Dr. Paul David Tripp, pastor, internationally known and respected speaker, and a best-selling and award-winning author, tells a story about an experience teaching a Biblical Counseling course in Seminary. He knew the students only took the class because it was required. In light of that, he told story after story about the toughest ministry experiences he faced until the students understood why they needed to listen and participate in the course. On one particular day, a student asked Paul, “How do we get past these ‘projects’ in the church so we can do real ministry?” After having the student repeat the question, he addressed the class. Paul then explained two things. First, people aren’t projects. People are people and we need to see them as people. Second, people are the ministry.
It is critical for church leadership to grasp God’s vision for the church, see the opportunities God has placed before them, and develop strategies and set goals. One example is our primary strategy for discipleship. We aim to help people grow in their knowledge and faith through a Shared Life Group. As we often say, our Shared Life Groups are the heartbeat of Heartland Church. Our goals include helping people become mature disciples of Jesus and to do so we are striving to enroll 80% of adults who are members or regular attenders to actively participate in a weekly group. The strategy is admirable. The goal is reasonable and measurable. So what can go wrong? What can go wrong is overlooking the people as we focus on the metrics. When we stop seeing people as people, and start seeing them as a number, project, or a means to reach the goal, everything and anything can go wrong.
Each person has a unique set of circumstances he or she is facing. Everything including family, work, finances, and health dynamics, along with emotional and spiritual maturity plays a role in how we engage each person. Of course, we want everyone to participate in a Shared Life Group, but our ministry is not the Shared Life Group, instead the ministry is the people whether they are in a group or not. The Shared Life Group is a means but not the end. We have to stop, look, and listen to the person, each person, and meet the need as Jesus taught in the story about the Good Samaritan to love our neighbor as ourselves. Each person comes to the group with various needs, perspectives, and experiences. Each person proverbially and literally travels a different road to get to the group. What then? Of course, read the Word, teach the Word, and apply the Word, and, of course, begin and end in prayer. But never lose sight of seeing people as people.
If you’re asking the question, “How do we get past these ‘projects’ in the church so we can do real ministry?,” maybe you need to take some time to reflect on what the Bible says about love in Matthew 22:36-40, John 13:34-45, and 1 Corinthians 13:1-8. And for good measure, read what the Apostle Paul wrote to the Thessalonians, 1 Thes 2:5 “For we never came with words of flattery, as you know, nor with a pretext for greed—God is witness. 6 Nor did we seek glory from people, whether from you or from others, though we could have made demands as apostles of Christ. 7 But we were gentle among you, like a nursing mother taking care of her own children. 8 So, being affectionately desirous of you, we were ready to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own selves, because you had become very dear to us.” Yes, my friend, people are the ministry!
A Work in Progress,
Gene
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