One word: Fellowship

Part of doing the work of the ministry as a leader is helping equip others in how to do the work of the ministry. How and in what direction are some key things to think through in achieving this end. I believe we must be purposeful, strategic, intentional, however you want to say it.

As the Family Ministries Director of Fellowship Church, I’ve been able to work with the student ministry workers in developing our goal or win or success end of mind statement. As of right now, we say it like this:
Our win is when a student has a meaninful participation in authentic service within the context of life groups.

Here are some of the things that came up in making this statement. In an attempt to measure how someone is growing spiritually, I think of James that talks about faith that is without works is dead and how Jesus in John 15 talks about branches that do or do not bear fruit or Jesus’ sermon on the mount that highlights true religion in action (tree bearing fruit describes what kind of tree it is). So it seems that in one sense, we should be able to see something to identify growth.

There are so many passages that talk about humanity’s main objective in pointing everything back to a relationship with God. Throughout the bible there’s the “Love God with all your…” in Deuteronomy, Jesus’ message to Satan, Jesus’ answer of the greatest commandment, etc. And usually following those phrases are descriptions or contexts by which this is played out. Love is described by certain action characteristics. Love is something that one should be able to see and identify as love.

Pastors and teachers role in the church is to equip the people to do the work of the ministry. Ministry means service. Service to God whether directly or indirectly, but all for the service to God. Service describes an action. Worshiping through music describes an action of the body and mind and heart and voice and even hands and arms in praising God, paying service to His greatness. So whether through reading our bibles, giving our money to church, praying, feeding the needy, building friends with unbelievers, sharing our struggles and growth with fellow believers in community, it’s all service to God through action.

Those are some of the things that ran through our minds during this discussion. We could have said in many ways, but for me the word service also carries a connotation of action. Certainly there are things that need to be aware of that could look like service, but the heart or the root of the tree is not in the right place, but that’s another discussion.

I’ll share more of those things that were discussed if you’re interested. Interested?