Ministry

Today’s passage is one of the driving passages behind what we have been going through.

As we get to the idea of ministry, I believe that the picture of “ministry” that needs to be understood with where we are going.

Acts 2:42-47 and Acts 4:32-37

Acts 2:42–47 CSB

They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread, and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and signs were being performed through the apostles. Now all the believers were together and held all things in common. They sold their possessions and property and distributed the proceeds to all, as any had need. Every day they devoted themselves to meeting together in the temple, and broke bread from house to house. They ate their food with joyful and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. Every day the Lord added to their number those who were being saved.

What is Ministry?

Most basic definition:

Ministry is Doing Good for Others

Was we think of ministry.

Pastors

Doctors

Those who do good deeds.

What ministry cannot do:

Ministry cannot save you.

Romans 3:20 CSB

For no one will be justified in his sight by the works of the law, because the knowledge of sin comes through the law.

So what is a more specific understanding of ministry for our context, and what does it look like?

Ministry Is: Caring for your Christian Brothers and Sisters

We are called to love and care for those in the church who need help.

We see this in James 1:27

James 1:27 CSB

Pure and undefiled religion before God the Father is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself unstained from the world.

We see another example of this 2 chapter later in Acts from our main passage.

Acts 4:32–37 CSB

Now the entire group of those who believed were of one heart and mind, and no one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but instead they held everything in common. With great power the apostles were giving testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was on all of them. For there was not a needy person among them because all those who owned lands or houses sold them, brought the proceeds of what was sold, and laid them at the apostles’ feet. This was then distributed to each person as any had need. Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus by birth, the one the apostles called Barnabas (which is translated Son of Encouragement), sold a field he owned, brought the money, and laid it at the apostles’ feet.

The establishment of the Deacons, in Acts chapter 6.

The apostles could not oversee the needs of the ministry among the people so they appointed trustworthy men to oversee this.

Willingness to meet the needs of our Christian brothers and sisters when they present themselves.

We give without expectation of getting anything in return.

Sometimes radical love.

Establishment of a family dynamic.

Family takes care of and provides for one another.

This is the picture the church is to strive for.

The church should be the first place any believer thinks of when they may have a need.

There should be no favoritism.

James 2:8–9 CSB

Indeed, if you fulfill the royal law prescribed in the Scripture, Love your neighbor as yourself, you are doing well. If, however, you show favoritism, you commit sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors.

We cannot only love those who are easy to love, who we want to love or anything of that nature.

Ministry is giving without expecting anything in return.

It is giving of your time, energy, and resources for the good of the body of Christ.

If everything we have belongs to God, we should be willing when able to share with our brothers and sisters in Christ.

Willingness to share what is going on in our lives so that our brothers and sisters can care for us.

While we are called to minister, we also must allow others to minister to us.

Ministry Isn’t: Caring for others to make yourself feel/look good.

Ananias and Sapphira

Acts 5:1–10 CSB

But a man named Ananias, with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property. However, he kept back part of the proceeds with his wife’s knowledge, and brought a portion of it and laid it at the apostles’ feet. “Ananias,” Peter asked, “why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and keep back part of the proceeds of the land? Wasn’t it yours while you possessed it? And after it was sold, wasn’t it at your disposal? Why is it that you planned this thing in your heart? You have not lied to people but to God.” When he heard these words, Ananias dropped dead, and a great fear came on all who heard. The young men got up, wrapped his body, carried him out, and buried him. About three hours later, his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. “Tell me,” Peter asked her, “did you sell the land for this price?” “Yes,” she said, “for that price.” Then Peter said to her, “Why did you agree to test the Spirit of the Lord? Look, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out.” Instantly she dropped dead at his feet. When the young men came in, they found her dead, carried her out, and buried her beside her husband.

They sought the praise and adoration of their brothers and sisters without the sacrifice.

It wasn’t that they wanted to keep some money for themselves, its that they acted as though they had given it all away when they really had not.

They wanted attention for a good deed they had not fully done.

Being praised for doing things is something that all people crave.

We just got a puppy. The training method most recommended- positive reinforcement. Rewarding good behavior so it will be replicated. The dog will do the good behavior so that their effort will be recognized.

We need to be better than dogs. We must constantly check our motivations.

There is a trend where people make their living going around and giving people large amounts of money.

What is their motive?

This is the question we must ask ourselves as we seek to minister to others. What is our motive?

Our only motive must be that we are compelled to love because of Christ’s love for us.

We are not seeking reward now, but look to our heavenly reward.

Matthew 6:1–4 CSB

“Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. Otherwise, you have no reward with your Father in heaven. So whenever you give to the poor, don’t sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be applauded by people. Truly I tell you, they have their reward. But when you give to the poor, don’t let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

We live in an overly connected world. Everyone knows what everyone is doing. All of the time.

We are called to minister in secret, because we work for God’s approval, and not for man’s.

It is unavoidable that people will at times be aware of the good that you do.

Wouldn’t it be great if this were an iceberg situation? What is apparent to others is only a fraction of what you do for others.

Ministry Is: Caring for Those Outside the Church in the Name of Christ.

God calls us to love our neighbor.

The Parable of the Good Samaritan

Luke 10:30–36 CSB

Jesus took up the question and said, “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho and fell into the hands of robbers. They stripped him, beat him up, and fled, leaving him half dead. A priest happened to be going down that road. When he saw him, he passed by on the other side. In the same way, a Levite, when he arrived at the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan on his journey came up to him, and when he saw the man, he had compassion. He went over to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on olive oil and wine. Then he put him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. The next day he took out two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said, ‘Take care of him. When I come back I’ll reimburse you for whatever extra you spend.’ “Which of these three do you think proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of the robbers?”

What does it look like to love our neighbor.

This means meeting needs that they have.

This means serving them with our time, energy, and resources.

The false idea that we should only do good for those in the church.

We are directly responsible for those within the church, but that does not mean that we are capable of ignoring those who are not within the church.

The church should be far better at loving the lost, than the world is.

When people think of who to turn to in times of need, who will love them where they are, they should think of the church.

A perception people have gotten of churches is that all they want is your money.

The perception should be that all they want to do is love like Christ.

There is a false idea that doing good for others competes with sharing the Gospel with them.

It is not either or. We must do both.

Ministry Isn’t: A Replacement for Sharing the Gospel.

Romans 10:13–17 CSB

For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. How, then, can they call on him they have not believed in? And how can they believe without hearing about him? And how can they hear without a preacher? And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news. But not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, Lord, who has believed our message? So faith comes from what is heard, and what is heard comes through the message about Christ.

The Gospel is what ultimately matters to those who are lost.

Our good deeds will not save people, but the good news about what Jesus has done can.

If we do good only and never share what Jesus is done, we send people to hell in a comfortable coffin.

There has been a false dichotomy between the idea of doing good for the lost, and sharing the Gospel.

Rarely will you be given a choice between doing good or sharing the Gospel with someone. Most often you can do both, or only one will make sense.

If you see someone choking, it is not a good time to prioritize sharing the Gospel over doing the good thing.

The Social Gospel, and its problems

Social Change became just as important (if not more important) than sharing the Gospel.

Planned outreach ministry, should include both.

We should strive for what is best, rather than what is good.

But inability in a situation to achieve the best, does not mean that we should do nothing.

Questions as we close:

Are you doing what you should to minister to others?

What ways can you better give your time, energy, and resources to serve those in the church and beyond?

Are you seeking to justify yourself by your own good works? If so trust in Jesus today.

How do you need to be able to be more obedient to the Lord today?

Announcements

Iron Sharpens Iron Conference. We need 10 people to go to get discounted rate. Need to know by Tuesday who plans to go.

D-Life Training March 1st @ 5:30, dinner will be provided.

Those interested in serving with kids and youth we will meet Sunday March 6th right after church to discuss and plan. Lunch will be provided.

Youth Outing March 6th @ 4pm at Walther’s. The cost is $5. We want all youth to come and bring their friends. Parent’s are welcome to come as well. Sign up with total number going.

Mission trip March 11th-19th with Whitesburg Baptist Church. This is likely where we will attend in the Summer. I will be attending, anyone interested in going on this trip see me for more details.