What are we?

People look at ministry in two ways

Everyone looks at ministry, and asks this question: what is the goal, what is the focus

We are trying to tell people about Jesus and start a church and so on

Most of the time, people look at two different things and think that these two things are the focus:

Success

We want a successful ministry

A large ministry:

Lots of people in church

Lots of people getting saved

Lots of churches started

King James Version Chapter 2

Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.

People who want success, focus on methods

This puts a lot of pressure on us. We think it all depends on us

Faithfulness

We want to be faithful

Have the right doctrine

Have the right methods

We want to honor God

Jeremiah

What is our goal?

A big ministry does not mean that it’s right

A faithful ministry does not mean it’s right

Fruitfulness

King James Version Chapter 15

Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.

As disciples, as Christians, we need to bear fruit, but...

What is fruit?

People being saved is one kind

King James Version Chapter 1

Now I would not have you ignorant, brethren, that oftentimes I purposed to come unto you, (but was let hitherto,) that I might have some fruit among you also, even as among other Gentiles.

The fruit of the Spirit

King James Version Chapter 5

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, klongsuffering, kgentleness, goodness, faith, 23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

We want to see Christians growing in their faith

Good deeds

King James Version Chapter 15

For it hath pleased them of zMacedonia and aAchaia to make a certain contribution for the poor saints which are at Jerusalem. 27 It hath pleased them verily; and their debtors they are. For if the Gentiles have been made partakers of their spiritual things, their duty is also to minister unto them in carnal things. 28 When therefore I have performed this, and have sealed to them this fruit, I will come by you into Spain.

Fruit is doing good things for other people, especially other believers

We want to see that happen as well

Ministry is a garden

King James Version Chapter 3

For we are labourers together with God: ye are God’s husbandry, ye are God’s building.

We need to garden: Do what we can

We need to plow

We need to plant

We need to water

We need to realize there are things out of our control

The soil may be hard

We know that it is God who works

We don’t want to have too much pressure on us

We also don’t want too little pressure on us