The True Purpose of Ministry

The following are my thoughts after watching an interview between John Piper and David Platt:

If our ultimate goal as the Church is to see lives transformed by the Gospel among all the nations, how does local ministry (marriage, children's, men's, women's, single parent, homeless, etc.) accomplish that?

In other words, how does doing ministry within a church that is so focused on it's own flock accomplish the Great Commission to go and make disciples of all nations? Do we have to choose? Does it have to be either/or?
       
          -Either a church focuses on local ministry
       
          -Or a church focuses on bringing the Gospel to the "utmost parts of the earth."

The ultimate goal should be that the Great Commission in Matthew 28 dictates to us how and why we pastor and shepherd our congregation locally.

So, for example, we want to teach and guide couples into a Christ-centered, fulfilling marriage but not just for the sake of having a happy, fulfilling marriage. We lead them to an understanding that marriage, according to Ephesians 5:22-32, is a mirror of the Gospel. Therefore, the goal should be to get couples to see that in light of that, they are to move on and be about something bigger than themselves.

We will shepherd our people and build strong marriages so that the Gospel would be spread among all the nations. A bible-saturated, God-glorifying marriage will then have the resources to be able to care about something bigger than themselves and enter into as a family the work of the Great Commission.

In the end, God's glory among every people group is the reason why we teach everything.

          -We don't teach freedom from sin for the sake of being freed from sin. They will only learn how to manage their behavior.

          -We don't teach tithing and financial stewardship for the sake of mere obedience or to have a "blessed life." They will only learn that God can be please by simple duty or that God's blessing can be bought for price.

          -We don't simply teach our kids to obey their parents or not cuss. They will only learn how to play the game, and we will only make "good little Christian boys and girls."

We teach our people in everything how to look at themselves and others through Gospel lenses so that they can be world changers. What good is our teaching and our ministry if it simply terminates on us?

Incarnational Ministry

“Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making His appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.”
(2 Corinthians 5:20)

My passion is to see people get saved and grow in their walk with God. That’s not really too surprising to hear someone in the ministry say. But I don’t want to do it as a “pastor.” At least not if by “pastor” you’re thinking about the guy who puts off this vibe as if to say, “I’ve got it all together. And you want to know what I know.”

I’m talking about ministry that everyone should be doing. Ministry that invites people to be real, open, and honest by BEING real, open, and honest. I desperately want to position myself in others’ lives to where, like Paul, it’s “as though God were making His appeal through me.” (2 Corinthians 5:20) I have come to call it “incarnational ministry.” In other words, just like Jesus, you come along side someone and do life with them. And, just like Jesus, at times even enter into their suffering with them. Is there really any higher platform from which to preach the love and grace of God?

Lord, I pray that You will help me to minister to and love others the same way that You do. Help me to see others as better than myself. Thank You for entrusting me with others’ lives. I pray that I never take for granted the weight of that privilege.

Spirit-filled Life

Acts 1:8

"But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth."

Have you ever felt like you're missing out on something? When you look around it seems like others live and move in this anointing in their lives that is just out of your reach. They have an effective, growing ministry, and they are just thriving.

Think about this: what if instead of focusing on what we don’t have, we pursued what God has to give? Remember, on our own we are not fit to serve the Lord. On their own the disciples were uneducated, undertrained, and ineffective. But something happened once they submitted to God that transformed their lives. Just as Jesus had promised, He sent them the Holy Spirit… the gift of the Father… His own Spirit in their lives… the Helper.

And what happened next was supernatural. They were filled with fire, and the Gospel exploded into the first century. That fire ended up turning their world upside down! (Acts 17:6)

Think about it, what would it be like to have that kind of power in your life? What would you be doing with your life that’s different than what you’re doing now? Whatever your answer is, step out and do it! Ask the Holy Spirit to take control of your life, and yield to Him every step of the way. The Word says “He must increase, but I must decrease” (John 3:30). That’s the Spirit-filled life!

Seasons of Waiting

2 Peter 3:8-9

“But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slow to fulfill His promise as some count slowness.” (ESV)

Do you ever feel like things aren’t happening within your timeframe? There have been certain times in my own life where I thought, “Shouldn’t I be further along than I am now? What are you waiting on, God?” There were many in the bible who might have asked those exact same questions.

-How many years from God’s promise to Abraham until the birth of Isaac?


-How many years from Joseph’s dream until he became second in command of all of Egypt?


-How many years did Moses spend tending sheep before delivering God’s people out of bondage?

-How many years between when David was anointed King of Israel and the moment he actually became King of Israel?

-How many years between the time Jesus first said “I must be about My Father’s business” and the beginning of His ministry?

-How many years from Paul’s conversion until he was sent out from Antioch?

I first responded to God’s call on my life at 13 years old. Now, 16 years later, I feel like I am just now stepping into some of what God spoke to me way back then. During that time I was often frustrated, anxious, and in a big hurry to get to what I knew God had planned for me...as if there were some kind of finish line I was racing toward.

Just like Abraham, Joseph, Moses, David, Paul, and even Jesus, if you’re in a long season of waiting, a season of prisons, caves, wilderness, pits, and carpenter shops, just know that you’re in good company. And God is always on time.

Lord, help us to keep our eyes on You during the long, hot seasons in the desert. We know that You have great things planned for each and everyone of us, and You are working out that plan in us even now. Thank You for never leaving us without hope in any situation we face.