Search: Philip N. Olson, Theology/Biblical

Holistic Mission and Discipleship: Helping Hands, Holy Hearts
Ronald J. Sider, Philip N. Olson and Heidi Rolland Unruh

CHRIST-LIKE SERVICE

“Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus” (Phil. 2:4). At the center of
holistic ministry is Christ—our Lord who commands ministry, the Suffering Servant who
modeled ministry, our Friend and Shepherd who leads us forth in ministry. We present to
the world a “unique and profound combination of Jesus as message and Jesus as model,”
as Ray Bakke points out.

LOVING GOD, LOVING OTHERS, LOVING OURSELVES

Ministry as Worship

The church in Jerusalem was suffering from famine and persecution. The first
century Christian leaders decided to organize the churches to do something about it. In
Paul’s second letter to the church in Corinth, he prepared the church to take up a love
offering for needy people in Jerusalem. To inspire them to greater giving, he wrote them
a glowing report about the contribution of the churches in Macedonia. The Macedonians
had limited resources and were facing persecution, yet their generosity overflowed. What
was their secret?