I WILL PARTICIPATE IN MINISTRY
I don’t like ministry – the word. It’s one of those Christian only words. What does it mean to “participate in ministry?” Do I have to preach? Change diapers in some church nursery? Wave my hands and sing? Become a missionary in Pakistan? Get plastic hair and ask for money on TV? Go with Rochelle to Haiti? Give 10%?
According to my online English dictionary, the word “ministry” means “the act of serving.” My Greek dictionary tells me the Biblical word translated minister, deacon, and serve are often the same root word. So, ministry is serving. Lets change this heart attitude.
I Will Serve Others. Much better. A simple Heart Attitude for a simple mind. You can serve here as well as in Haiti. You can serve with time as well as with money. You can serve with your actions before your sermons. You can serve in church, home, school, etc. But – if I live my life serving others, what’s left for me? Where is “freedom in Christ” if I’m serving others?
Galatians 5:13 says “You have been called to live in freedom, my brothers and sisters. But don’t use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature. Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love.” We serve one another, not because we have to, not because it’s some church’s heart attitude, but because we want to. We use our freedom to figure out how to serve, and we have the freedom to enjoy serving each other. We’re free to fill a need, or serve where we are gifted, to use our talents. All of this we do because we want to serve others. But this brings up other questions.
How do I know what God wants me to do? What’s His will for where I should serve? Am I talented, or do I have a spiritual gift for fixing Fords? What’s the difference between a talent and a gift? We’ll tackle those questions next week. For now, feel free to serve.
I don’t like ministry – the word. It’s one of those Christian only words. What does it mean to “participate in ministry?” Do I have to preach? Change diapers in some church nursery? Wave my hands and sing? Become a missionary in Pakistan? Get plastic hair and ask for money on TV? Go with Rochelle to Haiti? Give 10%?
According to my online English dictionary, the word “ministry” means “the act of serving.” My Greek dictionary tells me the Biblical word translated minister, deacon, and serve are often the same root word. So, ministry is serving. Lets change this heart attitude.
I Will Serve Others. Much better. A simple Heart Attitude for a simple mind. You can serve here as well as in Haiti. You can serve with time as well as with money. You can serve with your actions before your sermons. You can serve in church, home, school, etc. But – if I live my life serving others, what’s left for me? Where is “freedom in Christ” if I’m serving others?
Galatians 5:13 says “You have been called to live in freedom, my brothers and sisters. But don’t use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature. Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love.” We serve one another, not because we have to, not because it’s some church’s heart attitude, but because we want to. We use our freedom to figure out how to serve, and we have the freedom to enjoy serving each other. We’re free to fill a need, or serve where we are gifted, to use our talents. All of this we do because we want to serve others. But this brings up other questions.
How do I know what God wants me to do? What’s His will for where I should serve? Am I talented, or do I have a spiritual gift for fixing Fords? What’s the difference between a talent and a gift? We’ll tackle those questions next week. For now, feel free to serve.
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