Our Ministry Philosophy Affects What We Do

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We all have key beliefs that come together and shape how we view ministry. We may not be able to verbalize our philosophy well, but deep down, what we believe about different factors in ministry does tend to affect what we do.

Example of How our Ministry Philosophy Affects What We Do in Christian Education

While a number of core values form the basis of a Christian Education ministry philosophy, we’ll focus on one — the Role of the Word.

We all fall somewhere on the spectrum of viewing the Word of God as …

unimportant  to  central

Core Beliefs of Your Ministry Philosophy Affect What You DoWhere you fall on that spectrum could depend on whether you view Scripture as truth that is relative or absolute, as having its origins in man or in God.

You might find some of these articles helpful:

What you believe about the Word will have the following effects in your Christian Education Ministry:

1) It will affect your choice of curriculum.

2) It will become your filter for making decisions.

Certainly this will impact not only yourself but also those you serve.

(Please Note: The Christian Education Ministry Manual looks at seven other core values that help form our ministry philosophy and the effects they have on Christian Education in the Church.)

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Benefits of Being Accountable to One Another

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Training Category: Body Life

Some people shy away from the concept of accountability because they associate it with confrontation. While rebuking, challenging, warning, and admonishing may be necessary at times, accountability also yields support, counsel, encouragement, and affirmation.

If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up! (Eccl. 4:10)

Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken. (Eccl. 4:12)

There are benefits beyond the support described in Ecclesiastes 4. The verses listed below provide us with the results of Body Life in which accountability is exercised.

Questions We Might Ask about the Benefits of Being Accountable to One Another

What’s in it for me?

James 5:16 indicates that healing is in store for the person who puts himself in a place of accountability.

What’s in it for others?

Colossians 3:9-10 states that it is a reflection of the new life we have in Christ which is a wonderful testimony to the world around us.

What’s in it for God?

Ephesians 5:21 lets us know that Christ is honored through it because this kind of accountability is the backbone of unity.

Benefits of Accountability in Body Life Ministry Manual

Please Note: You’ll find the content of this post in the Body Life Ministry Manual, along with some additional thoughts and help on being accountable to one another.

Also Read: True Body Life Results in Accountability

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How Can We Worship Our God?

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Reflecting on who God is, as we did in the previous post, leads to responding to who He is in worship and praise. What a difference it makes in our worship when the reason we worship grows out of knowing the One we worship. It’s hard to simply go through the motions when we truly reflect on Him.

Know and Worship Our God - How To

Respond: How We Worship Our God

Some of the same verses used to reflect on who God is, give an appropriate, and logical, way to respond.

Be thankful and praise His name.

Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations. (Ps. 100:4-5)

Bow before Him in reverence and submission.

Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the Lord our Maker, for he is our God and we are the people of his pasture, the flock under his care. (Ps. 95:6-7)

Offer praise even if it requires sacrifice on our part.

Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise –the fruit of lips that confess his name. And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased. (Heb. 13:15-16)

Give all of who we are to His glory.

Who has ever given to God that God should repay him? For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be the glory forever. Amen. Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God — this is your spiritual act of worship. (Rom. 11:35-12:1)

Notice that worship goes beyond our words, songs, and motions to our attitude toward Him. What’s in our heart matters! And, worshiping goes beyond the worship service to the whole of our lives.

Learn more about worshiping our God:

Learn more about the implications in leading this kind of worship:

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How Can We Not Worship Our God?

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Know and Worship Our God

When we truly “know that the Lord is God” (Ps. 100:3) we won’t be able to help but respond in worship. So, let’s take some time to reflect on God.

Reflect: Why Knowing God Leads to Worship

We could examine many verses to determine the kind of God we have but will choose just six that support the case for worshiping Him. Reflect on the following truths about the God of the Bible:

As the Creator of all things, He is worthy of our praise.

You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things and by your will they were created and have their being. (Rev. 4:11)

As One who is good, loving, and faithful, always reliable, He certainly deserves our thankful praise and worship.

Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations. (Ps. 100:4-5)

As our Maker, He is supreme over us, the Sovereign One, so it only makes sense we kneel in reverence and submission to Him.

Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the Lord our Maker, for he is our God and we are the people of his pasture, the flock under his care. (Ps. 95:6-7)

As the Maker of everything, the Life-giver, certainly He should be exalted above all else.

You alone are the Lord. You made the heavens, even the highest heavens, and all their starry host, the earth and all that is on it, the seas and all that is in them. You give life to everything, and the multitudes of heaven worship you. (Neh. 9:6)

As the Most Holy One, His presence should produce an awe-struck wonder within us.

Worship the Lord in the splendor of his holiness; tremble before him, all the earth. (Ps. 96:9)

As the Owner of everything and His mercy toward us, He deserves our all in worship.

Who has ever given to God that God should repay him? For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be the glory forever. Amen. Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God — this is your spiritual act of worship. (Rom. 11:35-12:1)

Think about the worship services in our churches. What a difference it makes when everything done in it points people to this kind of God! All praise, glory, and honor belongs to Him!

The Worship Ministry Manual looks at each the verses in this post in light of worship in our churches, including implications for both worship leaders and individual worshipers.

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Effective Senior Adult Ministry?

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To have an effective senior adult ministry, we need to begin with a biblical view of old age. As we look at Scripture we find that seniors matter to God and still have a purpose to fulfill.

3 Factors in an Effective Senior Adult Ministry

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Based on a biblical foundation, these three factors should enter into the development of a senior adult ministry.

  1. treating them with respect and honor, dignity and worth (Lev. 19:32; Prov. 23:22) not pitying them or seeing them as bothersome or in the way — ready to learn from and gain wisdom from them (Job 12:12)
  1. meeting their needs in accordance with our God-given responsibility (1 Tim. 5:1ff) not ignoring or forgetting about them — ready to reach out to them with love and compassion
  1. encouraging them to keep growing in their walk with God and to live out His continued purposes for them (Ps. 71:18; 92:12-15) not to feel useless and give up regardless of their physical condition and life circumstances — ready to integrate them into the Body and open meaningful doors of opportunity for them

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Helpful Resources about Senior Adults Ministries

The following resources can help you develop an effective senior adult ministry.

Articles:

Books:

Resources for Caregivers of Aging Adults

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Effective Bible Teaching Takes Time

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Training Category: Teaching Ministry
Effective Bible Teaching Takes Time Management

We want the results of effective Bible teaching but are we willing to make the investment?

No matter how we look at it, effectiveness will take time and effort.

The Kind of Commitment Needed for Effective Bible Teaching Takes Time

We already looked at how effective Bible teaching takes a commitment based on …

  • being the kind of teacher who makes a difference.

Certainly the nurturing of our own walk with God will take time.

  • relying on the work of the Holy Spirit.

Relying on the Spirit involves trusting God to work in and through us but it also requires making a prayer investment which takes time.

Effective Bible Teaching Takes an Investment of Time & Effort

It’s hard to imagine doing “your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth” (2 Tim. 2:15) without spending time doing the following:

  • structuring lessons that make a difference — lesson planning
  • planning methods that best communicate the content and fit group factors — teaching methods
  • incorporating variety, attention-getting, relevance, and involvement — creativity
  • discerning and meeting students’ needs, developmental abilities, and learning styles — student-oriented

Though effective Bible teaching takes time, the results are so worth the investment.

Help for Bible Teachers: Time Management for Teachers Worksheet

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