Philosophy of Ministry: Part I

There are a lot of different ways to look at Philosphy of Ministry. The best one I have heard was from a guy named Jim Petersen. Jim's Philosophy of Ministry was: faith, hope and love. I have tried to adopt his philosophy.

Let me try to explain it to you as best I can.

The most famous use of faith, hope and love is in 1 Corinthians 13, the love chapter. The last verse in the chapter, verse 13, says “And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.”

1. Love

Here I find that love is the most important. Nothing new. I have pretty much been taught that all my Christian life. Add to that 1 John 4:8, tells us that “God is love.”

So my philosophy of ministry to people centers around God. Not me. And not the people. But on God. I need to make God the center of my personal devotional life. I need to make God the center of my conversations with people, believers and non-believers alike.

Any other focus is insufficient.

2. Faith

Next, Faith. Hebrews 11:6 tells us that “without faith it is impossible to please God.” God is love. And without faith it is impossible to please God. Faith is believing in things which I can not physically see. (Hebrews 11:1) I have to chose to act based on what God says, not on what I see.

Otherwise, I can not please God.

3. Hope

Love and faith. That leaves hope. In Hebrews 6:13-20, I am told that God made a promise to us. And that promise offers me hope. In fact, Hebrews 6:19,20 tells me that “we have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind curtain, where Jesus, who went before us, has entered on our behalf.” The promise is that I can join Jesus Christ and have eternal life. That is the promise in which I hope.

I need to share that hope with other people!

Summary

God is love. God must be the center of my ministry to people.

Faith pleases God. I must minister to people believing by faith that my work is not in vain. (1 Corinthians 15:58)

Hope rests on the promise of eternal life with Jesus Christ. I must minister hope to people. I can only do that by making sure they have every opportunity to understand the promise of eternal life that is available to them through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

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Posted on December 19, 2008