The dynamics of ministries have changed. No longer can ministries be presented in a mundane matter. To reach the masses that we are required to reach by the “Great Commission,” we must understand the needs and culture of the community we serve. It is impossible for ministry to be effective within your congregation without understanding the culture of that community. For many years, it was my impression that the nature of the church was for saints to come together for edification. Twice a week those who professed to know Jesus as Lord and Savior would gather at the “church” to testify about the goodness of the Lord, to hear a preached Word and begin a new week. Never once did I consider making Jesus relevant to difference cultures of a pluralistic
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Zion church (NBD) is to engage pastors into identifying those disciples within their churches that the fivefold ministry can be birthed. The seed needs to be planted within the individual, nurturing takes place and God gives the growth. Ministries are birthed through the gifts that God has already given the church. The fivefold ministers are a part of the church from its inception. Paul talks about the fivefold ministries in the book of Ephesians 4:11, “and he gave some apostles, and some prophets, and some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers.” The gifts are within us but to grow the gifts they must be fostered and nurtured so the seeds will take root and grow. I understand that ministry is not something that is automatic even though we are born with ministry within us. Ministry must be developed. Looking at the pastors and ministers on the New Bern District, many of them function less than their gift capacity. They go through the motion, meaning doing just enough to get by, verses allowing the Holy Spirit to take control. In sharing this in the meetings on the district, it is evident that many of the leaders don’t understand the culture of the communities they are serving.
It is my opinion that the culture of today is shaped more by individualism with no set pattern of conduct or belief. In the early days, the excepted conduct of dogma was dictated by the church. But in the secular society there seems to be no standard …show more content…
The knowledge and fundamentals of pluralist culture must be articulated with constant clarity to have effective ministries. The challenge of this thought is that the church and the world are not agreeing. The world is focused on materializing while the church is focusing on evangelizing. Somehow the church is becoming adiaphoric (a matter of having no moral merit or demerit), posing the question, what happened to missional culture within the church.
The business of the life of the church is to effectively and wisely apply the mission and ministry of Jesus. We must not look at the work of Jesus as being compendium (a summary of a larger work). We must include the bible and the principles of holy living daily. Missio Dei (mission of God) must be validated and the concepts of mission described as to how it fits in the grand scheme of things for church and community. Personal skills, biblical knowledge, and understanding the movements of the various components of
Zion church (NBD) is to engage pastors into identifying those disciples within their churches that the fivefold ministry can be birthed. The seed needs to be planted within the individual, nurturing takes place and God gives the growth. Ministries are birthed through the gifts that God has already given the church. The fivefold ministers are a part of the church from its inception. Paul talks about the fivefold ministries in the book of Ephesians 4:11, “and he gave some apostles, and some prophets, and some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers.” The gifts are within us but to grow the gifts they must be fostered and nurtured so the seeds will take root and grow. I understand that ministry is not something that is automatic even though we are born with ministry within us. Ministry must be developed. Looking at the pastors and ministers on the New Bern District, many of them function less than their gift capacity. They go through the motion, meaning doing just enough to get by, verses allowing the Holy Spirit to take control. In sharing this in the meetings on the district, it is evident that many of the leaders don’t understand the culture of the communities they are serving.
It is my opinion that the culture of today is shaped more by individualism with no set pattern of conduct or belief. In the early days, the excepted conduct of dogma was dictated by the church. But in the secular society there seems to be no standard …show more content…
The knowledge and fundamentals of pluralist culture must be articulated with constant clarity to have effective ministries. The challenge of this thought is that the church and the world are not agreeing. The world is focused on materializing while the church is focusing on evangelizing. Somehow the church is becoming adiaphoric (a matter of having no moral merit or demerit), posing the question, what happened to missional culture within the church.
The business of the life of the church is to effectively and wisely apply the mission and ministry of Jesus. We must not look at the work of Jesus as being compendium (a summary of a larger work). We must include the bible and the principles of holy living daily. Missio Dei (mission of God) must be validated and the concepts of mission described as to how it fits in the grand scheme of things for church and community. Personal skills, biblical knowledge, and understanding the movements of the various components of