What does Christ-centered ministry look like?

Introduction

The word “ministry” denotes service. Many people seek ministries that offer things they want, as if ministries are made to order. Whether it is good worship music, children’s or teens ministry, the idea of ministry some, if not most Christians, is providing a service I need. I will argue the most important service a Christian needs is the gospel. Today, I want to teach on 1 Thessalonians 2:1-16 by looking through the lens of the apostle Paul to, first, glorify God that He has entrusted me/us with this service, second, what Christ-centered ministry looks like by showing the differences between those entrusted with His word and those that are not, and lastly, the response of those who receive God’s word from those who are entrusted with it.

What does God say?

1 Thessalonians 2:1 LEB

1 For you yourselves know, brothers, our reception with you, that it was not in vain,

Paul establishes his visit to the Thessalonians had positive results

1 Thessalonians 2:2 LEB

2 but after we had already suffered and been mistreated in Philippi, just as you know, we had the courage in our God to speak to you the gospel of God amid much opposition.

They suffered and were mistreated at Philippi because of the gospel of God (Acts 16).

Regardless of opposition, they spoke boldly of the gospel of God

1 Thessalonians 2:3–6 LEB

3 For our exhortation is not from error or from impurity or with deceit, 4 but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, thus we speak, not as pleasing people but God, who examines our hearts. 5 For never did we come with a word of flattery, just as you know, nor with a pretext of greediness (God is witness), 6 nor seeking glory from people, neither from you nor from others.

Paul highlights the integrity of their message to they were approved by God to be entrusted with his gospel.

There are quite a few things here that contrast those who are not and those who are entrusted by God with his word

error/impurity/deceit vs integrity

people pleasing vs pleasing God

flattery (personal praise) vs humility

pretext of greediness vs generous

self-seeking vs seeking glory for and from God

1 Thessalonians 2:7–12 LEB

7 Although we could have insisted on our own importance as apostles of Christ, yet we became infants in your midst, like a nursing mother cherishes her own children. 8 Longing for you in this way, we determined to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own souls, because you had become dear to us. 9 For you remember, brothers, our labor and hardship: working by night and day in order not to be a burden to any of you, we proclaimed to you the gospel of God. 10 You are witnesses, and so is God, how devoutly and righteously and blamelessly we became to you who believe, 11 just as you know how we treated each one of you, like a father his own children, 12 exhorting and consoling you and insisting that you live in a manner worthy of God, who calls you to his own kingdom and glory.

Paul uses familiar familial status in this passage to convey how they approach ministry amongst the Thessalonians

Did not use or abuse their authority in Christ Jesus. Instead became children (undemanding, gentle) amongst them

Like nursing mothers (Greco-Roman world they used wet-nurses) cherished them as children. How?

Desired to share the gospel of God and their lives because they are so loved

They worked (labor was usually reserved for slaves) day and night, without being a burden, proclaiming the gospel

Thessalonians and God are witnesses of how they lived among them (devoutly, righteous, blameless)

They treated the Thessalonians as a father who deals with his own (How)

exhorting and comforting you to live lives worthy of God, who call you into His kingdom and glory

1 Thessalonians 2:13–16 LEB

13 And because of this we also give thanks to God constantly, that when you received God’s word that you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but as it truly is, the word of God, which also is at work in you who believe. 14 For you became imitators, brothers, of the churches of God which are in Judea in Christ Jesus, because you also suffered the same things at the hands of your own people, just as they themselves did also at the hands of the Jews, 15 who killed both the Lord Jesus and the prophets, and who persecuted us, and who are not pleasing to God and are opposed to all people, 16 hindering us from speaking to the Gentiles in order that they may be saved, so that they always fill up their sins. But wrath has come upon them to the end.

Accepted the word from them as God’s word not men

Became imitators of the churches of God in Judea in Christ Jesus (How)

suffered persecution by their own people

Those that persecute them are not pleasing to God and are opposed to all people (How)

hindering them from speaking to the Gentiles in order that they may be saved

they fill up their sins and wrath will come upon them

What does Christ-centered ministry look like?

We desire ministry with lasting results

Boldly proclaim the good news regardless of opposition

Desire to please God not men in words and actions

Authority is not used to abuse others but lift them up

Be gentles as child, nurturing as a mother, and lead like a father

Be joyful in suffering for Christ sake

Know that those who oppose the gospel are not pleasing to God because they are trying to get in the way of God saving work