremost, we must turn to God for “His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life” (2 Pet. 1:3). We will be most reliable when we do ministry His way and in His power.

3) Recreation

If you are over-worked and stressed, you will tend to make more mistakes and be more susceptible to frustration which spills over into relationships. It’s hard to give your best effort when you are exhausted. God instituted the Sabbath for a reason (Ex. 20:8). We need to build some rest and relaxation into our busy schedules so in the long run, we are more reliable.

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Characteristics of an Effective Ministry Worker

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If we were to ask the question “What is the most important characteristic in an effective ministry worker?”, we might hear a variety of responses.

Traits Found in Effective Ministry Workers

Possible suggestions could be:

Intentional: You need to know your purpose and make deliberate efforts to follow the process for getting there. Intentionality is important because people need to believe that where you are going will make a difference in their lives.

Honest: You need to be authentic, transparent, real. Honesty is important because people need to sense that they can trust you.

Consistent: You need to practice what you preach, always be fair, and bring some sense of stability into this chaotic world. Consistency is important because people need to know that they can count on you.

Sensitive: You need to understand and accept that not everybody is at the same place in their walk nor do they have the same needs. Sensitivity is important because people need to feel that they matter to you.

The Most Important Characteristic in Ministry Workers

The importance of the above mentioned traits is not merely to make us more effective or make us look good to others. Rather, it’s the effect we have on the people we serve, … the message these traits relay to the people we serve. If we are not connecting with people, all our smooth-running programs or eloquent words will lack the full impact they could have. So, the most important characteristic for ministry workers is that we are …

Loving: You need to give of yourself to others in ways let them see how devoted you are to them which would include all of the above traits and more. Love is important because people need to know you truly care about them.

If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing. (1 Cor. 13:1-3)

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Qualities Needed in Team Members

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God designed the church to function as a unit … a body, a team (1 Cor. 12) … which requires unity. Following are four qualities that will help team members be more united. You will notice that it requires the removal of “self.”

Trust

All must learn to respect and accept one another regardless of opinions, personalities, or differences in gifting and abilities.

Engaged

All must eagerly do their part according to God’s design.

Adaptable

All must humbly accept what’s best in order to accomplish God’s purposes rather than push their own agendas or personal gain.

Missional

All must look at the big picture and strategically pursue God’s purposes.

Note the word “all” under each of the above team qualities.  To truly be a unified team and reach optimal effectiveness, each member of the team must pursue these qualities.

In the next post we will look at the team leader’s responsibility to promote these kinds of qualities. You can subscribe to the blog to receive e-mail notification of new posts.

You’ll find this acrostic in the Steering the Church Toward God’s Purposes Leadership Guide where team building, along with 24 other leadership responsibilities, is examined in light of our church purpose to love God and people. In addition to the acrostic as it is above, you’ll also find a line under each letter of the kind of commitment it takes to get there.

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