Five Aspects of
It is quite possible that in
1. Ministry Involves Suffering (v. 24).
This may seem an odd thing to say,
but you must take this in the context of Paul’s first century audience. Paul was preaching the cross of Christ in a
very hostile world. In fact, I think one
of the greatest evidences that Christianity is 100% true is the fact that it
survived—and flourished—the intense persecution of its first 100 years of
existence. Christianity was viewed with
contempt and disdain from both the Jews and the Romans. So Paul, being the bold, faithful preacher
that he was, faced intense persecution and suffering (read 2 Corinthians 12 for
a synopsis of his sufferings).
As I said earlier, this may seem odd for us to hear
today, but that’s because
I want to pause before going on to the next point
to correct a common error in this passage.
At the end of v. 24, Paul says, “I am filling up what is lacking in
Christ’s afflictions.” Some have used
this to teach that Christ’s suffering on the cross wasn’t sufficient for our
salvation; we have to make up what is lacking with our own suffering (do you
see the false doctrine of purgatory in this?).
That’s heresy! So what does Paul
mean? Christians suffer because they
take a bold stand for Christ. In Acts 9,
when Paul encounters Christ, Jesus says, “Paul, why are you persecuting me?” Paul wasn’t persecuting Christ, he was
persecuting Christians; yet Jesus says when Christians suffer, he suffers. In other words, the world hates Jesus so much
that if they can’t attack him personally, they’ll attack his followers. Our suffering is a result of the world’s
hatred for Jesus Christ; that’s what Paul means in this verse.
2. Ministry is a Stewardship (v. 25a).
Those who have been given the privilege of serving
in vocational ministry should look at their calling as a stewardship. There are many professional ministers who use
their ministry for shameful self-promotion.
The notion of self-promotion as being wrong is foreign to our culture,
yet God abhors pride. It is true that
pastors and elders have authority over the church, but that authority is vested
in them by God to care for and watch over those entrusted to their care. Just as the husband has God-given authority
in the home, the pastor and elders have God-given authority in the church. But that authority is never to be used
for personal benefit. That is why the
Biblical model for church leadership is a plurality of elders. A church with one man as the “leader” is not
Biblical. Christian ministry is always
for the building up of the body.
3. Ministry Involves Preaching the Word (vv.
25b-27).
There can be no Christian ministry that doesn’t
involve the word of God. Paul states
what the purpose of his stewardship is in v. 25b, “to make the word of God
fully known.” There are churches that
claim to be Christian where the pastor rarely, if ever, opens the word of God. Why would any Christian waste their time in a
church where the word of God isn’t taught?
If I want human opinion, I can turn on CNN. The author of Hebrews says the word of God is
living and active (Hebrews
In vv. 26-27, Paul expounds a little on the word of
God. The NT, which was being written at
this time, expanded and clarified the OT.
Paul refers to a mystery now being revealed. Basically what he means by this is what he
was about to reveal was never hinted at in the OT. Paul was giving us brand new revelation from
God. Paul says that part of his
stewardship, part of his call to preach, was to reveal this mystery, which is
“Christ in you, the hope of glory.”
Don’t gloss over this too quickly!
This is a phenomenal truth. In
brief, what Paul is saying is Christ indwells the Christian! This was a foreign concept to an OT Jew. Christ is in us and is living his life
through us (cf. Galatians
4. Ministry Involves Exhortation and Education (vv.
28-29).
While ministry primarily involves the proclamation
of the word, there also has to be an element of exhortation and education. Notice v. 28b (“that we may present everyone
mature in Christ.”). That is the ultimate
goal of Christian ministry—the development of mature followers of Christ. The means of achieving this goal is the
preaching of the word (v. 25a). The
methods by which the word is preached are “warning everyone and teaching
everyone with all wisdom.” Christian
ministers are to warn and teach (or exhort and educate). The only way to grow mature disciples is to
reach their hearts and their minds with the word. You exhort to reach the heart and you educate
to reach the mind. However, this cannot
be accomplished without partnering with the Holy Spirit; that’s why Paul added,
“with all wisdom.” Wisdom, true wisdom,
comes from God, and he gives freely to those who ask in faith (James
1:5-7). Notice also v. 29. Not only does the necessary wisdom to exhort
and educate come from God, but also the power to accomplish it.
5. Ministry Involves Genuine Care for the Lord’s
People (vv. 2:1-5).
Paul wasn’t only a brilliant scholar
and theologian; he was a tender, loving shepherd as well. What we see in these closing verses is a man
who genuinely cared for his audience.
Remember, Paul did not establish this church; it was an outgrowth of his
ministry at
Application Time.
The Bible says that if anyone desires to the office
of overseer (or elder or bishop), he desires a noble thing. Full-time Christian ministry is a noble
pursuit, probably the noblest of pursuits.
However, it should not be entered into lightly. Ministry will involve suffering as you boldly
stand for the truth. It is a stewardship
in which you are a servant to the needs of those in your care. It involves preaching the word; no lasting
change can come without the word of God.
Ministry requires you to exhort and to educate, reaching the hearts and
minds of God’s people. Finally, ministry
requires you to have a genuine love and compassion for the Lord’s
people—without love, all your efforts are in vain.
Bottom Line.
“So therefore, any one of you who
does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple” (Luke
Have a blessed day!