Philosophy In Concept...
As a leader in ministry I am called to KNOW Jesus more and more and influence others for Christ so they in turn may know Him, GROW as a follower of Jesus while leading others to grow, and SHOW the world what a lifestyle of pursing the Kingdom of God looks like while encouraging others to do the same.
As a leader in ministry I am called to KNOW Jesus more and more and influence others for Christ so they in turn may know Him, GROW as a follower of Jesus while leading others to grow, and SHOW the world what a lifestyle of pursing the Kingdom of God looks like while encouraging others to do the same.
KNOW As a leader and follower of Christ I am called to make Him known. This principle comes out of John 17:3 “And this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.” This means that with everyone within my sphere of influence I should be asking the Holy Spirit to spur me to enter into a relationship, when possible, with them. However, this does not mean that I simply walk up to every person I encounter and ask, “Do you know Jesus?” I strongly believe that relationships are the bridges that the Holy Spirit uses to make Jesus known. If there is no relationship of love and care then there is not a bridge over the chasm of being strangers. Without a relationship I would simply be lobbing the Good News over the chasm of being strangers and hoping that they would catch it. However, even with the Holy Spirit there is a time and a place for the lobbing to occur.
|
GROW As a leader and follower of Jesus I am supposed to have evidence of a life of being His. This principle comes from John 15:4, “Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me.” As the metaphor goes I am the branch that bears the fruit of Jesus for the world to see and to glorify Him. Taking the branch/vine metaphor further, a plant does not stop growing. It grows until it dies. This growth may not be bigger, but it makes it more mature. A branch can be pruned to produce more fruit as well. By remaining in the Source of growth (where I get nourishment), namely Jesus, I will grow and have evidence of being in Him: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23).
|
SHOW
As a leader and follower of Jesus I am responsible for my part in the advancement of the Kingdom of God/multiplying His followers. This principle comes out of the Great Commission, “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:19-20). This serves not only as a guiding principle, but also a summary of the entire ministry process. The means by which God desires to advance His Kingdom is the Church. The people of God are the tools he desires to use to build the Church.
My responsibility is to baptize and teach. Baptism is the outward display of the internal change that someone has experienced by entering into a saving relationship with Jesus. In order to baptize someone I must know that they KNOW Him. I then in turn teach them to observe that which Jesus commanded found in Scripture so that they may GROW. As part of that growth they are called to SHOW the world what a lifestyle looks like of advancing the Kingdom of God, and this includes making disciples. What a glorious and genius plan of Kingdom advancement God has designed!
My responsibility is to baptize and teach. Baptism is the outward display of the internal change that someone has experienced by entering into a saving relationship with Jesus. In order to baptize someone I must know that they KNOW Him. I then in turn teach them to observe that which Jesus commanded found in Scripture so that they may GROW. As part of that growth they are called to SHOW the world what a lifestyle looks like of advancing the Kingdom of God, and this includes making disciples. What a glorious and genius plan of Kingdom advancement God has designed!
Philosophy in practice...
A wise mentor once told me that every follower of Jesus needs to have three major relationships in his life: a Paul, a Barnabas, and a Timothy. The Pauls are the spiritual fathers that you go to for advice, who encourage/rebuke you and lead you in the path of becoming more and more like Jesus. The Baranabi are those that you are doing ministry with and that are in the same place of spiritual formation. These are not simply co-workers in ministry but those that are walking the same path and help shoulder the weight and responsibility of ministry. The Timothies are those to whom you are Pauls. They become the ones that ask for advice and guidance and that you encourage/rebuke and lead in the path of becoming more and more like Jesus because you are walking that path before them.
A wise mentor once told me that every follower of Jesus needs to have three major relationships in his life: a Paul, a Barnabas, and a Timothy. The Pauls are the spiritual fathers that you go to for advice, who encourage/rebuke you and lead you in the path of becoming more and more like Jesus. The Baranabi are those that you are doing ministry with and that are in the same place of spiritual formation. These are not simply co-workers in ministry but those that are walking the same path and help shoulder the weight and responsibility of ministry. The Timothies are those to whom you are Pauls. They become the ones that ask for advice and guidance and that you encourage/rebuke and lead in the path of becoming more and more like Jesus because you are walking that path before them.
©2022 Jordan Harris