As you look at churches, pastors, and various ministries, many kinds of criteria are used to determine effectiveness and credibility.
Just this morning I received an email advertisement that asserted,
Long before anyone in your community meets you or is impacted by your ministries, your buildings and campus have sent a clear message to everyone. Successful churches deliberately send a great visual message. Be sure that your church sends the message you intend.
Nothing, (with the exception of a miraculous revival!) has shown to grow a church faster than a new building/improved campus.
In other words, the most commendable thing about a church ministry is the buildings.
But is that what really marks a ministry? If not, how about the number of books written by the pastor(s)? Or the number of hits on the ministry website? Or the number of baptisms or members? Or the weekly attendance? Or the number of small groups and the size of the teacher’s small group? Or the church’s standing in the community (does the mayor, city council, state legislature, U.S. senator, or even President confer with the pastor or church members)?
What really defines a ministry as being commendable?
The Corinthians doubted and attacked Paul, questioning his authority and position. In response, his second letter to them is filled with defenses of his apostleship. In one of those sections (2 Cor. 6), he offers a picture of what a commendable ministry looks like: it is one that endures hardships and inconveniences (vv. 4-5), demonstrates spiritual maturity (vv. 6-7), and even delights in realities that are paradoxical (and would be rejected by most folks, vv. 8-10).
Using this chart (PDF), is the ministry of your church commendable? Is your personal ministry commendable? How commendable are you?
Words of Grace 