A Primer on Ministry

Introduction

Review:

Prayer:

Mark 6:46 NASB95

46 After bidding them farewell, He left for the mountain to pray.

Luke 5:15–16 NASB95

15 But the news about Him was spreading even farther, and large crowds were gathering to hear Him and to be healed of their sicknesses. 16 But Jesus Himself would often slip away to the wilderness and pray.

Luke 6:12 NASB95

12 It was at this time that He went off to the mountain to pray, and He spent the whole night in prayer to God.

Matthew 6:9–13 NASB95

9 “Pray, then, in this way: ‘Our Father who is in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. 10 ‘Your kingdom come. Your will be done, On earth as it is in heaven. 11 ‘Give us this day our daily bread. 12 ‘And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. 13 ‘And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.’

cp: John 17:1ff

A Critical and Exegetical Commentary on the Gospel according to St John, Volumes 1 & 2 Parting Words: A Summary of the Last Discourse (vv. 25–31)

It has been pointed out that several of the thoughts underlying the Lord’s Prayer, which Jesus prescribed for the use of His disciples, appear also in the great Prayer of Intercession in c. 17. With the opening address, “Our Father,” cf. 17:1, 5, 11, 21, 24, 25 where “Father” is used in the special and personal sense in which Jesus was accustomed to use it. “Hallowed be Thy Name” is recalled, vv. 6, 11, 12, 26. Perhaps “Thy kingdom come” is the form in which we may express something of what Christ expressed when He said “Glorify Thy Son” (vv. 1, 5). “As in heaven, so in earth,” has echoes in vv. 4, 5 With “lead us not into temptation” cf. “I kept them … I guarded them” (v. 12). And “deliver us from evil” is almost verbally reproduced (v. 15).

Gospel:

Luke 24:45–49 NASB95

Then He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, and He said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ would suffer and rise again from the dead the third day, and that repentance for forgiveness of sins would be proclaimed in His name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem. “You are witnesses of these things. “And behold, I am sending forth the promise of My Father upon you; but you are to stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.”

Matthew 4:18–19 NASB95

Now as Jesus was walking by the Sea of Galilee, He saw two brothers, Simon who was called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen. And He *said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.”

Ministry:

Ministry, then, is the priority of prayer and the service of the Word to God’s people.

Acts 6:1–5 NASB95

Now at this time while the disciples were increasing in number, a complaint arose on the part of the Hellenistic Jews against the native Hebrews, because their widows were being overlooked in the daily serving of food. So the twelve summoned the congregation of the disciples and said, “It is not desirable for us to neglect the word of God in order to serve tables. “Therefore, brethren, select from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may put in charge of this task. “But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.” The statement found approval with the whole congregation; and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas and Nicolas, a proselyte from Antioch.

The priority of the work of ministry is the priority of service to Jesus Christ, and the Father, by the power of the Spirit of Truth (see Ephesians 5:18), to produce personal holiness (sanctification), and fruit for your labors.

John 15:8 NASB95

“My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples.

Therefore,

We must learn to pray:

1 Timothy 2:8 NASB95

Therefore I want the men in every place to pray, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and dissension.

We must study the Scripture:

2 Timothy 2:15 NASB95

Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth.

The goal of that effort is to see God make His people holy.

Jesus prayed for this:

John 17:17 NASB95

17 “Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth.

This work of the shepherd of men is the work of prayerful dependence upon the Lord while teaching the flock of God His truths.

1 Timothy 4:6 NASB95

6 In pointing out these things to the brethren, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, constantly nourished on the words of the faith and of the sound doctrine which you have been following.