Ministry

Ministry Insights From a Tent Maker

Dr. Mike Essays, Ministry , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
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Paul worked for 1 ½ years with a husband and wife team (Aquila and Priscilla) while conducting missionary work in Corinth (Acts 18:2).  While working as a tent maker, he continued to teach the Word in the local synagogue.  It is of interest how he employed the word “work” throughout his life and teachings, especially in relationship to what God is doing and what His people are doing.  The importance of work is highlighted throughout his letters.

Luke quotes Paul in Acts 20:32-35, ”You yourselves know that these hands of  mine have supplied my own needs and the needs of my companions. In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give, than to receive.'”

In the letter from Ephesians 4:28 Paul writes, “He who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with his own hands, that he may have something to share with those in need. In 1 Thess 4:11-12 he writes, “make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business and to work with your hands, just as we told you, so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody.”

In the above scriptures Paul emphasized the point of working to support oneself and one’s family rather than live as a beggar dependent on others for necessities. Paul himself demonstrated the importance of having a skill (tent making) that provides a service to others (shelter) and a livelihood for oneself. A Christian is to gladly work “unto the Lord” (Col 3:22-24).  The work one does should not glorify oneself, but God.  In addition, the work should be a means to provide for those less fortunate – “it is more blessed to give than to receive.”

Also, as work relates to fulfilling God’s plan, He writes in Titus 1:7 that “an overseer is entrusted with God’s work.” Barnabas and Paul was set apart by the Holy Spirit for this work (Act 13:2-3). And not only were they commissioned for this work, but had to support themselves in the process (I Cor 9:6).  He again writes how one’s work for the Lord must stand the test of trials, difficulties, problems,  especially when we shall all be evaluated at the end of this age (I Cor 3:10-15).

He was primarily focused on the Lord’s work and only labored to support himself and his team, not to gain riches. He practiced what he preached.  The work of the Lord was the priority in his life and for all those that the Lord calls (I Cor 15:58, 16:9,10).  While working his craft, he contemplated and compared the physical craft of tent making to the spiritual work God is completing in us as a church and as an individual. His analogy of the body working together as a team with all its parts supporting one another is but one example of lessons learned while working (I Cor 12:12-13).

All tent-makers need to stand up and rejoice.  It is an example for all people everywhere that the craft, skill, profession, and work we perform is more than just to feed ourselves.  It’s a means of grace that we practice.  When we work, we are able to support those less fortunate than ourselves and therefore practice love of our neighbor.  When we work, we learn how God operates in our lives.  When we work, we are able to compare and better understand the spiritual realities we face each day.  When we work, we are able to express ourselves by the results of our labor.  When we work, we contribute to the community we reside in.  There are many valuable lessons we learn while we work. To paraphrase Jesus, “God works, and so do I.”

What other insights of ministry do you think Paul may have received while engaged as a tent maker?

Dr. Mike

What are Some Ministry Activities that Reflect a Belief in the Apostle’s Creed Statement About “God, The Father Almighty?”

Dr. Mike Essays, Ministry , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

There are a number of activities that turn belief in the Apostle’s Creed’s statement “God, the Father Almighty” into ministerial activities.  They include: 1):pro-life activities – from making decisions to keep ones baby to foster homes for the discarded child. 2) creation education – from Christian schools teaching creation to individual ministries emphasizing the factual account of creation rather than evolution. 3) exercising creativity – God is Creator and His creation reflects His artistic skills.  Ministries that emphasize the Arts in worship or the writing and development of music, books, film that glorifies God and His Life is an expression of creativity that focuses on God as Father and Creator. 4) Stewardship – God is a Steward of His creation.  He practices conservation and effective management of His creation.  Ministries that teach proper stewardship of ones resources is a prime example.  Also, ministries that focuses on the environment and conservation of our resources is another means of expressing these types of activities.  5) Restoring Father/Son relationships – Ministries that provide counseling or activities that improves the bond between Fathers and their children is another example of a ministry built on the belief of God as our Father.

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All the above ministries are practiced by certain individuals in our local church.  Coming from a small church with very few formal church-wide ministries, most ministries are conducted by a few individuals motivated and led to fulfill their calling in life.  These ministries include all the above from one degree to another.

One approach to emphasis our God’s Authority is to conduct a series of sermons  about His relationship to us as a healthy Father.  Taking scriptures from Genesis, the Gospels, and Epistles, we can show His desire to have a close, intimate relationship with His children.

Isn’t it amazing the many activities we conduct only mimic our Heavenly Father God’s attributes?  What other ministry activities would you add to the list?

Dr. Mike

What Would a Job Description Look Like Based on Luke 4:18-19?

Dr. Mike Essays, Ministry

 

          “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor.

He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind,

to release the oppressed,   to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”    Luke 4:18-19

Work for Christ

           When a person reads the above scripture which our Lord quoted at the start of His ministry, one must first stop reading after verse eighteen to allow the total impact of that one verse to capture the real meaning of ministry. The Scripture emphasizes that the motivation comes from God through the Spirit and is not the fulfillment of a personal goal or ambition. The influence of the Holy Spirit is so strong that a person cannot run or hide from the message, but must confront the message and accept it as his/hers destiny.  It is not a personal career choice, but the acceptance of a calling from God that is demonstrated by one’s fruit and the results produced by action.

The message is an assurance that as long as the person follows the lead of the Holy Spirit in one’s ministry, one is doing God’s work and will therefore prosper (in God’s Way) and fulfill God’s intentions. When one is anointed by our Lord, his ministry and life style will reflect that of his boss.  He will be an ambassador of Christ knowing that he has been set apart to fulfill an assignment in the Kingdom of God for His glory.

If one was to prepare a job description based on this scripture, we first need to answer several questions. They include: Who are you primarily accountable to for your ministry?  What is the good news?  What is real freedom?  What is true recovery?  Who are the poor, the prisoner, the blind, and the oppressed? How do you best preach, proclaim, recover, and release? What is the Lord’s favor? When do you know your assignment is completed?

The first part identifies who you work for and who is in charge of your ministry.  It identifies whose lead you must follow and who you are answerable to. It states where your authority comes from and who your partners in ministry likewise submit to.

The first part also identifies the source of the good news.  It is not my good news, not my community’s good news, not my country’s good news, and not really even my church’s good news.  It is the good news of Jesus Christ which the Spirit reveals to those called and given ears to hear and a mind to understand. It is a message that can be verbally preached, visually preached, artistically preached, musically preached, orally preached, scriptural preached, historically preached, scientifically preached, and even genealogically preached.

The scripture likewise identifies who our “customer” is.  They are “the poor”, “the prisoner”, “the blind”, and “the oppressed.  All are conditions that may occur physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. The customer base or market literally encompasses all mankind. Every person who has ever lived falls into some category which places him under at least one of these conditions.

It focuses on the outcome and end result that is achieved through ministry. The “poor” have good news preached to them; prisoners have freedom to look forward to; the blind are able to see; the oppressed are set free; and the year of the Lord’s favor is proclaimed. The best way to communicate your message to your audience is dependent on the resources at your disposal and your strengths. The key is to identify the needs of your audience and communicate the message that applies to them.

How would you summarize the meaning of ministry as described in Luke 4:18-19? Also, if you had to make a job description from this scripture, what would you include?

Dr. Mike