God (Yahweh) Directed/Team
I believe in working in team. Seeking God’s direction together and making a decision together for the direction of the church is the way that I feel is safest for the church. The reasons are as such:
- Everyone has a voice to be heard not just one person’s desires
- It makes it easier to walk humbly with others than pride fully create one’s own kingdom
- It develops servant leaders not controlling leaders
- All leaders walk together in a united front with a single mind
This also carries over into the preaching/teaching area. It is important if others are available to share the pulpit with a group of elders/deacons to teach the flock. It protects the flock in case something were to happen to the “lead pastor”. The congregation is familiar and accepting of others teaching.
Relational
The body of The Messiah Jesus (Yeshua) must be relational. God is relational and we see this evidenced in His Son Jesus. Jesus was loving and reaching out to others no matter what their circumstances were. He touched their lives with His love. He would sacrifice Himself in many ways to express His love and the truth of God with others.
When we take the time to invest in the lives of others, we show them we care and desire their friendship and value their lives. It is when we are relational with others that they see the love of Jesus in us. After people know you care, they will listen to what you have to say.
Simple
Christianity is simple. Love God with all your heart, mind, and soul. The focus is Him. Church does not have to be elaborate, ministry does not have to be dynamic, and we do not have to be something we are not. Doing church is simply loving God and being ourselves with others.
We can sometimes try to be too creative or too elaborate that we lose the focus of pointing to God and the “ministry” becomes what is seen. We have to be careful of that happening.