Ministry is always unto the Lord, but often expressed toward people!

Our goal is to host His presence in every relationship.

Our calling is to navigate relationships by being on the altar as a sacrifice unto the Lord!

Create conduits for the kingdom!

1. Work hard, while being patient and kind

2 Timothy 2:15a NLT 

Work hard so you can present yourself to God and receive his approval. Be a good worker, one who does not need to be ashamed…

2 Timothy 2:24

A servant of the Lord must not quarrel but must be kind to everyone, be able to teach, and be patient with difficult people. 

2. Don’t argue, while speaking the truth

2 Timothy 2:14

Remind everyone about these things, and command them in God’s presence to stop fighting over words. Such arguments are useless, and they can ruin those who hear them.

2 Timothy 2:23

Again I say, don’t get involved in foolish, ignorant arguments that only start fights. 

2 Timothy 2:25 

Gently instruct those who oppose the truth. Perhaps God will change those people’s hearts, and they will learn the truth. Then they will come to their senses and escape from the devil’s trap. For they have been held captive by him to do whatever he wants.

3. Don’t back down, while being humble

2 Timothy 2:24-25a NKJV 

A servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient, in humility correcting those who are in opposition.

1 Corinthians 6:11 NLT 

Some of you were once like that. But you were cleansed; you were made holy; you were made right with God by calling on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.

Ephesians 6:13b 

that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

4. Cleanse yourself to bear the gift of His presence

2 Timothy 2:20-21 MSG

In a well-furnished kitchen there are not only crystal goblets and silver platters, but waste cans and compost buckets—some containers used to serve fine meals, others to take out the garbage. Become the kind of container God can use to present any and every kind of gift to his guests for their blessing.

2 Timothy 2:21 NKJV 

Therefore if anyone cleanses himself from the latter, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work.

2 Timothy 2:22 NLT

Run from anything that stimulates youthful lusts. Instead, pursue righteous living, faithfulness, love, and peace. Enjoy the companionship of those who call on the Lord with pure hearts.

2 Timothy 2:22 MSG 

Run away from childish indulgence. Run after mature righteousness—faith, love, peace—joining those who are in honest and serious prayer before God.

Questions for discussion/reflection:

1. Do you feel like you view relationships through the lens of you being the conduit for God presence and transformative power to flow into the lives around you?  Why or why not?

2. Do you think of relationships as something that you should “work hard” at or as something that should be easy and natural?

3. How can you speak the truth without arguing?

4. What might it look like for you to stand firm in the truth, while also being humble and kind?

5. What needs to be cleansed in your life so that you be a better conduit for the manifest presence of God to touch lives around you?