People in ministry

PEOPLE IN MINISTRY

Just as our bodies have many parts and each part has a special function,

so it is with Christ's body. We are many parts of one body, and we all belong to each other.

In His grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well. So if God has given you the ability to prophesy, speak out with as much faith as God has given you.

If your gift is serving others, serve them well. If you are a teacher, teach well.

If your gift is to encourage others, be encouraging. If it is giving, give generously. If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously. And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly.

Don't just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good.

Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other.

Never be lazy, but work hard and serve the Lord enthusiastically.

INTRODUCTION

Who is to do the work of ministry? The church, of course. Who else? Many churches, however, seem to think the pastor, the staff, or the deacons ought to do it.

But as the believers rapidly multiplied, there were rumblings of discontent. The Greek-speaking believers complained about the Hebrew-speaking believers, saying that their widows were being discriminated against in the daily distribution of food.

INTRO: Who is to do the work of ministry? The church, of course. Who else? Many churches, however, seem to think the pastor, the staff, or the deacons ought to do it. But consider the example of the early church (). The church chose the seven when a ministry need arose. They did not appoint a Food Distribution Task Force Study Committee. The members are to do the work (ministry) of the church (). Pastors are to equip them to do the ministries to which they are called. Two things we need to understand: 1. Lay people are legitimate ministers. 2. Every ministry is important. The typical church has about 25 percent of its members involved in ministry. Congregations do not need more members as much as they need more ministers. I. LIFT PEOPLE UP (Encouragement). Our people need inspiration. We need to see people as God sees them. Booker T. Washington said, “You cannot hold a man down without staying down with him.” We don’t want to hold people down. We want to see them prepared and released for ministry. God has given every Christian at least one spiritual gift (). Our ultimate purpose is to glorify and exalt Christ and to lift up his people (). II. LOOK PEOPLE OVER (Enlistment). This is about recruiting. Identify people’s gifts and abilities. We’re not just looking to fill slots. People need three things to be recruited: 1. A challenge (New Testament concept of servanthood); 2. A change within (surrendering your rights); 3. A choice (God’s will as your will). We need to seek to enlist people scripturally (). III. LET PEOPLE IN (Enrollment). This is about commitment. Commitment is not an automatic process. You must show it to others and seek it in others. A good motto is: “Give up your rights; pick up your ministry.” Two of our most precious commodities are time and ability. Those who are being enlisted need to know three things: 1. Philosophy (what they are); 2. Purpose (where they are going); 3. Process (how they will get there). IV. LINE PEOPLE UP (Equipping). This is about training. Provide people practical opportunities for training. Give them accountability. Preparing “God’s people for works of service” (, NIV), is not about just assigning warm bodies to fill vacant positions. It’s about enabling people to grow in their spiritual gifts and to become more effective servants of Christ. Equipping is not to be done haphazardly. It is to be done through a process. The process for equipping is: 1. I do it (modeling); 2. I do it and you’re with me (mentoring); 3. You do it and I am with you (monitoring); 4. You do it (multiplying). V. LET PEOPLE OUT (Implementation). This is about real ministry. The greatness of a church is not measured in how many come into the church but in how many go out in ministry. The church gathers; then the church scatters. The church must go outside its walls to reach people who need the Lord. The effectiveness of our churches depends on the number of people who are involved in meaningful ministry.

So the Twelve called a meeting of all the believers. They said, "We apostles should spend our time teaching the word of God, not running a food program.

And so, brothers, select seven men who are well respected and are full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will give them this responsibility.

Then we apostles can spend our time in prayer and teaching the word."

Everyone liked this idea, and they chose the following: Stephen (a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit), Philip, Procorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas of Antioch (an earlier convert to the Jewish faith).

These seven were presented to the apostles, who prayed for them as they laid their hands on them.

So God's message continued to spread. The number of believers greatly increased in Jerusalem, and many of the Jewish priests were converted, too.

But consider the example of the early church (Acts 6The church chose the seven when a ministry need arose. They did not appoint a Food Distribution Task Force Study Committee.

But consider the example of the early church (). The church chose the seven when a ministry need arose. They did not appoint a Food Distribution Task Force Study Committee. The members are to do the work (ministry) of the church (). Pastors are to equip them to do the ministries to which they are called. Two things we need to understand: 1. Lay people are legitimate ministers. 2. Every ministry is important. The typical church has about 25 percent of its members involved in ministry. Congregations do not need more members as much as they need more ministers. I. LIFT PEOPLE UP (Encouragement). Our people need inspiration. We need to see people as God sees them. Booker T. Washington said, “You cannot hold a man down without staying down with him.” We don’t want to hold people down. We want to see them prepared and released for ministry. God has given every Christian at least one spiritual gift (). Our ultimate purpose is to glorify and exalt Christ and to lift up his people (). II. LOOK PEOPLE OVER (Enlistment). This is about recruiting. Identify people’s gifts and abilities. We’re not just looking to fill slots. People need three things to be recruited: 1. A challenge (New Testament concept of servanthood); 2. A change within (surrendering your rights); 3. A choice (God’s will as your will). We need to seek to enlist people scripturally (). III. LET PEOPLE IN (Enrollment). This is about commitment. Commitment is not an automatic process. You must show it to others and seek it in others. A good motto is: “Give up your rights; pick up your ministry.” Two of our most precious commodities are time and ability. Those who are being enlisted need to know three things: 1. Philosophy (what they are); 2. Purpose (where they are going); 3. Process (how they will get there). IV. LINE PEOPLE UP (Equipping). This is about training. Provide people practical opportunities for training. Give them accountability. Preparing “God’s people for works of service” (, NIV), is not about just assigning warm bodies to fill vacant positions. It’s about enabling people to grow in their spiritual gifts and to become more effective servants of Christ. Equipping is not to be done haphazardly. It is to be done through a process. The process for equipping is: 1. I do it (modeling); 2. I do it and you’re with me (mentoring); 3. You do it and I am with you (monitoring); 4. You do it (multiplying). V. LET PEOPLE OUT (Implementation). This is about real ministry. The greatness of a church is not measured in how many come into the church but in how many go out in ministry. The church gathers; then the church scatters. The church must go outside its walls to reach people who need the Lord. The effectiveness of our churches depends on the number of people who are involved in meaningful ministry.

The church chose the seven when a ministry need arose. They did not appoint a Food Distribution Task Force Study Committee.

The members are to do the work (ministry) of the church

Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers.

Their responsibility is to equip God's people to do His work and build up the church, the body of Christ.

The members are to do the work (ministry) of the church (). Pastors are to equip them to do the ministries to which they are called. Two things we need to understand: 1. Lay people are legitimate ministers.

Pastors are to equip them to do the ministries to which they are called. Two things we need to understand:

Pastors are to equip them to do the ministries to which they are called. Two things we need to understand: 1. Lay people are legitimate ministers.

1. Lay people are to be ministers.

2. Every ministry is important.

The typical church has about 25 percent of its members involved in ministry.

2. Every ministry is important. The typical church has about 25 percent of its members involved in ministry. Congregations do not need more members as much as they need more ministers. I. LIFT PEOPLE UP (Encouragement). Our people need inspiration. We need to see people as God sees them. Booker T. Washington said, “You cannot hold a man down without staying down with him.” We don’t want to hold people down. We want to see them prepared and released for ministry. God has given every Christian at least one spiritual gift (). Our ultimate purpose is to glorify and exalt Christ and to lift up his people (). II. LOOK PEOPLE OVER (Enlistment). This is about recruiting. Identify people’s gifts and abilities. We’re not just looking to fill slots. People need three things to be recruited: 1. A challenge (New Testament concept of servanthood); 2. A change within (surrendering your rights); 3. A choice (God’s will as your will). We need to seek to enlist people scripturally (). III. LET PEOPLE IN (Enrollment). This is about commitment. Commitment is not an automatic process. You must show it to others and seek it in others. A good motto is: “Give up your rights; pick up your ministry.” Two of our most precious commodities are time and ability. Those who are being enlisted need to know three things: 1. Philosophy (what they are); 2. Purpose (where they are going); 3. Process (how they will get there). IV. LINE PEOPLE UP (Equipping). This is about training. Provide people practical opportunities for training. Give them accountability. Preparing “God’s people for works of service” (, NIV), is not about just assigning warm bodies to fill vacant positions. It’s about enabling people to grow in their spiritual gifts and to become more effective servants of Christ. Equipping is not to be done haphazardly. It is to be done through a process. The process for equipping is: 1. I do it (modeling); 2. I do it and you’re with me (mentoring); 3. You do it and I am with you (monitoring); 4. You do it (multiplying). V. LET PEOPLE OUT (Implementation). This is about real ministry. The greatness of a church is not measured in how many come into the church but in how many go out in ministry. The church gathers; then the church scatters. The church must go outside its walls to reach people who need the Lord. The effectiveness of our churches depends on the number of people who are involved in meaningful ministry.

Congregations do not need more members as much as they need more ministers. I. LIFT PEOPLE UP (Encouragement). Our people need inspiration. We need to see people as God sees them.

Booker T. Washington said, “You cannot hold a man down without staying down with him.”

We don’t want to hold people down. We want to see them prepared and released for ministry.

God has given every Christian at least one spiritual gift.

Our ultimate purpose is to glorify and exalt Christ and to lift up his people.

Our ultimate purpose is to glorify and exalt Christ and to lift up his people (). II. LOOK PEOPLE OVER (Enlistment). This is about recruiting. Identify people’s gifts and abilities. We’re not just looking to fill slots. People need three things to be recruited: 1. A challenge (New Testament concept of servanthood); 2. A change within (surrendering your rights); 3. A choice (God’s will as your will). We need to seek to enlist people scripturally (). III. LET PEOPLE IN (Enrollment). This is about commitment. Commitment is not an automatic process. You must show it to others and seek it in others. A good motto is: “Give up your rights; pick up your ministry.” Two of our most precious commodities are time and ability. Those who are being enlisted need to know three things: 1. Philosophy (what they are); 2. Purpose (where they are going); 3. Process (how they will get there). IV. LINE PEOPLE UP (Equipping). This is about training. Provide people practical opportunities for training. Give them accountability. Preparing “God’s people for works of service” (, NIV), is not about just assigning warm bodies to fill vacant positions. It’s about enabling people to grow in their spiritual gifts and to become more effective servants of Christ. Equipping is not to be done haphazardly. It is to be done through a process. The process for equipping is: 1. I do it (modeling); 2. I do it and you’re with me (mentoring); 3. You do it and I am with you (monitoring); 4. You do it (multiplying). V. LET PEOPLE OUT (Implementation). This is about real ministry. The greatness of a church is not measured in how many come into the church but in how many go out in ministry. The church gathers; then the church scatters. The church must go outside its walls to reach people who need the Lord. The effectiveness of our churches depends on the number of people who are involved in meaningful ministry.

Their responsibility is to equip God's people to do His work and build up the church, the body of Christ.

This will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God's Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ.

II. LOOK PEOPLE OVER (Enlistment). This is about recruiting. Identify people’s gifts and abilities. We’re not just looking to fill slots.

II. LOOK PEOPLE OVER (Enlistment). This is about recruiting. Identify people’s gifts and abilities. We’re not just looking to fill slots. People need three things to be recruited: 1. A challenge (New Testament concept of servanthood); 2. A change within (surrendering your rights); 3. A choice (God’s will as your will). We need to seek to enlist people scripturally (). III. LET PEOPLE IN (Enrollment). This is about commitment. Commitment is not an automatic process. You must show it to others and seek it in others. A good motto is: “Give up your rights; pick up your ministry.” Two of our most precious commodities are time and ability. Those who are being enlisted need to know three things: 1. Philosophy (what they are); 2. Purpose (where they are going); 3. Process (how they will get there). IV. LINE PEOPLE UP (Equipping). This is about training. Provide people practical opportunities for training. Give them accountability. Preparing “God’s people for works of service” (, NIV), is not about just assigning warm bodies to fill vacant positions. It’s about enabling people to grow in their spiritual gifts and to become more effective servants of Christ. Equipping is not to be done haphazardly. It is to be done through a process. The process for equipping is: 1. I do it (modeling); 2. I do it and you’re with me (mentoring); 3. You do it and I am with you (monitoring); 4. You do it (multiplying). V. LET PEOPLE OUT (Implementation). This is about real ministry. The greatness of a church is not measured in how many come into the church but in how many go out in ministry. The church gathers; then the church scatters. The church must go outside its walls to reach people who need the Lord. The effectiveness of our churches depends on the number of people who are involved in meaningful ministry.

People need three things to be recruited:

1. A challenge (New Testament concept of servanthood);

2. A change within (surrendering your rights);

3. A choice (God’s will as your will).

We need to seek to enlist people scripturally.

III. LET PEOPLE IN (Enrollment). This is about commitment. Commitment is not an automatic process. You must show it to others and seek it in others. A good motto is: “Give up your rights; pick up your ministry.” Two of our most precious commodities are time and ability. Those who are being enlisted need to know three things: 1. Philosophy (what they are); 2. Purpose (where they are going); 3. Process (how they will get there). IV. LINE PEOPLE UP (Equipping). This is about training. Provide people practical opportunities for training. Give them accountability. Preparing “God’s people for works of service” (, NIV), is not about just assigning warm bodies to fill vacant positions. It’s about enabling people to grow in their spiritual gifts and to become more effective servants of Christ. Equipping is not to be done haphazardly. It is to be done through a process. The process for equipping is: 1. I do it (modeling); 2. I do it and you’re with me (mentoring); 3. You do it and I am with you (monitoring); 4. You do it (multiplying). V. LET PEOPLE OUT (Implementation). This is about real ministry. The greatness of a church is not measured in how many come into the church but in how many go out in ministry. The church gathers; then the church scatters. The church must go outside its walls to reach people who need the Lord. The effectiveness of our churches depends on the number of people who are involved in meaningful ministry.