Anyone who spends a significant amount of time working in the ministry should be quick to agree that we living in times of great change and experiencing continuous adjustment in the way that we think and do things. Though we are guardians and carriers of an eternal, universal message that is applicable to all peoples in all places, we must stay flexible concerning the state of our wine skin lest we confuse cultural traditional expression with truth. The following are five observations that I believe are significant shifts taking place in the message of the church today.

The shift from the gospel of salvation to the gospel of the kingdom. Jesus came to earth and gave His life to provide a way of salvation for all men, but He preached and taught about the Kingdom of God. Salvation is the entrance, not the exit. The current emphasis on the kingdom is establishing the “rule of God’ in and among us now rather than a theology that ends with salvation and results in a fearful church waiting to escape a world that it has been assigned to redeem and occupy. (”…and this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.”)

The shift from making converts to making disciples. Of course, this would appropriately follow the prior observation. Experience has proven it is relatively few who ”make a decision” to accept and follow Christ that actually follow through with process of disciplining themselves in the ways of God thus engaging in a kingdom lifestyle. The result again, has been an impotent church with an undeveloped identity of who it is and what it has the potential to do. (”If you continue in my word, then are you my disciples indeed.”)

The shift from information to demonstration. I am thankful to be part of a generation that has been given access to some of the greatest revelatory preaching and teaching ever. We have an endless supply of books, tapes, CD’s and DVD’s on every subject imaginable, but we still struggle to heal the sick, cast out devils, and even love each other. I am also thankful for the revival spirit that has been recently blowing in the church, energizing it and reasserting the fact that everything we have been called to communicate we can demonstrate with faith, anointing, and power. (”…and these signs shall follow them that believe.”)

The shift from ministry to the church to equipping the church for ministry. One of the most liberating revelations in Scripture is that the “work” of the ministry belongs to the saints. However, much of tradition has taught us to hire a minister to do it for us. The Great Commission cannot be carried out by a select few who feel a call to give everything they have to reach people with the gospel. Let’s set a goal to work towards an empowered, equipped, anointed Body who knows that they are part of the greatest force in the world. (”Go therefore and teach all nations…”)

The shift from fear to love. Love is more powerul than fear. When we recognize the true nature of God’s love for us and receive it into our lives, we cannot help but desire to live for Him. Love is a liberating force and the greatest motivator. It changes our identity and establishes us in God. (”There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear: because fear has torment. He that fears is not made perfect in love.”)

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