Colossians 3:23
“Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people.” (NLT)
I. Positives of Working with People in Ministry
Listed below are some benefits of working with people in ministry.
1. Working with people in ministry can lead to .
Nehemiah 4:6
“So we built the wall, and the entire wall was joined together up to half its height, for the people had a mind to work.” (NKJV)
2. Working with people in ministry can lead to .
Exodus 16:17-18
“So the people of Israel did as they were told. Some gathered a lot, some only a little. 18) But when they measured it out, everyone had just enough. Those who gathered a lot had nothing left over, and those who gathered only a little had enough. Each family had just what it needed.” (NLT)
3. Working with people in ministry can lead to .
1 Samuel 30:8-9
“Then David asked the LORD, “Should I chase after this band of raiders? Will I catch them?” And the LORD told him, “Yes, go after them. You will surely recover everything that was taken from you!” 9) So David and his 600 men set out, and
they came to the brook Besor.” (NLT)
4. Working with people in ministry can lead to .
Matthew 15:32-38
“Then Jesus called his disciples and told them, “I feel sorry for these people. They have been here with me for three days, and they have nothing left to eat. I don’t want to send them away hungry, or they will faint along the way.” 33) The disciples replied, “Where would we get enough food here in the wilderness for such a huge crowd?” 34) Jesus asked, “How much bread do you have?” They replied, “Seven loaves, and a few small fish.” 35) So Jesus told all the people to sit down on the ground. 36) Then he took the seven loaves and the fish, thanked God for them, and broke them into pieces. He gave them to the disciples, who distributed the food to the crowd. 37) They all ate as much as they wanted. Afterward, the disciples picked up seven large baskets of leftover food. 38) There were 4,000 men who were fed that day, in addition to all the women and children.” (NLT)
5. Working with people in ministry can lead to .
Daniel 3:24-28
“But suddenly, Nebuchadnezzar jumped up in amazement and exclaimed to his advisers, “Didn’t we tie up three men and throw them into the furnace?” “Yes, Your Majesty, we certainly did,” they replied. 25) “Look!” Nebuchadnezzar shouted. “I see four men, unbound, walking around in the fire unharmed! And the fourth looks like a god!” 26) Then Nebuchadnezzar came as close as he could to the door of the flaming furnace and shouted: “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, servants of the Most High God, come out! Come here!” So Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego stepped out of the fire. 27) Then the high officers, officials, governors, and advisers crowded around them and saw that the fire had not touched them. Not a hair on their heads was singed, and their clothing was not scorched. They didn’t even smell of smoke! 28) Then Nebuchadnezzar said, “Praise to the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego! He sent his angel to rescue his servants who trusted in him. They defied the king’s command and were willing to die rather than serve or worship any god except their own God.” (NLT)
II. Negatives of Working with People in Ministry
Listed below are some unfavorable outcomes of working with people in ministry.
1. is an unfavorable outcome of working with people in ministry.
1 Kings 13:15-18
“Then he said to the man of God, “Come home with me and eat some food.”
16) “No, I cannot,” he replied. “I am not allowed to eat or drink anything here in this place. 17) For the LORD gave me this command: ‘You must not eat or drink anything while you are there, and do not return to Judah by the same way you came.’” 18) But the old prophet answered, “I am a prophet, too, just as you are. And an angel gave me this command from the LORD: ‘Bring him home with you so he can have something to eat and drink.’” But the old man was lying to him.” (NLT)
2. is an unfavorable outcome of working with people in ministry.
John 11:33-35
“When Jesus saw her weeping and saw the other people wailing with her, a deep anger welled up within him, and he was deeply troubled. 34) “Where have you put him?” he asked them. They told him, “Lord, come and see.” 35) Then
Jesus wept.” (NLT)
3. is an unfavorable outcome of working with people in ministry.
1 Samuel 18:5, 12-13
“Whatever Saul asked David to do, David did it successfully. So Saul made him a commander over the men of war, an appointment that was welcomed by the people and Saul’s officers alike. 12) Saul was then afraid of David, for the LORD was with David and had turned away from Saul. 13) Finally, Saul sent him away and appointed him commander over 1,000 men, and David faithfully led his troops into battle.” (NLT)
4. is an unfavorable outcome of working with people in ministry.
2 Timothy 4:9-10
“Timothy, please come as soon as you can. 10) Demas has deserted me because he loves the things of this life and has gone to Thessalonica. Crescens has gone to Galatia, and Titus has gone to Dalmatia.” (NLT)
5. is an unfavorable outcome of working with people in ministry.
2 Timothy 4:14-15
“Alexander the coppersmith did me much harm, but the Lord will judge him for what he has done. 15) Be careful of him, for he fought against everything we said.” (NLT)
III. Distinctives of Working with People in Ministry
Listed below are admirable traits for working with people in ministry.
1. is an admirable trait for working with people in ministry.
1 Samuel 16:18, 21, 23
“One of the servants said to Saul, “One of Jesse’s sons from Bethlehem is a talented harp player. Not only that—he is a brave warrior, a man of war, and has good judgment. He is also a fine-looking young man, and the LORD is with him.” 21) So David went to Saul and began serving him. Saul loved David very much, and David became his armor bearer. 23) And whenever the tormenting spirit from God troubled Saul, David would play the harp. Then Saul would feel better, and the tormenting spirit would go away.” (NLT)
2. is an admirable trait for working with people in ministry.
John 3:26, 28, 30-31
“So John’s disciples came to him and said, “Rabbi, the man you met on the other side of the Jordan River, the one you identified as the Messiah, is also baptizing people. And everybody is going to him instead of coming to us.” 28) You yourselves know how plainly I told you, ‘I am not the Messiah. I am only here to prepare the way for him.’ 30) He must become greater and greater, and I must become less and less. 31) “He has come from above and is greater than anyone else. We are of the earth, and we speak of earthly things, but he has come from heaven and is greater than anyone else.” (NLT)
3. is an admirable trait for working with people in ministry.
Acts 6:1-3
“But as the believers rapidly multiplied, there were rumblings of discontent. The Greek-speaking believers complained about the Hebrew-speaking believers, saying that their widows were being discriminated against in the daily distribution of food. 2) So the Twelve called a meeting of all the believers. They said, “We apostles should spend our time teaching the word of God, not running a food program. 3) And so, brothers, select seven men who are well respected and are full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will give them this responsibility.” (NLT)
4. is an admirable trait for working with people in ministry.
Daniel 6:3-4
“Daniel soon proved himself more capable than all the other administrators and high officers. Because of Daniel’s great ability, the king made plans to place him over the entire empire. 4) Then the other administrators and high officers began searching for some fault in the way Daniel was handling government affairs, but they couldn’t find anything to criticize or condemn. He was faithful, always responsible, and completely trustworthy.” (NLT)
5. is an admirable trait for working with people in ministry.
Exodus 17:10, 12
“ So Joshua did what Moses had commanded and fought the army of Amalek. Meanwhile, Moses, Aaron, and Hur climbed to the top of a nearby hill. 12) Moses’ arms soon became so tired he could no longer hold them up. So Aaron and Hur found a stone for him to sit on. Then they stood on each side of Moses, holding up his hands. So his hands held steady until sunset.” (NLT)
IV. Objectives of Working with People in Ministry
Using the letters A-E, F-J, or K-O, please share reasons for working with people in ministry.
EXAMPLES using P-T:
A. My goal in working with people in ministry is to PREPARE .
B. My goal in working with people in ministry is to QUELL .
C. My goal in working with people in ministry is to REFORM .
D. My goal in working with people in ministry is to SERVE .
E. My goal in working with people in ministry is to TRAIN .
1. My goal in working with people in ministry is to .
2. My goal in working with people in ministry is to .
3. My goal in working with people in ministry is to .
4. My goal in working with people in ministry is to .
5. My goal in working with people in ministry is to .