Real Ministry, What Is It? Series

REAL MINISTRY, WHAT IS IT?

5/4/08 MARK 10:45

NOT EVERY CHRISTIAN IS A PASTOR BUT EVERY BELIEVER IS CALLED INTO MINISTRY. A CHURCH WILL NEVER BE ANY STRONGER THAN ITS CORE OF LAY MINISTERS. PASTORS, DON’T MAKE STRONG CHURCHES, THEY EQUIP THEM. BUILDINGS, DON’T MAKE STRONG CHURCHES, THEY HOUSE THEM. DENOMINATIONS DON’T CREATE STRONG CHURCHES THEY BRING THEM TOGETHER. STRONG MATURE CHURCHES ARE BORN WHEN THE PEOPLE OF THE CHURCH REALIZE WHAT REAL BIBLICAL MINISTRY IS AND CHOOSE TO ACCEPT GODS CALLING TO ENGAGE IN IT. MINISTRY IS THE EVIDENCE OF THE LORD JESUS RULING IN HIS CHURCH AND HIS PEOPLE. WHAT IS REAL MINISTRY? IT IS TO BE LIKE JESUS CHRIST. STATISTICS TELL US THAT ABOUT 10% OF THE PEOPLE IN AN AVERAGE CHURCH ARE ENGAGED IN MINISTRY OF SOME TYPE. OUR GOAL HERE AT REAL LIFE IS TO RAISE THAT NUMBER TO 50% OR MORE. THAT MEANS YOU ARE GOING TO BE CHALLENGED TO BE WHAT JESUS SAVED YOU TO BE, A SERVANT MINISTER OF GOD. WHAT IS REAL MINISTRY? IT IS WHAT CHRISTIANS SHOULD DO! EVERY CHRISTIAN IS A MINISTER

1. CREATED FOR MINISTRY EPH. 2:10

2. SAVED FOR MINISTRY 2 TIM. 1:9.

3. CALLED TO MINISTRY 1 PETER 2:9-10

4. GIFTED FOR MINISTRY 1 PETER 4:10

5. AUTHORIZED FOR MINISTRY MATT 28:18-20

6. COMMANDED TO MINISTER MATT. 20:26-28

7. NEEDED FOR MINISTRY 1 COR. 12:27

8. ACCOUNTABLE FOR MINISTRY

9. REWARDED FOR MINISTRY COL 3:23-24

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MARK 10:45 “FOR EVEN THE SON OF MAN DID NOT COME TO BE SERVED BUT TO SERVE AND TO GIVE HIS LIFE AS A RANSOM FOR MANY.”

MINISTRY INVOLVES SERVICE TO OTHERS ABOVE YOURSELF

I. WORD MINISTRY – SERVING

WEBSTERS = AN ACT OF MINISTERING OR SERVING

STRONGS = 18 TIMES IN NT – 16 TIMES = DIAKONIA

COMES FROM ROOT DIAKONOS (DEACON) = LITERALLY - TO ATTEND –

TO AID – TO RELIEVE, ALWAYS AS A SERVANT.

REAL MINISTRY IS SERVICE TO OTHERS – SERVICE NOT MOTIVATED BY

LAW OR PRESSURE OR EXPECTATIONS BUT BY LOVE FOR GOD AND PEOPLE.

MINISTRY IN THE NEW TESTAMENT IS PRIMARILY THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST TAKING CARE OF ITS OWN. IT IS FAMILY BUSINESS. ILL: LAST SATURDAY WE MOVED TO OUR NEW HOUSE. 22 OF YOU SHOWED UP TO HELP US MOVE. IN 6 HOURS EVERY WORLDY ITEM MY FAMILY OWNS WAS MOVED. YOU DID SO NOT FOR PAY OR GLORY BUT OUT OF LOVE AND A CALLING TO MINISTER TO YOUR PASTOR. YOU TOOK CARE OF A NEED SOMEONE IN YOUR PSIRITAUL FAMILY HAD...MINISTRY!

II MINISTRY TAKES FOUR FORMS IN NEW TESTAMENT.

1. MINISTRY OF SPIRITUAL GIFTS. - ROMANS 12 – EPH. 4 – 1 COR. 12-14

MAIN FOCUS OF THESE MINISTRIES IS TO BUILD AND STRENGTHEN THE

CHURCH FOR GODS KINGDOM AND GLORY. EVERY CHRISTIAN IS A

SPIRITUALLY GIFTED MINISTER AND HAS A SERVICE TO PERFORM.

2. MINISTRY OF THE WORD - 2 TIM. 3:10 – 4:5

MAIN FOCUS OF THIS MINISTRY IS TO GROW DISCIPLES. TRAINING,

TEACHING AND EQUIPPING THE CHURCH TO FULFILL THE WORK OF GOD IN

THIS WORLD AND TO BRING GLORY TO HIS NAME. EPH. 4:11-16

3. MINISTRY OF CHARITABLE SERVICE - ACTS 6:1 - ACTS 11:29 -

2 COR.8:1-4

MAIN FOCUS OF THIS MINISTRY IS TO MEET THE NEEDS OF THE SAINTS OF

GOD AND TO REVEAL GODS GLORY TO ALL WHO SEE THIS WORK BEING

DONE.

4. MINISTRY OF RECONCILIATION – 2 COR. 5:18-19

MAIN FOCUS OF THIS MINISTRY IS TWO PARTS;

FIRST - THE BRINGING TOGETHER OF BELIEVERS WHO HAVE HAD

CONFLICT. – GAL. 6:1-2

ILL: PEACEMAKING IS MISSING IN CHURCHES TODAY.

SECOND – THE BRINGING TOGETHER OF SINFUL PEOPLE WITH GOD WHO

OFFERS THEM FORGIVENESS AND LOVE.

NOTE: THIS IS THE ONLY PLACE IN THE NEW TESTAMENT

WHERE MINISTRY REFERS TO ACTIONS TOWARDS

NON-BELIEVERS.

BIBLICAL MINISTRY IS PRIMARILY FOCUSED ON THE

SAINTS – US – CHURCH

BIBLICAL MISSIONS IS PRIMARILY FOCUSED ON THE

SINNER – THEM – UN-CHURCHED

MINISTRY IN A CHURCH GIVES LIFE TO THE BODY

IT HEALS WOUNDS

IT IS GODS LOVE IN ACTION

IT IS INCLUSIVE TO ALL CHRISTIANS, NOT JUST OUR CHURCH

IT IS TO BE LIKE JESUS

WHAT IS REAL MINISTRY? IN ESSENCE, IT IS THE CHURCH FAMILY TAKING CARE OF ITS OWN, WORKING TOGETHER, GROWING TOGETHER AND HELPING EACH OTHER AS NEEDS ARISE.

PRAY

DO YOU WANT TO BE A PART OF THE MINISTRY OF REAL LIFE CHURCH? THIS IS YOUR FIRST STEP IN THAT DIRECTION. I HOPE AND PRAY THAT YOU WILL TAKE IT.