The Top-Down Nature of Church Ministry

Aim: To bring heaven to earth, as Jesus ministers through us, His church.

Doctrine: Gospel grace always flows from heaven, to earth. The Holy Trinity inspired the apostle, who now instructs the clergy, who then train the parishioners, who in turn fill the whole world with the presence of Christ.

Exegesis: What the top-down ministry looks like: it is doctrinal and person-specific (vv. 1-5); it is incarnational and practical (vv. 6-10); it is universal and bold (vv. 11-15).

Further application: How pastors lovingly discharge the top-down ministry: through the collegiality of all the church's eldership, we speak and model Christ's grace to the world, through His church.

Key verse: v. 1 ''But as for you, speak the things which are proper for sound doctrine...''