This document discusses different styles or approaches a church can take in serving the needs of its surrounding community. It describes three main styles: 1) the settler style which focuses on meeting the needs of those living directly around the church, 2) the gardener style which develops ministry ties in neighborhoods further from the church in order to serve a wider area, and 3) the shepherd style which serves one targeted population rather than a specific geographical area. It emphasizes the importance of churches understanding the needs in their community and developing strategic plans, based on biblical principles and suggestions from church members, to most effectively carry out their mission to serve others.

1. Lesson 9

2. @
“Jesus went through
all the towns and
villages,
teaching in their
synagogues,
proclaiming the good
news of the kingdom
and healing every
disease and sickness”
Matthew 9:35
TEACHING
PREACHING
HEALING

4. Many of Jesus’ miracles began with unexpected interruptions
(Jairus, the woman with an issue of blood, the paralytic lowered
from the roof, the possessed man in the synagogue…).
He didn’t care to stop what He was doing if He could minister to
somebody’s need.
We usually consider interruptions as
trouble. For example, we don’t want to
make our trip longer by stopping to help
somebody with a flat tire.
Ministering to the needs of others
sometimes involves changing our plans.
Just leaving our comfort (or selfishness)
aside to help those in need.

5. “So Jesus answered and said to him, ‘What do
you want Me to do for you?’ The blind man said
to Him, ‘Rabboni, that I may receive my sight.’”
(Mark 10:51)
“When Jesus saw him lying there, and knew
that he already had been in that condition a
long time, He said to him, ‘Do you want to be
made well?’” (John 5:6)
Why did Jesus ask such an obvious thing?
Blind Bartimaeus answered quickly, but the paralytic at the Pool of
Bethesda didn’t answer Jesus’ question but told Him his problems.
That was Jesus’ goal, to let them express their needs and burdens. He taught
us how to empathized with people; we need to let them express themselves
and to listen to them.
We as Church need to know the people we are trying to help. We need to
let them express their concerns. We’ll be able to better help them that way.

6. “When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, ‘Son, your
sins are forgiven you.’” (Mark 2:5)
Jesus was able to know people deeply
(John 2:25; 4:17-18). Therefore, He
knew that the paralytic needed
spiritual healing more than just
physical healing.
Sometimes we may have hidden needs
below other ones.
Although we may not have Jesus’ gift
to know the people that deeply, the
power of the Holy Spirit can help us
discerning the hidden needs of other
people.
The deepest need is the need for
divine forgiveness and grace. Meeting
that need will cover shallower ones.

7. “In Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha (in Greek
her name is Dorcas); she was always doing good and
helping the poor.” (Acts 9:36 NIV)
The main goal of Dorcas’ ministry was to make
clothes for those in need.
Acts 9:41 explains that her ministry helped two
groups of people: the saints (Church members)
and the widows (either Church members or
not).
The story of Dorcas shows very clearly the love
that moved her. Her life was a faithful example
of Jesus’ teaching, “By this everyone will know
that you are my disciples, if you love one
another.” (John 13:35).
Dorcas is also a good example of a specialized
ministry that is focused on helping a specific
group of people.

8. Colonizer style. Reaching the
community around your Church.
Gardener style. Reaching a different
place far from the Church location
(a land to “garden”).
Pastor style. Reaching a specific target
(for example, drug addicts) instead of
a specific place.
The principles in the Bible and the
Spirit of Prophecy.
The needs in the community.
Suggestions made by the
Church members.
“Commit to the Lord
whatever you do, and he
will establish your plans.”
(Proverbs 16:3 NIV)
Luke 14:25-35 depicts the steps we
should follow to fulfill our mission:
1. Be a disciple.
Consecration: Being
faithful and devoutly
dedicated to our Lord
and our ministry.
Being willing to
sacrifice
yourself
(carrying
the cross).
Specifying the field
and the style of
your mission.
For example:
Making a strategic work
plan. It must be based
in ideas from:
2. Plan the
action.

9. “We shall have success if we move
forward in faith, determined to do
the work of God intelligently. We
must not allow ourselves to be
hindered by men who love to
stand on the negative side,
showing very little faith. God’s
missionary work is to be carried
forward by men of much faith and
is steadily to grow in force
and efficiency.”
E.G.W. (Mind, Character and Personality, vol. 1, cp. 5, pg. 44)

10. When planning to serve people outside your church, you should
consider what style, or approach, you will use. Amy Sherman
describes three styles a church can use in serving its community.

11. 1) The first style, the settler style, focuses on meeting the needs
of the community around your church. The woman with the
HIV/AIDS ministry chose her nearby community as her “Joppa.”

12. 2) The second, the gardener style means developing ministry
ties with neighborhoods outside your church’s immediate
area, as gardeners view their gardens as an extension of their
homes. Sometimes several churches partner to operate a
community service center outside of each of their communi-
ties. In one city, several churches ran a health food store—
out of which a new church started.

13. 3) The third, the shepherd style is serving one targeted population rather
than a specific geographic neighborhood.—Adapted from Ronald J. Sider et
al., Churches That Make a Difference: Reaching Your Community with Good
News and Good Works (Grand Rapids, Mich.: Baker Books, 2002), p. 146.

14. comunidad
EL PAPEL DE LA IGLESIA EN LAThe Role of the
Church in the
Community
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