Minister

Disciples use their gifts and abilities, to serve and meet the needs of others.

In This Lesson

1. Ministry Defined

2. The Goal of Ministry

3. Ministry Purposes

4. Ministry at Cross Church

5. Discovering how God has shaped us for ministry

WHAT IS MINISTRY?

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

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

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THE GOAL OF OUR MINISTRY

Eph. 4:11-16 (NIV) God wants to use me to serve.

“It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.” (Eph. 4:11-13)

“There are different kinds of service to God, but it is the same Lord we are serving. The Holy Spirit displays God’s power through each of us as a means of helping the entire church. All of you together are the one Body of Christ and each one of you is a separate and necessary part of it.” (1 Cor. 12:27)

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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)

…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, Eph. 3:10 (NKJV)

2. To God’s Family (Fellowship)

Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith. Gal. 6:2, 10 (NKJV)

3. To God’s Presence (Worship)

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.'” Matt. 4:10 (NKJV)

“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. “God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.” John 4:23-24 (NKJV)

4. To God’s People (Discipleship)

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, Hebrews 6:1 (NKJV)

…but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen. 2 Peter 3:18 (NKJV)

5. To God’s Love (Ministry)

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

John 13:35 (NKJV)

Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually. 1 Cor. 12:27 (NKJV)

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WE HELP PEOPLE ACHIEVE MATURITY

BY ATTENDING TO FIVE KINDS OF NEEDS

To people’s  spiritual  needs.

…God reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation. 2 Cor. 5:18

We proclaim Christ, counseling and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone mature in Christ. Col. 1:28,29

To people’s needs.

(God says) I was hungry and you fed me…thirsty and you gave me a drink…needed clothes and you clothed me…sick and you cared for me…in prison and you visited me…

Whenever you have done this to the least person, you did it to me. Matt. 25:35-36, 40

If, as my representative, you give even a cup of cold water to a little child, you will surely be rewarded. Matt. 10:42 (LB)

To people’s needs.

…Warn the idle, encourage the timid, help the weak, be patient with all. 1 Thess. 5:14 (GN)

To people’s needs.

Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is his good, pleasing and perfect will. Rom. 12:2

Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus. Phil 2:5

To people’s needs.

Now this is our boast: Our conscience testifies that we have conducted ourselves in the world, and especially in our relations with you, in the holiness and sincerity that are from God. We have done so not according to worldly wisdom but according to God’s grace. Cor. 1:12

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. (Matt. 20:28)

• 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.

• Salvation and maturity are prerequisites for some areas of ministry. For certain areas, we require the new birth and significant commitment before serving in those ministries 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. “A man’s gift makes room for him…” Prov. 18:16 (NAS)

• 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)

• 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 agree to and sign Guidelines for Leadership And Public Ministry.

• Every ministry must fulfill the mission of the church or we don’t do it. Our mission to “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!

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DISCOVERING HOW GOD HAS SHAPED ME FOR MINISTRY

HOW HAS GOD SHAPED ME?

“Your hands formed and shaped me…” Job 10:8a (GN)

God has been molding and shaping you for ministry since you were born. In fact, God started uniquely shaping even before you were born!

“Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! It is amazing to think about. Your workmanship is marvelous…You were there while I was being formed… You saw me before I was born and scheduled each day of my life before I began to breathe.” Psalm 139:14-16 (LB)

“What right do you have, a human being, to cross-examine God? The pot has no right to say to the potter: Why did you make me this shape? A potter can do what he likes with the clay!” Rom. 9:20-21

MINISTRY IS DETERMINED BY SEVERAL FACTORS

“There are different kinds of SPIRITUAL GIFTS but the same Spirit gives them. There are different WAYS OF SERVING, but the same Lord is served. There are different ABILITIES to perform service, but the same God gives ability to everyone for their service. The Spirit’s presence is shown IN SOME WAY in each one, for the good of all.” 1 Cor. 12:4-7 (GN)

DISCOVERING MY UNIQUE S.H.A.P.E.

S

What am I gifted to do?

“UNWRAPPING YOUR GIFT” will give you an overview of spiritual gifts and help you identify which ones you may have been given by God.

H

What do I love to do?

“MONITORING YOUR HEARTBEAT” will help you clarify what you really love to do.

A

What natural abilities do I have?

“APPLYING YOUR ABILITIES” will help you appreciate the natural talents and vocational skills you have.

 P

Where does my personality best suit me to serve?

“PLUGGING IN YOUR PERSONALITY” will help you see how your God-given temperament can best be used in ministry.

 E

What experiences have I had?

“EXAMINING YOUR EXPERIENCES” will help you review your history to discover how God has prepared you for a unique ministry that only you can fulfill.

HOW PAUL’S MINISTRY WAS “SHAPED”

 

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Paul’s Spiritual Gifts

“And of this gospel I was appointed a preacher and an apostle and a teacher.” 2 Tim. 1:11

Paul’s Heart

“My constant ambition has been to preach the gospel where the name of Christ was previously unknown, and to avoid building on another man’s foundation.” Rom. 15:20 (Ph)

“For God, who was at work in the ministry of Peter as an apostle to the Jews, was also at work in my ministry as an apostle to the Gentiles.” Gal. 2:8

“Life is worth nothing unless I use it for doing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus…” Acts 20:24 (LB)

Paul’s Ability

“…Paul went to see them, and stayed and worked with them, because he earned his living by making tents, just as they did. He debated in the synagogues every Sabbath, trying to convince both Jews and Gentiles.” Acts 18:2b-4 (GN)

Paul’s Personality

“For you have heard of my past…I persecuted the church with fanatical zeal…and did my best to destroy it…I was ahead of most of my contemporaries in the Jewish religion, and had a boundless enthusiasm…” Gal. 1:13-14 (Ph)

Paul’s Experiences

• HIS SPIRITUAL EXPERIENCES

Watching Stephen be stoned (Acts 8:1) Conversion on the Damascus Road (Acts 9:1-20)

Three years maturing in Arabia (Gal. 1:18) Special vision from God (2 Cor. 12:2-7)

• HIS PAINFUL EXPERIENCES

“…I have been in prison more times…near death often…been whipped five times with 39 lashes by the Jews and three times by the Romans … once stoned … I’ve been in three shipwrecks … and once spent 24 hours in the water … In my travels I’ve been in danger from floods … robbers … enemies … wild animals and false friends … I’ve served long hours without sleep or food or shelter or even clothing…” 2 Cor. 11:23-27

“To keep me from becoming conceited because of these great revelations, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger from Satan, to torment me.” 2 Cor. 12:7

• HIS EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCES

Acts 22:3 NLT

³ Then Paul said, “I am a Jew, born in Tarsus, a city in Cilicia, and I was brought up and educated here in Jerusalem under Gamaliel. As his student, I was carefully trained in our Jewish laws and customs. I became very zealous to honor God in everything I did, just like all of you today.

• HIS MINISTRY EXPERIENCES

Read the Book of Acts!

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