Mark 7:31-37 "Ministry 101"
Some concepts in the Church which are erroneous:
- The Church is a building.
- Ministry is only for the ordained.
The New Testament teaches that all are called to ministry.
Ministry means:
- We seek to impact the lives of others.
- We care for others.
- We share with others.
- We seek to touch other with the transforming power of God’s love.
Our text gives us a model for ministry.
If we follow Jesus example, our ministry to others can be both effective and fruitful.
Communion: An Upward Look
Jesus’ look toward heaven speaks volumes concerning the importance of prayer and communion with God.
Prayer is the foundation for all true Christian ministry.
Through prayer, we are able to:
- Draw close to God.
- Discern His will.
- Receive instruction from Him.
- Be filled with His power.
"Give me one hundred preachers who fear nothing but sin, and desire nothing but God, and I care not a straw whether they be clergymen or laymen; such alone will shake the gates of hell and set up the kingdom of heaven on earth. God does nothing but in answer to prayer." John Wesley
"The church has many organizers, but few agonizers; many who pay, but few who pray; many resters, but few wrestlers; many who are enterprising, but few who are interceding. People who are not praying and praying. The secret of praying is praying in secret. A worldly Christian will stop praying and a praying Christian will stop worldliness. Tithes may build a church, but tears will give it life. That is the difference between the modern church and the early church. In the matter of effective praying, never have so many left so much to so few. Brethren, let us pray." Leonard Ravenhill
How is my communion with God?
Do I pray daily?
Do I pray daily, consistently?
Do I pray for others, not just myself?
Do I spend enough time in prayer to allow God to speak to me?
Compassion: An Inward Caring
Jesus’ sigh indicated an inward caring. Jesus cared.
Christians need to care enough to care.
We need to care because:
- Others need our care.
- Caring is a repudiation of our own selfish nature.
- Caring reaches out to others.
- Caring gives us motivation to minister.
- Jesus cared and so must we.
We must care enough to cry.
We must be moved with compassion if we would touch others with the power of God.
Contact: An Outward Touch
The church is guilty of adopting a fortress mentality.
We can only be the church when we reach out to others with the touch of Jesus.
To minister to people we must get involved in their lives.
For ministry to be true ministry, it must be hands-on ministry.
Communication: A Soulward Word
Jesus communicated to the man.
“Ephphata!” – “be opened”
We must share the life-changing word of God if people are truly to be touched by Him.
If we only emphasize:
- Prayer – we become guilty of super-spiritualization.
- Caring and compassion – we become guilty of sentimentalism.
- Touch – we become guilty of offering a social gospel.
- Sharing the gospel – we become guilty of spiritualizing the gospel.
True ministry must begin in prayer, be motivated by the divine compassion God gives us, be involved ministry and be ministry that challenges people with the word of God.
