Team Ministry in the International Church as seen in the Book of Acts

Team ministry is seen throughout the Bible, from Noah's boys who helped Dad craft the Ark, to the armies of heaven who witness the final victory of Christ our Captain. Moses follows wise advice and creates a leadership team for dispensing judgement. The constant worship of God is overseen by a large team of Aaronic priests. And the team of prophets even had their own 'school.' Our Lord Himself had three, and twelve, and seventy that played key roles in His earthly ministry.  

Definitions: 

'pastor' lit. means 'shepherd' - the one who feeds those in the pasture; a person having spiritual care of people. Jesus Christ is called the "Good Shepherd" or "Good Pastor."

'clergy' [klur-jee] - the group of ordained persons in a religion, as distinguished from the laity (lit. the 'people' i.e. Non-ordained)

'priest' - one who stands between God and man, offering sacrifices on behalf of the people. Used as leader's title by some Christians (esp. Catholic, Orthodox, Anglican). Evangelicals do not usually use this title for their spiritual leaders because of the finished work of Jesus our high priest. 

“Preaching is truth through personality” - Phillips Brooks

Each preacher is a unique individual, having been led by His Lord on a unique path of preparation and refinement. At my current church in Beijing, we are pleased that a team of men from various nations and Christian traditions are serving in the ministry of the Word. (Yes, the masculine pronoun is an intentional choice. Men are the preachers in BICF ZGC.)

We do not expect any two preachers to be identical, but we do examine two areas of the preacher’s life – “their life and their doctrine”

(1 Timothy 4.16).

BICF Marriage Policy

Marriage is the exclusive and sacred union of one man woman for life (Genesis 1:27, 2:23-25; Matthew 19:6; Malachi 2:14; Ephesians 5:22-33). It is a (symbolic) picture of Christ’s everlasting, unbreakable, love for His Church. Marriage is an everlasting, unbreakable, love for His Church. Marriage is an everlasting, unbreakable, love for His Church. Marriage is an expression of unity, where husband and wife become, in a sense, two persons one. This unity is not only physical unity; it is also a spiritual and emotional unity of profound dimensions. BICF Pastors will perform marriages for a man and woman who have not been divorced, this is God's ideal. We may consider exceptional cases after careful examination by the Elders (Matthew 19:3-9, 9, 5:32).

In the following 11 examples, we see three common things:
1. A need existing then and now
2. Jesus met the need with a miracle then
3. We meet that need in a more ordinary method now

Need # 1 - Paying Taxes
Jesus / Then - Coin in mouth of fish (Mt 17.24-27)
Believers / Now - Work, payment, stewardship (Mt 22.16-22, Rom 13.1-7)

Many Evangelicals see 3 Meanings of “God’s Will” in Scripture

1. Sovereign Will – God’s secret plan that determines all that happens in the universe.

Daniel 4. 35. All the peoples of the earth are regarded as nothing. He does as he pleases with the powers of heaven and the peoples of the earth. No one can hold back his hand or say to him: "What have you done?"

Proverbs 21.1. The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD; he directs it like a watercourse wherever he pleases.

Evidences of a New Believer
1. Signs of a new life in Christ are seen in his* life (2 Corinthians 5.17).(* These evidences are to be seen in the lives of both men and women.)

2. He has a favorable attitude toward Jesus as Lord and Savior (John 1.49-51, 5.24).

3. He has an unfavorable attitude toward sin (Luke 19.8, 1 Thessalonians 1.9,10).

1. Do I really know God’s Son, the Lord Jesus, as Savior?

2. Am I growing in my relationship with Him? What are the evidences of this knowledge and growth?

3. Do I know there is no limit to His love for me? Or do I doubt whether He even cares?

4. Do I question God’s wisdom? Or do I have confidence to rest in His sovereign plan?

I want to share some ideas about “theology” and song selection. My ideal is that our songs are balanced between declaration and devotion.

Devotion is our repentance, adoration, commitment, praise, exaltation of Him.

Declaration is teaching the facts of the Gospel. Who is God, and What has He done? “Great is thy Faithfulness” declares what He has done and is doing in terms of faithful provision. “You’re my friend and you are my brother, even though you are a King” is a great declaration line.

1. Confession: Christ has Died
2. Celebration: Christ is Risen
3. Commission: Christ will Come Again

The Church of Jesus has been remembering Him in the Lord’s Supper/Eucharist/Communion for nearly two thousand years. There are many traditions and rituals that have developed among the global church.