M401: Lesson 1: Christian Ministry

Christian Ministry

Key Verse: “But none of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.” Acts 20:24 (NKJV)

Purpose: The purpose of this lesson is to help the disciple understand the Biblical concept of Christian ministry.

Christian ministry is NOT:

A PROFESSION.

John Piper: “The mentality of the professional is not the mentality of the prophet. It is not the mentality of the slave of Christ. Professionalism has nothing to do with the essence and heart of the Christian ministry. The more professional we long to be, the more spiritual death we will leave in our wake. For there is no professional childlikeness (Matt. 18:3); there is no professional tenderheartedness (Eph. 4:32); there is no professional panting after God (Ps. 42:1).” [1]

A TITLE or STATUS.

Romans 12:3 (NKJV) “For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith.”

Matthew 23:5–10 (NKJV) “But all their works they do to be seen by men. They make their phylacteries broad and enlarge the borders of their garments. 6 They love the best places at feasts, the best seats in the synagogues, 7 greetings in the marketplaces, and to be called by men, ‘Rabbi, Rabbi.’ 8 But you, do not be called ‘Rabbi’; for One is your Teacher, the Christ, and you are all brethren. 9 Do not call anyone on earth your father; for One is your Father, He who is in heaven. 10 And do not be called teachers; for One is your Teacher, the Christ.”

Although titles are used in the New Testament, they are used to recognize individuals as servants appointed to represent the Author and Authority of Jesus Christ in the Church.

1 Peter 5:1–4 (NKJV) “The elders who are among you I exhort, I who am a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that will be revealed: 2 Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly; 3 nor as being lords over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock; 4 and when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that does not fade away.”

Christian ministry is participation in a heavenly CALLING.

Hebrews 3:1 (NKJV) “Therefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our confession, Christ Jesus,”

Each believer is an individual participant in a corporate heavenly calling in Christ and His kingdom. Participation in this heavenly calling is initiated through the new birth.

Christian ministry is motivated by love for GOD and OTHERS.

Matthew 22:37–40 (NKJV) “Jesus said to him, ‘ “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.” 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like it: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 40 On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.’”

John 21:15 (NKJV) “So when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, ‘Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me more than these?’ He said to Him, ‘Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.’ He said to him, ‘Feed My lambs.’”

Christian ministers are to have the attitude of a SERVANT rather than that of a RULER.

Matthew 20:25–28 (NKJV) “But Jesus called them to Himself and said, ‘You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those who are great exercise authority over them. 26 Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant. 27 And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave—28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.’”

John 13:13–17 (NKJV) “You call Me Teacher and Lord, and you say well, for so I am. 14 If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. 15 For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you. 16 Most assuredly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master; nor is he who is sent greater than he who sent him. 17 If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.”

Christian ministry is a STEWARDSHIP given by God to His SERVANTS.

Luke 12:42–43 (NKJV) “And the Lord said, ‘Who then is that faithful and wise steward, whom his master will make ruler over his household, to give them their portion of food in due season? 43 Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes.’”

1 Corinthians 4:1 (NKJV) “Let a man so consider us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God.”

Titus 1:7 (NKJV) “For a bishop must be blameless, as a steward of God, not self-willed, not quick-tempered, not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money,”

The requirement of God’s stewards is to be found FAITHFUL.

1 Corinthians 4:2 (NKJV) “Moreover it is required in stewards that one be found faithful.”

Christian ministers are regarded as SOLDIER engaged in spiritual WARFARE.

2 Timothy 2:3–4 (NKJV) “You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. 4 No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier.”

Christian ministers are regarded as FARMERS planting SEEDS of the word.

Mark 4:14 (NKJV) “The sower sows the word.”

1 Corinthians 3:6–8 (NKJV) “I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase. 7 So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase. 8 Now he who plants and he who waters are one, and each one will receive his own reward according to his own labor.

2 Timothy 2:6 (NKJV) “The hardworking farmer must be first to partake of the crops.”

Christian ministers are regarded as BUILDERS building Christ’s CHURCH.

1 Corinthians 3:9–10 (NKJV) “For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, you are God’s building. 10 According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I have laid the foundation, and another builds on it. But let each one take heed how he builds on it.”

Christian ministers are likened to ATHLETES running a RACE.

Hebrews 12:1 (NKJV) “Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,”

Acts 20:24 (NKJV) “But none of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.”

2 Timothy 4:7 (NKJV) “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.”

Christian ministry exists to GLORIFY God and to fulfill the MANDATES of Christ’s “Great Commission”.

1 Corinthians 10:31 (NKJV) “Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.”

Matthew 28:18–20 (NKJV) “And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, ‘All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.’ Amen.”

Mark 16:15–20 (NKJV) “And He said to them, ‘Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. 16 He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. 17 And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; 18 they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.” 19 So then, after the Lord had spoken to them, He was received up into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God. 20 And they went out and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word through the accompanying signs. Amen.”

The mandates of Christ’s Great Commission include:

EVANGELISM: To “go” into all the world as the Holy Spirit directs and by whatever means the Lord provides.

BAPTISM: To confirm all who believe into the kingdom and to connect them to local churches as members of the body of Christ.

DISCIPLESHIP: To establish followers of Jesus Christ by teaching them to observe all that He commanded. The headquarters for discipleship is the local church as overseen by duly ordained pastors and elders.

The mandate to make disciples includes overseeing the kingdom community of disciples known as Christ’s CHURCH.

Matthew 16:18 (NKJV) “And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.”

1 Peter 5:1–4 (NKJV) “The elders who are among you I exhort, I who am a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that will be revealed: 2 Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly; 3 nor as being lords over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock; 4 and when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that does not fade away.”

Acts 20:28 (NKJV) “Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood.”

The local church is the HEADQUARTERS and HOME BASE of Christian ministry.

Although the Lord sanctifies and calls individuals into ministry, He has ordained that local churches confirm, commission, send, and hold accountable those who represent Christ.

Acts 6:3–6 (NKJV) “‘Therefore, brethren, seek out from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business; 4 but we will give ourselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the word.’ 5 And the saying pleased the whole multitude. And they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit, and Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas, a proselyte from Antioch, 6 whom they set before the apostles; and when they had prayed, they laid hands on them.”

Acts 13:1–3 (NKJV) “Now in the church that was at Antioch there were certain prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. 2As they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, ‘Now separate to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.’ 3 Then, having fasted and prayed, and laid hands on them, they sent them away.”

Acts 14:26–27 (NKJV) “From there they sailed to Antioch, where they had been commended to the grace of God for the work which they had completed. 27 Now when they had come and gathered the church together, they reported all that God had done with them, and that He had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles.”

1 Timothy 5:19–20 (NKJV) “Do not receive an accusation against an elder except from two or three witnesses. 20 Those who are sinning rebuke in the presence of all, that the rest also may fear.”

Christian ministers are VESSELS used by the Lord in His service.

Acts 9:15 (NKJV) “But the Lord said to him, ‘Go, for he is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My name before Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel.’”

2 Corinthians 4:7 (NKJV) “But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us.”

2 Timothy 2:20–21 (NKJV) “But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay, some for honor and some for dishonor. 21 Therefore if anyone cleanses himself from the latter, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work.”

Each of us were SET APART and ORDAINED by God for a specific role of service before we were born.

Jeremiah 1:4–5 (NKJV) “Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying: 5 Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; before you were born I sanctified you; I ordained you a prophet to the nations.”

In the right time and season, God CALLS us to do what He previously ordained.

Galatians 1:15-16 (NKJV) (The apostle Paul) “But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother’s womb and called me through His grace, 16 to reveal His Son in me, that I might preach Him among the Gentiles…”

God has given certain ministry gifts to His Church to EQUIP them for ministry.

Ephesians 4:11–12 (NKJV) “And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, 12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ,”

God is pleased when His servants bear much FRUIT.

John 15:8 (NKJV) “By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.”

John 15:16 (NKJV) “You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you.”

Our first duty in ministry is to MINISTER unto the LORD. This is especially true of those who exercise Christ’s oversight of the church.

Acts 6:2–4 (NKJV) “Then the twelve summoned the multitude of the disciples and said, ‘It is not desirable that we should leave the word of God and serve tables. 3 Therefore, brethren, seek out from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business; 4 but we will give ourselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the word.”

Acts 13:2 (NKJV) “As they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, ‘Now separate to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.’”

Ministry that is not initiated or empowered by the Lord will be ineffective at best and counter-productive at worst.

The WORK of God is to be accomplished through the GRACE of God by the SPIRIT of God for the GLORY of God.

Zechariah 4:6 (NKJV) “So he answered and said to me: ‘This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel: “Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,”’ Says the LORD of hosts.”

John 15:5 (NKJV) “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.”

Acts 1:8 (NKJV) “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

1 Corinthians 15:9–10 (NKJV) “For I am the least of the apostles, who am not worthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. 10 But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all, yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.”

2 Corinthians 1:12 (NKJV) “For our boasting is this: the testimony of our conscience that we conducted ourselves in the world in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom but by the grace of God, and more abundantly toward you.”

2 Corinthians 12:9–10 (NKJV) “And He said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”

1 Corinthians 10:31 (NKJV) “Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.”

Faithful servants of the Lord will receive an eternal REWARD.

Matthew 25:21 (NKJV) “His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’”

1 Corinthians 3:8 (NKJV) “Now he who plants and he who waters are one, and each one will receive his own reward according to his own labor.”

Colossians 3:23–24 (NKJV) “And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, 24 knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ.”

2 Timothy 4:7–8 (NKJV) “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.”

[1] Piper, J. (2002). Brothers, we are not professionals: a plea to pastors for radical ministry (pp. 1–2). Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers.