Sometimes we think that what gets done is more important than how it gets done. I (David) suggest that we can’t separate the two. We are to do ministry, for sure, but we are to do ministry in the ‘right’ way. God’s way. God does all He does in community; in the Trinity. We, therefore, need to be doing ministry in community. In our language today, doing ministry in teams.
sermon: It’s God’s church! It should be done God’s way. (Genesis 1:1, 26) with Pastor David Donaldson
God’s Way: Ministry in Community
“This is God’s church. It should be done God’s way.”
Too often, we separate what we do from how we do it. But in the Kingdom of God, the two are inseparable. Ministry is not just about action—it’s about alignment with God’s character and design. And God, as revealed in Scripture, is a God of community.
The Divine Blueprint: Ministry in Teams
Genesis 1 introduces us to a God who creates in community. “Let us make humans in our image,” He says—a plural statement that hints at the triune nature of God. This isn’t just theological nuance; it’s a model for how we are to live and serve. Ministry, then, is not a solo endeavor. It is a team effort, rooted in relationship and mutual submission.
The early church understood this. Acts 6 shows the apostles forming a team to address practical needs. Mature ministry is done in community. It’s relational, collaborative, and deeply spiritual.
Counter-Cultural Community
Our culture celebrates the lone hero—the self-made individual. But the Kingdom of God challenges this narrative. It calls us to interdependence, to shared leadership, and to mutual accountability. The church is not a stage for solo acts; it is a body, a band, a dance.
The Trinity: A Dance of Love
The Trinity is not a hierarchy. It’s not a triangle with God the Father at the top and the Son and Spirit below. Instead, it’s a circle dance—a perichoresis—where Father, Son, and Spirit move in perfect harmony, equality, and love. This image invites us into a divine rhythm of relationship, not rigid roles.
Leadership in the church must reflect this. Ordination is not a throne; it’s a call to deeper humility, service, and community. When leaders isolate themselves, they risk falling. Accountability and shared leadership are not optional—they are essential.
Christ the Head, the Church the Body
Paul’s metaphor of the church as a body reminds us that every part matters. The foot cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you.” We are designed to function together, each part contributing to the whole. This is not just practical—it’s theological. It reflects the very nature of God.
Empowered by the Spirit
Acts 1:8 reminds us that power comes from the Holy Spirit. Ministry is not sustained by charisma or strategy alone, but by divine empowerment. The Spirit enables us to witness, to serve, and to love in ways that reflect God’s heart.
Conclusion: Doing Church God’s Way
God created the world in community. He designed humanity for relationship. He established the church as a communal body. To do ministry God’s way is to embrace this design—to lead, serve, and grow together.
Let us reject the culture of isolation and embrace the divine dance of love. Let us be the church—Christ’s body, empowered by the Spirit, living in community.