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ministry by g.r.a.c.e - a philosophy
ministry by g.r.a.c.e - a philosophy
Ministry by G.R.A.C.E. – a philosophy
By: Kevin Glenn
Bill Hybels has said that the local church is the hope of the world. This is an amazing statement for two
reasons. First of all, it never ceases to amaze me that our Lord has entrusted the proclamation of his
Gospel and the development of his people to struggling ragamuffins like you and me. Few things
portray the nearness of God’s grace more than the idea that we His children are called to do His work,
and He is with us all along the way. Secondly, it’s frightening to ponder the mess we have made of this
precious Gospel and the marginalization we have brought to the Body. And yet, we are reminded that
it is God’s church. Christ is her Head and, by God’s grace, hope for this world continues to be
communicated through her.
What contributes to the message of hope being conveyed effectively to this world? When I began in
ministry 18 years ago, I expected my love for God and the people He put in my care to magically
produce a ministry that would set the world on fire. It didn’t quite happen that way.
After taking time to study and evaluate my approach, I began to discover a need for certain elements
to be present in order for an environment of health to be established. Long story short, when these
elements were implemented, and the clutter eliminated, the ministries in my care experienced
relational, spiritual and numerical growth. To help communicate this philosophy, I use the acronym G.
R.A.C.E.
G.R.A.C.E. based ministry allows our love for God and his people to find channels of application. I’m
confident that any church will experience healthy and consistent growth when G.R.A.C.E. is the driving
force behind all that is done.
Get Acquainted
No ministry can hope to grow if it fails to be inclusive. Simply stated, churches have to be more like a
family than a club. In family life, since you can’t pick your relatives, everyone has to learn to interact
based on respect and common interest. What better approach for the church! When God’s people are
led to respect one another, appreciate one another’s uniqueness, and embrace a common interest
(learning about God), an environment of welcome and safety takes shape.
At the heart of every human being is the desire to be known. In addition to that knowledge is the
desire to be accepted. In other words, when seekers and saints alike encounter our churches they are
wondering “if they really know me, will they like me?” Take it to the bank; people must experience
relational safety before they can respond to spiritual direction.
Respond to Christ
After 18 years in ministry, a common complaint I hear from Christians is that once they receive
Christ, the appeal to think through decisions related to Christian living disappears. Don’t get me
wrong, evangelism is of immeasurable importance. But when was the last time we encouraged
believers to take the next step in their faith with the same passion used to encourage non-believers to
take their first step?
While a growing church will provide opportunities for seekers to respond to Christ for salvation, it will
also provide just as many opportunities for believers to respond to Christ as they walk with Him in
discipleship. The decision to follow Christ is the beginning of the road, not the end.
Apply Truth
I remember asking myself once why there’s such a drop-off in attendance the week after Easter. We
teach on the resurrection for goodness sake! The answer came when I was talking to a waitress in
Colorado. She said flatly, “okay, Jesus is alive, so what?”
So What?! This is a harsh question to be sure, but it’s one our people ask every time they hear a
message, read a passage of scripture, finish up their devotional or sit through Sunday School. If there’
s no answer to this question, their minds hit the “delete” button.
Application is everything! As a pastor, I can’t be afraid to ask this question of everything I believe and
teach. Reverence for a belief does not imply relevance. In other words, the truths we believe and
teach passionately will become the beliefs of our people only when they can be effectively applied to
real life. When we can answer the question “so what?” we will see our teaching come to life and see
our churches flourish.
Connect with Culture
I confess I’m a HUGE Star Wars geek. I even made a costume and constructed a lightsaber… okay
please keep reading!
The Star wars films are wildly popular, but why? There’s something that resonates deeply with people.
The story engages some of the deep questions of good and evil, loyalty and betrayal, and the nature
of love. Could most people in the pew engage these questions from a biblical perspective? Believers
are immersed in a sea of cultural expressions. Film, music, literature and other art forms convey
messages that often conflict with Biblical perspectives. Should the church hide away from popular
culture or learn to effectively critique and connect with it?
Jesus stated clearly that His people are to be in the world, but not of it. Paul modeled such an
approach when he engaged the people of Athens. As a pastor, I must learn to be a student of culture,
and lead the church to do the same.
A growing church must recognize the power of creativity and equip its people to find the redemptive
analogies of culture and use them to point others to the Creator Himself.
Engage in Ministry
The vitality of this element came as a result of a challenge from one of my seminary professors. He
wanted us to cite a biblical example where service to Christ did not naturally follow salvation in Christ.
Who are the ministers in the church? He believed as do I, that alongside and under the direction of the
pastor, church ministry is the responsibility of every member.
As pastor, I will consistently seek to discover the spiritual gifts of our people and engage them in
effective ministry. What kind of new life would be breathed into our churches if its people were
enabled to discover their giftedness, were equipped to sharpen those gifts, were encouraged to
minister with those gifts, and were empowered to see themselves as vital members of the Body of
Christ? What if every member saw themselves as a minister?
From a place of safety to a place of service, a church can’t help but grow if these elements are present.
By: Kevin Glenn
Bill Hybels has said that the local church is the hope of the world. This is an amazing statement for two
reasons. First of all, it never ceases to amaze me that our Lord has entrusted the proclamation of his
Gospel and the development of his people to struggling ragamuffins like you and me. Few things
portray the nearness of God’s grace more than the idea that we His children are called to do His work,
and He is with us all along the way. Secondly, it’s frightening to ponder the mess we have made of this
precious Gospel and the marginalization we have brought to the Body. And yet, we are reminded that
it is God’s church. Christ is her Head and, by God’s grace, hope for this world continues to be
communicated through her.
What contributes to the message of hope being conveyed effectively to this world? When I began in
ministry 18 years ago, I expected my love for God and the people He put in my care to magically
produce a ministry that would set the world on fire. It didn’t quite happen that way.
After taking time to study and evaluate my approach, I began to discover a need for certain elements
to be present in order for an environment of health to be established. Long story short, when these
elements were implemented, and the clutter eliminated, the ministries in my care experienced
relational, spiritual and numerical growth. To help communicate this philosophy, I use the acronym G.
R.A.C.E.
G.R.A.C.E. based ministry allows our love for God and his people to find channels of application. I’m
confident that any church will experience healthy and consistent growth when G.R.A.C.E. is the driving
force behind all that is done.
Get Acquainted
No ministry can hope to grow if it fails to be inclusive. Simply stated, churches have to be more like a
family than a club. In family life, since you can’t pick your relatives, everyone has to learn to interact
based on respect and common interest. What better approach for the church! When God’s people are
led to respect one another, appreciate one another’s uniqueness, and embrace a common interest
(learning about God), an environment of welcome and safety takes shape.
At the heart of every human being is the desire to be known. In addition to that knowledge is the
desire to be accepted. In other words, when seekers and saints alike encounter our churches they are
wondering “if they really know me, will they like me?” Take it to the bank; people must experience
relational safety before they can respond to spiritual direction.
Respond to Christ
After 18 years in ministry, a common complaint I hear from Christians is that once they receive
Christ, the appeal to think through decisions related to Christian living disappears. Don’t get me
wrong, evangelism is of immeasurable importance. But when was the last time we encouraged
believers to take the next step in their faith with the same passion used to encourage non-believers to
take their first step?
While a growing church will provide opportunities for seekers to respond to Christ for salvation, it will
also provide just as many opportunities for believers to respond to Christ as they walk with Him in
discipleship. The decision to follow Christ is the beginning of the road, not the end.
Apply Truth
I remember asking myself once why there’s such a drop-off in attendance the week after Easter. We
teach on the resurrection for goodness sake! The answer came when I was talking to a waitress in
Colorado. She said flatly, “okay, Jesus is alive, so what?”
So What?! This is a harsh question to be sure, but it’s one our people ask every time they hear a
message, read a passage of scripture, finish up their devotional or sit through Sunday School. If there’
s no answer to this question, their minds hit the “delete” button.
Application is everything! As a pastor, I can’t be afraid to ask this question of everything I believe and
teach. Reverence for a belief does not imply relevance. In other words, the truths we believe and
teach passionately will become the beliefs of our people only when they can be effectively applied to
real life. When we can answer the question “so what?” we will see our teaching come to life and see
our churches flourish.
Connect with Culture
I confess I’m a HUGE Star Wars geek. I even made a costume and constructed a lightsaber… okay
please keep reading!
The Star wars films are wildly popular, but why? There’s something that resonates deeply with people.
The story engages some of the deep questions of good and evil, loyalty and betrayal, and the nature
of love. Could most people in the pew engage these questions from a biblical perspective? Believers
are immersed in a sea of cultural expressions. Film, music, literature and other art forms convey
messages that often conflict with Biblical perspectives. Should the church hide away from popular
culture or learn to effectively critique and connect with it?
Jesus stated clearly that His people are to be in the world, but not of it. Paul modeled such an
approach when he engaged the people of Athens. As a pastor, I must learn to be a student of culture,
and lead the church to do the same.
A growing church must recognize the power of creativity and equip its people to find the redemptive
analogies of culture and use them to point others to the Creator Himself.
Engage in Ministry
The vitality of this element came as a result of a challenge from one of my seminary professors. He
wanted us to cite a biblical example where service to Christ did not naturally follow salvation in Christ.
Who are the ministers in the church? He believed as do I, that alongside and under the direction of the
pastor, church ministry is the responsibility of every member.
As pastor, I will consistently seek to discover the spiritual gifts of our people and engage them in
effective ministry. What kind of new life would be breathed into our churches if its people were
enabled to discover their giftedness, were equipped to sharpen those gifts, were encouraged to
minister with those gifts, and were empowered to see themselves as vital members of the Body of
Christ? What if every member saw themselves as a minister?
From a place of safety to a place of service, a church can’t help but grow if these elements are present.
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