Welcome

Model Church

A Model Church is a church that serves as an example or standard for other churches. This concept is derived from the New Testament where a whole body is viewed as a model for other churches. This is often due to exceptional behavior or practices, such as the way they respond to the word and the leading of the Holy Spirit.

The term 'model' (typoṣ) could mean various things, such as the example or model that would be used to produce clay pots, a relief carving or painting that represented not only the one depicted but also the person’s character. It could also denote the seal that leaves an impression or the mold by which some material, such as soft clay, was shaped.

In the context of a church, a Model Church is one that is molded by the example of the Lord and the apostles, and becomes a model for others. This model is based on missionary practices and is relevant for Christian ministry today.

A Model Church also balances the aspects of faith, holiness, and mission. It is not limited to what happens within the walls of the church, but also how God uses the church in the culture at large. It does not lose grasp on the theological foundations that define the church as a holy community while reaching out in mission.

Leaders in a Model Church define themselves in terms of the community that God indwells and uses to accomplish his purposes. They are not viewed as ministers but as equippers of a community of ministers.

The Model Church, as described in the context, has several key functions:

1. Leadership Development: The church is responsible for identifying and nurturing gifted individuals to take on various leadership roles. These leaders are not just ministers, but equippers of a community of ministers.

 

2. Proclaiming the Gospel: The church is tasked withproclaiming the gospel, which is seen as fulfilling God's purpose by announcing the kingdom of God on the earth. GREAT COMMISSION IS ONE OF THE PRIORITIES OF MODEL CHURCH.

 

3. Worship: The church is a place of worship, attesting to God's rule on earth. This worship should not be confined to the church but should spill out into the surrounding community, and the surrounding community must feel the presence of God surrounding them.

 

4. Service: The church is expected to serve its community, thereby extending the kingdom of God in LOVE & UNITY.

 

5. Teaching and Equipping the Saints: The church has a role in teaching obedience to Christ, thereby expanding the rule of God qualitatively deeper into the life of a community of faith.

 

1. Community Engagement: The church should take the initiative and provide guidance for spiritual discovery within the broader communities in which they serve. This could involve providing classes in Christian spiritual disciplines at a local community center or facilitating a Christian environmental retreat.

 

6. Reflection and Repentance: Churches should build into their worship calendars not only times of celebration, but also seasons of reflection and repentance. This creates a rhythm within the community that has an impact on the individual members, while forcing the community to deal with corporate issues.

 

7. Addressing Dysfunction: Church leadership should take time to reflect on the ways the corporate ethos and practice of the church fall short of God's ideal and may have damaged people or groups of people under their care. They should address any dysfunction in the relationship between the pastors and elders of the church.