Theology of Ministry
Ministry is built upon sound biblical, theological and cultural foundations. Each generation of the Church must understand and build on these foundations, as well as discover relevant contemporary innovations and applications. This course intends to help you integrate an understanding of the Word and the world with the development of a personal philosophy of ministry.
At the end, it's a good exercise to write out you own theology of ministry that you could present to a board and/or articulate as situations in your ministry come up.
| 1. Theology as a Basis for Ministry |
Theology is the clarification of convictions by which we engage in ministry. In the first 600 years, the leaders of the church resisted having a gap between the study of God and the service of God (theology and ministry). |
| 2. Theology Combined with Ministry |
During the Renaissance, some people began making a distinction between academic theology and practical theology. |
| 3. Christ as a Model for Ministry |
The incarnation is the prism through which we view our entire missional task. Jesus’ attitude should be our attitude: no one is too small, no one is too lost, no one is too outside. Jesus’ ministry was characterized by authority. He gave the same authority to us. The Spirit’s came to give us power for ministry. |
| 4. Prophet, Priest, Sage and King |
Christ embodied the OT offices of prophet, priest and king. |
| 5. Identity of a Minister |
Humility is an important aspect of ministry. Ministry is a paradox of leading by serving. The essence of ministry is that we are participating with Christ, not merely being obedient or imitating him. |
| 6. Mission of Ministry (part 1) |
We need to hear what God is saying through his word and proclaim it. A ministry of grace is characterized by a heart of forgiveness and reconciliation. |
| 7. Mission of Ministry (part 2) |
God calls us to be saved, then calls us to a ministry. Ministry is participation in God’s work of transforming the community of faith until it is blameless at the coming of Christ. In addition to bringing lost people to Christ, a minister should be equipping people and helping them move toward completion. |
| 8. Context of Ministry (part 1) |
There is no ministry without church and no church without ministry. Any ministry finds its legitimacy as it relates to the local church. Is it possible to be communal without being institutional? |
| 9. Context of Ministry (part 2) |
Our ministry is to be done in the context of community. Structure is necessary today, just like it was in the early church. We can't avoid institutions, but we can avoid institutionalism. |
| 10. Requirements for Ministry (part 1) |
Since your calling is to minister to the souls of others, it’s important to take care of your own. Each of us is called to God, then to serve the body with the gifts we receive from the Spirit. Some have a special call to leadership. |
| 11. Requirements for Ministry (part 2) |
Character is what validates our ministry. Our call to love people is important to remember when we experience difficult people. We earn integrity by having a rigorous devotion to the truth. |
| 12. Requirements for Ministry (part 3) |
When a minister commits a sin that disqualifies him morally, the process for restoration should be structured to provide accountability. Giftedness should reflect in your passion for ministry, what God is blessing in your life and what other people are affirming. |
| 13. Resistance and Authority for Ministry |
Our mission is to advance the kingdom of God, so we are in conflict with Satan trying to advance his kingdom. We will face resistance because Jesus faced resistance. Temptations involving pride will often seem subtle. Restlessnes can result in ungratefulness and anger. Satan will try to discourage us so we lose heart. God has given us authority. We need to exercise it and stand against sin. |
| 14. Emergent Church Movement |
The emergent church movement emphasizes engaging the culture, authenticity, being sensitive to our hermeneutical “blind spots,” reaching out to “postmodern” people, and an unwillingness to be bound by tradition. When people begin a new movement, it can create an opportunity for you to re-evaluate your theology and practice to determine if your ideas are biblical or based solely on tradition. |
| 15. Assessing Ministry |
It’s important to have a theological basis for evaluating the effectiveness of your ministry. |
| 16. Inglorious and Glorious Aspects of Ministry |
Much of the daily work of ministry involves menial and mundane tasks. The glorious side of ministry overshadows the inglorious. |
| 17. Summary |
It’s important for your theology to inform your ministry and for your ministry to apply your theology. Reflecting on your theology of ministry helps you understand your identity and your task as a minister. All ministries should have some continuity with the past and also be flexible enough to adapt to present situations. |
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