“Game Plan”
Sermon Series: “Core”
Introduction: Just like a sports team, every church needs a game plan for how it is going to approach its ministry (and what we are doing is much more important than any game, including the Super Bowl). In this third week of the Core series, we are going to examine a ministry game plan for True Life as we go forward. It is my prayer that everyone will find their place on the team.
1. Our Mission: Our mission at True Life is “to meet people where they are and help them become fully devoted followers of Christ.” That defines the win for us. Our bottom line is seeing people’s lives changed by the power of the gospel. It is based on Matthew 28:18-20, which says, “All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Our ministry is to be balanced between reaching people for Christ (“multiplication”) and building up believers (“edification”). Acts 9:31 says, “Then the churches throughout all Judea, Galilee, and Samaria had peace and were edified. And waling in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, they were multiplied.”
2. Our Strategy: YOU!!!! Ministry is a team effort. It takes all of us serving together to accomplish what God wants us to accomplish. One of our core values is, “We believe that pastors should lead the church by example and according to Scripture and that every believer should be equipped to minister and be given significant opportunity, responsibility, and accountability.”
A. Relationships instead of programs.
B. Pastors are to equip the church to serve (Ephesians 4:11-16).
C. Every believer is called and gifted to serve (Exodus 35:30-35, 1 Peter 4:10-11, 1 Corinthians 12:1-22).
3. Our Standard-Excellence: I would define excellence as doing the best that we can with what we have to work with for the glory of God. Luke 16:10 says, “He who is faithful in what is least is faithful also in much; and he who is unjust in what is least in unjust also in much.” 1 Corinthians 10:31 says, “Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” God demands our first and best and is disgusted when we give Him our leftovers (see Malachi 1).
4. The Importance For Our Future: God is calling us to fulfill both sides of our mission, which are reaching non-believers and building up believers through care and discipleship. It is a both/and proposition instead of either/or. How do we do this? How do we reach all of the many lost sheep that are still out there (Luke 15:1- 7)? I believe the answer is found in what we are talking about today. It is found in all of us working together (see Acts 6:1-7). As we follow these principles, God will work through us to birth spiritual babies and then raise them up to spiritual maturity. That is the fulfillment of the Great Commission!
Conclusion: It is time for us to stop making excuses and start taking what God has given us and obediently use it for His glory (see Exodus 3-4). People’s eternities are at stake, and it is time for us to fulfill our role in the Body of Christ. James MacDonald said, “Life is way too short and Jesus has done way too much for us to be casual or indifferent about the gospel.”
