|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
INTRODUCTION
Beloved in Christ, whenever we see a beautiful building standing, we may admire the structure, but we may not always think about the foundation on which it stands. The same can be said of the Church.
The Church we have today did not begin with us. There are people who came before us who prayed, sacrificed, worked hard and gave themselves to the service of God. What we have inherited today is, in many ways, the result of their labour.
That is why our theme, “Celebrating Our Heritage: Building on the Foundation Already Laid,” is very important. We have inherited something, but we have also received a responsibility. We are expected to preserve what is good, strengthen what needs strengthening, and hand over something meaningful to those who will come after us.
Paul says in 1 Corinthians 3:11, “For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ.”
The foundation of the Church is therefore not a person, a Minister, a Presbyter, a congregation or an institution. The foundation is Jesus Christ. If Christ is the foundation, then everything we do in the Church must ultimately point to Him and serve His purposes.
The Great Commission is one of the major responsibilities Christ has given to His Church. Therefore, as we celebrate our heritage, we should not only look backwards and appreciate what our predecessors did; we should also look forward and ask ourselves, What are we doing today to continue the work of Christ?
BACKGROUND TO 1 CORINTHIANS 3:11
Paul wrote his First Letter to the Corinthians from Ephesus around AD 54. He had previously spent about eighteen months in Corinth, establishing and strengthening the church there.
However, after leaving Corinth, Paul received reports about problems within the congregation. There were divisions among the believers, and some had begun to attach themselves strongly to particular leaders. Some were saying, “I follow Paul.” Others said, “I follow Apollos.” Others said, “I follow Cephas,” while some said, “I follow Christ” (1 Corinthians 1:12).
Paul therefore had to remind them that the Church does not belong to its human leaders. He said, “For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 3:11).
This is something we must never forget. The Church is not built on human beings, no matter how gifted or respected they may be. Ministers come and go. Presbyters come and go. Leaders come and go. But Christ remains.
We are therefore not owners of the Church; we are stewards. God has entrusted His Church to us for a period of time, and one day we will hand over what we have received to others.
This is why the theme of the Church has been retained by the Moderator and the General Assembly Council. It gives us another opportunity not simply to repeat the theme, but to reflect more deeply on what it means to build upon the foundation already laid.
As Presbyters, we have an important role to play in this process. The growth of the Church is not only about buildings, programmes and numbers. It is also about the spiritual condition of the people and the quality of leadership within the Church.
So, perhaps the question we should ask ourselves is, “What are we building today for the generation that will come after us?”
The Moderator of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana has explained heritage as what we inherit from the past, value and enjoy in the present, and preserve and pass on to future generations. Heritage can be tangible or intangible. Tangible heritage includes historical sites, buildings, monuments, artefacts and archives, while intangible heritage includes customs, language, folklore and traditions.
Therefore, our heritage is not something we simply admire. We must value it, preserve it, strengthen it and pass it on faithfully.
PSALM 21:4–8: LEADERSHIP THAT DEPENDS ON GOD
Psalm 21:4–8 gives us an important picture of leadership. David recognises that his life, strength, success and confidence come from God. He does not present himself as someone who has achieved everything by his own ability.
This is an important lesson for us as Presbyters. The position of a Presbyter is not merely a position of honour in the Church; it is a responsibility entrusted to us.
We therefore need to depend on God. We need humility, faithfulness and prayer. We need to recognise that whatever we accomplish in the Church ultimately depends on God’s grace.
Sometimes we can become so familiar with Church work that we begin to depend more on our experience, position, knowledge or personality than on God. But a Presbyter who truly depends on God understands that the work belongs to God and that we are only servants.
Therefore, as we speak about discipleship, the Presbyter and Church growth, we must begin with this understanding: effective Christian leadership begins with dependence on God.
MEANING OF DISCIPLESHIP
What then do we mean by discipleship? Discipleship is the process of following Jesus Christ, learning from Him, becoming more like Him and helping others to follow Him.
A disciple is not simply somebody who has accepted Christ or attends church regularly. A disciple is a person who is growing in faith, obedience, character and service.
Jesus did not tell the Church simply to make church members. In Matthew 28:19–20, He commanded His followers to “Go and make disciples of all nations.” He also instructed them to teach these disciples to obey everything He had commanded.
This means that discipleship involves conversion, growth, obedience, maturity and multiplication.
Christian theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer, in his writings on discipleship, emphasises that following Christ involves commitment, obedience and sacrifice. This reminds us that discipleship is not merely about belonging to the Church; it is about allowing Christ to shape our lives and our service.
For us as Presbyters, this means that our work is not finished simply because people attend worship services. We must ask whether people are growing in Christ, learning the Word of God, becoming more committed to prayer, developing Christian character, becoming willing to serve others and helping others to follow Christ. These are important questions for every Presbyter.
MEANING OF A PRESBYTER
Who, then, is a Presbyter? A Presbyter is a spiritual leader and shepherd who serves the Church under the authority of Christ and within the structures of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana.
The Presbyter provides spiritual leadership, cares for members, supports the Minister, promotes unity, encourages discipleship and contributes to the growth of the congregation.
Therefore, the position of Presbyter should never be understood simply as a position of privilege. It is a position of service.
Jesus said, “Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant” (Matthew 20:26).
This is the kind of leadership expected from us. The Presbyter must be willing to serve, listen, encourage, correct, teach, sacrifice and support others. We must be prepared to lead by example.
MEANING OF CHURCH GROWTH
When we talk about Church growth, what exactly do we mean? Church growth is not only about an increase in numbers. It also involves spiritual growth, numerical growth, healthy relationships and the ability of the Church to fulfil its mission.
A growing Church is one where people are coming to Christ, disciples are maturing, members are being equipped for ministry, relationships are becoming stronger and the Gospel is reaching the wider community.
Therefore, a large congregation is not automatically a growing congregation. If the membership is increasing but people are not growing spiritually, we need to ask what kind of growth we are experiencing.
True Church growth brings together numerical growth, spiritual maturity, faithful discipleship, effective ministry and Christian witness. The Church should therefore become not only larger, but also deeper, stronger and more faithful to Christ.
THE SHEPHERD OF CHRIST’S FLOCK: JESUS’ REINSTATEMENT OF PETER
This brings us to one of the most important passages for our discussion—John 21:15–17.
After Peter had denied Jesus three times, Jesus met him after the resurrection and asked him three times, “Do you love me?” Jesus was not merely reminding Peter of his failure; He was restoring him and preparing him for service.
Each time Peter affirmed his love for Jesus, he received a responsibility: “Feed my lambs,” “Tend my sheep,” and “Feed my sheep.”
The reference to lambs and sheep reminds us that people in the Church are at different stages of spiritual growth. Lambs may represent those who are young, new in the faith, or spiritually vulnerable. They require careful nourishment, guidance, and protection. Sheep represent the wider flock, including mature believers who also need continued pastoral care and spiritual nourishment.
The lesson is that Presbyter must care for the whole flock, recognising that people have different spiritual needs. Our responsibility is to help people grow from spiritual infancy to maturity.
Most importantly, Jesus says “my lambs” and “my sheep.” They belong to Christ, not to the Presbyter. We are, therefore, servants and stewards of Christ’s flock, called to nurture, guide, protect, and help His people grow.
Jesus did not tell Peter to build his reputation, protect his position, or seek recognition. He said, “Feed my sheep.” This teaches us that love for Christ must be expressed through love and care for His people.
Christian leadership also involves sacrifice. Peter was called to follow Christ even when it would be costly. Likewise, there are times when the service of a Presbyter requires patience, forgiveness, commitment, and personal sacrifice.
Therefore, the question for every Presbyter is not simply, “Am I holding a position?” but rather, “Am I faithfully caring for Christ’s people?”
Church growth is, therefore, not only about increasing numbers; it is also about nurturing people at every stage of their spiritual journey and helping them grow in faith, maturity, and service.
