Ministry in the Image of God

I highly recommend this book by Stephen Seamands a professor at Asbury Theological Seminary. He defines Christian ministry as the ministry of Jesus Christ, the Son, to the Father, through the Holy Spirit, for the sake of the church and the world.

Instead of providing a summary, I’d like to give some of my favorite quotations from the book:

Our diversity in unity mirrors the diversity in unity of the Trinity. Equality, intimacy, submission and deference ought to characterize relationships in the Christian community as well.
Stephen Seamands, Ministry in the Image of God, p. 39

Living in the fallen world we inherited from [Adam and Eve] means living in a world of broken relationships. No matter, then, how much our parents and caregivers did right, especially during our years of infancy and childhood when our personhood was being shaped and established, all of us exhibit brokenness and unhealthiness in interpersonal relationships to one degree or another.
Stephen Seamands, Ministry in the Image of God, p. 40

Our most consequential failures in ministry are often failures in relationships. Who we are in our relationships with people generally trumps what we do for people.
Stephen Seamands, Ministry in the Image of God, pp. 40–41

Maturity comes as we cast out fear and learn to live out relationships dominated by love.
Stephen Seamands, Ministry in the Image of God, p. 42

There is no substitute for time alone with God, when we attune ourselves to God’s voice reminding us once again of how beloved we are.
Stephen Seamands, Ministry in the Image of God, p. 68

When surrender fails to arise out of love, it is of the letter that kills rather than the Spirit that brings life.
Stephen Seamands, Ministry in the Image of God, p. 90

There is a world of difference between being productive and being fruitful, between striving to build Christ’s church and allowing Christ to build his church through you.
Stephen Seamands, Ministry in the Image of God, p. 92

We often find it much easier to extend grace to others than to ourselves.
Stephen Seamands, Ministry in the Image of God, p. 126

Gracious self-acceptance, delighting in ourselves because God loves and delights in us, is an essential aspect of spiritual and emotional maturity.
Stephen Seamands, Ministry in the Image of God, p. 127

Our self-worth is not based on what we do or on what others think of us. It has nothing to do with how large our congregation is, how well we preach, lead or counsel, how many books we write or how famous we are. It is simply a gift from God.
Stephen Seamands, Ministry in the Image of God, p. 132

Mission, then, is not essentially a human activity undertaken by the church and its leaders out of obligation to the Great Commission, gratitude for what God has done for us, and the desperate plight of the world. It is God’s own mission in which we are invited to participate.
Stephen Seamands, Ministry in the Image of God, p. 161

Buy the book.

Pastor Rod

“Helping you become the person God created you to be”