"The Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many." Matthew 20:28, KJV.
"Service to God includes personal ministry. By personal effort we are to co-operate with Him for the saving of the world. Christ's commission, 'Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature,' is spoken to every one of His followers. (Mark 16:15). All who are ordained unto the life of Christ are ordained to work for the salvation of their fellow men. Their hearts will throb in unison with the heart of Christ. The same longing for souls that He has felt will be manifest in them. Not all can fill the same place in the work, but there is a place and a work for all." —Christ's Object Lessons, pp. 300, 301.
You can engage in personal ministry! God has a place for you in Christian service! You want to find that place!
During this series of lessons you will study Bible guidelines about ministering to others. You will also survey the various Christian ministries and endeavor to discern your own spiritual gifts in fulfilling your own personal ministry.
You will discover in this lesson—
1. The Bible call to ministry. 2. The kinds of Christian service. 3. The secret of successful ministry. 4. How heaven regards service to others. 5. The great need of people today.
CALL TO MINISTRY
1. To what ministry have Christians been called? 2 Corinthians 5:18, 19.
2 Corinthians 5:18-19 (NIV) All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: 19) that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation.
2. How is Christ's life an example in the Christian's ministry? Matthew 20:28.
Matthew 20:28 (NIV) just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.
3. How many did Christ teach are to have an assigned task? Mark 13:34.
Mark 13:34 (NIV) It's like a man going away: He leaves his house and puts his servants in charge, each with his assigned task, and tells the one at the door to keep watch.
"Each has his place in the eternal plan of heaven. Each is to work in co-operation with Christ for the salvation of souls. Not more surely is the place prepared for us in the heavenly mansions than is the special place designated on earth where we are to work for God." —Christ's Object Lessons, pp. 326, 327.
4. What will determine your kind of ministry or service? 1 Peter 4:10.
1 Peter 4:10 (NIV) Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms.
Write out what this text means to you:
5. How is good religion to be practiced? James 1:27; 2:14-17.
James 1:27 (NIV) Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.
James 2:14-17 (NIV) What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? 15) Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. 16) If one of you says to him, "Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed," but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? 17) In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.
Check the true concepts:
__Care for orphans and widows.
__Keep oneself from being polluted by the world.
__Faith does not need works.
__Give food and clothes to the needy.
6. What is the objective in ministering to our relatives and neighbors? John 1:40-42.
John 1:40-42 (NIV) Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, was one of the two who heard what John had said and who had followed Jesus. 41) The first thing Andrew did was to find his brother Simon and tell him, "We have found the Messiah" (that is, the Christ). 42) And he brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, "You are Simon son of John. You will be called Cephas" (which, when translated, is Peter).
State in your own words what this text is teaching you:
7. How do you become successful in ministry to others'? Matthew 4:19.
Matthew 4:19 (NIV) "Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men."
8. What spirit motivates all true ministry? 2 Corinthians 5:14, first part; 2 Corinthians 12:15.
2 Corinthians 5:14 (NIV) For Christ's love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died.
2 Corinthians 12:15 (NIV) So I will very gladly spend for you everything I have and expend myself as well. If I love you more, will you love me less?
9. How great was Paul's love for his own people? Romans 9:1-3.
Romans 9:1-3 (NIV) I speak the truth in Christ--I am not lying, my conscience confirms it in the Holy Spirit-- 2) I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. 3) For I could wish that I myself were cursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, those of my own race,
10. How deeply interested is heaven in lost souls? Luke 15:6, 7.
Luke 15:6-7 (NIV) and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, 'Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.' 7) I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.
11. How does Christ regard the humblest of ministries? Matthew 25:35-40.
Matthew 25:35-40 (NIV) For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36) I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.' 37) "Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38) When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39) When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?' 40) "The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.
12. What reward awaits the faithful servant of God? Luke 18:29, 30.
Luke 18:29-30 (NIV) "I tell you the truth," Jesus said to them, "no one who has left home or wife or brothers or parents or children for the sake of the kingdom of God 30) will fail to receive many times as much in this age and, in the age to come, eternal life."
Describe the present and future rewards:
13. What remark made by some Greeks reflects people's need today? John 12:20, 21.
John 12:20-21 (NIV) Now there were some Greeks among those who went up to worship at the Feast. 21) They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, with a request. "Sir," they said, "we would like to see Jesus."
Do you want to help others find Jesus Christ? Our modern world is filled with lonely, alienated people who are unable to cope with life's complexities. Sin and guilt have robbed many of their peace and joy. Many are the ways in which you can minister solutions to their physical and spiritual needs; in so doing, you may open the door to salvation.
We will feature AN AVENUE OF MINISTRY at the close of each lesson in this series. In this section you can acquaint yourself with the various fields of Christian ministry. Some will interest you more than others. Respond to the opportunities that arise, and you will be utilizing your spiritual gifts.
AN AVENUE OF MINISTRY
Personal Witnessing
Personal witnessing is the most obvious way to introduce others to Jesus Christ—simply tell people what the Lord has done for you. Mark 5:19. Opportunities to share your faith with relatives, neighbors, and friends arise daily. Be natural, conversational, and enthusiastic about what the Lord is doing in your life. It will draw others to Christ!
Your personal testimony of experience can be most effective. Develop a short, lively testimony of about three minutes. A brief personal testimony may follow a three-part outline:
A. My life before surrendering to Christ. B. How I became a Christian. C. My life since becoming a Christian.
Are you interested in developing your witnessing skills? Ask your pastor or teacher about the Witnessing for Christ training course.
Unless otherwise designated, scripture taken from the Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION�. Copyright � 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. All rights reserved throughout the world. Used by permission of International Bible Society.