Being Ministry Minded Series

Being Ministry Minded

A God glorifying ministry

…shares the Gospel (vv. 14-16)

…Serves the People (vv. 17-29)

…Prays to God (vv.30-33)

…is personal and caring (vv. 16:1-16)

…is for the glory of God (vv. 16:25-27)

Slide

Introduction – Summer over

Good morning. Well, fall is officially here. Summer ended this past week and the temperatures seem to reflect that. We also are ending our series, “Summer in Rome” as we finish up the last 2 chapters of Romans.

This has been a great study for me personally and I hope you have benefited in growing in your knowledge of the Lord and in applying these things to your life as I have.

Throughout Romans we have seen Paul’s heart for people and ministering to them to the glory of God.

Paul has written to inform and remind those in Rome of the importance of right thinking in regards to what they believe about God and how that right thinking should affect us in right living.

When our thinking is right and our living is right, we are going to be focused on the Lord and ministering to others.

Paul is the perfect example of a man of ministry and in these closing paragraphs in these last 2 chapters, we can see some things that are essential if we are going to be ministry minded like Paul in our own lives.

What will a God glorifying ministry look like in our own lives? It may not look exactly like Paul’s, but it will include certain aspects of ministry that are included in how Paul minsters.

Turn with me to Romans 15:14

Slide

As you turn there, I want to share something I ran across this week from Mark Driscoll. After last weeks message talking about the exercising our freedom to the glory of God or not exercising our freedom to the glory of God, I thought this was timely.

It is a parable to help us see that we can enjoy things that the Lord has given us to His glory.

A Poverty Theology Parable by: Pastor Mark Driscoll on Sep 21, 2011

A loving and generous Father once bought his son a shiny new bicycle. With a broad smile, the Father surprised the son and rolled it out and handed it to him.

Strangely, rather than looking happy, the son looked anxious. Rather than riding the bike, he stepped away from it in fear.

The Father asked the child what was wrong. The son replied, “Father, I cannot ride the bike. All around the world there are missionaries who do not have a bike. I would like to give them my bike so that they can ride it to unreached peoples and preach the gospel. The Father replied, “If you simply ask me, I am glad to also give you a second bike to give to a missionary.”

Yet, rather than simply riding the bike, the son continued to argue with his Father, saying, “I would much prefer an older bicycle. This one is shiny and new. It makes me look proud if I ride it.” The Father explained, “If I want you to ride the bike I gave you, and you are more concerned about what others think of you as you ride it than my joy in seeing you enjoy my gift to you, then you may look humble to them, but I know there is pride in your heart because you are living for their approval instead of my joy.”

Unrelenting, the son said, “But some people will talk about my bicycle out of judgment, envy, or jealousy because it is so nice. Some might even stumble and covet my bicycle. I do not want them to sin, and so I would rather not have a new bike so as to be considerate of them.” The Father replied, “If others respond to my grace to you in this way, the problem is not the bicycle but their hearts. I will deal with their hearts should they prove sinful—something you assume will happen but do not know. I will love and serve them by working to change their heart if they respond sinfully. But for you, my request is that you simply ride the bicycle I gave you. You are thinking about it too much and enjoying it too little.”

The Father walked away for a few hours, kindly asking the son to consider his request. Upon returning, the son had yet another line of reasoning. “Father, I will not ride the bike because I am fearful. I fear that it is so nice and I would enjoy it so much that it would become an idol to me. So, to avoid idolatry I will abstain from riding the bicycle.” The Father replied, “You could also ride your bike as an act of worship to me, enjoying the gift I gave you to your joy and my glory. Once again, the problem is not the bicycle.”