The Ministry Of The Church

2 CORINTHIANS 5:17-20

THE MINISTRY OF THE CHURCH

The Ministry: Its Message

Introduction: this is one of the great passages of Scripture. So much is covered, a life-time could be spent in its depths. It is here that we see the message of the ministry.

The message of the ministry is powerful, and it offers the only hope for a sinful person who is aging and moving ever so rapidly toward death.

Every time we see a hospital, we are reminded of the frailty of life…

Every time we hear an ambulance, we are reminded of the uncertainty of life…

Every time we pass a cemetery, we are reminded of the brevity of life…

Every time we open a newspaper, we are reminded of the reality of sin…

When we walk out on the porch of this church, we can take off and any direction and it won’t take us long to find someone who is hurting.

Dr. Vance Havner once said…”speak to those who are troubled and you will always have an audience”.

As I looked at this passage of scripture this week I was led to ask this question…what is the MINISTRY of Holland Baptist Church? If we are going to be enlarging our ministry…do we not need to know what that is?

How can I expect to get each and every member on board without a clear cut purpose???

In this passage of scripture the Apostle Paul tells us expressly what the ministries of the local church are supposed to be…

2 Corinthians 5:17 - 20 (NKJV) 17Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. 18Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, 19that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation. 20Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God.

To put it simply folks, we are to be a hospital for the sin sick!!!!

The church ought to be a symbol for those who are hurting and have needs…this church is not just a place for us to come worship…but a place for us to MINISTER to others as well…

It is to be a battle headquarters where plans are drawn up to engage the enemy…

It is to be a place of refuge for those who have been wounded in the fray…

It is to be a place of healing for those who have been hurt in the world…

The ministry of the church today is threefold…

1. The 1st ministry of the church is the making of "new creatures."

HOLLAND BAPTIST CHURCH IS TO BE A CREATURE CREATOR!!!!!!

The key to new solid church growth is to Grow more Christians in God’s Garden!!!

1. What does it mean for a man to become a "new creature"? Very simply, it means just what the Scripture says: the man actually becomes a new creature—his whole being, nature, life, and behavior changes:

⇒ Whereas a man was dead to God… as a new creature he becomes alive to God.

⇒ Whereas a man had no relationship with God… as a new creature he is given a relationship with God.

⇒ Whereas a man was not sure about God… as a new creature he is absolutely certain about God.

⇒ Whereas a man never fellowshipped and communed with God… as a new creature he fellowships and communes with God all the time.

⇒ Whereas a man was living in sin and immorality… as a new creature he lives in righteousness and holiness.

⇒ Whereas a man had to face death… as a new creature he never has to die.

John 5:24 (KJV) 24Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.

⇒ Whereas a man was doomed to judgment and eternal separation from God… as a new creature he is destined to live eternally in the presence of God.

Luke 23:43 (NKJV) 43And Jesus said to him, “Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.”

2. How does a person become a new creature? Note the words of this Scripture: "If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature." It is being "in Christ" that makes a person a new creature. When a person truly believes in Christ, God places and positions him in Christ, in all that Christ is. Christ lived and died and arose, so to be in Christ means that a person lives, dies, and arises in Christ. The person who believes in Jesus Christ is identified with Christ: that is, he is counted and considered to be "in Christ," reckoned and credited as "in Christ."