Ministry realities

Every seminary student has a dream about what vocational ministry will be like.

Every Sunday School, Awana, and VBS teacher has an ideal for what will constitute an effective class or ministry effort.

Every missionary, pastor, and elder has at least a mental standard (and often a written standard) to evaluate the impact of a sermon or facet of ministry.

Every servant of God has a desire for how his ministry will be perceived by others and used by God.  He may not consciously be thinking about a victory parade, but it’s likely that something akin to that is in his mind.

But the realities of ministry are often different from our desires and dreams.

Part of the account of the first missionary journey of Paul, given in Acts 14, offers a number of ministry realities.  These are examples of axioms for the way ministry really works, and they are relevant to anyone who will serve God in any capacity.  They help us to prepare for disappointments and perceived failures and also to make us think rightly about what appear to be successes.

As you serve the Lord this week, consider these ministry realities:

• The gospel is powerful to redeem both Jew and Gentile — it transcends every kind of cultural barrier.

“In Iconium they entered the synagogue of the Jews together, and spoke in such a manner that a large number of people believed, both of Jews and of Greeks.” (v. 1)

• Despite its power to transform anyone, there will always be people who do not believe and who reject the gospel.  The gospel is divisive in that not all will believe; and those who reject the gospel will often become bitter opponents of the gospel.

“But the Jews who disbelieved stirred up the minds of the Gentiles and embittered them against the brethren.” (v. 2)

“But the people of the city were divided; and some sided with the Jews, and some with the apostles.” (v. 4)

• Opposition to the truth of God may result in persecution of the preacher and teacher.  This persecution does not necessarily mean the minister (I use this word in its broadest sense) has done something wrong.  It may mean he has been faithful to do what is right. Persecution is normative for the follower of Christ.

“And when an attempt was made by both the Gentiles and the Jews with their rulers, to mistreat and to stone them.” (v. 5)

“After they had preached the gospel to that city and had made many disciples, they returned to Lystra and to Iconium and to Antioch, strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying, ‘Through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God.’” (vv. 21–22)

• It is permissible, though not required, to flee persecution (there are examples of both in the book of Acts).

“They became aware of it and fled to the cities of Lycaonia, Lystra and Derbe, and the surrounding region;” (v. 6)

• The preacher, teacher, or speaker of the truth of God is dependent on God for his effectiveness in communicating God’s truth.

“Therefore they spent a long time there speaking boldly with reliance upon the Lord,” (v. 3a)

• Even when the gospel is rejected, the priority of the minister is to continue to declare the gospel.  Though the gospel may be rejected by some in some places, that does not mean it is ineffective.  The faithful servant never shies away from gospel proclamation.

“…and there they continued to preach the gospel.” (v. 7)

• There will sometimes (often?) be a temptation by the masses to misunderstand the purposes and workings of God and attribute power and authority to men that is only worthy of God Himself.

“When the crowds saw what Paul had done, they raised their voice, saying in the Lycaonian language, ‘The gods have become like men and have come down to us.’” (v. 11; see also vv. 12-13)

• The wise minister is quick to recognize, like John the Baptist, Christ’s preeminence his humility.

“But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard of it, they tore their robes and rushed out into the crowd, crying out and saying, ‘Men, why are you doing these things? We are also men of the same nature as you…’” (vv. 14–15a)

• When declaring the gospel, remember some basic theology like:  the gospel is a call to turn away from idolatrous worship to worship the living God; God is the maker of and Sovereign over all things; His permissiveness to allow people to go their own way and reject Him is an indication of His judgment of them (see also Rom. 1); even the most basic elements of life — like the provision of food and a good meal — is a gift from God and a testimony of His grace.

“’and preach the gospel to you that you should turn from these vain things to a living God, WHO MADE THE HEAVEN AND THE EARTH AND THE SEA AND ALL THAT IS IN THEM.  In the generations gone by He permitted all the nations to go their own ways; and yet He did not leave Himself without witness, in that He did good and gave you rains from heaven and fruitful seasons, satisfying your hearts with food and gladness.’” (vv. 15b–17)

• The norm and priority for leadership in the church is elders.

“When they had appointed elders for them in every church…” (v.23a)

• Ministry effectiveness is always dependent on the grace of God, which means that whatever is accomplished in ministry is always due to the Lord’s working, so He always receives credit and worship for what is done.

“When they had arrived and gathered the church together, they began to report all things that God had done with them and how He had opened a door of faith to the Gentiles.” (v. 27)