Get Off That Pew and Find Something to Do!
A Guide for Activating Kingdom-Building Ministries
by
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The Bible must be taught and applied; not taught and denied.
The time has come for the church to realize that it is a new day! We are the 21st Century Church. His eminence of a higher calling has ushered in a new era and a new season for the Christian Church. We must follow Jesus.
Jesus Is Serious About Ministry
Ministry is that part of Christianity which relates to being practical, proactive and pertinent to needs, circumstances and situations of people. It requires us to be kind and to love one another. Extending kindness will draw people to Christ. Ministry is the heart and soul of Christianity. Being faithful to one’s calling and enjoying the fullness of the Gospel requires ministry.
Jesus was motivated to help people in pain and He understood pain. Isaiah described him as a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. Ministry was on His mind. Without any hesitation, Jesus sent Dives straight to Hell for being unkind to Lazarus and not sharing his resources.
“And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores. And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s bosom: the rich man died, and was buried. And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazurus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame. But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime received thy good things. And likewise Lazarus evil things; but now he is comforted and thou are tormented.” (Luke 16:20-25)
By any stretch of the imagination, Jesus is very serious about ministry and spiritual empowerment. All Christians should be involved in one or more ministries. A sample list of suggested ministries is included in this text to encourage participation. Most Christians could and should suggest many more ministries. Ministries, in place by name only in some churches, need committed and diligent workers. Therefore, the appeal to all pew-sitters is: Help make this world a better place in which to live. For he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. (Hebrews 13:5b)
Jesus is Explicit with Christians
“Jesus said, For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat; I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee and hungred, and fed thee? Or thirsty, and gave thee drink? When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison and came unto thee? And the King shall answer and say unto them Verily, I say unto you, inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me. “Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels; For I was an hungred and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not; sick, and in prison; and ye visited me not. Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee? Then shall he answer them saying, Verily I say unto you, inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me. And these shall go away into everlasting punishment; but the righteous into life eternal.” Amen. (Matt 25:35-46)
On one occasion during His earthly mission, Jesus was trying to field His team, and a certain man came up to Him and said, Jesus, I will follow you wherever you go. Jesus sensed that this man wanted notoriety, so he said, “Foxes have holes, birds of the air have nests but the Son of man has nowhere to lay His head.” As he continued His journey, He said to another man, “Follow Me,” This man said, “Lord, suffer me first to go home and bury my father.” Jesus said unto him, “Let the dead bury the dead: but you go and preach the Kingdom of God.” Another man said unto Jesus, “Lord I will follow thee but first let me go home and bid the family farewell.” Jesus said unto him, “No man putting his hand to the plough and looking back is fit for the Kingdom of God.” (Luke 9:57-62) This is somewhat paraphrased but the essence is the same. It further proves that Jesus is serious about ministry. Excuses and distractions are unacceptable reasons for failing to employ ministry. There is a dire need for us to catch a glimpse of Jesus’ vision and carry on in a mighty way. So let’s put aside idiosyncrasies, lift each other up in love and prepare to meet Jesus when He comes.
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About the Book
As Christians learn the importance of reading God’s Word, they study the Bible with the expectation it will equip them to effectively follow Christ. But how does a Christian activate the written word of God to effectively manifest faith in his or her daily life?
In Get Off that Pew and Find Something to Do: A Guide for Activating Kingdom-Building Ministries, Helen Baker Britt asserts that “the mystery of ministry is intertwined with the activation of His Word.” She taps into her decades of experience launching and building outreach ministries to outline the biblical requirement for engaging in outreach ministry as the vehicle for activating the power of God’s Word in your life. Britt uses scripture references and personal experiences to describe how ministry, discipleship, and service are one—as the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are one.
This motivational booklet serves as a concise primer for the newly converted and a review for seasoned Christians to grow beyond pew-sitting to disciple-making. It features an exhaustive list of creative ministry programs and ideas designed to help you find the best ministry for your unique spiritual gifts. Britt, aka, the Exhorter, presents the evidence for how ministry activates faith as you develop a personal relationship with Jesus. She highlights the necessity of being a servant, as Christ was, in order to enjoy the fullness of the Gospel. And she challenges the Body of Christ to shake off apathy and get out into the harvest field.
About the Author
Veteran educator Helen Baker Britt has used her passion for outreach ministry to encourage discipleship, spending a decade in prison ministry. Distributing Bibles and leading workshops, Britt has adopted prisons, hospitals, and schools as the mission field where she spreads good will and demonstrates how to actively engage in ministry.