Rediscovering the Way of King Jesus: Leadership and Ministry in the Biblical Model of Church and Mission

God’s original intent of expanding His kingdom and presence throughout the whole earth is being fulfilled by Jesus, the ruler of the kingdom of God, through God’s family, the church. The New Testament depicts the church as God’s family—united, expanding, and able to withstand suffering and false teaching while growing to maturity. In this biblical model of church and mission, the church is both established locally and expanding translocally. Leadership in God’s family is described in terms of service, protection, and relational influence for equipping disciples to build themselves up to Christlike maturity, through ministry to one another and the world around them. The model is designed by Jesus for all time, was revealed to His Apostles (especially Paul), and is intended to be the means by which the church as God’s family expands to every people group and place. The model is rooted in the gospel of Jesus the victorious King, with ensuing patterns of personal and relational transformation that lead to unity, joy, and maturity for everyone in God’s family.