Introduction
The corporate vision of Disciples Church Springfield describes the church having a significant impact in Greater Springfield with the transforming grace of the Gospel.
We don't just want to see a higher proportion of people in Greater Springfield who identify as Christians. We want to see lives transformed by the Gospel. And when a significant number of people of people have been transformed by their relationship with Jesus, the impact on Greater Springfield will be profound and unmissable.
We don't just want to see a higher proportion of people in Greater Springfield who identify as Christians. We want to see lives transformed by the Gospel. And when a significant number of people of people have been transformed by their relationship with Jesus, the impact on Greater Springfield will be profound and unmissable.
Our ministry philosophy at Disciples Church is grounded in our understanding of the Gospel and is guided by our values. It describes the way we do ministry, informing our mission, and aims to see our church vision become a reality.
The Gospel
The Gospel is the Good News that Jesus saves us from our sins and gives us eternal life. He did this through His life, death and resurrection, and we receive this salvation by faith. We don't earn it - it is given by God as an act of His amazing grace. When we make a personal response to the Good News of Jesus - through repentance and faith - we are adopted into God's family (brought into His Kingdom) where we join other brothers and sisters who have been saved in the same way.
But the Gospel is not only a ticket to Heaven.
Jesus not only saves us, but He empowers us in the here and now to be transformed more and more into His likeness - not a physical likeness, but to be like Him in character. This character is often referred to as the "fruit of the Spirit" and is described in places like Galatians 5: 22 - 23 and the Beatitudes in Matthew 5: 3 - 12. The Apostle Peter says if we are truly in Christ, then we have been given everything we need to live a godly life (2 Peter 1: 3). And James wrote that unless your faith in Jesus changes you, then it is not real faith (James 2: 17). To embrace the Gospel then, means not only are you trusting in Jesus to save you, but you are following Him and allowing Him to do a work of change in you.
But there's a third aspect to the Gospel.
Jesus not only saves us, and changes us, but Jesus sends us out on mission. One of the last earthly things that Jesus did was to give what we have come to call The Great Commission. Matthew recorded our Lord saying "Go and make disciples of all the nations" (Matthew 28: 19). The Apostle Paul described Christians as being ambassadors (2 Corinthians 5: 20). He said we should no longer live for ourselves, but instead we live for Christ, who died and was raised to life for us. In the Sermon on the Mount Jesus said we should make the Kingdom of God our chief priority (Matthew 6: 33). So again, to embrace the Gospel means not only are you trusting in Jesus to save you, and to change you, but you are being obedient to the call He makes on your life to be involved in is mission to the world.
Jesus saves us into His community.
Jesus changes us by His grace.
Jesus sends us on His mission.
Our ministry philosophy is grounded in this understanding of the Gospel.
But the Gospel is not only a ticket to Heaven.
Jesus not only saves us, but He empowers us in the here and now to be transformed more and more into His likeness - not a physical likeness, but to be like Him in character. This character is often referred to as the "fruit of the Spirit" and is described in places like Galatians 5: 22 - 23 and the Beatitudes in Matthew 5: 3 - 12. The Apostle Peter says if we are truly in Christ, then we have been given everything we need to live a godly life (2 Peter 1: 3). And James wrote that unless your faith in Jesus changes you, then it is not real faith (James 2: 17). To embrace the Gospel then, means not only are you trusting in Jesus to save you, but you are following Him and allowing Him to do a work of change in you.
But there's a third aspect to the Gospel.
Jesus not only saves us, and changes us, but Jesus sends us out on mission. One of the last earthly things that Jesus did was to give what we have come to call The Great Commission. Matthew recorded our Lord saying "Go and make disciples of all the nations" (Matthew 28: 19). The Apostle Paul described Christians as being ambassadors (2 Corinthians 5: 20). He said we should no longer live for ourselves, but instead we live for Christ, who died and was raised to life for us. In the Sermon on the Mount Jesus said we should make the Kingdom of God our chief priority (Matthew 6: 33). So again, to embrace the Gospel means not only are you trusting in Jesus to save you, and to change you, but you are being obedient to the call He makes on your life to be involved in is mission to the world.
Jesus saves us into His community.
Jesus changes us by His grace.
Jesus sends us on His mission.
Our ministry philosophy is grounded in this understanding of the Gospel.
Our Values
Our Values document, which you can access here, outlines how our theology shapes our methodology (because what you believe affects what you do). Here are some of those values that particularly inform our ministry philosophy...
Holiness
We value obedience to God’s standards in all areas of life as the right response to the grace shown us in Christ.
1 John 3: 6, Colossians 2: 6-7, Philippians 1: 10-11, Philippians 2: 12 – 13, Hebrews 6: 1 – 3, Romans 12: 1-2
Missional
We value a style of ministry that is Christ-centered, culturally appropriate, and which is not afraid of change, while never changing the Gospel message.
1 Corinthians 9: 19-23; Acts 17: 22-34; Galatians 1: 6-9
Prayer
We value prayer as an integral and essential part of Christian life in which we recognise our inability and God's ability.
Philippians 4: 6, Matthew 6: 5-13, John 16: 23-24, Colossians 1: 9
The Lost
We value all people, and aim to introduce those outside the Christian faith to the person and claims of Jesus Christ.
Matthew 28: 19-20, Luke 19: 10; Romans 10: 14-15, Galatians 3: 28, Colossians 3: 11
Team Ministry
We value a 'fellow workers' or team model of ministry in which people are equipped and empowered to minister to others in a style and occasion that suits their gifting.
Philippians 4: 3, 2 Timothy 3: 17, Ephesians 2: 10, Hebrews 10: 24, Romans 6: 13, 1 Corinthians 12: 12-31
Discipleship
We value pastoral oversight of the members of our church that genuinely attempts to present each person mature in Christ.
Colossians 1: 28, Titus 2: 15, 2 Timothy 4: 2, Proverbs 10:10, 1 Corinthians 5: 12-13
Leadership
We value leadership development that is intentional and faithful to the requirements of Scripture.
Titus 1:5, 2 Timothy 2: 2, 1 Timothy 3: 1-13
Our ministry philosophy is guided by our values.
Holiness
We value obedience to God’s standards in all areas of life as the right response to the grace shown us in Christ.
1 John 3: 6, Colossians 2: 6-7, Philippians 1: 10-11, Philippians 2: 12 – 13, Hebrews 6: 1 – 3, Romans 12: 1-2
Missional
We value a style of ministry that is Christ-centered, culturally appropriate, and which is not afraid of change, while never changing the Gospel message.
1 Corinthians 9: 19-23; Acts 17: 22-34; Galatians 1: 6-9
Prayer
We value prayer as an integral and essential part of Christian life in which we recognise our inability and God's ability.
Philippians 4: 6, Matthew 6: 5-13, John 16: 23-24, Colossians 1: 9
The Lost
We value all people, and aim to introduce those outside the Christian faith to the person and claims of Jesus Christ.
Matthew 28: 19-20, Luke 19: 10; Romans 10: 14-15, Galatians 3: 28, Colossians 3: 11
Team Ministry
We value a 'fellow workers' or team model of ministry in which people are equipped and empowered to minister to others in a style and occasion that suits their gifting.
Philippians 4: 3, 2 Timothy 3: 17, Ephesians 2: 10, Hebrews 10: 24, Romans 6: 13, 1 Corinthians 12: 12-31
Discipleship
We value pastoral oversight of the members of our church that genuinely attempts to present each person mature in Christ.
Colossians 1: 28, Titus 2: 15, 2 Timothy 4: 2, Proverbs 10:10, 1 Corinthians 5: 12-13
Leadership
We value leadership development that is intentional and faithful to the requirements of Scripture.
Titus 1:5, 2 Timothy 2: 2, 1 Timothy 3: 1-13
Our ministry philosophy is guided by our values.
Key aspects to our Ministry Philosophy
Decentralisation
In Ephesians chapter four, the Apostle Paul outlines for us a decentralised model of ministry. This is what he says:
"Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. Their responsibility is to equip God's people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ."
We learn from this that God's work is to be done by God's people. In other words, every Christian is to be involved in the work of ministry. Ministry is not something reserved for pastoral staff who are paid by the church. Their job is to equip everyone else to do the work.
We should not see pastors and "minister" as the only ones who do "ministry" in the life of the church. Theirs is an equipping role. The ministry is done by regular rank and file members of the church who are responding to the call of Jesus on their lives to make the Kingdom of God their chief priority.
So, at Disciples Church, our ministry philosophy involves a decentralised view of who does ministry. Sure, we have pastors and other staff. But if we are going to be faithful to the teaching of Ephesians 4, then we don't let the staff do all the ministry while everyone else stands by and applauds while doing nothing. Rather, the staff exist to train, teach, facilitate and equip the work of ministry done by every Christian in the church.
As a result, we are always looking to see the coal face of ministry happening at an individual level through our rank and file members. This is why you will hear us describe our Missional Community Groups as the "engine room of ministry." It is in our groups, through regular lay Christian people, that most of the ministry is done at Disciples Church.
We should not see pastors and "minister" as the only ones who do "ministry" in the life of the church. Theirs is an equipping role. The ministry is done by regular rank and file members of the church who are responding to the call of Jesus on their lives to make the Kingdom of God their chief priority.
So, at Disciples Church, our ministry philosophy involves a decentralised view of who does ministry. Sure, we have pastors and other staff. But if we are going to be faithful to the teaching of Ephesians 4, then we don't let the staff do all the ministry while everyone else stands by and applauds while doing nothing. Rather, the staff exist to train, teach, facilitate and equip the work of ministry done by every Christian in the church.
As a result, we are always looking to see the coal face of ministry happening at an individual level through our rank and file members. This is why you will hear us describe our Missional Community Groups as the "engine room of ministry." It is in our groups, through regular lay Christian people, that most of the ministry is done at Disciples Church.
Missional Contextualisation
In Acts chapter seventeen, Luke records for us what has become regarded as one of the great lessons in missional contextualisation:
"So Paul, standing before the council, addressed them as follows: 'Men of Athens, I notice that you are very religious in every way, for as I was walking along I saw your many shrines. And one of your altars had this inscription on it: 'To An Unknown God.' This God, whom you worship without knowing it, is the one I'm telling you about'."
While Athens might have been very religious, it was also very Godless. But Paul responds to the situation he finds himself in by engaging the Athenians where they are at, refusing to be judgmental, and seeking to bring them on a journey to understand the Gospel.
This eventually led to a conversation about sin and the Good News that Jesus came to save sinners. "Some laughed in contempt... but some joined him and became believers."
Jesus taught us that, as His followers, we were to be in the world, but not of the world... etc
So, at Disciples Church, as we seek to see people come to faith in Jesus, we want to do this in a way that meets them where they are at. An approach that does not come across as judgmental or condemning, but focusses on God's love expressed in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus. Our Saviour told Nicodemus "God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him" (John 3: 17).
This eventually led to a conversation about sin and the Good News that Jesus came to save sinners. "Some laughed in contempt... but some joined him and became believers."
Jesus taught us that, as His followers, we were to be in the world, but not of the world... etc
So, at Disciples Church, as we seek to see people come to faith in Jesus, we want to do this in a way that meets them where they are at. An approach that does not come across as judgmental or condemning, but focusses on God's love expressed in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus. Our Saviour told Nicodemus "God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him" (John 3: 17).
Heart Focussed Gospel Transformation
In Acts chapter seventeen, Luke records for us what has become regarded as one of the great lessons in missional contextualisation:
"So Paul, standing before the council, addressed them as follows: 'Men of Athens, I notice that you are very religious in every way, for as I was walking along I saw your many shrines. And one of your altars had this inscription on it: 'To An Unknown God.' This God, whom you worship without knowing it, is the one I'm telling you about'."
While Athens might have been very religious, it was also very Godless. But Paul responds to the situation he finds himself in by engaging the Athenians where they are at, refusing to be judgmental, and seeking to bring them on a journey to understand the Gospel.
This eventually led to a conversation about sin and the Good News that Jesus came to save sinners. "Some laughed in contempt... but some joined him and became believers."
Jesus taught us that, as His followers, we were to be in the world, but not of the world... etc
So, at Disciples Church, as we seek to see people come to faith in Jesus, we want to do this in a way that meets them where they are at. An approach that does not come across as judgmental or condemning, but focusses on God's love expressed in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus. Our Saviour told Nicodemus "God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him" (John 3: 17).
This eventually led to a conversation about sin and the Good News that Jesus came to save sinners. "Some laughed in contempt... but some joined him and became believers."
Jesus taught us that, as His followers, we were to be in the world, but not of the world... etc
So, at Disciples Church, as we seek to see people come to faith in Jesus, we want to do this in a way that meets them where they are at. An approach that does not come across as judgmental or condemning, but focusses on God's love expressed in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus. Our Saviour told Nicodemus "God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him" (John 3: 17).
Complimentarianism
In Acts chapter seventeen, Luke records for us what has become regarded as one of the great lessons in missional contextualisation:
"So Paul, standing before the council, addressed them as follows: 'Men of Athens, I notice that you are very religious in every way, for as I was walking along I saw your many shrines. And one of your altars had this inscription on it: 'To An Unknown God.' This God, whom you worship without knowing it, is the one I'm telling you about'."
While Athens might have been very religious, it was also very Godless. But Paul responds to the situation he finds himself in by engaging the Athenians where they are at, refusing to be judgmental, and seeking to bring them on a journey to understand the Gospel.
This eventually led to a conversation about sin and the Good News that Jesus came to save sinners. "Some laughed in contempt... but some joined him and became believers."
Jesus taught us that, as His followers, we were to be in the world, but not of the world... etc
So, at Disciples Church, as we seek to see people come to faith in Jesus, we want to do this in a way that meets them where they are at. An approach that does not come across as judgmental or condemning, but focusses on God's love expressed in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus. Our Saviour told Nicodemus "God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him" (John 3: 17).
This eventually led to a conversation about sin and the Good News that Jesus came to save sinners. "Some laughed in contempt... but some joined him and became believers."
Jesus taught us that, as His followers, we were to be in the world, but not of the world... etc
So, at Disciples Church, as we seek to see people come to faith in Jesus, we want to do this in a way that meets them where they are at. An approach that does not come across as judgmental or condemning, but focusses on God's love expressed in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus. Our Saviour told Nicodemus "God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him" (John 3: 17).