Bible Centered

2 Peter 1:3 says, “According as His divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him that hath called us to glory and virtue:” This verse is the foundation on which I build my philosophy of ministry. The Word of God is absolutely sufficient for every need that may arise in any life, ministry or church. If all resources, texts, sermons, scientists, philosophers, authors and wise men were removed leaving one only with the Bible, that would be abundant resource for every possible need. More specifically, the Bible is given, “that the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.” For the believer, everything we need to grow to maturity is found in the Bible. This sufficiency is such that in every decision, every challenge, every stage of life and every step taken, the Bible provides the instruction, reproof, correction or training needed to bring the child of God into a complete obedience to God’s will. This sufficiency is so great that through the Word of God we are given every tool necessary for every possible contingency. We have in the Bible a wonderful toolbox that we can look to for diagnostics, maintenance, repair, remodeling, demolition or construction. Each tool is perfectly suited for each task, and needs no other tools added to it. Scripture is more than just a toolbox that we run to in times of need; the Scripture is the Living Word that does much more than fix our problems. In the Bible we find sustenance, provision, comfort, encouragement, hope, promise, blessing, wisdom, understanding, life, protection, salvation, in a word, our daily bread. The Word of God is the center of my own life as I strive to make every decision based upon a careful examination of applicable Scriptures, as I personally study the Word that I may grow by it and as I conscientiously seek to accurately apply the Word of God to every area of my life. The Word of God is the center of my evangelism as I strive to lead the lost to a personal understanding of what God has said about Himself, themselves, sin, Jesus Christ and saving faith. The Word of God is the center of my discipleship and counseling as I seek to introduce pertinent Scriptures into lives of individuals that they may be taught, convicted, comforted, encouraged and strengthened. All instruction on the Christian life has to come from the Bible. The Word of God is the center of my preaching, as I seek to faithfully exegete Scripture every time I step into the pulpit. This drives my preaching to bend much more towards an expositional style. The Word of God is the center of my church ministry, as I strive to match everything I do in the church with the Bible. This does not mean I refuse to do a program that is not directly found in the Bible, but every program has to be based on solid Biblical motivation and clear Biblical principles.

My philosophy of ministry can be summed up as completely dependent on the Word of God for absolutely everything. I am convinced that we need no other resource to tell us how to be Christians or how to do church. I am equally convinced that the mixture of human philosophies and reasoning with Biblical principles, and the introduction of that concoction to the church as acceptable, violates the very core of the believers call to purity. I strive in this ministry to have nothing less, and nothing more, than the whole counsel of God.