Understanding of the gospel and how it impacts the identity of the local church
The gospel is the good news of God that though we deserve God’s wrath he offers us justification through Jesus, sanctification through his Spirit and the hope of glorification. This good news can be had through faith in his grace and not by trying to earn it with good works. The gospel greatly impacts the identity of the church in two major ways.
First the gospel keeps the church centered on a relationship with Jesus. Second, the gospel keeps the church fixed on the glory of God, not our efforts to try to earn God’s approval.
An articulation of the mission of the local church
The mission of the church is to glorify God by making disciples. God increasingly makes us like Jesus (2 Cor 3:18, Ro 8:29) through nine sets of relationships (See The 9 Relationships Disciple-making Strategy).
How this mission shapes the church’s priorities
The mission to glorify God through making disciples is the primary work of the church and should shape the church’s priorities. The church’s focus and resources should be oriented on this great local and global effort.
How the church should or should not relate to the surrounding culture.
The church should offer peace, purpose, and life. We should love the people of our culture as we winsomely declare that sin earns God’s wrath and the only escape is the great grace of God through faith in Jesus’ perfect life, death and resurrection.
9 Theological Convictions That Inform and Undergird My Vision of Pastoral Ministry and Church Leadership
1. The Goal of Ministry: People Complete In Christ
The goal of ministry is to make disciples[1], people who are being actively transformed into the image of Christ[2] through the indwelling Holy Spirit. We know that God will one day complete his work of sanctification in our lives[3]. We work until that day knowing it is his power that is working in us[4].
2. The Hoped-For Result of Ministry: The Glory of God
As stated above the goal of ministry is people who are increasingly like Jesus. Jesus perfectly glorified God[5], our heavenly Father. The more people become like Jesus, the more God is glorified.
3. The Power of Ministry: The Power of God
We are to work with all our strength[6] and strive for excellence in God’s service[7]. However God alone opens eyes to his truth[8]. We ought to pray for God’s power that our ministry efforts might yield eternal fruit[9].
4. The Call To Ministry: The Priesthood of all Believers
Every Christian is called to minister as ambassadors for Christ[10], loving the church[11], and serving according to their spiritual gift(s)[12].
5. The Equipping for Ministry: Spiritual Gift-Based Ministry
Through the indwelling Holy Spirit every Christian is entrusted with a spiritual gift (or gifts) that God desires used for his glory (See footnote #12). Elders and other leaders equip people through teaching of giftedness and leading them to use their gift(s)[13].
6. The Cost of Ministry: Suffering and Persecution
God often uses suffering and persecution to grow people into the likeness of Jesus and bring maturity to his church[14]. Every faithful Christian participating in Gospel ministry should be prepared for suffering in hope that it brings greater maturity.[15]
7. The Fruit of Ministry: God’s Providence In Blessing and Encouragement
God brings encouragement and eternal fruit according to his sovereign plans[16]. God-glorifying ministry does not necessarily yield numerical.
8. The Focus of Ministry: Jesus
The focus of ministry is a personal relationship with Jesus[17].
9. The Leadership of Ministry: Elders
Elders serve five crucial roles in ministry. They preach and teach[18] the church so that the faith of the church is founded on biblical truth. They pray for the church[19]. They provide an example of Christian maturity[20] in such a way that church members are familiar with them and may imitate them[21]. Finally, they lead the church with sacrificial, gentle, and humble love[22].
Doctrinal Essentials – Vital for orthodoxy and gospel faithfulness, essential for placement and Christian partnership
Trinity
Holiness of God
Person and Work of Christ
Sinfulness of Humanity
Necessity of Repentance
Authority of Scripture
The atonement of Christ
Necessity of faith in Christ
Salvation by grace through faith
Convictions – Very important to me while recognizing understandable disagreement within evangelicalism over these, essential for placement
Complementarianism
Elder led congregationalism
Expository preaching
Preferences – I hold to these and would prefer the church I serve do the same, but not essential for placement
Believer baptism
Calvinism (respectful and humble and with a real regard for man’s responsibility)
Music-Indelible Grace “style” modern hymns
[1] “Go therefore and make disciples…” Matthew 28:19
[2] “…be transformed by the renewal of your mind…” Romans 12:2, “And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another…” 2 Cor 3:18
[3] “And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.” Philippians 1:6
[4] “work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, 13 for it is God who works in you,” Philippians 2:12-13
[5] “I honor my Father” John 8:49, “Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you…” John 17:1, “This he said to show by what kind of death he was to glorify God.” John 21:9
[6] See footnote #4.
[7] “Cursed is he who does the work of the Lord with slackness…” Jeremiah 48:10
[8] “…to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God” Acts 26:18
[9] “To this end we always pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his calling and may fulfill every resolve for good and every work of faith by his power,” 2 Thess 1:11, “14 For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, 15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, 16 that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being.” Eph 3:14-16
[10] “…we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us.” 2 Cor 5:20
[11] “…keep loving one another earnestly…” 1 Peter 4:8
[12] “To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.” 1Cor 12:7
[13] “he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ” Eph 4:11-12.
[14] “But if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God. 21 For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps.” 1 Pet 2:20-21
[15] “As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.” 2 Tim 4:5
[16] “…the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.” Acts 2:47
[17] “I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me” John 1:14
[18] “Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in preaching and teaching” 1 Timothy 4:1
[19] “Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord.” James 5:14
[20] “being examples to the flock.” 1 Peter 5:3
[21] “Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God. Consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith.” Hebrews 13:7
[22] “Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God.” Acts 20:28
David Baum 