WHAT MAKES SIERRA TICK, Part #1

Our philosophy of ministry
by Paul Null, Former Teaching Pastor

THE "FLAVOR" OF OUR MINISTRY

If someone asked you to describe the flavor of chocolate you might have some difficulty. If you were me you might say something like, "I can't describe it but I know its good." Flavor is usually something very definite but hard to describe. When I speak of the flavor of our ministry at Sierra Community Church I'm talking about the the underlying qualities or characteristics that contribute to the impact we have or the impression we make on the people who come in contact with our ministry. What is the "flavor of our ministry.

If you have attended Sierra Community Church for any length of time you've probably noticed that we tend to go against the grain in our approach to ministry in most areas. Believe me, it's not just because we want to be obstinate or that we get some perverse sense of satisfaction out of being different. We are honestly seeking a biblical model for ministry that will free us to be as effective as possible as we seek to fulfill God's mission for us on the earth. That's the flavor we are looking for. What we have discovered is that many man-made traditions have become entrenched in the ministry of the church over the centuries and have become detrimental to the fulfillment of our mission as the people of God. Two of the most destructive sentences ever uttered in the church are, "We've always done it this way!" and "We've never done that before!"

We believe that at the root of many counter productive traditions is a misunderstanding of the role of all believers in the fulfillment of the mission of the church. Church history teaches us that, almost as soon as the Apostles were off of the scene, the leaders of the church began constructing a complex structure and hierarchy to preserve apostolic authority in the church. Their mistake was that they didn't entrust themselves to the Word of God that the Apostles had left behind. This emerging structure and hierarchy slowly but surely suppressed the involvement of the ordinary believer while expanding and exaggerating the involvement of a professional clergy in the life and mission of the church. Even though the Reformation that took place almost 500 years ago corrected many errors that had crept into the church we still carry much of the baggage of this exaggerated distinction between clergy and laity in our churches today. So, in practical terms, most churches are like a football game. Eleven players run around and wear themselves out on the field while thousands of fans sit in the stands cheering them on (or criticizing their play, as the case may be). Too often the church is structured so that only a few participate and the many are left on the sidelines.

At Sierra we don't view the church in this way at all and so we do our best to base the structure of our ministry on two basic principles, simplicity and flexibility. Notice the description of the structure of the early church from the Dictionary of Paul and His Letters.

The Pauline communities were not rigidly
structured hierarchical organizations but
were characterized by communitas.
Communitas refers to patterns of relationships
which are marked by a high degree of
participation on the part of its members and
a strong sense of belonging. They are anti-
hierarchical brotherhoods which value
spontaneity and are loose on structures. (pg. 885)

In other words, when Paul started local churches, his intention was that the structures for ministry be simple and flexible allowing for a high degree of participation by all of the members. In the body of Christ everyone is important and it is the contribution of everyone that makes all of the difference to the whole. The role of leadership is not to dominate ministry but rather to contribute to the equipping of all the saints for the work of the Lord. Take special note of the following excerpt from Ephesians 4.

11 It was he who gave some to be apostles,
some to be prophets, some to be evangelists,
and some to be pastors and teachers,
12 to prepare God's people for works of service,
so that the body of Christ may be built up
13 until we all reach unity in the faith
and in the knowledge of the Son of God
and become mature, attaining to
the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.
14 Then we will no longer be infants,
tossed back and forth by the waves,
and blown here and there by every wind
of teaching and by the cunning and
craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming.
15 Instead, speaking the truth in love,
we will in all things grow up into him
who is the Head, that is, Christ.
16 From him the whole body, joined and
held together by every supporting ligament,
grows and builds itself up in love,
as each part does its work.

Our goal at Sierra is to limit the areas of elder directed ministry to those activities that are necessary to the basic function of the church and contribute to the preparation of God's people for works of service. Right now these ministries include the Sunday Services which primarily involve the ministries of the Worship Team and preaching; Adult Education, Women's Ministry, Youth Ministry, Children's Ministry, the Benevolent Ministry and, of course, the daily administration of the church office. It is our vision to have all other areas of ministry originate and be directed from the congregation as God places burdens on believer's hearts.

We have tried to capture the "flavor" of our ministry in a statement that defines our mission as a ministry.

OUR MISSION IN MINISTRY IS TO PROVIDE A DISTINCTIVE WITNESS

OF THE POWER AND SIMPLICITY OF THE MESSAGE OF JESUS

WITH A HUMILITY THAT WELCOMES EVERYONE TO HEAR AND RESPOND

AND BECOME A GROWING MEMBER OF THE FAMILY OF GOD

WITHOUT BEING ENCUMBERED BY

MAN MADE TRADITIONS, RESTRICTIONS, OR INSTITUTIONAL STRUCTURES.

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