Church is not that complicated

There are many ideas about how to do ministry (I receive new ideas on postcards and flyers virtually everyday in my mailbox and inbox).  There have always been many diverse and divergent ideas about the priorities of ministry.  The temptation is often to take a pragmatic approach to “make the church grow.”  Now having dancing pink elephants may make the church grow, but will that methodology honor Christ?

Reading 2 Timothy again this morning, I was reminded that the church has often made ministry more difficult and complicated than necessary.

There are 33 imperatives in the four chapters of 2 Timothy.

All of them appear in 1:8 or after.  That is significant because in 1:3-5 Paul reminds Timothy of the faith that he has in Christ.  And because of that faith (“therefore,” 1:8), he is to conduct himself in particular ways.  In other words, the imperative calls to obedience are a result of his faith, not a condition of it.  He is not earning grace with his labor, but he is demonstrating the grace he has received through his living.

There are also several imperatives that are personal in nature in the concluding verses; these are Paul’s personal desires for how Timothy might serve him in his final days (4:9-21) — “Make every effort to come to me soon…Pick up Mark and bring him with you…bring the cloak which I left at Troas…Be on guard against [Alexander]…Greet Prisca and Aquila…Make every effort to come before winter.”

Beyond this, there are 27 commands in the rest of the book that were to shape not only Timothy’s ministry in Ephesus, but also inform the church today how we are to conduct ourselves:

• …join with me in suffering for the gospel according to the power of God (1:8)
• Retain the standard of sound words which you have heard from me… (1:13)
• Guard, through the Holy Spirit who dwells in us, the treasure which has been entrusted to you. (1:14)
• …be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. (2:1)
• …entrust [the things you have heard from me] to faithful men (2:2)
• Suffer hardship with me… (2:3)
• Consider what I say… (2:7)
• Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, descendant of David, according to my gospel, (2:8)
• Remind them of these things… (2:14)
• Be diligent to present yourself approved to God… (2:15)
• But avoid worldly and empty chatter… (2:16)
• …“Everyone who names the name of the Lord is to abstain from wickedness.” (2:19)
• Now flee from youthful lusts (2:22)
• …pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace…(2:22)
• But refuse foolish and ignorant speculations… (2:23)
• But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come. (3:1)
• …Avoid such men as these [who hold to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power]. (3:5)
• You, however, continue in the things you have learned and become convinced of… (3:14)
• …preach the word (4:2)
• be ready in season and out of season (4:2)
• reprove (4:2)
• rebuke (4:2)
• exhort, with great patience and instruction. (4:2)
• But you, be sober in all things (4:5)
• endure hardship (4:5)
• do the work of an evangelist (4:5)
• fulfill your ministry. (4:5)

Of these, twelve commands relate directly to the teaching and proclamation of Scripture either for the purpose of evangelism or equipping.  And three more commands relate to avoiding those who distort and pervert the clear teaching of Scripture.  More than half the commands of Paul to Timothy about how to do ministry in the church affirm the priority of clearly teaching and upholding the Scriptures.

This is the work of ministry — to teach the word of God in such a way that men become men of God.  Is it any wonder that this is one of the two priorities of elders in the church (Acts 6:4)?  Is there any question about the fundamental work of ministry?  We are to shepherd God’s people with the Word of God.  The Scriptures are preeminent in all we do in ministry.