THE MINISTRY, THE PURPOSE OF PREACHING
I. It is the method God use’s to spread His Gospel. (Good News)
Eph 4:11-12
11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
II. It is intended to keep the disciple stirred up and full of faith; andto equip Christians with the principles of God’s Word so that the Holy Spirit can guide us to godly character and wise decisions.
Mark 16:15-20
15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.
16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.
17 And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;
18.They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.
19 So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God.
20 And they went forth, and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen.
FULL-TIME CHRISTIAN WORK:
“ Not what you give your full time to, but rather what you give your full heart to. (Being a full-time Christian)
EXAMPLE: Paul the tent maker.
INSIGHTS INTO GOD”S WILL
1. GOD”S WILL INVOLVES LEADING THOSE FOR WHOM WE ARE RESPONSIBLE TO SPIRITUAL MATURITY:
When we determine which individuals are under our spiritual care and purpose to give ourselves to the high calling of leading them to spiritual maturity, we have established the basis for a fulfilling ministry in our lives. Then, as God allows us to experience death to our natural inclinations and discover His way of responding to life situations, we are “able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.” II Cor 1:4
2. WE ARE RESPONSIBLE TO DEEPEN OUR MESSAGE. GOD IS RESPONSIBLE TO BROADEN OUR MINISTRY.
We are prone to be concerned with how many people we are reaching with the Gospel, but God is concerned that we bring those we reach to spiritual maturity. “That we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus.” Col 1:28 Those who become mature are then able to reproduce the life and character of Christ in others as well.
If we love Christ, we are to show it by keeping His commandments and by feeding His sheep. John 14:15; john 21:15-17 Sheep reproduce sheep as the shepherd feeds them.
3. GOD’S WILL INVOLVES THE “MESSAGE” WE DEVELOP, MORE THAN THE “JOB” WE ARE DOING.
As each one of us dies to natural inclinations which are contrary to the Word of God, and as we experience the life of Christ by applying the principles of His Word to our daily lives, we build a “life message.”
God desires that each one of us become a “living epistle.” II cor 3:2 As we do, we experience more and more joy. Prov 15:23
God has chosen us and ordained us that we should go and bring forth fruit and that our fruit should remain. John 15:16
Of the 112 times the word “Preach” is found in the New Testament, in only 6 instances does it mean a formal discourse.
Our Lord Jesus Christ made His Father’s business the supreme object of His life on earth. His first recorded utterance was: “Wist ye not that I must be about My Father’s business?” Luke 2:49 He rested not until He could triumphantly testify: “I have glorified Thee on the earth: I have finished the work which Thou gavest me to do.” John 17:4
Before Jesus left the earth to ascend to the right hand of the Majesty on high, He said to His disciples: “As My Father hath sent Me, even so send I you.” John 20:21 Therefore each disciple is a sent one; chosen, called, commissioned and equipted by his Lord to do business for Him in a world that despised and rejected Him and which, in turn, will despise and reject those who name His name.
So to each believer comes the unmistakably clear command of his Lord and Master: “Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.” Mark 16:15 What God is really trying to say to us is: “You make my business your business, and I will make your business my business.” Matt 6:33 The biggest business on this earth is God’s business. The ambition of each disciple should be to “serve his own generation by the will of God.” Acts 13:36
4. IN A VERY REAL WAY, THE MAN IS HIS MESSAGE; THE PREACHER IS HIS PROCLAMATION; THE SPEAKER IS HIS SERMON.
It is the man behind the message that determines its weight, for as in all Christian experience, QUALITY is to be preferred to QUANTITY. This was the fact Paul had in mind when he wrote to Timothy: “Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them; for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.” I Tim 4:16
DISCIPLE: “WHAT YOU ARE, SPEAKS SO LOUD THE WORLD CANNOT HEAR WHAT YOU SAY!”
SEVEN STEPS TO SPREADING THE GOSPEL: Rom 10:9-17
1. A preacher is sent by God.
2. He preaches the Word.
3. Someone hears the Word.
4. This person believes the message.
5. He then calls on the name of the Lord.
6. As a consequence he is saved by the grace of God.
7. This saved person then confesses Christ as the Lord of his life.
“The philosophy of all preaching is first to get people to THINK, then to FEEL, and finally to ACT.” “Daddy” Welch.
