Principles for Ministry

Mark 6:7–13 ESV

7 And he called the twelve and began to send them out two by two, and gave them authority over the unclean spirits. 8 He charged them to take nothing for their journey except a staff—no bread, no bag, no money in their belts— 9 but to wear sandals and not put on two tunics. 10 And he said to them, “Whenever you enter a house, stay there until you depart from there. 11 And if any place will not receive you and they will not listen to you, when you leave, shake off the dust that is on your feet as a testimony against them.” 12 So they went out and proclaimed that people should repent. 13 And they cast out many demons and anointed with oil many who were sick and healed them.

God equips us with power and principles to do ministry.

Above Refers to Entire passage

[V7]

Called

See [Mark 3:14 “And he appointed twelve (whom he also named apostles) so that they might be with him and he might send them out to preach”]

***Before this, Jesus had been the one preaching, teaching, and healing. These twelve had spent countless hours going from village to village learning from Him. The time has now come to send them out.***

***To be honest about success…this is the litmis test for whether or not I am doing the best as a sheppard. It isnt how many hospital visits, it isn’t how many sermons, it isn’t how full the altar calls are, it isn’t the number in attendance on a Sunday. It is how many of the men and women I pour into actually take on the ministry and go and do it.*** Time with you…results in you eventually leaving me…to go and do… That is how the GOOD shepherd did it. It is how I want to do it.

sent out with power

to preach (practices indicates healing) They didn’t go with their own power, they went with the power and authority of Jesus. Who is the Son of God. Who had all the power of God. The Maker of the Heavens and the Earth. His was the power behind them in their preaching and ministry.

2 Timothy 1:7–8 “7 for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.

Acts 1:8 “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.”

We serve and follow Jesus, to whom, all “authority in heaven and earth” was given to Him.

Application:

Time with Jesus (who has all authority) leads to being the sent out people God wants us to be.

The Lord will give you a specific calling and purpose. (Sent Out) He will also give you a desire for your mission. When you know your mission, you know your purpose, you are passionate to do it. You will gain a sense of confidence and peace.

When I drift, I start to worry and fret about things that matter not. When I refocus on my mission, my passion returns.

General Examples:

-Reading the word vs not reading the word

-Teaching SS class, prayer ministry, finding the ministry they are meant for…God has called people from passive Christian to Purposeful Christian…They love it. They wouldn’t trade today for what was yesterday.

-Peace, purpose, holy confidence, removed anxiety.

Two by Two:

See [Ecclesiastes 4:9–12 “Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up! Again, if two lie together, they keep warm, but how can one keep warm alone? And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him—a threefold cord is not quickly broken.” ]

At least a few benefits to this.

Unity/Team/Strategic

Then and Now (Setting up before and after ministry events)

Witnesses for any testimony about Jesus.

Then and Now (Youth Group Critical Mass)

Protection and witness against physical, allegations, and relational problems.

Then and Now (Litigious Society, Above Reproach)

[V8-9]

Specific instructions…take nothing, except a staff. No bread. No bag. No money. Wear Sandals (not shoes). Not two tunics. (Just one)

I suppose you can imagine Jesus making a checklist of things they were allowed to take with them and things they were not. And then when they packed for a journey.

I can’t bring a staff, but can I bring a bow and arrow. I can’t bring a second tunic, but I can bring a second pair of jeans. I can’t bring bread, but can I bring meat? I can’t bring money, but can I bring something value able to trade?

We can depend on God when we serve Him.

God wants us when we do ministry to depend on Him. (Less wordly attachments the better.)

The WORLD tempts and tells us to make more to spend more. Prepare more. Work harder. Save more. Which isn’t all bad.

The kingdom is to make more to be a blessing more.

Worldly possessions aren’t evil or bad. But they can become an anchor in our spiritual lives. Take for example a fishing boat, car, or a tractor. You have been dreaming about those things for years. But you get it and you use it a few times, but then it falls into what I call maintenance mode. You drop $50 here, $100 there to maintain it. You have to work harder all day the day before to get the thing you have been dreaming of working, then you go out and use it. Then you own realize that you have not just the money for the thing you have been dreaming of, you are now on the hook for all the work to use it.

One thing leads to another.

Application: Life of simplicity.

A simple, holy life is viewed as faithful stewardship. Christians are called to look at their time, money, and resources not as tools for self-indulgence, but as gifts entrusted to them by God to be used wisely, provide for the needs of others, and glorify Him

By detaching from materialism and extravagance, the church frees up spiritual energy for mission work, evangelism, and compassion

By detaching trusting in our own work and stuff, we can trust in God who will provide for us when we are sent out to serve Him.

[V10]

The way we treat people matters just as much as what we teach people.

Honor the person who offered to host you first. Chasing after comfort. Bring offense to the gospel you are sharing by offending a host by constantly searching better accommodations. Practical. Avoid the restlessness and energy involved in choosing a place to stay while doing ministry.

Application: Pastors, Missionaries, Evangelists. But let’s broaden the horizon a bit. What if you and I realized that all of us are ministers of the Gospel. And the way we treat, talk about, and honor one another is part of what it means to be a follower of Jesus.

Conclusion:

God gives us principles and power to do ministry.

He doesn’t just call us, send us. He provides power and principles to help us succeed.

2. We can depend on God when we serve Him.

He doesn’t just call us, he tells us we can trust Him.

3. The way we treat people matters just as much as what we teach people.

The way we treat people when we do ministry matters. Some of us have spoke ill of others. We have left people out because of…We have avoided people because of this or that…we have used energy choosing situations and places of comfort rather than loving our neighbor.

Altar Call?

Is anyone feeling like they are not succeeding? Does anyone feel like they don’t have any power? You do. Let this be an encouragement and equipping for you.

Is anyone wrestling with a call to serve Him? In a volunteer role? At their job? Is anyone hearing God pull on their heart and mind to give their life to the ministry of God? You don’t know how it will all work out? You don’t know the money, the school, the education. But you know it! Deep down. You know it. You need to surrender to it.

Is anyone not treating their fellow minister the way they need to?