A short teaching block from our weekly Friends of BPC email. Updated each week.
Which Model of Church?
The paper asks a sharp question: which model of church is most biblical, and which should we follow? It sketches three.
Maintenance (mindset: “keep things going”). The minister changes nothing, and the congregation simply receives ministry.
The impact? Things do change over time; they decline.
Ministry (mindset: “we need to grow”). The minister ministers to everyone he can, while the congregation watches passively.
The impact? Sometimes some growth, but limited by one person’s reach.
Multiplication (mindset: “we have a mission together”). Teaching, training, equipping and modelling, with everyone involved in ministry. Sometimes called ‘Mission’ mode.
The impact? True growth (Ephesians 4:16).
I long for us to be a multiplication church, a church where everyone sees themselves involved in the mission, the Great Commission. I don’t believe God wants us to just keep things ticking over, especially when there are thousands around us who need to hear the good news of Jesus. Therefore, let’s pray that God would give us eyes to see ourselves on mission, not simply maintaining the church or doing ministry, but being on mission!
Read about it for yourself: Ephesians 4:11–16; 2 Timothy 2:2; Acts 6:1–7
Adapted from MTS Ministry Paper 2.01 Joining a Growth Group. mts.com.au/resources/ministry-training-papers/