Mobilize Lay Ministry Worker Level 1 - Married Packet

WHAT IS THE BIBLICAL FOUNDATION FOR MOBILIZE?

The biblical foundation for Mobilize is summarized best in Romans 12:1-8. In this passage, Paul urges all believers to present their bodies as a “living sacrifice” to be used by God. Furthermore, he says that every believer has received a charismatic gift (that is, “a gift of grace”) from the Holy Spirit as a member of the body of Christ. 

But in order for all the gifts to be properly manifested in the local church, Paul explains that the entire body of believers—the pastor, the leaders, and the members—must experience a transformation in the way they think about “ministry.” Note carefully his words:

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith. For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function, so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another. Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith; or ministry, let us use it in our ministering; he who teaches, in teaching; he who exhorts, in exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness (Romans 12:1-8 NKJV).

WHY IS ROMANS 12:1-8 SO IMPORTANT FOR LOCAL-CHURCH MINISTRY?

For a local church to reach its full potential as the body of Christ, its pastors, church leaders, and members must experience a new “mindset.” This “transformation of thinking” (literally, a “Metamorphosis”) involves three essential truths which enable all believers to find their place of ministry in the body of Christ.

1. All persons are equal. This truth is based on Paul’s words, “God has dealt to each one a measure of faith” (v. 3). Only two groups of people exist in matters of eternity: (1) Those who believe and are members of the body of Christ; and, (2) those who do not believe and are not members of the body of Christ. Through the Holy Spirit, all believers are equal in the grace of Christ as sons and daughters of the heavenly Father.
2. All believers are gifted. This truth is based on Paul’s words: “Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us” (vv. 5, 6). All believers have received grace (charis); therefore, all believers have received “gifts of grace” (charismata). These seven spiritual gifts enable the church to function as the one body of Christ in the community.
3. Every believer is called to minister. This truth is based on Paul’s use of the word “ministry” (diakonia) as a spiritual gift. Every member of the body of Christ is called to serve even as Christ served (Matthew 20:28). In Acts 6, the words for “serve tables” (diakoneo in 6:2) and ministry of the word” (diakonia in 6:4) come from the same root word (diakonos, “servant”). Every believer is called to the ministry of serving.

WHAT ARE THE PRIMARY GOALS OF MOBILIZE: LAY MINISTRY WORKER?

The primary goals of Mobilize are . . .

1. To develop a culture of faithful servant-ministers in the local church.
2. To emphasize the establishment of biblical covenant-team relationships between pastors, local church leaders, and members.
3. To provide effective and cutting-edge ministerial resources that encompass the training and formation of spiritual integrity in every believer.

WHAT ARE THE STUDENT ACTIVITIES IN MOBILIZE: LAY MINISTRY WORKER?

Participants delve into the 16-week program through:

1. At-home, informative textbook reading.
2. Personal, engaging Bible study.
3. Monthly seminars, reviewing the textbook, and Bible studies.
4. Weekly ministry assignments. 

WHAT IS A “BIRD’S-EYE” OVERVIEW OF MOBILIZE: LAY MINISTRY WORKER?

• In Level One: The Foundation (which lasts for eight weeks), the pastor guides participants in becoming workers for Christ through two-months of the study series.

            §          Character Formation—Discipling members into Christlikeness.

 WHAT RESOURCES ARE USED IN LEVEL ONE: THE FOUNDATION?

 Student and pastor resource manuals are provided by Mobilize for the two-month study of Mobilize: Lay Ministry Worker, Level One.

The study resources for Ministry Calling/Vocationare three textbooks:

1. Living the Blessing-Filled Life—Now! (Daniel and Jenny Vassell)
2. Serve on Purpose (Patrick L. Kelly)
3. Armorbearer (Bryan Cutshall)