Carrie, a life group leader in her congregation, posed the following question during a weekly gathering of a couples life group: “If our congregation is seeking to soar with faith on a spiritual and strategic journey to reach its full Kingdom potential, is it more important for us to understand what Jesus did or who Jesus is?”
When this question was raised, Andrew spoke first. He said for him it was about who. He especially liked to think about the presence of Jesus in his life while singing praise music with the congregation. In his personal devotional time, he often just sat and pondered the presence of Jesus in his life, rejoicing that Jesus was part of the Trinity of Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
His wife, Rachel, turned to him and said she was the opposite. She serves a ministry of the congregation in their neighborhood with a homeschooling group with which their children are connected. She feels doing the things of unconditional love in these settings, focused on what Jesus did and was, is of the greatest significance to her.
Andrew said, “I get that. I do some ministry things too, as you know. But I do it out of realizing who Jesus is.”
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“Wait a minute,” interrupted Carrie. “Before you twist yourself into a pretzel trying to figure this out, let me tell you it is a trick question. It is essential for us to understand both who Jesus is and what he did. They are inseparable ideas if we fully understand Jesus as one expression of our Triune God.”
“Let me share some thoughts our disciplemaking minister shared with group leaders during a recent training session.”
Soaring vs. strong
First, do not confuse personal preferences with Christian doctrine. Some people think about who Jesus is more when they worship. Part of their life preferences involve a deep and meaningful worship life. They read certain Bible passages or sing certain songs. Their hearts are aglow in worship about who Jesus is in our lives.
They are warmed and filled by the idea of being still and knowing He is God as we read in Psalm 46:10.
Some people see Jesus in the face of a child or a family in need. Others go on a missions trip to build a home or church building and believe this is what Jesus the carpenter would do. Matthew 25:40, the “inasmuch” verse, speaks meaningfully to them.
Second, one way to think about the who and what of Jesus is that Jesus is God. It is the reconciliation of our lives to God which transforms us (see 2 Cor. 5:17–19). Our service to God takes place as His Holy Spirit dwelling within us represents who Jesus is.
Jesus provided us with amazing examples of how we live out what. He shared inspiring examples in the tremendous collection known as the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew chapters 5–7. Out of the who we engage in the what — not either/or but both/and.
Third, the tendency is for soaring congregations to focus on who Jesus was, is and will be eternally. Strong congregations focus more on what Jesus did, does and will do as part of our Triune God.
Fourth, which one is best? Neither. Both are needed. The emphasis and the focus of each should arise from the spiritual call of God on each congregation. The Kingdom of God needs both soaring and strong congregations who understand God’s call, and prophetically and boldly live into that call.
EDITOR’S NOTE — George Bullard spent five decades in Baptist congregational and denominational ministry. His ministry roles included three churches, three associations, three state conventions and one national entity. He began as a columnist for TAB Media Group’s publication The Baptist Paper in 2022. Bullard now serves as a strategic thinking mentor for Christian leaders through his ForthTelling Innovation ministry. TAB Media Group published his new book “Soaring with Faith: The Difference Maker for Congregations” — available on Amazon.
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