Christian Ministry

Lesson 20

Our Gospel Ministry

• 1 Corinthians 4:1-2

So then, men ought to regard us as servants of Christ and as those entrusted with the secret things of God. 2 Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful.

Our Gospel Ministry

1. Every Christian is a minister (servant) of Jesus with a ministry to carry out.

Our Gospel Ministry

• Luke 24:46-4846 “This is what is written: The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, 47 and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. 48 You are witnesses of these things.

Our Gospel Ministry

1. Every Christian is a minister (servant) of Jesus with a ministry to carry out.

2. We need to share God’s Word with all people.

Our Gospel Ministry

• Luke 10:1616 “He who listens to you listens to me; he who rejects you rejects me; but he who rejects me rejects him who sent me.”

Our Gospel Ministry

1. Every Christian is a minister (servant) of Jesus with a ministry to carry out.

2. We need to share God’s Word with all people.

3. We are Jesus’ representatives.

Our Gospel Ministry

• Matthew 16:1919 “I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”

Our Gospel Ministry

• John 20:21-2321 Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” 22 And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive anyone his sins, they are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.”

Our Gospel Ministry

4. Jesus has given us the “keys to the kingdom of heaven.”a. We forgive penitent

sinners. We open the door to heaven.

b. We discipline impenitent sinners. We lock the door to heaven (as long as they do not repent).

Our Gospel Ministry

• Matthew 18:15-1815 “If your brother sins against you, go and show

him his fault, just between the two of you. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over. 16 But if he will not listen, take one or two others along, so that ‘every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.’ 17 If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, treat him as you would a pagan or a tax collector.

18 “I tell you the truth, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.

Our Gospel Ministry

• 1 Corinthians 5:1313 “Expel the wicked man from among you.”

Our Gospel Ministry

• 2 Corinthians 2:6-86 The punishment inflicted on him by the majority is sufficient for him. 7 Now instead, you ought to forgive and comfort him, so that he will not be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow. 8 I urge you, therefore, to reaffirm your love for him.

Our Gospel Ministry

b. We discipline impenitent sinners. We lock the door to heaven (as long as they do not repent).1) Speak lovingly one on one with

them.

2) Bring loving witnesses along.

3) Have the church speak lovingly to them.

4) Excommunicating them if they reject God’s Word.

5) Gladly forgiving them and restoring them when they repent.

Our Gospel Ministry

• Ephesians 4:11-1211 It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, 12 to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up.

Our Gospel Ministry

5. Jesus gives us leaders who serve for us and train us for gospel ministry.

Our Gospel Ministry

• 1 Thessalonians 5:12-1312 Now we ask you, brothers, to respect those who work hard among you, who are over you in the Lord and who admonish you. 13 Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work. Live in peace with each other.

Our Gospel Ministry

5. Jesus gives us leaders who serve for us and train us for gospel ministry.

6. We honor our pastors (shepherds, leaders of God’s flock) as they train us.

Our Body Ministry

Chapter 12

Our Body Ministry

1. Every Christian has certain gifts from God. We need to use those gifts!

Our Body Ministry

• 1 Peter 4:1010 Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms.

Our Body Ministry

1. Every Christian has certain gifts from God. We need to use those gifts!

2. We can serve each other with our gifts for the good of the whole body.

Our Body Ministry

• Ephesians 4:12-1412 …to prepare God’s people for works of service, so

that the body of Christ may be built up 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.

14 Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming.

Our Body Ministry

1. Every Christian has certain gifts from God. We need to use those gifts!

2. We can serve each other with our gifts for the good of the whole body.

3. We build each other up spiritually.