ministry
I received a question from a friend on Facebook:
Besides the Word, what makes preaching effective? (paraphrase)
Here was my ‘seven’ cents:
- The Spirit’s power (1 Corinthians 2:4, 4:20).
- Not trying to please people (Galatians 1:10; 2 Timothy 4:3-5; James 4:4)
- Following the Holy Spirit’s direction for the message (especially when it’s not what you studied).
- Knowing that preaching is not about you (and your style of preaching/dress), but the One who called you (1 Corinthians 1:17).
- Being humble.
- Not looking at the number of people coming to the altar as a ‘sign’ of your ‘success.’
- Knowing your ‘success’ comes from being obedient and faithful to the Lord, not in what others say about your preaching (Matthew 25:14-30).
Photo courtesy of CreationSwap/axcvilla
1. The foundation of any ministry grows from your love of God and compassion for His people (cf. Matthew 22:36-40; John 14:12).
2. Ministry is associated with serving others – giving and not receiving (cf. Acts 20:32-35).
3. Ministry is given freely from one’s talents, gifts, and calling(s).
1 Corinthians 12:1-11 – Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant. Ye know that ye were Gentiles, carried away unto these dumb idols, even as ye were led. Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost. Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues: But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.
As the Lord calls us unto Himself, we are given specific gifts of the Spirit of His choosing. We often have no say in the gift we receive, nor any indication on when it will be given unto us (1 Corinthians 12:11, 18). As we receive the gift(s) of the Spirit, there are several things we should understand:
Luke 10:38-42 – Now it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus’ feet, and heard his word. But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me. And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.
When Jesus came to Martha’s house, she was cumbered (driven mentally, over occupied, distracted)6 about serving. Her sister Mary was also at her house and helped her serve for a time, but left to sit at Jesus’ feet and listen to His word. Martha later came to Jesus and desired Him to say something for Mary to help her again. Jesus told Martha that she was careful and troubled over many things, but Mary had chosen that good part and it would not be taken from her.
Jesus described Mary choosing that good part. Martha’s part may not have been bad (as something sinful), but when compared to Mary’s choice, it was not better. In our view of the their lives, we can learn four things:
Matthew 9:35-38 – And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people. But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd. Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few; Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.
As Jesus went through the cities and villages teaching, preaching, and healing, he saw the multitudes. He was moved with compassion for the multitudes of people had fainted and were scattered. He noted to His disciples that the harvest is plenteous, but there are few laborers to work the harvest. Jesus told them to pray to the Lord of the harvest to send laborers into His harvest.
Many times we see the multitudes of people in need. We see them in our churches, schools, communities, and abroad. We see the people with so many needs and so few resources. They are without Jesus and the help and support to sustain themselves from day to day. We see a bountiful harvest of souls.
Proverbs 18:16 – A man’s gift maketh room for him, and bringeth him before great men.
As Solomon describes in Proverbs, it is the gift that makes room for a man, not the other way around. We are to bring glory to the Lord through our good works (Matthew 5:14-16; 1 Corinthians 12) – the gifts are HIS, used for HIS purpose, and bring HIM glory upon the earth.
For many young men and women accepting the Lord’s calling to preach, a wonderful purpose in God awaits. Their hearts and minds are filled with anticipating of preaching and teaching across a pulpit to share God’s truths to His people. And week after week and year after year, many eagerly wait for their chance to preach. Some will have opportunities at Sunday evening service, Saturday service, or maybe Sunday school, but nothing would compare to Sunday morning service. However, there is more to being a minister of the Lord than speaking on Sunday.
Long before you preach a sermon across the Lord’s pulpit, you speak and interact with people. The life of a minister (on any scale) is:
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