The Foundation

No ministry objective, plan or strategy should be implemented before the vision (as a seed) is planted in a strong Christ centered foundation (the soil). To comprehend the critical nature of first setting a solid ministry foundation, one must visualize monuments being built upon a foundation that is not Christ. Regardless of how high, strong, fantastic, productive and alluring the monuments are, if the foundation is not solid and firm, the monuments WILL crumble and fall when shaken. “Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do what I tell you? Everyone who comes to me and hears my words and does them, I will show you what he is like: he is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when a flood arose, the stream broke against that house and could not shake it, because it had been well built. But the one who hears and does not do them is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. When the stream broke against it, immediately it fell, and the ruin of that house was great.” Luke 6:46-49  

Many times, even with Godly intentions, when our ministry monuments rise higher and higher, we seek to look up as we rise with our structures. In the process of looking up, we lose sight of the foundation (who is Christ) in whom all things hold together. In essence, our ministry monuments become our idols as we rely on the effectiveness and efficiency of Man rather than the desperate reliance on God who is the source and power of the growth. Even with the knowledge of the Lordship of Jesus Christ in our spiritual walk and ministry objectives, we must face the detrimental reality that although the foundation that we stand on is often Christ inspired, but not Christ built. Christ is our foundation. We have placed “other” foundations over the foundation of Christ. 

Christ as the foundation:
1. Personal walk
2. In a ministry

“According to the grace of God given to me, like a skilled master builder I laid a foundation, and someone else is building upon it. Let each one take care how he builds upon it. 11 For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.” 1 Corinthians 3:10-11 

Paul was an architect of our faith. We must also be architects building on top of this foundation which is Christ. This foundation is more than just merely ethics, codes and culture. Rather, through a process of Christification, we “absorb” Jesus and not merely agree with doctrine. 

If Jesus is the foundation, what does that mean for our lives and for our ministry objectives? –IT ALL COMES BACK TO THE “IDENTITY” OF CHRIST. WHO IS HE? “He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.” Colossians 1:15-20

The entire Christian walk serves to answer, WHO IS HE? I do not merely mean Lord, redeemer, savior, messiah and the other adjectives that proclaim Him, but rather, this question is one that digs so deep into His power that consumes and fuels our Christian walk. We will not grasp the incomprehensibility of who He is in His everlasting glory until we each stand before Him. 

In laying the foundation, what would happen if we cultivate a fascination with Jesus that precedes ethics or dogma? Colossians 1:24-2:5 – What is Paul doing here?

• Lays the foundation of understanding of discipleship 
• Establishing “identity” in Christ
• “Apostolic” ministry

The most important ministry objective question is: Ask, DO WE PROCLAIM HIM?