Proclaim: The Pure Gospel Pastors' Track 29 30 th May 2015 Dr. David M. Doran The Church exists to honor God by making and maturing disciples who together are becoming like the Lord Jesus Christ. Introduction: Why is it important to be very clear about our ministry philosophy? How should a ministry philosophy be developed? What should a philosophy of ministry look like? I. Purpose: To honor God A. The Principle 2 Corinthians 4:15; cf. Ephesians 3:21; Romans 11:36; 1 Cor 10:31 B. The Proof 2 Corinthians 1 4 1. Our Response to the Gospel Acknowledges God s Glory 2 Corinthians 1:20 The doxological focus of ministry is confirmed by the fact that the proper response to God s promises (faith) is intricately joined to God s glory. 2. The Spirit s Work through the Gospel Displays God s Glory 2 Corinthians 3:7 11 The doxological focus of ministry is confirmed by the fact that the work of ministry can only be accomplished by the Spirit s power, and the display of that power is intended to bring glory to God. 3. The Believer s Transformation Reflects God s Glory 2 Corinthians 3:18
The doxological purpose of ministry is confirmed by the fact that God s eternal plan in redemption results in His glory being displayed in the transformed lives of believers. 4. The Center of the Gospel Message is God s Glory 2 Corinthians 4:4 6 The doxological purpose of ministry is confirmed in the very message that is the heart of ministry that God s glory is revealed in Jesus Christ; therefore, He is Lord before whom all will bow, either now in repentance or later in judgment. God saves people for the purpose of displaying His glory in those who are saved, and, to large measure, that glory is the restoration of God s image in man, or, viewed in relation to Jesus Christ, the transformation of the redeemed into His image. Consider the pattern that Scripture sets forth. God s Original Design: Man as God s Image and Glory The Result of Sin: God s Image Marred, not Removed The New Birth: God s Image Renewed within the Believer Final Salvation: Conformed to the Son s Image, the Perfect Representation of God s Image II. Process: By making and maturing disciples A. The Commission to Discipleship Matthew 28:18 20 1. The Authority for the Mission Matthew 28:18 a. The Character of His Authority, has been given to Me b. The Comprehensiveness of His Authority, All in heaven and earth 2. The Activity of the Mission Matthew 28:19 20a
a. The command, make disciples b. The circumstances, Go therefore c. The characteristics, baptizing them teaching them 3. The Arena for the Mission, of all the nations a. Spreading the Gospel Among New Peoples and Places cf. Mark 16:15; Luke 24:47; Acts 1:8 b. Starting New Assemblies of Worshippers The Content of the Great Commission Matt 28:19 20 The Backdrop of the Great Commission Matt 16:18 The Implementation of the Great Commission Acts 11:19 26; 13:1 3; 14:21 23 The Description of the Great Commission 1 Cor 3:4 17 The Fulfillment of the Great Commission Romans 15:14 29 4. The Assurance for the Mission Matthew 28:20 B. The Place for Discipleship Ephesians 4:1 16 1. The Priority Ephesians 4:1 16 cf. 1 Timothy 3:15; Acts 2:41 46; 11:19 26 2. The Provision Ephesians 4:7, 11, 16 a. Gifted people vv. 7, 16 cf. 1 Peter 4:10 11; 1 Cor 12:7,11; Rom 12:3 8 b. Gifted leaders v. 11
cf. Acts 20:28 3. The Purpose Ephesians 4:12 a. Immediate Equip the saints b. Ultimate: For the work of ministry For the building up the body of Christ C. The Product of Discipleship Ephesians 4:13 14, 16 1. Maturity vv. 13 14 a. Unity to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God b. Conformity to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ c. Stability as a result 2. Ministry v. 16 a. Full participation every joint supplies each individual part b. According to giftedness supplies, according to the proper working c. For the benefit of the body building up of itself 3. The Process of Discipleship Ephesians 4:15 a. The Principle: Discipleship is driven by truth-dominated love b. Further Proof Ephesians 5:26; 1 Timothy 3:15; 4:13, 16; 5:17; 2 Timothy 3:15 17; 2 Corinthians 3:18
III. Product: Who are together becoming like Jesus Christ A. New creations in Christ Ephesians 4:22 24 1. The Pattern for the New Life Ephesians 4:22 24 a. Removal v. 22 b. Renewal v. 23 c. Replacement v. 24 Old Life: Governed by Passion and Lust New Life: Controlled by Principle and Truth 2. The Practices of the New Life a. Credible Testimony of Faith in Jesus Christ 1:13, 15 b. Baptized and Added to the Church 4:4 5, cf. Acts 2:41 c. Committed to and Practicing the Basic Spiritual Disciplines of the Christian Life 6:17 18; 5:19 20 Word cf. 1 Peter 2:1 2 Prayer cf. Colossians 4:2; 1 Thessalonians 5:17 Worship cf. Hebrews 10:25; John 4:23 24 d. Using Spiritual Gifts for Ministry within the Local Church 4:16; cf. 1 Peter 4:10 11
e. Committed to and Participating in the Spread of the Gospel 6:15, cf. vv. 19 20 B. New community in Christ Ephesians 2:19 22 1. Unity Ephesians 2:13 18; 4:2 6 a. Its Basis 2:13 18 b. Its Nature 4:2 6, 13 Spiritual, unity of the Spirit Relational, for one another Doctrinal, one faith unity of the faith 2. Purity Ephesians 5:25 27 a. Aspects Purity of Life 4:25 5:13 Purity of Doctrine 4:4 6, 13 14 b. Applications Discipline 5:3 6; cf. 2:1 3; 4:17 19 Separation 5:7, 11 13; cf. 4:14 a) For the purity of the gospel, believers and churches must separate from those who deny essential doctrines of the faith (Jude 3; 2 John 9 11; Rom 16:17); b) For the clarity of the gospel, believers and churches must separate from those who compromise the faith by granting Christian recognition and fellowship to those who have
denied essential doctrines of the faith (Rom 16:17; Phil 3:17 19; cf. 2 Ths 3:6 15). c) For the credibility of the gospel, believers and churches must strive to reflect God s holiness and to live differently than those who have not experienced the saving grace of Jesus Christ (1 Peter 1:15 16; Ephesians 4:17 19).
Addendum 1: Core Commitments of a God-Centered Church Our Upward Commitment: Worship I. The Importance of Worship that Pleases God (John 4:21 24) A. God s Purpose, the Father seeks B. Christ s Provision, the hour is coming II. The Identification of Worship that Pleases God A. It is Spiritual Worship, God is spirit in spirit B. It is Scriptural Worship, we worship what we know truth C. It is Sincere Worship, in spirit and truth III. The Ingredients of Worship that Pleases God Gathering with God s people in God s presence in order to exalt Him through prayer, praise, the presentation of ourselves and our gifts, participation in the ordinances, and the proclamation of His Word. A. The People, Heb 10:25; Matt 18:20; 1 Cor 11:18, 20 B. The Place, 1 Cor 3:16 17; 14:25 26; 1 Tim 3:15 C. The Purpose, Eph 3:21; 1 Pet 2:9 10 D. The Pattern 1. Prayer, 1 Tim 2:1 8; Col 4:2 2. Praise, Eph 5:19; Col 3:16; Heb 13:15
3. Presentation of ourselves and our gifts to the Lord, 2 Cor 8:1 5; Rom 12:1; 1 Cor 16:2 4. Participation in the ordinances, Acts 2:41; 1 Cor 11:17 32 5. Proclamation of His Word, 1 Tim 4:13, 16; 5:17; 1 Ths 5:12 13 Our Inward Commitment: Fellowship and Edification I. The Importance of Our Inward Commitment A. God s Purpose for Redemption is Communal, Not Just Individual, Eph 2:14 18; 5:25 27; Col 3:15; John 10:16. B. God s Plan for Sanctification is Communal, Not Just Individual, Eph 4:11 16. C. God s Program for Evangelism is Communal, Not Just Individual, Eph 3:8 11; 1 Pet 2:9 10; John 13:34 35; 17:21, 23. II. The Identification of Our Inward Commitment Building spiritual relationships that display Christ s love and help us grow toward godliness. A. Its Nature: spiritual relationships, Eph 4:3; Rom 12:4 5; 1 Cor 12:12 26 1. Relationships created by the Spirit, Eph 2:18; 3:16; 4:3 2. Relationships controlled by the Spirit, Eph 5:18; 2:22; 4:25, 29 30 B. Its Bond: Christ s love, Eph 5:2; cf. 4:2, 15, 16; Col 3:14; John 13:34 35; 1 John 3:13 18; 4:7 11 1. Encouragement and Exhortation, Heb 3:12 14; 10:25
2. Acceptance and Accountability, Rom 15:7, 14; 1 Tim 5:17 20 3. Forgiveness and Restoration, Eph 4:31 32; Gal 6:1; Matt 18:15 ff 4. Hospitality and Generosity, Romans 12:13 C. Its Goal: grow toward godliness, Eph 4:15 16; Rom 15:1 2, 14; 1 Cor 14:12 Our Outward Commitment: Evangelism I. The Importance of Our Outward Commitment A. Accepting the Gospel Makes You a Partner in the Gospel, Phil 1:5 B. Advancing the Gospel is More Important than Our Lives, Phil 1:12, 19 20, 27 30. II. The Identification of Our Outward Commitment Boldly proclaiming the gospel of Jesus Christ while living like we truly believe it. A. The Message, the gospel of Jesus Christ (Phil 1:12 18; 1 Cor 15:1 6) 1. The Character of the Gospel is that it is Apostolic and Biblical, we preached according to the Scriptures 2. The Context of the Gospel is Man s Alienation from the True and Living God, our Creator, Acts 14:15; 17:23, 30 31; cf. 1 Ths 1:9 10. 3. The Center of the Gospel is Jesus Christ, Phil 1:12, 15, 16 18; cf. v. 14. a. He is the fulfillment of the OT promises (Acts 13:32) which includes the details of His life, death, and resurrection (1
Cor 15:3 4) and culminates in His exaltation, Lordship, and coming Kingdom (Acts 2:36; 2 Cor 4:5; Acts 8:12; cf. 14:22). b. The preaching of this gospel includes warnings about coming judgment by Jesus Christ (Rom 2:16 on the day when, according to my gospel, God will judge the secrets of men through Jesus Christ; Acts 10:42 He ordered us to preach that this is the One who has been appointed by God as the Judge of the living and the dead; 17:31) and offers the promise of salvation through Him (Acts 13:38 39; cf. 1 Ths 1:10). B. The Means, proclaiming (Phil 1:15, 17 18) C. The Manner, boldly living (Phil 1:14, 27 28; 2:14 16) 1. Courage, Phil 1:14, 27 28 2. Consecration, Phil 1:27; 2:14 16; 3:20 21; 4:15 19 a. Living worthy of the gospel, 1:27 b. Living blamelessly, 2:15 c. Living for eternity, 3:20 21; 4:15 19
Addendum 2: The Practice of Church Discipline I. In Matters of Public Disobedience, 1 Corinthians 5 A. The Problem, 5:1 B. The Response, 5:4 5; cf. vv. 7, 11, 13 1. Its Character, 4 a. It is a congregational issue, when you are assembled b. It is a spiritual issue, in the name of our Lord Jesus 2. Its Purpose, 5b 3. Its Implementation, 7, 11, 13 II. In Matters of Private Disobedience, Matthew 18:15 17 A. Private Confrontation, go and show him his fault in private (v. 15). 1. The Nature of the Offense, if your brother sins 2. The Nature of the Confrontation, show him his fault B. Private Conference, take one or two more with you (v. 16). 1. The Purpose of the Conference, to listen to them (v. 17) 2. The Participants in the Conference, two or three witnesses (v. 16; Deut 19:15; cf. Num 35:30; Deut 17:6; 1 Tim 5:19). C. Public Announcement, tell it to the church (v. 17). D. Public Exclusion, let him be to you (v. 17)