A short time back I attended a Church Leadership conference with George Barna. One of the things that I became aware of was his research on the effectiveness of church parallel’s principles in ministries like “Purpose Driven.” These same principles are at the very foundation of the Biblically Balanced Ministries. The common denominators in such research should not be surprising because these purposes and principles are biblically based.

Principles must be based on purposes. The purposes are: Worship, Evangelism, Discipleship, and Fellowship/Ministry. Once you have determined that your life and ministry will be built on your purposes the next step is to establish the functional principles.

1.     UNITED PRAYER: The first principle in all ministry should always be prayer. The value of prayer is increased when corporate prayer becomes the first priority of the church. Biblically prayer was at the foundation of the start of the church: “These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication” (Acts 1:14). Until the church gets backs to corporate prayer it will be limited in accomplishing the purposes. Pastors need to admit the need and plead for the renewal of corporate prayer.

Programs and events cannot be expected to produce Spiritual results unless prayer       becomes the starting point.  A study of the book of Acts reveals corporate prayer to be at the center of all stages of growth.

3.   3.     BIBLICAL APPLICATION: Ministry is to be both driven and directed by the pulpit and teaching ministry. Effective ministry requires Biblical teaching that is based on exposition of Scripture and application to life. The pulpit ministry cannot simply be behavioral centered.

Much of the preaching and teaching in churches today emphasizes being seeker driven. The result of this approach is often a compromise in Biblical authority and/or doctrine. Biblical teaching needs to be doctrinal and relational. This follows clearly the exhortation of 2 Timothy 4:2, “Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching.”

In addition to biblical doctrine, the pulpit ministry cannot ignore the culture in which we minister. Relational ministry begins with building the foundation biblically. The balance comes from applying truth to culture.

4.      4.     MULTIPLE REINFORCEMENT: A value of the “40 Days of Purpose” campaign is that it gives the church a plan for multiple reinforcement. The campaign integrates the message of the worship service with small groups and a devotional guide for daily reinforcement.

Jesus used a similar principle by taking time to explain in more depth the truth he taught to the multitudes. “But when He was alone, those around Him with the twelve asked Him about the parable.  And He said to them, "To you it has been given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God; but to those who are outside, all things come in parable” (Mark 4:10-11).

When a message is preached in a worship service the “congregation” generally consists of growing believers, professing believers, and even unbelievers. It is also characteristic of church services that little or no chance is given to interact with what is being taught. The result is that limited personal life application is made even when the approach to teaching is behavioral. When the same truths are reinforced in a small group setting it enables a much greater opportunity for personal application and accountability.

5.      5.     VISIONARY THINKING: Leadership needs to have a dream for the church. “Where there is no vision, the people perish” (Proverbs 29:18 KJV). The responsibility of leadership is to take people from where they are to where God desires them to be. A basic requirement to accomplish this goal is to discover and communicate the vision. Vision requires an understanding of Biblical commands, faith to step out beyond where we are, and understanding of the culture of our ministry area.

6.      6.     INNOVATIVE APPROACHES: Paul set the example for innovative ministry, “I have become all things to all men, that I might by all means save some. Now this I do for the gospel's sake” (1 Cor. 9:22-23). The message was never compromised or neglected, but Paul was willing to go beyond the norm to reach people. Effective ministry requires that we become initiators and not simply maintainers.

We live in a culture of change. Yesterday’s methods (means) will not produce the results of yesterday. A word of clarification is in order. Innovation must be built on a clear understanding of the Biblical purposes and principles.

One basic illustration of this principle is the use of multi-media. The current generation learns with aid of multi-media. Reaching this generation and the next will require approaches that understand the impact of multi-media.

7.      7.     BALANCED MINISTRY: Biblical purposes are interrelated and function most effectively when directly related to one another. A balanced ministry maintains a focus on all the purposes. Scripture clearly teaches that spiritual gifts are intended to function in cooperation with all the parts of the body. The basic purposes of life and ministry are intended to function in balance with each other. Actually, no purpose can be truly effective without the other purposes.

Churches that emphasize one purpose to the exclusion of others result in an unbalanced ministry with unbiblical results.

Applying these same principles enables us to personally live out God’s purposes. A few examples for personal application are:

1. 1.      Small groups provide a great opportunity for developing a united prayer group.

2. 2.      A concentrated focus can be based on understanding and ministering with your spiritual gifts.

3. 3.      Biblical application begins by sitting under the teaching of the Word of God.

4. 4.      Multiple reinforcement comes from being involved in more than one exposure to truth. Attending services beyond the primary worship service is essential to fulfilling the biblical purposes.

5. 5.      Regular exploration and refining of a “life vision” enables us to keep moving forward.

6. 6.      Life is about change. Living innovatively is not an option in the Christian life.

7. 7.      Living a balanced life will require absolute commitment to living for no one else but God.

“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your   bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” Romans 12:1-2

The challenge to Christian living and church ministry in the 21^st Century is to first make His purposes our purposes. A second challenge is to build your life and ministry on Biblical principles.