At Grace we firmly believe that Jesus is the model for our ministry, but what does this mean? It really means that the character and priorities that Jesus had should be our pattern for personal living and corporate activity. Does this mean we should all wear sandles? No. But the way Jesus acted and the things He did when wearing sandles we need to also do. Jesus patterned His life on living by the word of God (Luke 4). Jesus adjusted His life pattern to touch lost people (John 4). Jesus brought close a small group of people in whom He poured His life (Matt.10). These types of life-activities must be considered by the church since the way Jesus did ministry is the best way to do ministry.
About Dan Miller
Pastor Dan was part of the core group that started Grace Fellowship in 2003. Pastor Dan is our primary teaching pastor, leads the staff, and oversees the vision and strategy for our disciplemaking philosophy of ministry. Dan married Vicki in 1993. Together, they enjoy their seven children – Benjamin (married to Courtney), David, Alexa, Zachary (married to Ginna), Nathan, Ana, and Autumn, along with one grandchild - Lucy.
Hey Dan, that makes a lot of sense, but I was wondering… are there any examples in the New Testament where Jesus’ followers make that case, that is make the claim that their ministry is modeled after the way Jesus did it? Or where Paul or the other writers tell us that Jesus was the model for ministry? Just wondering.
Yes. However, I do think that the world Paul and the other Apostles lived in would not need to make a connection in the way you stated simply because it was a cultural given. To be a disciple of Jesus was, by definition, to do develop in the character and priorities of Christ. It would be to obey the command of Jesus: “As the Father is sending me, I am sending you” (John 20:21). To be a disciple would mean to be baptized in Jesus name, to pronouce to eveyone I am now doing what Jesus wants with my life. All through the New Testament we are commanded to love, walk, serve, etc., as Jesus did.
Also, the missionary journeys of Paul are a fantastic overview of pouring into the lives of specific people, like Jesus did. Paul would revisit places He had been to encourage and build them up in the Lord. Paul would also develop leadership for the area church. One of his church leaders, Timothy, was instructed in this process when Paul said: “the things you have heard me say entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others.” (2 Tim. 2:2). In Romans 16:1-16 Paul gives a laundry list of people to whom he has invested his life. I think it was much more natural for those of the days of the New Testament to understand and pursue ministry based on intentional relationship since that is all they had. There were no TV’s or church-growth seminars, or computers. Truth always flows best and produces more lasting results when it flows through personal relationships. One of the results of the world we live in is that relationships are often fractured with such little time being spent together that intentional discipling has become a relic of the past.
Great question, thanks for asking.