MINISTRY – Serving In The Body

WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS ABOUT MINISTRY

1. WHAT IS MINISTRY?

DEFINITION: (Greek diakonoV “diakonos” = “to serve”)

MINISTRY IS USING WHATEVER GOD HAS GIVEN ME TO SERVE HIM AND THE NEEDS OF OTHERS.

2. THE GOAL OF OUR MINISTRY

 

God wants to use me 

Ephesians 4:11–13 NKJV

¹¹ 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,

¹³ till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ;

1 Corinthians 12:4–7 NLT

⁴ There are different kinds of spiritual gifts, but the same Spirit is the source of them all.

⁵ There are different kinds of service, but we serve the same Lord.

⁶ God works in different ways, but it is the same God who does the work in all of us.

⁷ A spiritual gift is given to each of us so we can help each other.

1 Corinthians 12:27 NKJV

²⁷ Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually.

MINISTRY PURPOSES

We seek to achieve the goal of our ministry by fulfilling these 5 purposes of the church:

1. To God’s Word (Evangelism)

Ephesians 3:10 NKJV

¹⁰ to the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places,

2. To God’s Family (Fellowship)

Galatians 6:2 NKJV

² Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.

Galatians 6:10 NKJV

¹⁰ Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.

3. To God’s Presence (Worship)

Matthew 4:10 NKJV

¹⁰ Then Jesus said to him, “Away with you, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve.’ ”

John 4:23–24 NKJV

²³ But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him.

²⁴ God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.”

4. To God’s People (Discipleship)

Hebrews 6:1 NKJV

¹ Therefore, leaving the discussion of the elementary principles of Christ, let us go on to perfection, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God,

2 Peter 3:18 NKJV

¹⁸ but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen.

5. To God’s Love (Ministry)

John 13:35 NKJV

³⁵ By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”

1 Corinthians 12:27 NKJV

²⁷ Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually.

WE HELP PEOPLE ACHIEVE MATURITY BY ATTENDING TO FIVE KINDS OF NEEDS

• To people’s needs.

…God reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation.

2 Corinthians 5:18 NKJV

¹⁸ Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation,

We proclaim Christ, counseling and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone mature in Christ.

Colossians 1:28–29 NKJV

²⁸ Him we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus.

²⁹ To this end I also labor, striving according to His working which works in me mightily.

• To people’s needs.

Matthew 25:35–36 NKJV

³⁵ for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in;

³⁶ I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.’

Matthew 25:40 NKJV

⁴⁰ And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did itto one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’

Matthew 10:42 NKJV

⁴² And whoever gives one of these little ones only a cup of cold water in the name of a disciple, assuredly, I say to you, he shall by no means lose his reward.”

• To people’s needs.

1 Thessalonians 5:14 GNB

¹⁴ We urge you, our brothers and sisters, to warn the idle, encourage the timid, help the weak, be patient with everyone.

• To people’s needs.

 

Romans 12:2 NKJV

² And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus.

Philippians 2:5 NKJV

⁵ Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus,

• To people’s needs.

2 Corinthians 1:12 NKJV

¹² 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.

1. What We Believe…ABOUT MINISTRY at CROSS CHURCH

• • Salvation in Jesus Christ automatically includes a call to ministry. Every believer is created, saved, called, gifted, authorized, and commanded to minister.
  • Ministry is the heart of the Christian life.

Matthew 20:28 NKJV

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.”

• • How God made me determines what He intends for me to do. God has uniquely shaped each individual for a specific ministry.
  • God has given all his children gifts that can be developed and used in ministry. Everyone is a “10” in some area. Everyone has something to offer. Developing and using your gifts is an act of good stewardship and of service.
  • You discover your gifts through ministry, instead of discovering your ministry by identifying your gifts.
  • The evidence of the right match between my “shape” and my ministry is fulfillment and results.
  • Membership and maturity are prerequisites to certain areas of ministry. Therefore, we require discipleship classes and commitment to these two areas before serving at CROSS CHURCH.

2. What We Believe…ABOUT THE BODY OF CHRIST

• • God intends for ministry to be performed through the context of the local church. Membership includes a commitment to ministry.
  • The Holy Spirit has provided our church body with all the spiritually gifted people needed to do everything He wants done. Our task is to discover, enlist, train, and support these people in ministry.
  • The church is to operate on the basis of spiritual gifts, rather than elected office. We do not elect people to ministries.

Proverbs 18:16 NKJV

¹⁶ A man’s gift makes room for him, And brings him before great men.

• • The church is a family, not a business; an organism, not an organization. Therefore, we streamline the structure in order to maximize ministry and minimize maintenance. We do not bury ministries under procedures.
  • The mobilization of every member as a minister is the key to balanced growth of the church.
  • The greater good of the whole Body must always take priority over the needs of any single ministry. There is no place for “turfism” in God’s Family.

3. What We Believe…ABOUT THE ROLE OF PASTORS

• • The equipping of the members for ministry is the number one priority of the pastoral staff. The people are the ministers and the pastors are the administrators. (Eph. 4:11-12)

Ephesians 4:11–12 NKJV

¹¹ 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,

• • The objective of CROSS CHURCH is to mobilize and equip an army of ministers who are maximizing their unique gifts, heart, abilities, personality, and experiences in a meaningful place of service through our church.
  • Every member deserves personal assistance in discovering a meaningful place of ministry.
  • Those involved in ministry are entitled to competent leadership from the staff. Therefore, every ministry is assigned a competent leader who is committed to the success of that ministry.
  • Each department leaders or director is to provide training, encouragement, guidance, feedback and resources to the ministers under his or her care.

4. What We Believe…ON DIVERSITY OF MINISTRY

• • Any person who desires to minister on the platform or in the highest levels of ministry must sign a ministry covenant form.
  • Every ministry must fulfill the mission of the church or we don’t do it. Our mission “To make and multiply fully trained followers of Jesus”.
  • Ministries have seasons. If a ministry isn’t meeting a need anymore, we will give it a decent burial. There are no sacred cows!
  • Most ministries require a one-year commitment but we allow people to change ministries gracefully, without guilt. We don’t lock people in permanently.
  • Only official ministries of Cross Church under staff supervision are given publicity.
  • Your primary ministry commitment should be in the area where you are gifted. Your secondary ministry includes serving in any other area of the Body where you are needed.
  • You are not ready for ministry, until you are willing to serve anywhere.

I am not who I think I am

I am not who you think I am

But I really am who God says I am!