PhilosophyofMinistryatRedeemerPresbyterianChurch Waco,Texas Objective: Pause: gospelgrowthinpeople work WhatisaPhilosophyofMinistry? visionforministryinaparticularplace. philosophyofministryvisionforministry Vision TheologicalIdentity CoreConvictionsorOperatingValues LocationorPlace 2 Gospelgrowthinpeoplework extendingwork deepeningwork Ofthisyouhaveheardbeforeinthewordoftruth,thegospel,whichhascometoyou, asindeedinthewholeworlditisbearingfruitandgrowing asitalsodoesamongyou,sincethedayyouheardit andunderstoodthegraceofgodintruth (Col1.56). Allauthorityinheavenandonearthhasbeengiventome.Go thereforeandmakedisciplesofallnations,baptizingtheminthenameofthefatherandofthesonandoftheholy Spirit,teachingthemtoobserveallthatIhavecommandedyou.Andbehold,Iamwithyoualways,totheendofthe age (Matt28.1820).
WhatisRedeemer svision? ToextendtheSupremacyofGod(thewhat)bydelightingintheWorthandWorkofJesusChrist (thehow)inwacoandbeyond(thewhere). gospelgrowthinpeoplework 3 movethe1,000:delightinginchristtogether. The1,000:DelightinginChristTogether gospelgrowth gospelgrowth gospelgrowth gospelgrowth only delightinchristtogether Gospelgrowthinpeoplework extendingwork deepeningwork Ofthisyouhaveheardbeforeinthewordoftruth,thegospel,whichhascometoyou, asindeedinthewholeworlditisbearingfruitandgrowing asitalsodoesamongyou,sincethedayyouheardit andunderstoodthegraceofgodintruth (Col1.56). Allauthorityinheavenandonearthhasbeengiventome.Go thereforeandmakedisciplesofallnations,baptizingtheminthenameofthefatherandofthesonandoftheholy Spirit,teachingthemtoobserveallthatIhavecommandedyou.Andbehold,Iamwithyoualways,totheendofthe age (Matt28.1820).
WhatisRedeemer stheologicalidentity? 4 ReformedandPresbyterian Westminster ConfessionofFaithLargerandShorterCatechisms The5 PointsofCalvinismThe5SolasoftheReformation Itisimportanttorecognizethatone stheologicalidentityisessentialto,butnotnecessarilydeterminativeof one sphilosophyofministry PhilosophyofMinistryatRedeemerPresbyterianChurch SanAntonio, Texas Separatingthetheologicalidentityfromthephilosophyofministry Makingthetheologicalidentitythephilosophyofministry. infoministry TheReformedunderstandingoftheGospelgivesusaGodwhoismoreholythanany conservativecanbearandmorelovingthananyliberalcanconceive.reformedtheologydealswithrelationshipto thewholeoflife,notjustprivateoremotionalworlds.itisapositiveviewandwaytohelpchristiansbe comfortableanddistinctiveintheirvocationsintheworld.reformedtheologygiveshumilitybecausebothclassic fundamentalismandpentecostalismcanbeoverconfidentintheirownways.theycanactsuperiortonon Christians,andtheycanbreakChristianswitha performanceorientation. Reformedtheologycombinesthe strengthsfromothertraditionsthatareusuallyseenasmutuallyexclusive.likemainline:concerntobeculturally relevant,socialconcern.likefundamentalists:highviewofthebible,emphasisuponevangelismanddiscipling. Likecharismatics:expectancyinworship,priesthoodofallbelievers,smallgroups.Thatmeansyoumusthavea sensethatyouhavesomethinggreat,somethingsignificanttooffer.notdoctrinalpridefulnessbutasincerebelief thatreformedtheologytaught,caughtandlivedout,areformedlifeandworldview,willtransformandrenewany person,church,orcommunity.
WhatareRedeemer scoreconvictionsoroperatingvalues? ExtendingtheSupremacyofGodby delightingintheworthandworkofjesuschristinwacoandbeyond 1) WeareBOOKPEOPLE. TheWordofGodisanuncagedlion! implicationsforministry BookPeoplewillbeChristCentered Jesusevents Jesusmessages Operatingvaluesfocustherawdataofachurch stheologicalidentitysothatit servesthepurposeofministry.theyarefundamentalvalues,whichreflecttheprioritieswithinourtheological identity.ifweanswerthisquestionbysimplysaying WeareaReformedChurch, thenwehavecommunicatedthat ouroperatingvaluesarehighlytheologicalandnarrowlyfocusedonthearticulationandpreservationofcertain propositions,ratherthanonachievingamorecomprehensiveand,iwouldargue,morebiblicalvisionforministry PhilosophyofMinistryatRedeemerPresbyterianChurch SanAntonio,Texas.
BookPeoplewillbe confessional GospelofGraceinChrist BookPeoplewillhaveapassionfortruththeologyonfire! lightandheat. 2) WeareGODCENTEREDPEOPLE. Godisonthemove halloffame
implicationsforministry ThereisaGodshapedholeinthehumansoul Everyhumanbeingmustliveforsomething.Somethingmust captureourimaginations,ourheart smostfundamentalallegiance andhope.but,thebibletellsuswithouttheinterventionoftheholy Spirit,thatobjectwillneverbeGodhimself Counterfeit Gods, salvation TherootofallsinisstuffingtheGodshapedholeinoursoulwith somethingorsomeoneotherthangod evengoodthings Thebiblical conceptofidolatryisanextremelysophisticatedidea,integrating intellectual,psychological,social,cultural,andspiritualcategories CounterfeitGods, TheBibleisthereforefilledwithstory afterstorydepictingtheinnumerableformsanddevastatingeffects ofidolworship.everycounterfeitgodaheartcanchoose whether love,money,success,orpower hasapowerfulbiblicalnarrative thatexplainshowthatparticularkindofidolatryworksitselfoutin ourlives CounterfeitGods, RealministrymustaddresstheGodshapedholeinthesoulorthe heart
NotonlywerewemadeforGod(relationship),butwewerealsomade tomakegodfamous(reflectionorimagebearing). reflection TheChurchmustlivebygracealonetomakeGodfamousortotruly glorifygod. Godisalwaysonthemove,alwaysatworkforhisgloryandgrace. Godonthemoveshapesourministrycharacter 3) WeareGOSPELDRIVENPEOPLE.
WhenJesusshowsup. GodHimself Redeemer isallaboutjesus and Worthand WorkofJesusChrist TheGospelisthatyouaremoresinfuland flawedthanyoueverdaredbelieved,yetyouaremoreacceptedandlovedthanyoueverdared hopeatthesametimebecausejesuschristlivedanddiedinyourplace.salvationisofthe Lord GospelInLife implicationsforministry Thehumanheartisaddictedtogodmaking,totryingtobeitsown savior. replacing Thegospeliseveryone sdeepestneedandgreatestlonging
Thegospelmustbeappliedtotheheart. Therearethreewaysoflivingthatgospeldrivenpeopleneedtobe awareofinministry: Thefirstwayoflivingisthewayofselfindulgenceorseekingtosave yourselfthroughpleasure. bad Thesecondwayoflivingisthewayofselfrighteousnessorseekingto saveyourselfthroughyourperformanceandrecord TheProdigalGod. Thewayofreligion good Thethirdwayoflivingisthewayofthegospel.
gracealone Buildingourmessylivesaroundthegospelresultsinalifestyleof redemptiverepentance. relationships thirdway Thechurchculturecreatedbythegospelisradicallydifferentfrom thechurchculturescreatedbytheothertwowaystolive. self indulgentwayisolationandself absorption.
selfrighteous waycontrolandcoldness. gospelway delightandfreedom,wonderandworship,passionandpraise,love andjoy,gloryandgrace,humilityandconfidence,faithandhope, serviceandgoodworks,missionandministry,andcourageand celebration. Gospelgrowthinpeopleworkbecomesthenormal workofthechurch. 4) WeareWORSHIPPINGPEOPLE. WorshipisatthecoreofourhumanitybecauseGodmadeusforHimself Man schief
endistoglorifygodandtoenjoyhimforever. lightandheatortruthandheart implicationsforministry TrueworshipcentersontheTriuneGodandisdrivenbyhisgospel (light/truth). beginsandendswith GodisaSpirit,infinite,eternal, andunchangeable,inhisbeing,wisdom,power,holiness,justice, goodness,andtruth WSCQ.4 drivenby reachesintothepast extendsintothepresent absolutizemoralize
Trueworshiphitstheheartorengagesthewholeperson (heat/heart). beginsandendswith Dialogical Andhispeople respondtohim engagesthefullrangeofhumanemotion 5) WeareFORPEOPLE. PEOPLE NiceneCreed we believein...onelordjesuschrist...whoforusmenandforoursalvationcamedownfrom heaven...wascrucified...suffered...andwasburied. people. implicationsforministry Redeemerseekstobemarkedbyagenuineloveforpeople.
loveeachother indicators means loveforthoseoutsidethechurch manneropen warm Muchofministrywilllooklikeregularthingsthatregularpeopledo. normallife thepath just hangingout. Inallofourdecisionsandactions,wewillseektobehumane.
6) WeareGOD SPEOPLE,THECHURCH,ANOUTPOSTOFTHEKINGDOMOFGOD. people WeAreForPeople communitycovenant community unshockablecommunity pilgrim community redemptivecommunity missionalcommunity Ourcommitmenttothecommunalnatureofthechurchismostclearlyseenwithour covenantchildrenandinourcommunitygroups: Ourcovenantchildrenaredeeplylovedmembersofthechurch Jesuslovesandgavehimselffor. Ministrytoourcovenantchildren(nurseryto5 th grade)is intentionallypastoral,staff,andparentdriven. Ministrytoourcovenantyouth(juniorandseniorhigh)is
intentionallypastoral,staff,parent,andthebroaderchurch communitydriven. moreleaders importanttools redemptivefriendshipsandcommunity gospel outreachandgrowthtoyouthandparents Communitygroupsareavitalvehicleforgospelgrowthinpeoples liveswithinthecontextofcommunity. vital vehicle expectstoexperience
morethan morethan informational Communitygroupsareaplacetoapplythegospeltoourlives. drivingagenda Communitygroupsareaplacetocareforeachother. Communitygroupsareaplacewheregiftsareexercised. Communitygroupsareaplaceforreachingout. welcomenewpeople 7) WeareMISSIONALPEOPLE. makegodfamous ExtendingtheSupremacyofGodby peopledelightingintheworthandworkofjesuschristinwacoandbeyond commandsus participant
get Thereforebeingamissionalpeoplenotonlymeansthatwearecommittedtothe missionofproclaimingthegospeltoeverypeopleineveryculturebutalsoinways thattheycanunderstandour ownculturalpracticesandpreferences implicationsforministry WearecommittedtobeingananchorchurchinCentralTexas. gospelmovement Wearecommittedto networkevangelism. pathwayof relationships gospelmovement
networksfamily, geography,vocation,andrecreation/other Wearecommittedto deedsofmercy accompanyingoradorning wordsoftruth. Truth mercy falsechoice fullhealing incomplete Wewillbendforthevisitorandoutsider. willinglydecentralize Wearecommittedto beyond Waco.
supportingsending Thecommunicationofthechurchwillbeculturallyaccessible. consciouslyseekto communicate TheGospel smissionencouragesculturalcreativity. culturalcreativity WhatistheparticularplaceGodhasplacedRedeemertoextendhisgospel? incarnation themessage theform divinizetheculture denigratetheculture Wheneverwecomeuponthesemattersinsecularwriters,letthatadmirablelight oftruthshininginthemteachusthatthemindofman,thoughfallenandpervertedfromitswholeness,is neverthelessclothedandornamentedwithgod sexcellentgifts.ifweregardthespiritofgodasthesolefountainof
1) First,Jesus relationshiptotheculturehewasinmarksoutthepaththatthechurchis towalkintheworld culturalsuperiority culturalescapism 2) Second,Jesus relationshiptotheculturehewasinencouragesustolivewherewe live. thefreedomtolivewherewelive thereasontolivewherewelive truth,weshallneitherrejectthetruthitself,nordespiseitwhereveritshallappear,unlesswewishtodishonorthe SpiritofGod.ForbyholdingthegiftsoftheSpiritinslightesteem,wecontemnandreproachtheSpirithimself. Whatthen?Shallwedenythatthetruthshoneupontheancientjuristswhoestablishedcivicorderanddiscipline withsuchgreatequity?shallwesaythatthephilosopherswereblindintheirfineobservationandartful descriptionofnature?shallwesaythatthosemenweredevoidofunderstandingwhoconceivedtheartof disputationandtaughtustospeakreasonably?shallwesaythattheyareinsanewhodevelopedmedicine, devotingtheirlabortoourbenefit?whatshallwesayofthemathematicalsciences?shallweconsiderthemthe ravingsofmadmen?no,wecannotreadthewritingsoftheancientsonthesesubjectswithoutgreatadmiration. Wemarvelatthembecausewearecompelledtorecognizehowpreeminenttheyare.Butshallwecountanything praiseworthyornoblewithoutrecognizingatthesametimethatitcomesfromgod?letusbeashamedofsuch ingratitude,intowhichnoteventhepaganpoetsfell,fortheyconfessedthatthegodshadinventedphilosophy, laws,andallusefularts.thosemenwhomscripture[icor.2:14]calls naturalmen were,indeed,sharpand penetratingintheirinvestigationofinferiorthings.letus,accordingly,learnbytheirexamplehowmanygiftsthe Lordlefttohumannatureevenafteritwasdespoiledofitstruegood InstitutesofChristianReligion
intheworldforthe sakeoftheworld,inourcommunitiesforthesakeofourcommunities,andinourcity forthesakeofourcity. 3) Third,Jesus relationshiptotheculturehewasincallsustolovewherewelive. ThussaystheLordofhosts,theGodofIsrael,to alltheexileswhomihavesentintoexilefromjerusalemtobabylon:buildhousesand liveinthem;plantgardensandeattheirproduce.takewivesandhavesonsand daughters;takewivesforyoursons,andgiveyourdaughtersinmarriage,thatthey maybearsonsanddaughters;multiplythere,anddonotdecrease.butseekthe welfareofthecitywhereihavesentyouintoexile,andpraytothelordonitsbehalf, forinitswelfareyouwillfindyourwelfare (Jer29.47). welfare shalom seekshalom plansforwelfareandnot forevil. our 1) Wewillneedtoopenoureyesandheartstothediversecommunitiesandculturesin WacoinordertobeapartofGod sgospelmissiontowaco. 2) WewillneedtoknowthestoriesofWaco.
AlthoughWacoisaspirituallyawareplace,itisnota spirituallyrichplace. 3) WewillneedtodreamaboutthestorythatJesuswantstotellaboutWaco 4) WewillneedtoenactabetterstoryinthelifeofWaco.