WE VALUE EVERY BELIEVER’S MINISTRY

Atmosphere of serving others—mentoring, leading, training and developing (Ephesians 4:11-12)

Ephesians 4:11-12 (NKJV)

And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ.

1. Be Equipped

Luke 9:23 (NLT)

Then He said to the crowd, “If any of you wants to be My follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross daily, and follow Me.”

“Certain leaders are viewed as gifts to the church, but actually this is true of all Christians. All have received grace and have a responsibility to build up the church. As the Spirit works through each person for the good of the community, each person is a gift to the church.” – Snodgrass

Equip: setting a broken bone, putting back into place an out of joint (displaced) limb, mending a net (restoring the capability to do things)

2. Be Equipped to Minister to the World

Ephesians 4:12a

…For the work of ministry.

Ephesians 4:12a (NLT)

Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do His work.

Minister – servant, literally to serve tables as a waiter or waitress

Luke 19:10

For the Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost.

Matthew 28:18-19

Jesus came and told His disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the Name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.”

Matthew 28:20

“Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

A worshipping community reaching the world.

Matthew 22:37-39

Jesus replied, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’”

Minister to the world: Share the gospel, introduce them to Jesus, and teach them to love.

“Love God” is the greatest commandment.

“Love others” is the second greatest commandment.

A. GUT CHECK

Is it more important for you to BE spiritual or to BE SEEN AS spiritual?

 

B. TEACH OUT OF YOUR OVERFLOW

Are you expressing what God is currently teaching you in your ministry?

 

C. SURRENDER WHILE YOU SERVE

Are you taking pauses in your ministry journey to make sure God is your priority?

 

3. Be Equipped to Minister to Build up the Church

Ephesians 4:12b

And build up the church, the body of Christ.

Ephesians 4:13

This will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God’s Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ.

Ephesians 4:15

Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of His body, the church.

Correction without connection often = rejection

People who speak the truth without love don’t really know the truth; they don’t experientially carry the love of God.

1 John 4:8

But anyone who does not love does not know God, for God is love.

Living the truth in love is both the means of growth and the result of growth.

Ephesians 4:16

He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love.

 

Discussion Questions:

1. Do you believe you are a gift to the body? Why or why not?

2. Do you think of yourself as a minister? Why or why not?

3. What are some areas you think God wants to bring you into deeper wholeness?

4. What are you doing currently to pursue your personal journey to wholeness?

5. How are you fulfilling the two major categories given for ministry (the world and the body)?

6. Do you come to church just to receive, or do you come to church to minister, to encourage, and to “build up… the body of Christ”?