Summarize the main idea behind the ministry
From the Christian perspective, ministry refers to Christians' activity to spread or express for being the great commission of God; some ministries are made of church members while others are associated with non-members of the church (Abafi, 2020).
Explain why you believe these verses to be important in understanding the term ministry.
There are several verses in the bible that provide a fundamental understanding of the term ministry. The verses are found in both new and old testament. These verses have been highlighted below:
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Galatians 5:13
Ministry is a pillar in the New Testament church alongside evangelism and fellowship of believers. Ministry should not be regarded as the calling specific individuals; rather, it is the privilege to all the believers and shows how people can serve each other. Ministry is about dedicating our talents, time and resources to benefit others. Galatians 5: 13, KJV states, "For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another." Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love." ( BBE, 2011)
2 Timothy 1:6
According to second Timothy 1:6, God gave love, power and self-discipline so that we could help one another. Therefore, one should not be ashamed of spreading the word of God. The verse further states that we should join Jesus Christ in suffering for the gospel using God's power. The verse expresses the need to continue believing in the word of God through the power, love and energy that God has given us. The verse is important in understanding ministry as it provides information on the source of power and energy use din driving the ministries
Ephesians 4:11-13
According to Ephesians, the Christ Jesus has chosen some of us to be missionaries, apostles, pastors, prophets and teachers so that His people can learn His words and grow strong spiritually. The selected few will continue to spread the word of God until His people are united their faith in Him and by understanding His son, Jesus Christ. By learning the word of God, we will become like Jesus Christ and fully love God like him. The verse describes how ministry might have originated because the missionaries, pastors and apostles are presently the forefront leaders of Christian ministries.
Acts 20:24
In act 20:24, St. Luke, the Evangelist, talks about the course and ministry he received from God. H talks about finishing the ministry that he has been doing throughout his life, and he is ready to testify to the word of God. The verse states, "But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God."
2 Corinthians 6:3
The verse states that we live by God's grace, and no one will find a mistake with our ministry. People live in such a way that no one can stumble because of them. The verse states that in all that we do, we ought to indicate that we are true ministries of God. It implies that we should live as true ministers of God and dedicate everything we do to him.
2 Corinthian 29:11
The verse urges not to waste time because we are the ones who have been choosing by God to be His priest and to spread His gospel. The verse urges believers to continue with Jesus' ministry and offer God sacrifices.
Provide a 1-paragraph rationale for why the verse is important for understanding ministry.
The verses are crucial in enhancing a deeper understanding of the term ministry because they have explained that ministry is part of the work that the chosen one is expected to do. The quotes from the bible make use believe that the term exists in the bible, and God Himself urges us to be His ministers. The verses help us understand that we are part of the ministry, and we are expected to take an active part in the ministries. The verses act as a motivation in spreading the word of God and as make us develop a keen interest in understanding and participating in ministry
Compare the use of the term ministry in the Old and New Testaments.
The term ministry has been used in both new and Old Testaments. Even though the term's scenarios might be different, the meaning of the word has some similarities and differences. In the New Testament, the ministry is viewed as spiritual because it is motivational and empower the Holy Spirit. The second Corinthians 3:7 states, "But if the ministry that produced death, carved in letters on stone tablets, came with glory so that the Israelites could not keep their eyes fixed on the face of Moses because of the glory of his face (a glory that was fading away), eight how much more glorious will the ministry of the Spirit be?" Based on the verse, the ministry can produce death, and it comes with glory. It is the Holy Spirit that energizes the ministry on the New Testament; it empowers men in their special areas of service, thus performing their religious activities effectively. In the old statement, ministers are viewed as servants of the church. In Colossians 1:25, Paul the Apostle states, "I have become its servant by the commission God gave me to present to you the word of God in its fullness" He indicates that he had been commissioned by God to become the church's servant. Therefore, all effective ministers are considered as a servant of the church.
The main similarity between the definition of the ministry in the Old Testament and the New Testament is that God is the one who has commissioned His children to spread His gospel as ministers. Regardless of the Bible Testament definition, the ministry is expected to focus on spreading God's word and acting like his servants. They should stay focus on their activities and ensure that there no interruption in their work.
Explain why it is important to clearly define ministry as well as what you believe are the most important things to know from this exercise
The main purpose of defining the term ministry is to make our philosophy of the term based on what we expect the church. Individual understanding of the term ministry is essential for making one believe in ministry and the ministry's activities. Definition completely changes our perception of ministry; we will view ministry as a role assigned to us by the Almighty God. No specific person is expected to become a minister of God; we have an equal opportunity to become God's minister.
In the scripture, God has laid out the meaning of the term ministry of the church. We have no power over the mission and the church's purpose, it is God's institution, and therefore our responsibilities are to follow the commands that He gives unto us (Gentle, 2017). We have the responsibility of appropriately and effectively achieving the biblical mandate that God has assigned us. Going through the verses, God urges us to spread His word through His ministries, but without an understanding ministry, we might not know what God expects us to as His ministers.
In general, the philosophical definition of ministry, according to the bible, benefit us in several ways. Some of the importance of defining the word ministry, according to the bible, have been discussed below.
Understanding ministry forces us to become biblical, thus keeping us from making assumptions regarding the meaning of ministry or seeking an unbiblical definition of the term. Coming up with our definition of ministry makes us deviate from God's command and start focusing on personal ministerial activities and goals
A biblical understanding of ministry makes more practical sense as compared to how people define the word. It helps the believers set actual goals that are in line with their biblical mandate. Through biblical definition, the philosophy of ministry becomes more practical at the church and community level.
It improves ministerial work efficiency by presenting God's ministers from spending time in activities that are non-biblical and focusing on spreading the word of God. The biblical definition limits ministry scope and ensures that God's ministers only focus on relevant activities and make the right decision concerning potential ministry activities.
Biblical definition heightens the effectiveness of the ministry. Without clear philosophical or operational definition parameters, one might not know whether they are heading in the right direction. Therefore, ministers of God can only head in the right direction by having the correct and appropriate ministry definition. Churches will see the exact reason why they existed and what they are expected to fulfill God's mission.
It can help us to become more faithful to any religious activity that we are expected to do. Ministry is regarded more like a vocation with several activities that may interrupt the main activity. Therefore, faithfulness to the call is crucial in ensuring that the misters stick to the church program. We should keep to our ministerial course and doing what the Lord has mandated us to do. The church is also motivated to carry out their activities in line with God's plan.
References
Abafi, A. M. (2020). Effects of Pastors' Lifestyle on Church Members: Case Study of Gyel Local Church Council of Evangelical Church Winning All (Doctoral dissertation, Asbury Theological Seminary).
BBE, B. E. T. (2011). King James Version (KJV).
Gentle, D. (2017). The Biblical Role of Deacons. The Baptist Start Page. Accessed July , 8 .
