A friend (RE teacher in a secondary school) suggested that there are three dimensions to consider in church life:
>pastoral effort
>evangelism effort
>discipling effort.
They are not in order of importance, because they are all equally important.
Notice there's nothing there specifically about 'teaching', or 'community' or 'social program' or 'youth work' or 'children's ministry' or 'leadership' any other hip theme of the moment, because none of these 'work' for a church, in my assessment; they are all disconnected orphans of authentic church life if they do not form an organic part of the triad.
The grand program for the saints meeting together and growing together are covered, I think by the three domains which will take up those specifics that are relevant to particular church setting and membership as it changes over time.
So, what's the definition we put around these things?
Discipling effort:
This and pastoral effort are the two constants of Christian life: discipling is served by knowing the Bible, converting knowledge to practice, engaged prayer life, behaviour that reflects the fruit of the Spirit, it would be marked, I think, by increasing humility, peacableness and prayerfulness.
Evangelism effort:
Helping people seeing in their life-frame the connection they have with the diagnosis and response God makes to the human condition through and in Christ. Today, this sometimes starts with a more fulsome linking of thought world and the biblical thought world: often connecting with the origin of the world and our reality in the creation from God's word; the real tangible creation as described in Genesis 1, etc.
But, evangelism starts with making links that the other finds sensible and that make sense. I don't think it starts with any formulaic pronouncements that seem today to disconnect the gospel from people's life-world.
Pastoral effort:
I think pastoral effort has two principle markers: sharing each others' burdens, sacrificing for each others' well being, and encouraging each other to grow (that is, to augment discipling....they are all inter-related). It would be achieved by un-judging relationships of service and support; going out of one's way and sacrificing one's own interests, should that be needed....not letting a brother or sister go with the words 'be filled' when they are hungry, and need actual food!
