What ministry is about 6
Okay, we're half way there. The first five propositions about church life and ministry (taken from the forthcoming Matthias Media title, The Trellis and the Vine) have been:
- Our goal is to make disciples not church members.
- Churches tend towards institutionalism as sparks fly upward.
- The heart of disciple-making is prayerful speaking of God's word.
- All ministry has the goal of nurturing disciples, not just one-to-one discipling or mentoring.
- To be a disciple is to be a disciple-maker.
Number six is about how disciples become disciple-makers ...
6. Disciple-makers need to be trained and equipped in conviction, character and competence
If this disciple-making vision is correct, then an integral part of making disciples is teaching and training every disciple to make other disciples. This training is not simply the imparting of certain skills or techniques. It involves nurturing and teaching people in their understanding and knowledge (their convictions), in their godliness and way of life (their character), and in their abilities and practical experience of ministering to others (their competence).
This sort of training is more like parenthood than the classroom. It's relational and personal, and involves modelling and imitation. For most congregations and ministries, thinking about training in this way will require a number of significant ‘mind-shifts’ about ministry—from running programs and events to focusing on and training people; from using people to growing people; from maintaining structures to training new disciple-makers.
OK Tony, you had me at number 1…
apologies if this has already been asked…
when will this book be out?
Michael—launching the book at the Spur Conference first weekend in October. But having to fly in copies for that launch, so if you don’t get a copy there, you may have to wait for the bulk copies to arrive by sea a week or so later. Just let me know and I’ll personally deliver your copy to your door. Ian
now that’s service!
thanks Ian
I’m thinking it might be good Christmas present for staff and parish council
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