Many congregations are seeking experts who can inform them about church growth. Their expertise is often based more on cultural analysis and marketing techniques. Church leaders may make small gains from these using these tools. However, secular techniques cannot truly address the spiritual needs in the church.
Throughout its history, the church has never had a leader who was more of an expert in church growth than the Apostle Paul. He did not seek the easy path in striving to help the church grow. His ministry flowed from his devotion to truth, character, and commitment to God. Paul worked to lead the church by being the man that the Lord wanted him to be.
In Acts 20, Paul lays out his view of excellence in ministry. He was meeting with the elders from Ephesus for the last time (v. 17-18). He leaves them with clear direction about how to minister in the best way to further the cause of Christ. He focuses on attitude more than technique. He sets forth what should be the focus of every leader in the church. Excellence in ministry demands a proper upward, outward, and inward focus.
First of all, a minister in the church must keep an upward focus as he serves the Lord. Paul reminds the elders how he has ministered by “serving the Lord with all humility, with many tears and trials which happened to me by the plotting of the Jews” (v. 19). Paul “served the Lord.” He was devoted to pleasing the Lord first, not entertaining men (cf. Gal. 1:10; 1 The. 2:4). Paul served the Lord “with all humility.” He was not motivated by ego or selfish ambition. He was driven by his love and gratitude for the grace that saved the chief of sinners (cf. 1 Cor. 15:10; 1 Tim. 1:15). He ministered with “tears” having a sincere compassion for the people to whom he ministered. He endured trials because he deemed the ministry worthy of any sacrifice that was necessary.
Secondly, a minister in the church must keep an outward focus as he teaches the Word. Paul reminds the Ephesians elders that he “kept back nothing that was helpful, but proclaimed it to you, and taught you publicly and from house to house, testifying to Jews, and also to Greeks, repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ” (v. 20-21). Paul “held back nothing” that the Word of God had to offer these precious souls. He was balanced in the emphasis of his sermons and lessons. He spoke with full conviction. He respected the need to handle the Word of God correctly. The scope of his teaching consisted both of public and private teaching. Following the Great Commission, Paul understood that teaching is essential to the task of saving souls and making disciples (Mark 16:15-16; Mat. 28:18-20). He placed an equal emphasis on “repentance toward God” and “faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Finally, a minister in the church must keep an inward focus as he makes sacrifices for the cause. Paul informs the elders that he would “go bound in the spirit to Jerusalem, not knowing the things that will happen to me there, except that the Holy Spirit testifies in every city, saying that chains and tribulations await me. But none of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God” (v. 22-24). Paul had a single minded devotion to his one purpose. He was “bound in the spirit.” It was not the chains that bound him. It was his devotion to the Lord. The only thing that mattered to Paul was finishing the work Jesus had given him to do. When we follow his good example, we will come to experience excellence in ministry. May the Lord help us to keep an upward, outward, and inward focus!
