Josh Hatcher's Blog
Thursday, September 18, 2008
Core Value #3. Every member a minister and a missionary
Let's dive in further into this blog series on our Open Arms Core Values. What is this crazy thing all about?
Core Value #3. Every member a minister and a missionary* – We believe God has called
every person to proclaim the message of Jesus to the lost and serve in team
ministry using their God-given resources of Time, Talents, and Finances.
Matthew 28:
16Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. 17When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. 18Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in[a] the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."
Mark 16: 15He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation. 16Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. 17And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; 18they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well."
Acts 1: 3After his suffering, he showed himself to these men and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God. 4On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: "Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. 5For John baptized with[a] water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit."
6So when they met together, they asked him, "Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?"
7He said to them: "It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. 8But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."
9After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight.
The Great Commission is recorded in a few different passages, from the perspective of a few different authors. They each highlighted different things that Jesus said and did that day.
It’s important to understand that the Great Commission was given, not just to twelve guys in robes, but to every person who considers himself a follower of Christ.
1 Peter 2:
9But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.
Peter tells us that we are a royal priesthood… each of us that follow Christ have a calling to perform.
It’s important to note that ministry is not meant to be done by the “Pastor” or the “paid professional.” The work of reaching the WORLD for Christ is bigger than an all of the pastors in the world can do. The work of reaching just BRADFORD for Christ is bigger than what all of the pastors in town can do.
This scripture tells what a pastor’s job is.
Ephesians 4: 11It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, 12to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.
14Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming. 15Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ. 16From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.
The pastor’s job is not to do all the work. It’s to equip the people of God to do that work.
At Open Arms, this core value is both a blessing and a challenge.
It’s freeing to know that we have the freedom to actually do ministry. We can dream up ideas, and work with our TEAM (which can be a cell group, or a group of people interested in working together on a project)
But it also means that we need to do the work and support that work with our prayers, our service, and our finances.
If we don’t, it won’t happen. Trees don’t get cut down by themselves. The lawn does not mow itself. People don’t come to church just because a building is there, they need to be invited. The electric bill doesn’t just get paid, and poor people don’t just have food, the PEOPLE OF GOD need to give.
Open Arms is a job for all of us. Let’s pray about where and how we can serve, how much and how often we should give, and in what ways we are gifted to serve God.
Core Value #3. Every member a minister and a missionary* – We believe God has called
every person to proclaim the message of Jesus to the lost and serve in team
ministry using their God-given resources of Time, Talents, and Finances.
Matthew 28:
16Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. 17When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. 18Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in[a] the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."
Mark 16: 15He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation. 16Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. 17And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; 18they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well."
Acts 1: 3After his suffering, he showed himself to these men and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God. 4On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: "Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. 5For John baptized with[a] water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit."
6So when they met together, they asked him, "Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?"
7He said to them: "It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. 8But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."
9After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight.
The Great Commission is recorded in a few different passages, from the perspective of a few different authors. They each highlighted different things that Jesus said and did that day.
It’s important to understand that the Great Commission was given, not just to twelve guys in robes, but to every person who considers himself a follower of Christ.
1 Peter 2:
9But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.
Peter tells us that we are a royal priesthood… each of us that follow Christ have a calling to perform.
It’s important to note that ministry is not meant to be done by the “Pastor” or the “paid professional.” The work of reaching the WORLD for Christ is bigger than an all of the pastors in the world can do. The work of reaching just BRADFORD for Christ is bigger than what all of the pastors in town can do.
This scripture tells what a pastor’s job is.
Ephesians 4: 11It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, 12to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.
14Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming. 15Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ. 16From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.
The pastor’s job is not to do all the work. It’s to equip the people of God to do that work.
At Open Arms, this core value is both a blessing and a challenge.
It’s freeing to know that we have the freedom to actually do ministry. We can dream up ideas, and work with our TEAM (which can be a cell group, or a group of people interested in working together on a project)
But it also means that we need to do the work and support that work with our prayers, our service, and our finances.
If we don’t, it won’t happen. Trees don’t get cut down by themselves. The lawn does not mow itself. People don’t come to church just because a building is there, they need to be invited. The electric bill doesn’t just get paid, and poor people don’t just have food, the PEOPLE OF GOD need to give.
Open Arms is a job for all of us. Let’s pray about where and how we can serve, how much and how often we should give, and in what ways we are gifted to serve God.
Labels: core values, giving, ministry, mission, serving, the great commission, tithing
