The Minister the Ministry & Me

There is no victory without a fight,

And there is no battle without wounds.

-Alan Redpath

“You then, my child, be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ

Jesus."

- 2 Timothy 2:1

1.

Preface

This book is simply a work in progress written by a per-

son whose life is in progress. It's written by a man who rec-

ognizes Jesus as his master and who is following Him by the

grace of God as he is bid to humbly come into His service. I

recognize that any service that is done in the Spirit of God is

also done by the grace of God, and that is exactly the purpose

of these humble offerings ― to encourage those who serve in

ministry in any capacity to serve in the power and grace which

only God can supply, and to serve those around you by that

grace-filled example.

This is a book for disciples who have willingly submitted them-

selves to Jesus Christ for the benefit of the kingdom of God

and the furtherance of the Gospel by which we are saved. In

order to serve God, you must first be a teachable learner.

That’s why the first chapters are about being a disciple of

Christ Jesus.

This is not a handbook, but a practical, to-the-point book in-

tended to help those who serve in the church to pick up on

the nuances of ministry that might otherwise take years to

learn through experience.

This is also a book to help those who desire to enter the min-

istry (vocationally or as a volunteer), and to encourage those

in ministry as they continue counting the cost and prayerfully

serving Jesus and His bride while walking in the Spirit.

This is not a book about slavery to church or ministry. Pastors

and church volunteers are slaves to no man but only willing

slaves (Doulos) to Christ. I have read more than one book that

belittles those in service and makes assistants in ministry out

to be a slave to the lead pastor rather than a joy-filled servant

like Christ. I want no part in ministry like this. We are all

servants, one to another, not exempting our lead pastors or

elders. They are to be the servant of all if they are to be at

all Christ-like. We serve God together. That is the example

set by Jesus ― our Chief Pastor.

This book is practical and spiritual but not exhaustive and not

meant to be the end-all-be-all on assistant pastoring, only en-

couragement and exhortation for those who are feeling a call

into ministry. In the context of this book, ministry is simply

serving God through serving God’s people.

The first two chapters of this book deal with discipleship and

ask the question, “am I a disciple of Christ?” They are hard-

hitting and to the point. That’s not to say that they

shouldn’t be taken in or given out without an incredible

amount of grace and love. We cannot disciple or make disci-

ples without love. Information in the first two chapters is not

so easy to digest because it can make us uncomfortable. Know

that God loves us, and that’s why He sometimes speaks

truths that make us uncomfortable.

If you have been called into Christ’s ministry, please speak

the truth to one another in love, even if what is said are un-

comfortable truths. We will be known as His disciples by our

love for one another. You will never regret this. If there are

truths to be applied in this book, my prayer is that they will

be shared and applied with grace and love.

"Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be per-

secuted . . ."

2 Timothy 3:12

"For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching,

but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers

to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the

truth and wander off into myths. As for you, always be sober-

minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your

ministry."

2 Timothy 4:3-5

"They profess to know God, but they deny Him by their works. They

are detestable, disobedient, unfit for any good work."

Titus 1:16

2.

The Necessity of Discipleship

Every minister of Christ is a servant, and a pastor or elder (same

thing) is a willing and submitted pastor under the authority of a

pastor with vision that is further reaching than his own. That

pastor is Jesus. I cannot stress this enough ― Jesus has the vision

for His Bride (the Church) and it is found in Scripture. Every

church vision, plan and purpose should be brought into compari-

son, filtered, thought and re-thought through the lens of the Book

of God, The Bible. As God’s people, we are fulfilling His vision

for the world around us. As long as we realize this, then we are

able to serve together for God's glory. Man does not have a worth-

while vision, apart from the work and direction from God through

His Word alone. There is no vision except for the mission of God

given to us in His Son ― Jesus. Our vision is the Gospel being

fulfilled, the Great commission, given to us by Jesus Christ. Each

one of us has been placed in the "body" to help fulfill this vision

of Christ. Keep it simple.

What Are We Here For?

And what is that vision? We can find it in at least four places: (If

you’re reading this book in a group, locate and read the follow-

ing verses together.)

In Matthew 28:19-20

Here we are commanded to make disciples, teaching them

to live according to God’s Word.

In Mark 16:14-18

We are commanded to preach and proclaim the Gospel to

the whole world.

In Luke 2:49, 4:43, 24:46-49

We are commanded to preach the Gospel in the power that

comes from God alone - the Holy Spirit.

And lastly, here in

Acts 1:8

We are to be witnesses to His Gospel. We are to spread

this witness wherever we go in all the earth. And how will

we effectively accomplish this task? By the power of the

Holy Spirit.