What are the marks of a modern successful ministry?
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Marks of a successful ministry
- Thread starter Crabtownboy
- Start date
We are not called to be successful in ministry. We are called to be faithful.
Doing Gods work in Gods way at Gods time in Gods place - even if it means only one convert after ten years of ministry.
Now man may have another view.......
Exactly. The only issue is our own obedience.
One that faithfully holds out the God of the Gospel to its members, and to the world, with confidence, hope, and joy.
Tom Bryant
Well-Known Member
Great Answer!
You forgot Big Name Worship Leader and Big Campus with Multiple Sites.
It is sad but so often what's considered a "successful" ministry isn't necessarily a "godly" ministry.
SaggyWoman
Active Member
What do you consider "successful"?
USN2Pulpit
New Member
May I just say that just because a ministry might have some or even several of the above characterstics doesn't necessarily make it ungodly, right?
Here's something I've had to deal with myself - so I'm not pointing fingers at anybody other than myself: When I have complained about bigger churches, many times it's because I was envious of the things they had - better facilities, more volunteers, bigger budget, bigger following, better media, more talented instrumentalists or singing ensembles...and the list could go on and on.
I do wonder - honestly - have any other pastors dealt with these feelings. Some time ago, I determined to leave so many of those issues and my "ministry envy" in the hands of the Lord, and to be content with what he has given us.
Good for you! Best thing to do, leave it in the hands of the Lord.
I firmly believe that a big church cannot be a loving family of believers in the way as that of a small church. This is not a criticism of a large church. It is an observation from my own life.
No, I don't think just because it has those characteristics it's automatically ungodly. I think where you end up with issues is when a ministry is FOCUSED on those characteristics instead of the ministry. I know a number of ministries that have all of those things, but it was all the result... not the focus of the ministry they are doing.
On the flip side, if a ministry doesn't have those things... it doesn't mean they are godly either.
I do believe there is a lot of ministry envy out there. I can tell you I've been there, when your church runs off well water and the well runs dry and your filling up the toilets by hand just so you can flush them.... you have a little envy of the church down the street with the full time cleaning staff and big budget. Sometimes it can be though, but we need to remember that God places people in places for His purposes.
In the end though it's about where your focus is.
God's view of success done His way:
Joshua 1:8, "This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have success."
God's view of man's view of success:
James 4:14, "Yet you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away."
God's way of doing things is with eternity in mind. Man's way of doing things is with the world in mind.
Joshua 1:8, "This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have success."
God's view of man's view of success:
James 4:14, "Yet you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away."
God's way of doing things is with eternity in mind. Man's way of doing things is with the world in mind.