The Call to Relevance in Ministry
I. THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT: CORE VALUES OF THE KINGDOM
A. The Sermon on the Mount is the constitution of God’s Kingdom. It is the litmus test to measure spiritual development
and ministry impact. We measure our impact by how much people walk out the Sermon on the Mount values. These values
are to be the themes that we most emphasize.
B. The foundational call in the Sermon on the Mount is to live out the 8 beatitudes (Matthew 5:3-12) as we pursue
100-fold obedience (Matthew 5:48; 6:22). The beatitudes are like 8 beautiful flowers in the “garden in our heart” that
God’s wants to fully blossom. They define love, godliness and spiritual maturity that pleases God. They describe the
lifestyle that is the core reality of God’s Kingdom. These 8 flowers need to be carefully and continually cultivated as we
“weed our garden” by resisting the 6 negative influences (toxins/poisons) related to our natural lusts (Matthew 5:21-48)
and as we “water our garden” by adding the 5 positive nutrients (Matthew 6:1-18) that position us to receive the Spirit’s
strength (impartation of grace).
C. Matthew 5-7 describes the process that allows the 8 beatitudes to flourish to full maturity. Implied in all of God’s
commands is His promise to empower us to walk them out. Thus, the beatitudes are a part of our spiritual destiny and
inheritance. They are supernatural graces that require God’s power on our inner man (Ephesians 3:16).
D. Jesus the good shepherd is being helpful to His beloved. He is not railing nor rebuking His people but giving
revelation that will deliver us. Jesus is not intending to give comprehensive teaching on freedom of the heart, but rather
focuses on the need to make quality (deep and continual) decisions to attack the weeds in the garden of our heart as we
nurture it with nutrients.
E. A wise man builds his life on the teachings of the Sermon on the Mount. When we live them out in our private life
then the word becomes flesh in us. This is place that we walk in spiritual authority. Jesus had authority preaching these
truths because He lived them out in His life.
24 "Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine (Sermon on the Mount), and does them, I will liken him
to a wise man who built his house on the rock: 25 and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds
blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock. 26 Everyone who hears
these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand:
27 and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And
great was its fall." (Matthew 7:24-27)
F. The Lord will shake all things at the end of the age.
26 He has promised, saying, "Yet once more I shake not only the earth, but also heaven." 27 Now this,
"Yet once more," indicates the removal of those things that are being shaken...that the things which cannot
be shaken may remain. 28 Therefore…let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with
reverence and godly fear. (Hebrews 12:26-28)
G. The falling away at the end of the age (Matthew 24:9-13; 2 Thessalonians 2:3; 1 Timothy 4:1-2; 2 Timothy 3:1-7;
4:3-5; 2 Peter 2:1-3). We endure until the end (Matthew 10:22; Hebrews 6:4-6; 10:26-31; Revelation 2:26; 3:5, 11).
1 Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving
spirits and doctrines of demons… (1 Timothy 4:1)
3 Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and
the man of sin (Antichrist) is revealed, the son of perdition… (2 Thessalonians 2:3)
3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires,
because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; 4 and they will turn their ears
away from the truth. (2 Timothy 4:3-4)
10 Then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another. 11 Then many false
prophets will rise up and deceive many. 12 And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will
grow cold. 13 He who endures to the end shall be saved. (Matthew 24:10-13)
H. In our quest to be “sensitive to seekers” we must remember that God is the ultimate One who is seeking. We must
focus on “attracting” the Divine seeker whose eyes look for faithfulness.
23 True worshipers will worship…in spirit and truth; the Father is seeking such… (John 4:23)
9 For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of
those whose heart is loyal to Him. (2 Chronicles 16:9)
II. “PROPHETIC UNTIMELINESS” (BOOK WRITTEN BY OS GUINNESS)
Never have Christians pursued relevance more strenuously; never have Christians been more irrelevant
A. By our uncritical pursuit of relevance we have courted irrelevance; by our breathless chase after relevance without
a matching commitment to faithfulness, we have become unfaithful and irrelevant; by our determined efforts to redefine
ourselves in ways more compelling to the modern world than in being faithful to Christ, we have lost our identity, authority
and relevance.
B. How have we Christians become so irrelevant when we have tried so hard to be relevant? By what logic is it possible
to steer determinedly in one direction, but end up in completely the opposite direction? Many leaders in the Church today
are solemnly presenting the faith in public in so many weak, trite, foolish and disloyal ways. How has this self-inflicted
stupidity happened? This monumental and destructive carelessness has coincided exactly with a mania for relevance.
C. The media exerts great pressure in urging today’s leaders in the Church to fulfill stereotypes rather than to
represent serious positions. This is an extraordinary moment in history, it is time to challenge the idol of relevance, to
work out what it means to be faithful so to become truly relevant without ending up trendy, trivial, and unfaithful.
D. Relevance is right. It is the quality of relating to a matter with pertinence and appropriateness. There is no merit
whatsoever in irrelevance or being out of date. Relevance is at the heart of the gospel. It is the best news ever because
it addresses our condition appropriately, pertinently, and effectively as nothing else can. The Church is making the
gospel irrelevant by shrinking and distorting it. Rather, we are to be shaped by the unique biblical view of life with its
decisive difference from secularist views.
III. HOW DO WE ACHIEVE RELEVANCE? THE STAKES ARE HIGH.
A. First, we need leaders who embrace "resistance thinking" (term used C. S. Lewis). It is a way of thinking that
balances the pursuit of relevance on the one hand with a tenacious awareness that the gospel will not fit in with the spirit
of this age. It is offensive to the carnal mind. It is time for courage to develop "resistance thinking" as true followers of
Jesus who resist the mesmerizing lure of the present age. By seeking to make the gospel fit with the spirit of our age, we
end up with an easy, comfortable gospel that is not the real gospel.
B. Today, the emphasis is one sided in emphasizing issues of human aspirations without mention of self-denial and
sacrifice. But we must also emphasize the difficult and even the repellent themes of the gospel. True believers have
confidence that they are relevant. We must remain true in proclaiming these. Resistance thinking is the way of relevance
with faithfulness.
C. A secret of the Church’s power through history lies in its calling to be "against the world, for the world." C. S. Lewis
calls this "two-edged character" of the Christian faith. Christians view reality not only in terms of what the world was
created to be (our dignity, destiny), but also of what it has become in the fall (our depravity). As a result, the Christian faith
is simultaneously both world-affirming and world-denying. The gospel stresses self-denial and fulfillment g at its heart is
the scandal of the cross and the hope of glory. Taking seriously the biblical warning to "flee the world," she has a realistic
assessment of the dangers of the world and of worldliness.
D. When the church is weak or careless in maintaining this dual stance, it leads directly to cowardice and corruption,
decadence and decline. But when the church is faithful to this she is at her best with power to transform culture and is once
again relevant.
E. Conclusion: often the claim to pursue gospel relevance is driven by the fear of man (dressed up in dignified
language). Yes, there is a measure of genuine concern for people in this, yet often, there is also a deeper desire for the
growth of one’s personal ministry. In this we seek to valid our importance and value through “successful ministry.” This is
one new “ministry cult” today in the Western Church.
IV. HOW DO WE PURSUE GREATNESS AND STRENGTH?
A. The Church is greatly influenced by a secular view of greatness and strength. In other words, it emphasizes
success as measured by the size of outward achievements and how many people applaud us in this age. The kingdom
view of success emphasizes first the size of our heart and God’s applause.
B. Church growth is not in itself a sign of God’s pleasure and presence. We must not assume the ability to move
people’s hearts to God is synonymous with moving them to join our ministry organization.
V. THE REVELATION OF THE EYES OF GOD
A. The revelation that God sees our heart and labors gives us a great sense of relevance.
13 All things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account. (Hebrews 4:13)
3 But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you…4 He who judges me is the Lord 5 …who
will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness and reveal the counsels (intentions) of the hearts. Then
each one's praise will come from God. (1 Corinthians 4:3-5)
B. The Lord sees our heart as well as our labors in ministry.
10 For God is not unjust to forget your work and labor of love which you have shown toward His name, in
that you have ministered to the saints, and do minister. (Hebrews 6:10)
42 Whoever gives one of these little ones only a cup of cold water in the name of a disciple, assuredly, I say
to you, he shall by no means lose his reward. (Matthew 10:42)