Personal Ministry of the Word

Joshua Kirk

Family Camp • Sermon • Submitted 5 years ago

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Introduction

Created Needy

We are all needy people. This is not just because we are sinful, but because we are human. God designed us with built in dependence on him. We need to sleep. We need to eat. We need to hear from God. These are all things Adam and Eve needed even before the fall. In fact, when God created Adam and Even, he had to explain who they were and what their jobs were, and what they needed for nourishment. They needed instruction from God, not because they were sinners – sin has not entered at this point in the story, but because they were human.

Needy people were created with two unique abilities: to communicate and to worship. They were able to receive and interpret God’s revelation. Eve received God’s revelation and misinterpreted it, which led to her deception and disobedience. God also created us to worship, but we are still dependent on communication from God regarding who we worship and how this worship should be done. The problem is we have another counselor, Satan, who twists God’s revelation so that our interpretation is off. Post fall, this problem is compounded by the presence of indwelling sin. Our interpretations are fuzzy and skewed because sin affects every area, including how we interpret ourselves and the world.

“If it is true that all humans are constantly trying to make sense out of life, then all of life is counseling or personal ministry. Counseling is the stuff of human life.”(Tripp, Instruments In The Redeemer’s Hands, 40)

“As Christians, each of us needs help, and each of us is called to offer it.” (Tripp, Instruments In The Redeemer’s Hands, 50)

Christians are ambassadors precisely because of this problem. God can’t be seen, so he sent Jesus into the world to incarnate the love and character of God. As Christians, or Little Christs, we look to Jesus as our example and follow in his footsteps. We are to represent the message of the King, the methods of the King, and the character of the King. Jesus did this perfectly, so we look to him as our example.

A paradigm that we see in the ministry of Jesus is love, know, speak, do. Love is foundational for personal change. Knowing is not some surface level knowledge, but a deep understanding of the heart. Speaking declares the truth of God in a particular circumstance to effect heart change, and do calls for a response to the truth spoken.

Surface the Need

Lets say that you are in a small group and you learn that one of the couples was confronted by the Word preached and Sunday morning, and recognized significant sin in their marriage. They ask for prayer as they seek to repent of sin and pursue God in their marriage. What do you do?

There is another person who refuses to participate in your community group and views the gathering as a burden. What do you say?

One of the single guys explains asks for prayer as he starts a dating relationship. You know the young lady he is dating, and know for a fact she does not claim to be a believer. What should you say?

After church on Sunday, you talk to one of the young couples in front of you at church. They’ve been trying to have kids for a while, but have had difficulty getting pregnant. After a couple years of trying and praying, they find out they are finally pregnant. After 10 weeks she miscarries. She breaks down crying in the pew. What next

You meet someone new on Sunday Morning? God has sovereignly ordained that this person should be here right now talking to you. How do you start ministering?

As ambassadors of Jesus, our job is to incarnate the love of Christ to these people. Jesus showed his love for us by entering into our world, submitting himself to the sake weakness that we all have experienced. He suffered just as we suffer, and was tempted in all things just as we are. He entered our world so save people, to change hearts, not just to solve problems. That should be our goal as well.

Maybe you are at church and you meet someone knew for the first time. God has sovereignly ordained that you should bump into that person on that particular Sunday. How do you proceed to minister to that person?

One of the single guys explains asks for prayer as he starts a dating relationship. You know the young lady he is dating, and know for a fact she does not claim to be a believer. What do you do?

Love

a. The beginning of personal ministry is to show genuine love for the person you have opportunity to serve.

b. The person to whom you are speaking in not your “project.” He/She is someone that Christ loves and they must sense that you love them on Christ’s behalf.

c. Paul Trip writes, “I am deeply persuaded that the foundation for people-transforming ministry is not sound theology; it is love. Without love, our theology is a boat without oars.”[1]

c. Paul Trip writes, “I am deeply persuaded that the foundation for people-transforming ministry is not sound theology; it is love. Without love, our theology is a boat without oars.”(Tripp, Instruments In The Redeemer’s Hands, 117)

d. 1 Cor. 13:1-3 warns that our ministry to others will fall flat if we do not approach it out of love. How is love manifest? (13:4-7) It is patient, kind, it does not envy or boast, it is not arrogant or rude, it does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it doesn’t rejoice in wrong-doing but rejoices in the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, and endures all things.

d. warns that our ministry to others will fall flat if we do not approach it out of love. How is love manifest? (13:4-7) It is patient, kind, it does not envy or boast, it is not arrogant or rude, it does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it doesn’t rejoice in wrong-doing but rejoices in the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, and endures all things.

e. Definition: To love is to give what you have that they need because God wants you to. (cf. John 3:16; Eph. 5:25).

f. How often are the people in your life a personal frustration?

e. Definition: To love is to give what you have that they need because God wants you to, without expectation of personal gain. (cf. ; ).

f. How often are the people in your life a personal frustration?

g. How often do you see people as obstacles to ministry instead of objects of ministry?

h. We model this by empathizing with people and entering into their world

g. How often do you see people as obstacles to ministry instead of objects of ministry?

h. We model this by empathizing with people and entering into their world

[1] Paul Tripp, 117

Know

You must understand not just the problem, you must understand the person. Personal ministry requires us to take the time to get to know the people we serve.

This means you must ask questions and determine not to allow the conversation to center on yourself, your interests, opinions, and concerns.

We tend to have permanently casual relationships that never grow into real friendship. Our effectiveness is blunted by the fact that we don’t know others well enough to understand what is really going on within their hearts.

Perhaps the simplest reason why people don’t know each other deeply is because no one asks questions that delve beneath the surface.

a. So what questions should I ask people at Grace Church?

So what questions should I ask people at Grace Church?

New Acquaintance: Ask questions about their Family, Interests, Religion, Eternity (F.I.R.E).

a. New Acquaintance: Ask questions about their Family, Interests, Religion, Eternity (F.I.R.E).

b. Regular Attender/Member: Ask questions about Family, ministry in the church. How long have they been coming to Grace? What drew them to this church? What is their relationship with Jesus? How long have they been married and how did they meet their spouse? What has been the most wonderful thing about being married (or single)? What are some of the most difficult things about being married (or single). Are they involved in ministry? Are they in a small group?

As they answer your questions be careful to listen intently. Make appropriate eye-contact. Don’t allow you mind to wander (ask for God’s grace when necessary). Ask questions about their answers so that you really understand what they are saying.

Engaging with people in meaningful ways is dependent on good listening and good questions. Intentionally listen for these four things

a. Engaging with people in meaningful ways is dependent on good listening and good questions.

b. As you listen, looking for four things will help.

Listening for emotional words( “I’m angry.” “I’m afraid.” “I can’t stop crying.”)

a. Listening for emotional words( “I’m angry.” “I’m afraid.” “I can’t stop crying.”)

Interpretive words (“This shouldn’t happen.” “I guess I’m getting what I deserve.” “I wonder if its even worth getting up in the morning.”)

b. Interpretive words (“This shouldn’t happen.” “I guess I’m getting what I deserve.” “I wonder if its even worth getting up in the morning.”)

Self-talk (“I’m a failure.” “This always happens to me.” “This is too much for me. I don’t have what it takes to face this.”)

c. Self-talk (I’m a failure. This always happens to me. This is too much for me. I don’t have what it takes to face this.)

God talk (“How could God let this happen to me.” “He simply doesn’t hear my prayers.” “I thought I was doing what God wanted.”)

d. God talk (How could God let this happen to me. He simply doesn’t hear my prayers. I thought I was doing what God wanted.)

As you are listening, look for a theme and then grab hold of it, meeting the person where they are at. Remember, the goal is to understand the person, not solve the problem. Part of this is going to be dependent on you asking good questions.

c. As you are listening, look for a theme and then grab hold of it, meeting the person where they are at. Remember, the goal is to understand the person, not solve the problem. Part of this is going to be dependent on you asking good questions.

Ask open-ended questions

a. Ask open-ended questions

As a combination of survey and focused questions. Survey questions look for themes and patters. Focused questions look for roots and causes.

b. As a combination of survey and focused questions. Survey questions look for themes and patters. Focused questions look for roots and causes.

Ask a variety of questions (who what and how).

c. Ask a variety of questions (who what and how).

Ask a progressive line of questions.

d. Ask a progressive line of questions.

As you do this, a story will emerge, and themes will begin to present themselves. This is where the person needs to meet Jesus.

d. As you do this, a story will emerge, and themes will begin to present themselves. This is where the person needs to meet Jesus.

Speak

Speaking involved bringing God’s truth to bear on the heart problems and struggles people are experiencing.

The other two aspects are extremely important to be done before we speak. If people don’t know that we love them, they won’t trust or listen when we speak. If we haven’t first listened to them, we won’t know what the real issue is that we need to speak to and will miss the mark, and possibly burn the person with bad counsel.

Remember

The whole body grows and matures as we all minister the word to one another. Our Responsibility, the responsibility of every member, is to speak to truth in love to one another.

How we approach this is important. The confrontation must be done in love and in gentleness, even if its serious and heavy.

As we learned in an earlier session, the word of God should confront us. is truth lovingly brought to bear on the lives of others. Let’s look at a couple passages to speak about the tone in which confrontation is to be done.

a. Tripp speaks of this process of confrontation with the word as Rebuke. This is truth lovingly brought to bear on the lives of others. Lets look at a couple passages to speak about the tone in which rebuke is to be done.

i. “12 Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God. 13 But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today”, that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. 14 For we have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original confidence firm to the end.”

“12 Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God. 13 But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today”, that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. 14 For we have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original confidence firm to the end.”

“19 My brothers, if anyone among you wanders from the truth and someone brings him back, 20 let him know that whoever brings back a sinner from his wandering will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.”

ii. “19 My brothers, if anyone among you wanders from the truth and someone brings him back, 20 let him know that whoever brings back a sinner from his wandering will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.”

Remember, love of God and love of neighbor motivates us as we speak. In many cases, we will need to check ourselves lest we also be tempted.

b. Remember, love of God and love of neighbor motivates us as we speak. In many cases, we will need to check ourselves lest we also be tempted.

Remember, Christ is in the process of changing hearts; it is the heart that we aim for.

c. Remember, Christ is in the process of changing hearts; it is the heart that we aim for.

We can think of biblical Four step process: consideration, Confession, Commitment, and Change

d. We can think of biblical Four step process: consideration, Confession, Commitment, and Change

Consideration – Helping others to use scripture like a mirror will enable them to see themselves (thoughts, motives, attitudes, actions) as God sees them.

i. Consideration – Helping others to use scripture like a mirror will enable them to see themselves (thoughts, motives, attitudes, actions) as God sees them.

What was going on? This question focuses on the situations or circumstances that people are facing. Their responses are important for two reasons

1. What was going on?

This question focuses on the situations or circumstances that people are facing. Their responses are important for two reasons

You want them to see that circumstances did not force them to do what they did.

a. 1) You want them to see that circumstances did not force them to do what they did.

You want to understand the details of their world in order to speak truth into it. (Knowing)

b. 2) You want to understand the details of their world in order to speak truth into it.

2. What were you thinking and feeling as it was going on? This question takes people’s eyes off the situation and asks them to examine their hearts. It reminds them that our hearts always interact with what goes on around us. We are never just victims, but incessant interpreters whose interpretations precede and shape our actions. We also experience powerful emotions that direct our behavior.

What were you thinking and feeling as it was going on? This question takes people’s eyes off the situation and asks them to examine their hearts. It reminds them that our hearts always interact with what goes on around us. We are never just victims, but incessant interpreters whose interpretations precede and shape our actions. We also experience powerful emotions that direct our behavior.

This question takes people’s eyes off the situation and asks them to examine their hearts. It reminds them that our hearts always interact with what goes on around us. We are never just victims, but incessant interpreters whose interpretations precede and shape our actions. We also experience powerful emotions that direct our behavior.

What did you do in response? Our behavior is shaped by our heart’s response to the situation. Answering this question will help people see the connection between their interpretation of their circumstances and their response. This helps them to admit that their response was not forced by the situation. Lasting change depends on seeing this connection. Without it, people revert to blame-shifting.

3. What did you do in response?

Our behavior is shaped by our heart’s response to the situation. Answering this question will help people see the connection between their interpretation of their circumstances and their response. This helps them to admit that their response was not forced by the situation. Lasting change depends on seeing this connection. Without it, people revert to blame-shifting.

Why did you do it? What were you seeking to accomplish? If the second question uncovers thoughts, this question seeks to reveal motives. In asking this question we are teaching that the heart is always serving something. Our behavior always expresses our motives – or idols – of the heart ().

4. Why did you do it? What were you seeking to accomplish?

If the second question uncovers thoughts, this question seeks to reveal motives. In asking this question we are teaching that the heart is always serving something. Our behavior always expresses our motives – or idols – of the heart ().

What was the result? This question not only seeks to uncover consequences (), but the way these consequences are a direct result of the thoughts and motives of the heart. The seeds planted in the heart grow into some kind of fruit in the person’s life.

5. What was the result?

This question not only seeks to uncover consequences (), but the way these consequences are a direct result of the thoughts and motives of the heart. The seeds planted in the heart grow into some kind of fruit in the person’s life.

Harvest mentality – you reap what you sow

a. Harvest mentality – you reap what you sow

Investment mentality – our hearts are shaped by the treasures we invest in.

b. Investment mentality – our hearts are shaped by the treasures we invest in.

Confession – This is the result of people seeing themselves in light/reflection of the mirror of scripture. Confession must occur for long-term change to take place.

B. Confession – This is the result of people seeing themselves in light/reflection of the mirror of scripture. Confession must occur for long-term change to take place.

Confession brings into focus exactly to whom our hearts and lives belong and reveals an underlying misplaced worship.

1. Confession brings into focus exactly to whom our hearts and lives belong and reveals an underlying misplaced worship.

Commitment – Consideration and confession make up the “put off” aspect of the confrontation process (). Commitment is the first step of the “put on” phase of repentance. God is worthy of their worship even if their circumstances remain the same.

C. Commitment – Consideration and confession make up the “put off” aspect of the confrontation process (). Commitment is the first step of the “put on” phase of repentance. God is worthy of their worship even if their circumstances remain the same.

Change – Change has not taken place until change has taken place. Insight and commitment are simply steps toward a life lived in the worship of God. Focus here shifts from “what” needs to change to “how” will that change occur.

D. Change – Change has not taken place until change has taken place. Insight and commitment are simply steps toward a life lived in the worship of God. Focus here shifts from “what” needs to change to “how” will that change occur.

Do (Act)

The final aspect of personal ministry we are talking about focusses on doing. We need people to experience heart change and actually change. We don’t want people to see themselves in the mirror of God’s word and then walk away doing nothing. We want them to take action.

Objective 1: Establish Strategy for Change – Changes that need to take place and how to get there.

What does the Bible say about the information that has been gathered?

1. What does the Bible say about the information that has been gathered?

2. What are God’s goals for change for this person in this situation?

What are God’s goals for change for this person in this situation?

What are some biblical methods for accomplishing God’s goals of change?

3. What are some biblical methods for accomplishing God’s goals of change?

B. Objective 2: Clarify Responsibility – Understand responsibilities in order to apply change meaningfully.

Objective 2: Clarify Responsibility – Understand responsibilities in order to apply change meaningfully.

People who are responsible (Who is has sinned and who needs to take responsibility for the sin)

1. People who are responsible (Who is has sinned and who needs to take responsibility for the sin)

People who are overly responsible (is there anyone involved who shouldn’t be? Are assuming responsibility for things they shouldn’t)

2. People who are overly responsible (is there anyone involved who shouldn’t be? Are assuming responsibility for things they shouldn’t)

3. People who are genuinely confused

People who are genuinely confused

Objective 3: Instill Identity in Christ – Truths that will motivate and strengthen.

C. Objective 3: Instill Identity in Christ – Truths that will motivate and strengthen.

Objective 4: Provide Accountability – Walking alongside.

D. Objective 4: Provide Accountability – Walking alongside.

1. Accountability provides structure

2. Accountability provides guidance

3. Accountability provides assistance

4. Accountability provides encouragement

5. Accountability provides warning

Conclusion

Love know speak do is not something that has to happen in that order necessarily. You may be some or all of them interchangeably in the same conversation.

Love, Know, Speak, Do, is a paradigm for all types of ministry.

The least intimate context for this is preaching. The pastor demonstrates knowledge of the text and knowledge of the people he is preaching to; this is knowing. He speaks the word, and then calls the people to some sort of action; this is speaking and doing. His tone, body language, and interaction outside the pulpit demonstrate love for the congregation.

It also happens in small groups as we listen, interact over the Word, and pray for one another. This is more intimate than the pulpit.

One on one, or ministry of the pew is the most intimate and personal.

[1] Paul Tripp, 117

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