| A Scriptural Review
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| Jesus spoke to them again in parables, saying: “The kingdom of heaven is like a king whoprepared a wedding banquet for his son. He sent his servants to those who had been invited to the banquet to tell them to come, but they refused to come.”Then he sent some more servants and said, ‘Tell those who have been invited that I have prepared my dinner: My oxen and fattened cattlehave been butchered, and everything is ready. Come to the wedding banquet.'”But they paid no attention and went off-one to his field, another to his business. The rest seized his servants, mistreated them and killed them. The kingwas enraged. He sent his army and destroyed those murderers and burned their city.”Then he said to his servants, ‘The wedding banquet is ready, but those I invited did not deserve to come. Go to the street corners and invite to the banquet anyone you find.’ So the servants went out into the streets and gathered all the people they could find, both good and bad, and the wedding hall was filled with guests.
“But when the king came in to see the guests, he noticed a man there who was not wearing wedding clothes. ‘Friend,’ he asked, ‘how did you get in here without wedding clothes?’ The man was speechless. “Then the king told the attendants, ‘Tie him hand and foot, and throw him outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ “For many are invited, but few are chosen.” ***** |
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| “At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. five of them were foolish and five were wise. The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them. The wise, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps. The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep.”At midnight the cry rang out: ‘Here’s the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!'”Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps. The foolish ones said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.'”‘No,’ they replied, ‘there may not be enough for both us and you. Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.’
“But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut. “Later the others also came. ‘Sir! Sir!’ they said. ‘Open the door for us!’ “But he replied, ‘I tell you the truth, I don’t know you.’ “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour. |
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| “Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his property to them. To one he gave five talents of money, to another two talents, and to another one talent, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey. The man who had received the five talents went at once and put his money to work and gained five more. So also, the one with the two talents gained two more. But the man who had received the one talent went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money.”After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them. The man who had received the five talents brought the other five. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with five talents. See, I have gained five more.'”His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’ “The man with the two talents also came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with two talents; see, I have gained two more.’
“His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’ “Then the man who had received the one talent came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed. So I was afraid and went out and hid your talent in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.’ “His master replied, ‘You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed? Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest. “‘Take the talent from him and give it to the one who has the ten talents. For everyone who has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him. And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left. “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.‘ “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’ “The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’ “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’ “They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’ “He will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’ “Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.” |
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| And He said, “The kingdom of God is as if a man should scatter seed on the ground, and should sleep by night and rise by day, and the seed should sprout and grow, he himself does not know how. For the earth yields crops by itself: first the blade, then the head, after that the full grain in the head. But when the grain ripens, immediately he puts in the sickle, because the harvest has come.” NKJV | |||||
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| Then He said, “To what shall we liken the kingdom of God? Or with what parable shall we picture it? It is like a mustard seed which, when it is sown on the ground, is smaller than all the seeds on earth; but when it is sown, it grows up and becomes greater than all herbs, and shoots out large branches, so that the birds of the air may nest under its shade.” NKJV |
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| Now as they heard these things, He spoke another parable, because He was near Jerusalem and because they thought the kingdom of God would appear immediately. Therefore He said: “A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom and to return. So he called ten of his servants, delivered to them ten minas, and said to them, ‘Do business till I come.’ But his citizens hated him, and sent a delegation after him, saying, ‘We will not have this man to reign over us.’“And so it was that when he returned, having received the kingdom, he then commanded these servants, to whom he had given the money, to be called to him, that he might know how much every man had gained by trading. Then came the first, saying, ‘Master, your mina has earned ten minas.’ And he said to him,‘Well done, good servant; because you were faithful in a very little, have authority over ten cities.’ And the second came, saying, ‘Master, your mina has earned five minas.’ Likewise he said to him, ‘You also be over five cities.’“Then another came, saying, ‘Master, here is your mina, which I have kept put away in a handkerchief. For I feared you, because you are an austere man. You collect what you did not deposit, and reap what you did not sow.’ And he said to him,‘Out of your own mouth I will judge you, you wicked servant. You knew that I was an austere man, collecting what I did not deposit and reaping what I did not sow. Why then did you not put my money in the bank, that at my coming I might have collected it with interest?’“And he said to those who stood by, ‘Take the mina from him, and give it to him who has ten minas.'(But they said to him, ‘Master, he has ten minas.’) ‘For I say to you, that to everyone who has will be given; and from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him. But bring here those enemies of mine, who did not want me to reign over them, and slay them before me.'” NKJV |
What Did Jesus Say About the Kingdom of God (Heaven)? Part 1
(A Scriptural Review of some of the parables of Jesus as they relate to the Kingdom of God)
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| With many similar parables Jesus spoke the word to them, as much as they could understand. He did not say anything to them without using a parable. But when he was alone with his own disciples, he explained everything. |
*****
| Matt 13:19-23, 37-43 |
When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is the seed sown along the path. The one who received the seed that fell on rocky places is the man who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. But since he has no root, he lasts only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, he quickly falls away. The one who received the seed that fell among the thorns is the man who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke it, making it unfruitful. But the one who received the seed that fell on good soil is the man who hears the word and understands it. He produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.” …He answered, “The one who sowed the good seed is the Son of Man. The field is the world, and the good seed stands for the sons of the kingdom. The weeds are the sons of the evil one, and the enemy who sows them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the harvesters are angels.”As the weeds are pulled up and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of the age. The Son of Man will send out his angels, and they will weed out of his kingdom everything that causes sin and all who do evil. They will throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears, let him hear.
*****
| Matt 13:24-30 |
Jesus told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field. But while everyone was sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and went away. When the wheat sprouted and formed heads, then the weeds also appeared.”The owner’s servants came to him and said, ‘Sir, didn’t you sow good seed in your field? Where then did the weeds come from?'”‘An enemy did this,’ he replied.”The servants asked him, ‘Do you want us to go and pull them up?’
“‘No,’ he answered, ‘because while you are pulling the weeds, you may root up the wheat with them. Let both grow together until the harvest. At that time I will tell the harvesters: First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned; then gather the wheat and bring it into my barn.'”
*****
| Mat 13:33-34 |
He told them still another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into a large amount of flour until it worked all through the dough.”Jesus spoke all these things to the crowd in parables; he did not say anything to them without using a parable.
*****
| Matt 13:44 |
“The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.
*****
| Matt 13:45 |
“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.
*****
| Matt 13:47-50 |
“Once again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was let down into the lake and caught all kinds of fish. When it was full, the fishermen pulled it up on the shore. Then they sat down and collected the good fish in baskets, but threw the bad away. This is how it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come and separate the wicked from the righteous and throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
*****
| Matt 13:52 |
He said to them, “Therefore every teacher of the law who has been instructed about the kingdom of heaven is like the owner of a house who brings out of his storeroom new treasures as well as old.”
*****
| Matt 18:23-35 |
“Therefore, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. As he began the settlement, a man who owed him ten thousand talents was brought to him. Since he was not able to pay, the master ordered that he and his wife and his children and all that he had be sold to repay the debt.“The servant fell on his knees before him. ‘Be patient with me,’ he begged, ‘and I will pay back everything.’ The servant’s master took pity on him, canceled the debt and let him go. “But when that servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii. He grabbed him and began to choke him. ‘Pay back what you owe me!’ he demanded.”His fellow servant fell to his knees and begged him, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay you back.’
“But he refused. Instead, he went off and had the man thrown into prison until he could pay the debt. When the other servants saw what had happened, they were greatly distressed and went and told their master everything that had happened.
“Then the master called the servant in. ‘You wicked servant,’ he said, ‘I canceled all that debt of yours because you begged me to. Shouldn’t you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?’ In anger his master turned him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed.
“This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother from your heart.”
*****
| Matt 20:1-16 |
“For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire men to work in his vineyard. He agreed to pay them a denarius for the day and sent them into his vineyard.”About the third hour he went out and saw others standing in the marketplace doing nothing. He told them, ‘You also go and work in my vineyard, and I will pay you whatever is right.’ So they went.”He went out again about the sixth hour and the ninth hour and did the same thing. About the eleventh hour he went out and found still others standing around. He asked them, ‘Why have you been standing here all day long doing nothing?'”‘Because no one has hired us,’ they answered.
“He said to them, ‘You also go and work in my vineyard.’
“When evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, ‘Call the workers and pay them their wages, beginning with the last ones hired and going on to the first.’
“The workers who were hired about the eleventh hour came and each received a denarius. So when those came who were hired first, they expected to receive more. But each one of them also received a denarius. When they received it, they began to grumble against the landowner. ‘These men who were hired last worked only one hour,’ they said, ‘and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the work and the heat of the day.’
“But he answered one of them, ‘Friend, I am not being unfair to you. Didn’t you agree to work for a denarius? Take your pay and go. I want to give the man who was hired last the same as I gave you. Don’t I have the right to do what I want with my own money? Or are you envious because I am generous?’
“So the last will be first, and the first will be last.”
*****
| Matt 22:1-14 |
Jesus spoke to them again in parables, saying: “The kingdom of heaven is like a king who prepared a wedding banquet for his son. He sent his servants to those who had been invited to the banquet to tell them to come, but they refused to come.”Then he sent some more servants and said, ‘Tell those who have been invited that I have prepared my dinner: My oxen and fattened cattle have been butchered, and everything is ready. Come to the wedding banquet.'”But they paid no attention and went off-one to his field, another to his business. The rest seized his servants, mistreated them and killed them. The king was enraged. He sent his army and destroyed those murderers and burned their city.”Then he said to his servants, ‘The wedding banquet is ready, but those I invited did not deserve to come. Go to the street corners and invite to the banquet anyone you find.’ So the servants went out into the streets and gathered all the people they could find, both good and bad, and the wedding hall was filled with guests.
“But when the king came in to see the guests, he noticed a man there who was not wearing wedding clothes. ‘Friend,’ he asked, ‘how did you get in here without wedding clothes?’ The man was speechless.
“Then the king told the attendants, ‘Tie him hand and foot, and throw him outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
“For many are invited, but few are chosen.”
*****
How Do You Cultivate a Ministry for God’s Kingdom in Your World Today?
By Dr. Mike
Introduction
The theological and biblical foundation for ministry is the acceptance of a personal calling built on individual and community values shaped through time, education, and life experiences. This essay therefore outlines a ministry built on making God’s Kingdom come alive in a person’s world by exercising a daily life transformation process of ¹ accepting Jesus Christ’ as Lord, Redeemer, Teacher, Hero, and Friend; ² learning to work with and follow the lead of the Holy Spirit in one’s life, and ³ receiving confirmation by the results God produces in one’s world. The outcome leads the Jesus-Apprentice to taste God’s Kingdom today while simultaneously being spiritually transformed for eternity.
1) Kingdom of God
The central-theme of Jesus Christ’s ministry pertains to proclaiming the Kingdom of God.(1) Jesus expounded his role as the Messiah, King and Lord.(2) He instructed others on standards of conduct within the Kingdom.(3) He assigned seats of authority to his inner circle of twelve disciples when the Kingdom makes it complete arrival on earth.(4) He died at the hands of the Romans as the King of the Jews.(5) His entire ministry was spent in preparing his chosen few to become equip to lead and teach others regarding the Kingdom.
He spoke of a new world government rather than a heavenly retirement home. Isaiah prophesied the same.(6) Just prior to Jesus’ birth, angels proclaim his kingship to His mother.(7) Throughout scripture the emphasis is on government and begs the question “Who shall you serve? In today’s American culture, people have lost the significance of a higher authority or heavenly government and no longer ask “Who is my boss” or “Who am I accountable to?” Instead, each person generally focuses on pleasing themselves and has become their own creator, unless God’s Spirit is regenerating their life.
God hates rebellion.(8) When people fail to acknowledge His reign in their life they are openly rebelling against their Creator. And like any form of government, open or even quiet rebellion leads to disunity and eventual removal from its protection. In our world, defiance to governmental authority may lead to expulsion or even capital punishment. God though wants all people to willingly participate within His governmental operations. He wants all people to come under his benevolent authority and reap the benefits of His Kingdom.
The concept of God’s Kingdom lays the foundation and goal of a person’s life. When a person understands that this life is a preparation for eternity, the means become just as important as the end results. When one begins to understand and place scripture together, one must ask the question, “What are Christ-followers being prepared for after death?” The answers are gray, but imply a certain theme of leadership. John writes that you shall “be king and priests”(9) An implication of a combined governmental and ministry role, not hammock swingers. It also raises the question of what characteristics are important for Kingdom living. Will people be allowed to enter without God’s love, faith in Christ, or hope in His Promises as the cornerstone of their life? Will those with unrepentant illicit behavior be allowed entrance? (10)
The Bible records the outcome of the Kingdom as a new heaven and a new earth and the beginning of a new age.(11) The Christ-follower learns today how to live in harmony, in oneness, and in relationship with the Lord of the Kingdom – Jesus Christ. As a Believer walks with his Lord, he becomes familiar with His commands, His techniques with working with people, His desires and His goals for living. Only Believers partake in a taste of the Kingdom today.
The message of the Kingdom carried more weight with the Jewish recipients in the first century who were waiting for the return of the Messiah and the establishment of the prophetic Kingdom.(12) The message of the Kingdom is the prophetic vision turned into reality. The reason God chose Israel, blessed them, produced Jesus’ lineage and the church from them is the eternal process of the heavenly plan set in place from the beginning of time.
2) Jesus Our Model for Ministry
Though Jesus stands as the ideal model for ministry, being fully God and fully man gives Him an advantage that today’s disciple can never attain. However, if God in the flesh preached a certain message, practiced certain disciplines, and fulfilled a plan mission, what does it state to all his apprentices today as they follow Him with the assistance of the Holy Spirit?
What message did Jesus preached? He started His ministry preaching the good news of the Kingdom of God. He likewise gave narrative parables on describing the Kingdom of God. Wherever He went, God’s Kingdom came alive – demons were cast away, diseases disappeared from people’s lives, illnesses were cured, sins were forgiven, the dead were resurrected.
Likewise, He outlined His job description fulfilling a prophetic anointing of the Spirit and invested the remaining part of His ministry completing it. Wherever He went, the Spirit was ignited with a touch, a question, a word, or a parable.
3) Jesus Pre-Told, Told, and Post-Told His Life’s Ministry.
How many people do you know throughout history that foretold their accomplishments before they were even born, achieved their goals, died, and then personally reviewed their life’s work putting everything into perspective?
The only person in history who can make that statement is Jesus Christ. The Old Testament highlights scriptures that point and confirm the birth, place, and purpose of the Messiah that Jesus fulfilled in his lifetime. During His ministry, he expounded and confirmed that He was the Messiah. After His resurrection, he spent another forty days sharing and further teaching His disciples what His mission working through the Church is to accomplish.
Jesus is either who He claims to be or is not…and He gives all people the freedom to choose.
4) The Nature of God: Systematic Order, Love, and Reconciliation
God’s entire creation falls under his domain. He created it, sustains it, and governs it in a systematic manner. One only must look at creation to realize that an Intelligent Designer had to be involved. The odds of probability are more realistic with Intelligence behind the wheel than every systematic order just simply evolving into its current position. God’s nature surrounds us through His creation, His purpose, and His method of operations.
God is love; but not uncontrolled love. God’s love is built on holiness and is motivated with freedom for a person to choose to reciprocate the same love back to Him and with others. God’s character resounds with love. Paul writes in Corinthians describing what love is which also describes what God is like.(13)
Likewise, God wants all people to be reconciled back to him and have a meaningful relationship with Him. Satan, sin, and death have taken people away from God. This world’s systems are based on values contra to God’s. The good news of Jesus Christ is that his death and resurrection brings victory from Satan, sin, and death. He accepted the death penalty for all people and his victorious life after death makes him ruler over all powers and authorities with Satan, sin, and death subject to himself.
5) The Church Continues Jesus Ministry
The last command Jesus gave the Church was to be proactive in making disciples, bringing them into the spiritual family of God, and teaching them how life in God’s Kingdom is to be lived.(14) Just as Jesus lived his life with purpose, He also lived doing good works. Wherever He went and was addressed with a need that was within His ability to correct or heal, He did. Like His job description(15), He touched people’s life fulfilling his calling. Every touch, every word, every miracle, every parable was an introduction into making God’s Kingdom come alive before others.
The Church continues His purpose today. For example, whenever a disaster occurs, the universal body reaches out to help.
Though many faith communities have lost the power to achieve results that Christ accomplished, there are a few ministries where God’s power is constantly being demonstrated through its membership and throughout the community. Most of these though are in foreign countries where Christianity is growing exponentially and is not stagnate as in the United States.(16)
In the United States, Christ-followers without status or name recognition are ministering to those in need and fulfilling the same ministry that Christ started in the first century. When one reviews any denominational monthly magazine, the articles communicate how members are serving their communities, neighbors, and local congregations. Each article generally refers to Believers acting on a ministry which Christ started in the first century.
6) The Holy Spirit Is Always Working
On that first Pentecost after Christ ascended to heaven, the Holy Spirit made His public debut by baptizing the disciples with fire, gifting people to understand what was being preached no matter what language they communicated in, and leading over 3,000 people to accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior.(17)
With Christ out of the picture, the apostles continued with preaching His message and conducting the same work in healing and proclaiming the Kingdom of God.(18) The agent that was producing all this was the Holy Spirit. In the name of Christ, the Holy Spirit continued the same Work in the first century and continues the same Work today.
A recent slogan campaign read “What Would Jesus Do”? It would have been more appropriate if it asked “What is Jesus Doing?” The first slogan puts the emphasis on ethical behavior whereas the second focuses more on being aware of God’s Work in one’s world. The first puts emphasis on what one is doing, the other on what God is doing.
As one pursues God, investing more time walking with Him, and studying His word and creation while experiencing transformation, one learns how the Spirit works in peoples’ lives. From working with a person prior to conversion and through the regeneration process, the Spirit leads. It is God’s Spirit that is always working. Jesus made the same claim regarding his Father.
Yet the Spirit doesn’t reside where disobedience thrives. When the Christ-follower diligently pursues God’s Kingdom and His righteousness, the Spirit becomes more alive in the person’s life. As the wind blows but no one can see it, the results though are made known. The same is true with the Spirit. The Spirit cannot be seen, but His results are noticed. For example, someone to say in a believing fashion “Jesus is Lord” requires the Spirit’s involvement. Again, to understand the relationship between Law and Grace requires the Spirit’s involvement.
As the Christ-follower submits to the Lord’s lead, the Spirit plays a greater role in their development. For example in praying, whenever words escape us the Spirit leads us to what to pray for. Or in serving the church, the Spirit provides us with gifts that we can share with one another in building up the Body. As one learns how the Spirit works within ones personal life, than one is able to become more aware of his working in the lives of others. A Biblical example would be the apostle Paul.
In Paul’s letters, he wrote about his relationship with Jesus Christ and his experience being led by the Holy Spirit. How can someone write such concepts unless one also lived the experience? For example Paul understood and wrote about: the working of the Spirit in the regeneration process;(19) that the Spirit exudes love in the Believer;(20) only those led by the Spirit are sons of God;(21) the Spirit provides the means for a personal relationship with the Heavenly Father;(22) the Spirit intercedes for Believers;(23) the Spirit translates the things of God for Believers;(24) the Spirit gives Believers tools to serve others in the Church;(25) the Spirit is at war with the world’s powers;(26) the Spirit generates God’s character in Believers;(27) the Spirit leads one to eternal life;(28) the Spirit surrounds Believers with freedom;(29) the Spirit empowers Believers to have faith, speak, and acknowledge that Jesus is Lord;(30) the Spirit is a guarantee of God’s promises;(31) and that the Spirit confirms that the Believer is Christ’s.(32)
7) The 21st Century Mission Versus 1st Century Mission
When comparing the 1st century Work with the 21st century, there are similarities and differences that one can learn from to apply in mission today. The 1st century mission was to proclaim the good news throughout the world making disciples of all people, baptizing them into the God family, and teaching them all that Jesus taught.(33) The same mission continues in the 21st century.
Though in the 21st century, a greater movement is occurring in the poorer economic countries, however the higher challenge remain in the richer countries like the US and Europe. The challenge facing the American mission field are the miss-communications of the gospel or the partial message being conveyed to its hearers. Both a similar problem discussed in the early church.(34) The world’s culture has a greater influence in the church than kingdom priorities and values.
Paul wrote to the Galatians church chastising them for acceptance of a different gospel from what he initially preached to them.(35) He preached a gospel of grace that is based on believing Jesus Christ is the Messiah, Lord, and Redeemer. Today’s generations typically hear a message of Jesus as Savior, but do not understand His role as their Messiah or Lord. The vision of what discipleship brings and what messiah means is missed by today’s ignorant church member. Being raised in today’s current Christian culture with its similarity with today’s worldly culture, the basic understanding of scripture has disappeared from their life.(36) Christian leaders need to make the message of scripture become real in today’s Christ-follower. Otherwise, today’s Christian becomes another world religion and not the life-changing, transforming relationship of walking with the living God.
8) Need to Develop and Equip People to Lead Ministry.
Besides being teacher and shepherd, today’s elder must also be a Kingdom coach, discipleship mentor, and vision caster. Paul writes in Ephesians that the church must educate, equip, and prepare its people for ministry.(37) The church member is not a spectator, but a participant in the Work of the ministry. The body of Christ is a team focused on following the lead of the Holy Spirit towards influencing Kingdom results in people’s lives.(38)
As Christ-followers learn to deny themselves,(39) discover their spiritual gifts,(40) and learn to follow the lead of the Holy Spirit in their life,(41) they will eventually find themselves in a ministry that continues the Work of Jesus Christ in some fashion. The Work may be a healing ministry, a preaching ministry, a teaching ministry, or any one of the areas that Christ wants that person to move into to serve others and be an ambassador for God’s Kingdom.
There is no greater role for an elder but upon leaving their assignment to have other elders or deacons in place to continue the work that was started.(42) A faith community without spiritual lay leadership in place will eventually become unfruitful and stagnate. A congregation that relies solely on its pastor for ministry will rarely grow. One person can only accomplish so much. It takes a team of dedicated servant leaders to rally, direct, motivate, and channel its resources towards Kingdom objectives. When a faith community can see, touch, and speak with lay members who are living examples of spiritual energy and allow themselves to be mentored by such Christ-followers, the church has resources that are more valuable than facilities, programs, or even sermon messages.
The greatest sermons are those never preached, but only lived. The best is a lay leadership team solely inspired by the Holy Spirit to unleash its faith community for ministry. Pastors must take charge to develop such a team that will outlive their tenure and always stay focus on Kingdom work.
9) Growing Beyond Ones Comfort Zone
Each person learns church by watching what others do. If one grew up in a faith community, one most likely attended with their parents. If one started attending later in life, one chose a community that felt comfortable with the surroundings. Either way, church to each person is what one has experienced within a community of believers. Therefore, when one talks about Church one typically visualizes one’s current experiences to date.
Pastors are typically trained to do church dependent on the denominational seminary attended. The results of the denominations speak for themselves as many are losing members and new seekers are not interested in their culture. The fastest growing churches today are typically non-denominational with an entrepreneurial flair. That is senior pastors are thinking out-of-the-box to reach people from their perspective rather than from the churches vantage point.
For today’s Pastor to reach beyond current norms, one must change perspectives from communicating with Churchy phraseology to current marketplace terminology. In addition, one must change from presenting the gospel within its church walls to reaching out into the community with the same message but living it out loud.
For most pastors, the change is difficult. Most pastors are trained in biblical knowledge and counseling skills but not in management or leadership. The latter two are business skills that separate the growth churches from stagnate, dying churches. Most people are content to keep the status quo including pastors. However, if a pastor is willing to follow the lead of the Holy Spirit, he will start an adventurous journey to lead their assigned faith community to make the largest kingdom impact within their world.
Whatever skill sets are missing, the Spirit will provide.(43) The pastor may not initially recognize them, but over time the fruit will come out and the results will be produced when one steps out in faith and allows God’s Work and not church politics or bureaucracy have its way. The safe route without risks produces unexcitable results. When calculated risks are taken, faith applied, and the Spirit-empowers, the results produce personal growth and organizational achievement.
When one pushes ones comfort zone, one must depend on God greater than ever. When the results are achieved, one also realizes where the growth and success comes from, and it’s not from self, but from a loving God who cares and wants His people to grow in grace and knowledge. The push beyond ones comfort zone creates the environment for one to rely on God and see how great a God one serves.
10) Conclusion
The basis for a theology of ministry is built on scripture, personal relationship with the living God, and the life experiences based on faithful living. The fundamental beliefs are the scriptural foundation of God’s kingdom now and in its future completeness, discipleship with Jesus Christ and His message, His resurrection and future resurrection of believers, plus the current Work of the Holy Spirit. The bottom-line is helping people develop a stronger, personal relationship with the living God and allow God to have His way with each believer.
In summary, the ideal ministry is built on making God’s Kingdom come alive in a person’s world by exercising a daily transformation process of 1) accepting Jesus Christ’ reign as Lord, Savior, Teacher, Hero, and Friend; 2) learning to follow the lead of the Holy Spirit in one’s life; and 3) receiving confirmation by the kingdom results God produces in one’s world.
Notes:
[1] Mark 1:14-15; “The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news!”
Luke 4:43-44; But he said, “I must preach the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns also, because that is why I was sent.” And he kept on preaching in the synagogues of Judea. NIV
[2] John 4:25-26; The woman said, “I know that Messiah (called Christ) is coming. When he comes, he will explain everything to us.” Then Jesus declared, “I who speak to you am he.” NIV
John 13:12-13; “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. NIV
John 18:37; “You are a king, then!” said Pilate. Jesus answered, “You are right in saying I am a king. In fact, for this reason I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.” NIV
[3] Matthew Chapter 5 through Chapter 8
[4] Matt 19:28-29; Jesus said to them, “I tell you the truth, at the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. NIV
[5] Matt 27:37; Above his head they placed the written charge against him: THIS IS JESUS, THE KING OF THE JEWS. NIV
[6] Isa 9:6-7; For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it
with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the LORD Almighty will accomplish this. NIV
[7] Luke 1:29-33; But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end.” NIV
[8] 1 Sam 15:23; For rebellion is like the sin of divination. Jer 28:16; Therefore, this is what the LORD says: ‘I am about to remove you from the face of the earth. This very year you are going to die, because you have preached rebellion against the LORD.'” NIV
[9] Rev 5:10; You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth.” NIV
[10] Gal 5:19-21; The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21 and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God. NIV
[11] Rev 21:1-5; Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”
[12] Nelson Bible Dictionary: Kingdom of God;
[13]1 Corinthians 13; If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing. Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears. When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me. Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love. NIV
[14] Matt 28:17-20; Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. NIV
[15] Luke 4:17-21; The scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written: “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.” Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him, and he began by saying to them, “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your earing.”
NIV
[16] Christian History Institute, The Explosion of Christianity in Africa: An Unprecedented Spread of the Faith, Glimpses #151, 2003.
[17] Acts 2:1-4; 40-41; When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them. ..With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.” Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day. NIV
[18] Acts 8:12; But when they believed Philip as he preached the good news of the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. NIV
Acts 19:8; Paul entered the synagogue and spoke boldly there for three months, arguing persuasively about the kingdom of God. NIV
[19]Gal 6:14-15; Neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything; what counts is a new creation. NIV
[20] Rom 5:5; because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.
[21] Rom 8:14; because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. NIV
[22] Rom 8:14-17; For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs-heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory. NIV
[23]Rom 8:26-27; In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God’s will. NIV
[24] 1 Cor 2:11-15; We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us. This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, expressing spiritual truths in spiritual words. The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned. NIV
[25] 1 Cor 12:4-5; There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. NIV
[26] Eph 2:1-3; As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath.
NIV
[27] Gal 5:22-25; But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. NIV
[28] Gal 6:7-9; A man reaps what he sows. The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. NIV
[29] 2 Cor 3:16-18; Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. NIV
[30] 1 Cor 12:2-3; Therefore I tell you that no one who is speaking by the Spirit of God says, “Jesus be cursed,” and no one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit. NIV
[31] 2 Cor 1:21-22; He anointed us, set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come. NIV
[32] Rom 8:9-11; You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ. But if Christ is in you, your body is dead because of sin, yet your spirit is alive because of righteousness. And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit, who lives in you. NIV
[33] Matt 28:17-20; Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. NIV
[34] Dallas Willard, “Discipleship: For Super-Christians Only?”, Christianity Today, October 10, 1980.
[35] Gal 1:6-7; I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you by the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel- which is really no gospel at all. Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ. NIV
[36] The Great Omission, Dallas Willard, 2006, pg 172
[37] Eph 2:10; For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. NIV
Eph 4:11-13; It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. NIV
[38] Frank R. Tillapaugh, Unleashing the Church, 1982.
[39] Matt 16:24-25; Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it. NIV
[40] 1 Cor 12:4-6; There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men. NIV
[41] Rom 8:14; because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. NIV
[42] Aubrey Malphurs, “Developing a Vision for Ministry in the 21st Century, 1999, p 157.
[43] Rom 8:26-27; And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God’s will. NIV
Bibliography:
Aubrey Malphurs, “Developing a Vision for Ministry in the 21st Century, 1999, p 157.
Christian History Institute, The Explosion of Christianity in Africa: An Unprecedented Spread of the Faith, Glimpses #151, 2003.
Dallas Willard, The Great Omission, 2006, pg 172
Dallas Willard, “Discipleship: For Super-Christians Only?”, Christianity Today, October 10, 1980.
Frank R. Tillapaugh, Unleashing the Church, 1982.
The Kingdom of God: Nelson Bible Dictionary
Radical In Christ 