11/15/2025
ESSENTIALS
What makes up the essentials of the Church? What constitutes the essentials things of Church ministry? Mine isn’t an exhaustive list but it is certainly where my heart has stayed focused.
Consistent Personal & Corporate Prayer - I wish I practiced this truth sooner in life. Myles Monroe, in Understand the Purpose and Power of Prayer writes, “As John Wesley once said, 'God does nothing but in answer to prayer.' Prayer is therefore not an option for mankind (sic) but a necessity. If we don’t pray, heaven cannot interfere in earth’s affairs. It is imperative that we take responsibility for the earth and determine what happens here by our prayer lives.”
Intentional Worship - The people of God gather in corporate worship to give him praise as an ancient prayer confesses, so “that we may perfectly love you and worthily magnify your name!"
Making Christlike Disciples - Jesus’ great commission calls us to “teach them to obey.” Teaching obedience is significantly more involved than simply teaching knowledge. Teach people about Jesus - relatively simple. Teaching people how to obey Jesus is quite another story. The first can be done in a single encounter. The second may require a lifetime of partnership with the amazing convincing Holy Spirit.
Sincere Outreach/Evangelism - Vibrant Churches figure out contextual ways to reach into their community with love, kindness, and acts of compassion. They are known in their communities. They don’t stop there. - they know the right times, places and methods for crystal clear sharing of the claims of the Gospel and consistently give people opportunity to respond.
Faithful Administration - You can try, but eventually poor management will cost the church much more than good leadership. Thanks be to God for faithful, equipped, and gifted administrators. Early in the Book of Acts we find a need for them and they have been needed in God’s church ever since.
Genuine Love for People - The greatest privilege and greatest motivation is love. God calls us to love. He invites us to join him in pointing the way to God’s call to love.
OrthoDoxy and OrthoPraxy - Succinctly - believing the right things and living the right way.
-Dr. J.P. Fuller
District Superintendent
