August 14, 2005am
T.E.A.M.- TWO OR THREE ENJOYING A MINISTRY
Isaiah 58:12; Mark15:21; Romans 16:13
Remember the very first words of Rick Warren’s book The Purpose Driven Life? “It’s not about you.” Think about that for a moment. “It’s not about you.” How often we get distracted from our roles in the Christian life because when we start to put our self in the center and try to force others to revolve around our particular whims and wants.
The most precious people I minister to are those who aren’t expecting me to minister to them. Yes, I want to be there for everyone at their time of need but there is something different about those whose lives don’t revolve around their self- it revolves around God and others.
Do we put into practice what we preach or at least claim to believe? When it comes to our family does everything have to revolve around our self or do others have input? When it comes to church ministry does everything have to revolve around our self or do others matter more to us?
As Philippians 2:3 conveys to us: “Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself.”
This doesn’t mean we become doormats of worthlessness but it does mean that we treat others with the same respect that we wish to be treated.
To say, “It’s not about me” is an apt way to describe what our attitude must be as part of a team. Any team that succeeds does so not on the back of one individual but as the various parts work together. And as believers we are a part of a great team for the glory of God and the evangelism of our world.
This team we are on starts with the home team. And in actuality it begins when we meet Christ face to face.
The turning point for my life took place over the course of three months in the fall of 1978. I think of the time I ran away from home and lived in a home for runaways- confused and alone. And then the Christian family that opened their home to a fifteen year old loaded with problems. I recall the wooing of the Holy Spirit in my heart and my response on a November night at an old fashioned altar of prayer.
My life was changed. That was the turning point.
Who would have figured that the grand scheme of God’s plan for Jesus on the Via Delorosa would include a black man named Simon of Cyrene. A freedman whose family lived and farmed on the outskirts of Jerusalem. Who knows why he was there that day, but somehow God’s hand moved and he was forced to carry Christ’s cross to the hill called The Skull.
His life would never be the same.
And I am here to say that when any of us come to Christ our life will never be the same. And mine was certainly changed. Everything changes when God gets a hold of our life- including the future of other people.
I have had the benefit of living on both sides of the tracks. Going from the hood of Muskegon to the rural community of Fruitland Township allowed me to learn the variances of life and to appreciate the differences between people. Living with my legal guardians allowed me to see sides of the Christian life that I think even a lot of Christians don’t see.
And one of those sides was ministry. Right away, I saw how Mel and Joyce were actively involved in the church. They each taught Sunday School class. They were on committees and participated in every church function. They led picnics, picked up children, and visited others.
There was never a question about going church. We all went to church: Sunday morning, Sunday night, Wednesday prayer meeting and the like. And we attended every revival service. If the doors of the church were open we were there. And if someone needed a ride to church we gladly made room. In fact, we searched for people to put into the car.
I don’t ever remember them making excuses as to why they or we couldn’t do something. Guess what happened on church work days? The whole family was there. My first lawn moving experience was cutting grass at the United Holiness church. And it looked like my first experience too!
There is a ministry in this church for your family. I believe that each in our families should catch the vision of what church is all about. I believe that as families we should participate in the ministry of Christ to our community and to each other.
Your family has a significant part in the success of your church here at the corner of State and Ferry. You are the light of the world and the salt of the earth. And it begins at home.
Somehow Simon of Cyrene met the Master- and not by his own choosing. He was forced to meet Christ face to face and his life was changed. In fact, not only was his life changed but the lives of his sons Alexander and Rufus. They are named because they became significant leaders and evangelists in the early church. Furthermore, the Apostle Paul sends greetings later to Rufus and his mother who are now living in Rome. Why? She had treated and cared for Paul like a son at some time. This was a family that did ministry because Jesus made such a difference in their lives.
I believe that most Christians have very little excuse for not being involved in the ministry somewhere. There is lots that needs to be done and God has gifted and talented you and those in your family. What I have learned is that sometimes it’s because people are unaware of the areas of need.
So let me lay out five areas of ministry. These are not meant to confine you to one area. In fact, you should be able to participate in various areas.
1. Minister Everyone is a minister according to 2 Corinthians 5:18-20 [God] has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself… Now then we are ambassadors for Christ…
a. This calling benefits God. God cares. And God has planned to use those who are filled with His Holy Spirit to reach a world that needs Christ. To do this God has reconciled Himself to you. His kingdom benefits because God has become your friend.
b. This calling benefits you. You became a minister not by being involved in church business and potlucks but by the blood of Christ. No one can be a minister without knowing Jesus Christ as Savior. And everyone who knows Jesus Christ as savior is a minister.
c. This calling benefits others. When you truly take a hold of this high calling others will be blessed through you. People will see and hear the truth that Jesus saves. As an ambassador wherever you go you bring the good news with you.
I suppose that maybe this hits home harder for me because even when I am on vacation I am still an ordained minister in the Wesleyan Church and I am still your pastor. Furthermore, my behaviors are expected to be the same out there as they are here.
The same holds true for you. Wherever you go and whatever you do you go and do as a minister of reconciliation. God has called each of you to be his ambassador to a lost world.
2. Mission
The mission of the Church was laid out clearly by Jesus Christ. Acts 1:8 clearly defines our mission and mission field as a church: “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you and you shall be witnesses to me in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria and to the end of the earth.”
God’s purpose for the existence of the Church is that people would become His friends. And Jesus presents to us that very purpose with three very important components to the outreach of the Church.
First, POWER. You are to be empowered not by your self to do God’s work but by the Holy Spirit. Too many times Christians fail to minister effectively because they are relying upon their own power or the power of books and materials rather than God’s power. We have the Holy Spirit to help and aid us in our ministry. We have power that is not of this world.
Second, PEOPLE. You will be witnesses. You cannot help but be witnesses. You cannot resist being used of God. When the Holy Spirit so fills your life you want to tell somebody what Jesus did for you. I am convinced of this.
Third, PLAN. God does nothing without a plan. And the plan is that by the power of the Holy Spirit you will be witnesses at home, in the surrounding community, across the tracks to the undesirables and around the world.
Check this out: Jerusalem is your home and your neighborhood. Judea is your surrounding community. Samaria are those who have different skin color than you or speak a different language or are of a different religion. And the ends of the earth- well you rightly guessed that as overseas missons.
God has called us to mission. It is all mission to Him. He has called you and me to reach out to those around as His witnesses sharing the good news of Christ.
3. Mentoring
Jesus said in Matthew 28:19-20- Go, therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you…
Mentoring is one of the most important aspects of a church ministry. This is the act of taking someone under your wing and lovingly teaching them and showing them the ways of Christ. I cannot under-value this part of ministry.
It’s one thing to know that you are a minister, it’s another thing to know the missional plan that Jesus gives us but it is quite another thing to influence the life of someone else.
a. Mentoring begins at home. Moms and Dads: you must take the attitude that you are raising a minister of God. Who knows if that child will hear the call to full-time Christian service- only God does. But would it be nice if you raised and mentored your children as though they were going to grow up into preachers or missionaries? This is where you speak of God’s word as you drive to mall, this is where you discuss your faith in times of trouble or live a life that is holy- in front of them as well as in front of the pastor. Your actions speak louder than any words you might say.
b. Mentoring is vital to the Church. We need men and women who are willing to mentor young children whose parents don’t know Christ. We need men and women of God who will befriend the new Christian- not to burden them with rules but to show them Christ’s love and be their friend.
c. Mentoring includes variety. We need people who are willing to make home visits, hospital visits, telephone calls and teach classes. Church ministry is kind of like a House of Flavors: we each are a different flavor, and we like different flavors. And mentoring involves the different levels and stages of a persons life.
4. Materials.
Everything you have belongs to God. Your house, your car, your money and so on. But do you let God use them? When was the last time you hosted people in your home to share in the faith? When was the last time you drove people to church? How about your giving to the ministry? When was the last time you took time just to serve God in church ministry?
Time: is it God’s?
Treasure: have you given it to God?
Talent: have you receive it from God?
5. Maintenance.
Every ministry organism has maintenance issues. The grass needs to be mowed, the floors vacuum, the classrooms picked up and windows washed. There are committees that need to be formed and people to serve on those committees. There are position galore that involves ordinary people with ordinary skills doing ordinary things.
We are one of those churches that cannot afford to hire out these jobs. So we do them ourselves- or at least try.
I like to get out of the office and do certain things. And so I do. I clean the bathrooms on occasion or wash windows or vacuum. I don’t mind taking my turn. But what I want to see is more people taking their turn. I caught a couple of mice a few weeks ago cleaning the church. They were taking their turn. What about you? Can you spare an hour or two every month or so? At least?
So how can you participate?
a. Understand your place in the kingdom of God. You are in a personal relationship with Jesus Christ and you also are in a personal relationship with the members of His family. You matter to God’s kingdom.
b. Understand your place in the church. You are an important part of the ministry. You may not feel that way, and maybe feel ineffective. But you do have a place in ministry.
c. Utilize your talents. Some are trained in certain employments that give them certain skills. Put these skills to use. As a former roofer and construction worker I know some things about buildings.
d. Use what you have. “Silver and gold have I none but what I have I give unto you.” Peter and John used with they had: their own life filled with the Holy Spirit. Who you are in Christ is a good enough qualification to begin getting involved in church ministry.
Conclusion
Simon and his wife, and two sons made a difference in the world. And just as God used them He also wants to use us in whatever capacity He calls us to. And to be used calls for us to have faith.
As families, how can we be involved in the life of the church? As members of God’s family what can we do to enhance the ministry for which we are a part?