Connecting With Ministry Series

Our study on CONNECTING continues today. We are examining how to best fulfill our MISSION as we enter into this new year. In order to pursue the goals of evangelism and discipleship, we must be CONNECTED.

First, we must be connected with God for the spiritual strength that only he provides

Second, we must be connected with others because it is through relationships that we serve the Lord together and proclaim the gospel.

Today we are examining Connecting with MINISTRY

This message will answer the question, “How do I get involved in ministry?”

You can discover your place of ministry by taking these five steps

- Passion

- Prayer

- Pastors

- People

- Produce. (By this I mean the FRUIT that is born through your ministry)

There are needs all over the world. How do we know where to help?

It is where the Lord leads us through the church family.

EVERY Christian is a minister!!!

CLERGY/ LAITY terminology is unbiblical. Such terminology implies that the Clergy are the professionals, and the laity are the amateurs. BUT the word 'laity' comes from the Greek laos which simply means 'people.' That's who we are: the people of God doing the work of God.

One of the best examples in the Bible of a person connected with ministry is - Timothy

We read of Paul’s love for Timothy and his confidence in him in the following passage:

“I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, that I also may be cheered when I receive news about you. I have no one else like him, who takes a genuine interest in your welfare. For everyone looks out for his own interests, not those of Jesus Christ. But you know that Timothy has proved himself, because as a son with his father he has served with me in the work of the gospel. I hope, therefore, to send him as soon as I see how things go with me. And I am confident in the Lord that I myself will come soon. But I think it is necessary to send back to you Epaphroditus, my brother, fellow worker and fellow soldier, who is also your messenger, whom you sent to take care of my needs. For he longs for all of you and is distressed because you heard he was ill. Indeed he was ill, and almost died. But God had mercy on him, and not on him only but also on me, to spare me sorrow upon sorrow. Therefore I am all the more eager to send him, so that when you see him again you may be glad and I may have less anxiety. Welcome him in the Lord with great joy, and honor men like him, because he almost died for the work of Christ, risking his life to make up for the help you could not give me.” (Philippians 2:19–30, NIV84)

1. Tim, native of Lystra. Probably saved on 1st miss journey. Acts 16:1-3“He came to Derbe and then to Lystra, where a disciple named Timothy lived, whose mother was a Jewess and a believer, but whose father was a Greek. 2 The brothers at Lystra and Iconium spoke well of him. 3 Paul wanted to take him along on the journey, so he circumcised him because of the Jews who lived in that area, for they all knew that his father was a Greek.

2. Tim traveled with Paul and Silas on 2nd MJ.

3. Tim remained in Thessalonica (Acts 17:10) “As soon as it was night, the brothers sent Paul and Silas away to Berea. On arriving there, they went to the Jewish synagogue.”

4. Timothy then joined P&S in Berea (Acts 17:14)

5. Tim used as messenger between Paul and church of Thess “We sent Timothy, who is our brother and God’s fellow worker in spreading the gospel of Christ, to strengthen and encourage you in your faith,” (1 Thessalonians 3:2, NIV84) “But Timothy has just now come to us from you and has brought good news about your faith and love. He has told us that you always have pleasant memories of us and that you long to see us, just as we also long to see you.” (1 Thessalonians 3:6)

6. Tim used as messenger between Paul and Corinth. 1 Corinthians 4:17 “For this reason I am sending to you Timothy, my son whom I love, who is faithful in the Lord. He will remind you of my way of life in Christ Jesus, which agrees with what I teach everywhere in every church.” 1 Corinthians 16:10 “If Timothy comes, see to it that he has nothing to fear while he is with you, for he is carrying on the work of the Lord, just as I am.”

7. Tim next appears in Ephesus Acts 19:22 “He sent two of his helpers, Timothy and Erastus, to Macedonia, while he stayed in the province of Asia a little longer.”