1- Scriptural Idea
2- Support Ministries
3- Searching Questions
1- Scriptural Idea
What would have happened if the apostles had spent their time doing ministries in the first century church, other than preaching, teaching and praying? We would not have the Bible or the Church today, because these are the foundation ministries of the Church.
Ephesians 2:20-22
(20) And (we) are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;
(21) In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord:
(22) In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.
and...
Ephesians 4:11-13
(11) And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
(12) For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
(13) Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:
2- Support Ministries
But the apostles had a support system (believers in local churches), which did a variety of ministries, thus allowing the apostles to do their work. The various ministries in the local church today are support ministries (music, outreach, youth, seniors, fellowships, food service, media, helps, etc), which allow the pastor/teacher to feed, lead and intercede, in behalf of his congregation. These support ministries are important of themselves, but they serve the greater purpose of helping the pastor get the word of God to a needy world. Each believer has gifts, talents, skills, which God wants to use in evangelizing the unsaved and edifying the believers.
3- Searching Questions
What do you bring to God, besides your sins, your needs and your troubles?
Do you love God and others with a pure heart?
Are you following Jesus fully?
Do you, as a believer, bring Him your time, talents and treasures to be used in your local church, in order to minister to other people?
How much time do you spend each week in using your abilities to support the ministries of your local church?
We can monitor our commitment to ministry by our sacrifice of time, talent and treasure.
We are given 168 hours a week. Every hour should be spent in service to God, but at least 10% should be spent in specific and corporate ministry, worship, study, fellowship, intercession time.
Remember, if the support ministries go undone, the primary ministry is cut short. If the pastor has no help, or has to do your work, his ministry suffers. Don't withhold service to your church, instead, give yourself to the work of God, and let God give the increase.
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