Healthy Ministry

Intro: When something is healthy, it has great energy and great ability to do what it was intended to do. We know this in our lives, when our bodies are working well. When the body is unhealthy, we can get tired, weary, and lack of energy is evident.

The church is no different. And in this text today, we are going to see how God changes a man and uses a man to proclaim what healthy ministry looks like.

CTS: God builds up His people through faithful and shared Gospel proclamation.

I. Proclaim God’s Work (1-12)

Setting the scene: Jethro is introduced, and we are revealed that he has “heard” of all that God has done for Moses and for Israel. God heard his people and gave them redemption and provision. The nations heard about God and trembled. Jethro hears and causes him to draw near to God. Moses sent Zipporah ahead of him to be at home while they made their way with the nation to Mt. Sinai. Jethro meets Moses with Zipporah and his children as they come closer to the mountain of God.

The name of the children tell the story of Moses and for Israel. Strangers in the land and now “The God of my father has helped.” The own names of Moses children declare God’s work.

The history of Moses and Jethro: Exodus 2 shows how he became his father-in-law. Great respect for him, was content to stay with him. But Jethro is a pagan priest. Moses shows great respect towards him, but that doesn’t mean that Jethro is not a pagan idolator in need of God. When Moses left Midian in Exodus 4:18, he left in peace, but with no indication that Jethro believed his story about God speaking to Him on the mountain. But now he has heard, and because he has heard, he comes along with Zipporah and the children to meet Moses. He need to hear for himself what God has done.

Moses has an evangelistic opportunity here, and he takes it. We can take the example of Moses here and his testimony and apply to ourselves individually and for the life of the church. We are called to proclaim God’s work. Moses does this in two ways:

A. In Love (7)

Verse 7 reveals the approach of Moses. He went out to go and meet Jethro rather than stay in his tent and wait for him. He bowed down and kissed his father-in-law, showing reverence and respect for his wife’s father. They then begin to ask one another how everything is going.

Remember what Jethro is. He is a pagan idolater. He does not worship the one true God, yet Moses approaches and treats Jethro with respect. Why? I imagine because his desire is to reveal what God has done himself and for Israel, and then that Jethro himself will see His glory and believe. Part of this evangelistic opportunity involves loving the ones for whom we share the gospel with. It’s easy for us to love our fellow Christians, but harder to love those who don’t believe. Maybe it’s a pride thing. Maybe they have said something that was derogatory toward your faith and belittled you. But love does the opposite of revenge and hatefulness.

It happens in the lives of unbelievers when they get saved. When they do, their lives are transformed and where they once were lacking in love with their wives or their family members, they now don’t. They love as Christ loved them, and it makes an impact in their lives.

How are we showing love in our homes? Workplaces? Community? Is it sacrificial or self-serving? Do we love our enemies as Christ commands us to?

Luke 6:35 ESV

35 But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil.

B. With Boldness (8)

Moses knew the truth and was compelled to tell Jethro of the one true God.

See whom Moses gives the credit to. Moses didn’t credit himself or the Israelites. He gave all the glory to the LORD. This is the first and most vital step of our truth proclamation, because it is the truth in full. God is the one who saves and redeems. God delivers. God saves.

Also the truth is that only God saves. This is narrow, but needed. There is not a plurality of gods, but only one God. That was the message that Moses was bringing to his father-in-law, a pagan priest. He loved him with compassion and respect, but he also loved him enough to tell him the truth. Only Yahweh is God.

The church is compelled to do the same, to tell the truth of the Gospel.

2 Timothy 1:9–12 ESV

9 who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began, 10 and which now has been manifested through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel, 11 for which I was appointed a preacher and apostle and teacher, 12 which is why I suffer as I do. But I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that he is able to guard until that day what has been entrusted to me.

John 9:25 the man born blind was compelled to tell of the truth of who healed him.

John 9:25 ESV

25 He answered, “Whether he is a sinner I do not know. One thing I do know, that though I was blind, now I see.”

John 17:3 ESV

3 And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.

Results: Conversion of a pagan priest (9-12)

He praises Yahweh and calls him by His name.

He also knows he is the only true God.

He worships Yahweh, repenting of sin with sacrifices to God.

He is accepted into Israel, God’s people. He communes with the leaders and they accept his testimony!

A clear reminder that God cares for the nations. God did this work so that His name would be proclaimed to the nations:

Exodus 9:16 ESV

16 But for this purpose I have raised you up, to show you my power, so that my name may be proclaimed in all the earth.

The church has been reminded of this. The work of Jesus is global, and so we are tasked to share it everywhere.

Acts 1:8 ESV

8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

Will they all be like Jethro? No. That’s contingent upon faith. But we still operate in the same way regardless. We tell all people, God works, and either people believe or don’t believe. But the love and the proclamation of the truth remains the same. It is the purpose of the church!

II. Share God’s Ministry (13-27)

Setting the scene again, Jethro is observing the work of Moses. I imagine after that evening of fellowship, worship, and praise, the next day Jethro then sees the day to day happenings of God’s people. And what he sees causes great concern. He sees that Moses, his son-in-law, is overwhelmed.

The real need of the Word

In Israel: Remember the state of Israel. We are about to see this changed, but they are seeking God’s will for them. They have no codified law, and Moses is the only person at this moment who can reveal it to them, or so he thinks. To seek God’s will is found from God and His words to us.

In the church (Eph 4:11-16)

Now for the church, the Word is needed, and is tasked by God and gifted by God for certain individuals to proclaim that Word. That is primarily found in the local church in the office of pastor/elder.

These men are tasked to teach/preach and equip God’s people for to live the Christian life and to equip them for ministry.

Ephesians 4:11–16 ESV

11 And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, 12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, 13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, 14 so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. 15 Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, 16 from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.

A. The problem of singular leadership

Yet the problem is seen by Jethro that Moses can carry this burden alone. Can you imagine close to a million people seeking God’s will from one man? He need help, and God used Jethro to reveal the principle of a plurality of leadership.

This problem can be found today when all of the ministry burden is put upon one person. First, he will be overwhelmed and burned out. Second, one man does not need to have authority by himself.

One man doing all the work of ministry will only lead to unhealthy practices. He is called to equip the saints for the work of ministry, not do it all himself. But he also needs help with a plurality of elders that help him with that task. And this isn’t just assumed for large churches. This is assumed for every local church.

B. The solution of plurality leadership

Able men:

1 Timothy 3:1–7 ESV

1 The saying is trustworthy: If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task. 2 Therefore an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, 3 not a drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. 4 He must manage his own household well, with all dignity keeping his children submissive, 5 for if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for God’s church? 6 He must not be a recent convert, or he may become puffed up with conceit and fall into the condemnation of the devil. 7 Moreover, he must be well thought of by outsiders, so that he may not fall into disgrace, into a snare of the devil.

Elders are not to enter the ministry so they can boss others around but so they can exemplify the character of Christ to those under their charge.

Thomas Schreiner

Share ministry:

The principles found here are affirmed in the NT. There is to be a plurality of elders who shepherd the flock of God.

Acts 20:17 ESV

17 Now from Miletus he sent to Ephesus and called the elders of the church to come to him.

Titus 1:5 ESV

5 This is why I left you in Crete, so that you might put what remained into order, and appoint elders in every town as I directed you—

Two offices of the church are found in the NT, but only one is designated as leaders of the church. That is the office of elders/pastors. Deacons are the other office, but their task is not to make decisions but to serve. They do work together to make sure ministry is done, but ultimately, the congregation imparts authority to the pastors/elders to spiritually lead the church. This is the biblical model. Why is this important?

One man cannot do the work of ministry by himself

One man cannot shepherd and equip God’s people by himself.

One man does not need singular authority, keeping him accountable.

The congregation can entrust leadership to a plurality of men who are biblically qualified, ensuring that there are examples to the flock.

Pluraility ensures that one mans weaknesses can be countered by other men’s strengths

We here have two elder pastors (and yes, Chris is a pastor here as much as me). And that’s a blessing. He has strengths that I don’t have that he helps me with. I do the same with him. But I believe that it should go further than this. That God has said that there should be qualified men in the church who help shoulder that responsibility. Are they all paid like us? No, but they as lay elders help and guide the church with spiritual authority. This is the better way. And no, deacons aren’t to be this. They are a separate office. A plurality of elders that teach, pray, shepherd, and lead the church. Here what they are called to do. There is so much more that I could keep on talking about here, but the principles are clear. Jethro saw it, God confirms it, and then commands us to see that the church is a shared ministry.

1 Peter 5:1–4 ESV

1 So I exhort the elders among you, as a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, as well as a partaker in the glory that is going to be revealed: 2 shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly; 3 not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock. 4 And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory.

Conclusion:

When a church is healthy, we see its people, its members faithfully proclaiming the Gospel in love and in truth. From family to the nations. And that church is equipped to do so from the Word, which God has called pastor/elders to do through shepherding the flock of God. God has shown that a healthy church, a healthy people, are led by men who share this burden of ministry with a plurality. Moses and Israel showed this great need, and God affirms that same great need for the church.