Search: Phil Olson, Church Development

Scripture provides us these foundational principles for how the Church lives out its faith in the world.

1. Following Jesus means putting our faith in action (Luke 6:46-49)

· As Christ gave himself for us, we are called to sacrificial servanthood (Matthew 16:24, Ephesians 5:2).

· Jesus commissions his followers (John 20:21) to continue his kingdom work of restoring those who are broken in body, soul and spirit (Luke 4:18-19).

2. If we love God, we will love people "in actions and in truth" (1 John 3:18, 4:7-8)

· The Great Commandment and the Great Commission link the passionate love of God, servant-love of neighbor, and the mandate to make disciples (Matthew 22:38-39, 28:19).

· The neighbors we are to love include those who need mercy (Luke 10:36-37), who are sinners (Matthew 9:10-13), who are different from us (Colossians 3:11), and who are enemies (Matthew 5:44).

3. Proclaiming and demonstrating God's love in action go hand-in-hand. (Luke 9:2)

· Jesus' ministry modeled a blend of word and deed—preaching good news, healing the sick, and breaking the power of evil (Matthew 9:35).

· Actions without words are insufficient (Romans 10:14), but words without actions lack credibility (Luke 7:20-22). The church's good deeds amplify its witness, drawing people to the light (Matthew 5:16).

4. God cares for the whole person. (James 2:15-18)

· God's love brings deliverance and wholeness in every area of our lives (Deuteronomy 7:8-13).

· If we love our neighbors, we will not seek to win their souls while neglecting other areas of need (Luke 13:16), nor meet their physical needs but fail to offer spiritual care (Matthew 9:1-6).

5. God desires individuals to live in healthy communities and just societies. (Jeremiah 29:7)

· God's ultimate plan includes the restoration of cities (Isaiah 61:4), cultures and nations (Revelations 7:9, 22:2), the environment (Isaiah 41:17-19), and all creation (Colossians 1:19-20).

· God's design for communities involves shalom (wholeness) in every dimension of life—physical, economic, relational, environmental, and spiritual well-being (Isaiah 65:17-25).

6. God has a special heart for those who are poor and vulnerable. (Jeremiah 22:16)

· God identifies with those in need: "Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the Lord" (Proverbs 19:17). "Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me" (Matthew 25:40).

· God's anger is aroused by those who take advantage of the powerless for their own profit (Amos 8:4-7), as well as by those who have plenty, yet neglect people in need (Ezekiel 16:46).

7. God's people are to be an instrument of blessing to the world. (Genesis 12:2)

· God's people are commanded to be open-handed toward those in need (Deuteronomy 15:10-11), to practice justice and compassion (Zechariah 7:9-10), and to be "rich in good deeds" (1 Timothy 6:18).

· As the "aroma of Christ" (2 Corinthians 2:15), the church offers the world a foretaste of the goodness of God's kingdom to be fulfilled in the life to come.

8. The church's ministry is incarnational. (John 1:14)

· Following Jesus' example, the church is called to enter into human brokenness and redemptively embody God's presence (Philippians 2:1-8).

· God works through relationships. We share God's transforming love and power not just by giving material aid, but also by sharing who we are in Christ (Acts 3:6).

9. The Spirit empowers us to participate in ministry. (Ephesians 2:10)

· God gives each believer gifts to share within and beyond the church (1 Corinthians 12:7, 1 Peter 4:10).

· We rely on God for the wisdom and endurance (Colossians 1:9-11), power (Ephesians 3:17-18), authority (Luke 10:19), strength (1 Peter 4:11), hope (Romans 15:13), and love (1 Thessalonians 3:12) to be fruitful.

10. The church's ministry is the work of the kingdom of God. (Luke 10:9)

· The kingdom brings repentance (Matthew 4:17) and transformation (Colossians 1:13). Kingdom workers are aligned with the poor (Luke 6:20), the persecuted (Matthew 4:10), and the humble (Matthew 18:4).

· The church's ministry is guided by the question, "What does it mean for God's will to be done on earth as it is in heaven?" (Matthew 6:10)

Questions for reflection on these theological principles:

a. Are there any principles you would add to this list?

b. Which of these ten principles do you most strongly endorse, which are you not sure about, and which are personally challenging? Are there any you disagree with?

c. Highlight the principles that you currently see embodied in your church.

d. Put a question mark next to the principles you think your church may not embrace. Does the church have a different theological view, or is it more a matter of finding it difficult to put these principles into practice?

Adapted with permission from Becoming a Church That Makes a Difference CD-ROM, by Heidi Unruh and Phil Olson (Word & Deed Network, 2006), www.esa-online.org.