Teaching Library
The Strategy of the Church: Ordinary Means, Extraordinary Results
What is the Church's strategy to take on a dark world? In a world of darkness and sin, both within us and outside of us, God has ordained ordinary means through ordinary people to channel His extraordinary power.

Acts 2:42-47

"And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. 43 And awe[a] came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. 44 And all who believed were together and had all things in common. 45 And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. 46 And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved."

The Ordinary Means of Grace
The early church devoted themselves to four ordinary means through which God channels His power: the apostles' teaching, fellowship, breaking of bread, and prayers.
The Apostles' Teaching
Grounded in Scripture, focused on Christ, with the cross at the forefront. This teaching presents a cradle-to-throne Gospel and practical guidance for living a life worthy of Christ.
Fellowship
Christians are called to encourage one another, bear one another's burdens, and stimulate one another to love and good deeds. The Bible does not envision the Christian life as one lived in isolation.
Breaking of Bread
The sacraments of communion and baptism are "visible words" proclaiming the centrality of the cross and a life renewed through the cleansing power of the Holy Spirit.
Prayer
Communion with God where we call upon and lay hold of His promises. A praying church is one that enjoys God and depends upon Him.
The Power of Ordinary Means
Ordinary does not mean unimportant or powerless. Through these ordinary means, God channels His omnipotent power through ordinary people.

The Burning Bush
Like Moses' ordinary bush filled with God's presence
The Fire of the Spirit
God's presence filling ordinary believers
God's Voice
Speaking through ordinary means to transform lives
We are like ordinary bushes, but when the fire of God's Spirit descends upon us, God speaks through us. The temptation is to seek something extraordinary or flashy, but God has chosen the weak and ordinary to showcase His power.
Baptism of the Spirit: Part of Salvation
Baptism of the Holy Spirit speaks to the salvation event. When you are saved, because Jesus has cleansed your sin by His cross and brought you justification by His resurrection, the Holy Spirit can dwell within you eternally. This is not some second event but a component of salvation itself.
Christ's Work
Jesus cleanses sin through His death and resurrection
Baptism
Being immersed in the Holy Spirit
Indwelling
The Spirit makes residence within believers
Transformation
Living out the power of the Spirit
Extraordinary Effects from Ordinary Means
Awe and Reverence
A sense of holy fear toward God
Unity and Togetherness
Bonded by faith, not preferences
Sacrifice and Service
Helping the needy, making personal sacrifices
Joy and Gladness
Eternal fruit cultivated now
The ordinary means of grace produce extraordinary effects in the life of the church. They create a sense of awe toward God, unity among believers, sacrificial service, and joy that lasts for eternity. What we do with our material possessions indicates the Spirit's presence or absence.
The Regularity of Ordinary Means
Day by day, Sunday by Sunday, month by month, year by year—it is the ordinary drip irrigation of truth that feeds and produces a harvest.
Drip Irrigation
The slow, consistent flow of God's Word nourishes spiritual growth over time, rather than a sudden deluge that washes away.
Daily Devotion
Regular time in God's Word cuts channels for His truth to flow into every area of life that needs growth and renewal.
Gradual Growth
Spiritual maturity comes through consistent exposure to God's truth, not through seeking extraordinary experiences.
The Fruit That Lasts for Eternity

Salvation of Souls
The Lord adds to their number daily
Worship and Praise
Hearts lifted in adoration to God
Generous Hearts
Serving one another in love
Lasting Joy
Joy cultivated now is kept for eternity
The fruit born through ordinary means includes glad and generous hearts, joy that lasts for eternity, worship that glorifies God, and a public testimony that draws others to Christ. The Lord adds to their number day by day those who are being saved—eternal souls for which the blood of God was spilled.
Depth unto Breadth: Christ to the Nations
Quantitative growth is God's will, but not at the expense of the internal quality of the Church. Breadth without depth withers away, offering no richness. Depth without breadth is a tragedy—richness enjoyed but not shared. God's will is depth unto breadth: Christ to the nations.
As Paul said, "I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses so that the power of Christ may rest upon me." When we are weak, embracing the ordinary means God has ordained, then we are strong, and the Lord brings in the harvest.