Visit a church and it doesn’t take too long to determine their primary focus. Observe, listen, ask questions, and you will learn what they view as important in church ministry.
Common Focuses in Church Ministry
While specifics may vary from church to church, some of the more common focuses could include:
- providing quality ministry programs
- using creative methodology and/or the latest technology
- building attractive facilities
- helping specific people groups or needs
- having exceptional leaders
All of the above are not wrong in themselves. They can, however, become a problem . . .
when a church relies on them, thinking that is what makes the difference.
when a church becomes narrow-focused because they are looking at ministry only through that lens.
when a church compares or competes with others using what they do as the grid against which they measure others.
Adjusting Our Focus
While the above may be useful in church ministry, it’s not what will truly make the difference. Remember that Jesus said, “apart from me you can do nothing” (Jn. 15:5). When the Corinthian church focused on the role of different leaders, the Apostle Paul gave this reminder: “What, after all, is Apollos? And what is Paul? Only servants, through whom you came to believe – as the Lord has assigned to each his task. I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow. So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow.” (1 Cor. 3:5-7)
When visiting a church that primarily does ministry by purposefully and conscientiously lining up with God (His character, purposes, ways as depicted in His Word) by pulling on His grace and power, we might not be able to identify one particular way in which they do ministry. That is because . . .
if we rely on God rather than what we do, we tend to stay more fluid, not getting locked into any one way of doing ministry.
when we look at ministry through the lens of who God is, we understand that God can’t be boxed in with certain programs, methodology, technology, facilities, and the like.
in measuring what we do against God, we find little need to showcase ourselves because what we do is God’s idea, not our own.
Let’s make sure church ministry isn’t simply about going with the flow, following the latest church fad, or doing what we think is best. We need to focus on God, lining up with, and following Him, doing what He deems best.
Check Out: Ministry God’s Way Discipleship Tool