Part One: The Meaning of Ministry
One of the most complex fields today is theology. Undeniably, people hold controversial ideas regarding God and whether or not He actually exists. The prevalence of pain, catastrophe’s, and war, among disastrous events, have forced many individuals to withdraw from Christ. It is therefore vital for ministers to adequately study the scripture to provide valid answers for the many questions that people pose. Notably, the productive and robust ministry is contingent on a great understanding of the scripture, the character of God, His, plans, as well as His vision for the world.
According to Palmer-Atkins (2018), t he term “ministry” entails what individuals do to glorify God and advance the gospel. I am preparing for the ministry by attending Christian seminars and extensively studying theology in school. Undeniably, with the pervasiveness of catastrophes and injustices in the world, the word of God should be scrutinized effectively to acquire answers to the questions that people may pose on why God condones such occurrences when his people are suffering. Social media informs us of the wars, famines, chaotic governments, and communities plagued by drug abuse, racism, and violence, among others.
Delegate your assignment to our experts and they will do the rest.
The world is filled with people who have different opinions and attitudes of God. The increased rates of poverty, violence, and chronic diseases, among others, force people to question God, His ways, as well as whether or not He actually exists. Undeniably, it is difficult for God’s disciples to spread and advance the gospel when they cannot give valid answers to the questions that people have on God. The main shortage in the contemporary world is that of the world of God. A comprehensive study of theology will provide me with the answers and wisdom that is required to bring people closer to God. The word of God will enable me to offer relief to those in pain, the sick, the hopeless, and the distressed, among others. An analysis and understanding of God’s scriptures will enable me to know more about Him, His Will, and His vision for the redemption of the world
People experience continuous spiritual growth as they enter the ministry. Spiritual growth brings a person closer to God. I will continue to grow spiritually two primary ways. The first is through prayer. Praying enables one to maintain regular conversations with God. Secondly, I will dedicate myself to studying the scriptures and conveying God’s word to individuals in society. According to Strong (2015), s piritual growth is inevitable when a person becomes a disciple of Christ. Notably, faith is comparable to a seed which grows dramatically when it is nourished. The height of my spiritual growth will be evident when I have acquired a deeper understanding of God, his teachings, and His plan for the Universe.
As a devotee o Christ, it is critical for me to stay dedicated to time alone with God. The only way that I can achieve this is through creating a weekly schedule that states my activities and the time that they are supposed to be done. In doing this, I will be able to spare at least one hour from Monday to Friday, which would be spent worshipping and praying to God. I will also remain faithful to time alone with God by attending church services every sabbath day. Working on the seventh day is a violation of God’s will. As a result, all my Sundays will be spent in church service reading the scriptures and spreading the word of God.
Notably, there are several challenges that I am expected to face in my attempt to grow in the ministry. In detail, my part-time job as a freelancer is utterly demanding. I might be tempted to work even on the sabbath day to earn money to sustain myself. Nonetheless, I will ensure that I freelance for at least three hours each week so that I am not compelled to work on the day that I have dedicated to Christ. In addition, peer influence is also another major pitfall. Most of my peers love alcohol and partying. Furthermore, they do not believe in God and always challenge my beliefs. Turning to alcohol and attending regular parties can impede me from achieving the goals I have set, such as remaining faithful to my time alone with God.
Part Two: The Motives of Ministry
The church is where those who believe in God assemble to worship, pray, and read the scripture. Nonetheless, I believe that the former statement is debatable since contemporary churches even host non-believers. I also think that there is a profound difference between the local church, which is visible, and the universal church, which is invisible. According to Kansiime (2015), the local church refers to the physical buildings and the people who are considered members of these churches. Conversely, the universal church entails all those who believe in God all around the world and are united in Christ regardless of where they are. I strongly feel that the local church is not necessarily filled with true believers as compared to the universal one.
The gospel of Jesus Christ plays a critical role in the church and ministry. The gospel gives insight into the life of God’s only son, Jesus Christ who obeyed and fulfilled his father’s will through his ministry, death, resurrection, and ascension, among others. The gospel unifies Christians in love and harmony in the truth ( Kansiime, 2015 ). It commands them to love one other regardless of the differences that exist between them such as race, social status, and gender, among others. Furthermore, it teaches the congregation that every human being is not only extraordinary but made in God’s image and likeness.
The Gospel of Jesus Christ also informs Christians of the nature of human beings, who are dead in sin, unresponsive, and detached from God. The gospel tells of the ways in which human beings twist God’s truth, violate His law, disparage his objectives, and insult his holiness by their immorality. It brings light into the prevalence of the lack of hope and ungodly acts in the world. Most importantly the gospel of Jesus Christ informs Christians that they have a second chance to build a relationship with their Maker through repentance. Undeniably, God is patient and always takes the initiative to reconcile with His people.
The gospel can be offered at any time of need. Nonetheless, there is a proper way of presenting it in evangelism. Most disciples are unskilled when it comes to the presentation of the gospel. For instance, it is common for ministers to tell people that God loves them and they will go to heaven if they give their lives to Him at that very moment. Likewise, their incompetence is also demonstrated when they claim that people will become Christians when they ask Jesus to be their savior. An effective presentation must include God, the Law, and the Gospel ( Kansiime, 2015 ).
When presenting the gospel; ministers should stress that God expects nothing less than perfection and holiness since he is the true definition of the two aspects. It is also critical to remind Christians that they are unable to attain holiness since they steal, persecute, and cheat, among others and judgment is upon them since they have broken the commandments. The ministers should also emphasize that those who sin and fail to repent will be forever doomed. They should even mention the death of Jesus Christ, his resurrection, and ascension to demonstrate that his sacrifice was acceptable to God. Church ministers should conclude that Christians should repent for the sins to be forgiven.
Ministers should help those in the ministry develop the mind of Christ. People who have this kind of mindset deeply understand the plan of God. To attain this objective, God’s ministers should first study the scriptures so that they can effectively interpret its content to the people. An accurate interpretation enables people to understand God’s character, his ways, and the vision he has for the redemption of human beings. People are able to develop the mind of Christ when they understand the plans that God has for them in this life and also in the next.
Part Three: Essentials of Ministry
An active ministry is contingent on three key factors. The first is team encouragement. Undeniably, people who work in teams are highly motivated to accomplish their goals. The same applies to ministry. In the Bible, Paul sought support from his close acquaintances: Priscilla and Aquila. Paul was never alone in his ministry. Individuals are prone to facing many challenges in their ministry. Palmer-Atkins (2018) argues that it is therefore vital for them to have teams which can encourage them. Having close friends gives someone people to confide in, share problems with, and develop credible solutions to anticipated problems. Notably, loneliness is the key to personal failure. Team encouragement is, therefore, one of the essentials of ministry.
The second essential is perseverance. Ministers should exhibit high levels of persistence. In the Bible, Paul faced numerous trials ranging from harassment, confinement, and discord. The situation was not different in Corinth since he encountered the same issues ( Strong, 2015 ). He faced Jewish opposition, and local authorities strived to punish him. Nonetheless, he was determined and did not give up. The productive ministry is highly reliant on perseverance, and the intense will to overcome problems and adversarial opposition.
The third factor is seeking confidence in God. In his ministry, Paul experienced discouraging times. Paul confided in the Lord about his problems, and the Lord urged him not to be afraid. He encouraged Paul to continue speaking for He was with Paul and not a single person would attack or harm him in God’s presence. God communicates with his people when they call unto Him. Ministers should seek confidence from God. High levels of confidence enable people to overcome the challenges that are before them and continue God’s work.
I will incorporate these essentials into my ministry through three primary ways. Firstly, I will surround myself with friend and family that have strong faith in God. It is through these people that I will draw inspiration and seek encouragement. I will confide in them in times of difficulty and listen to their advice. Secondly, I will remain perseverant even when I face immense challenges because I believe that God is with me. I will further exploit every problem and use it as motivation to better myself and perform beyond people’s expectations. In doing this, I will undoubtedly become a competent minister. Finally, I will maintain constant communication with God so that I can retain high levels of confidence to face the trials that come my way.
Part Four: The Methods of Ministry
I will incorporate some methods in my ministry. First, I will approach it from the right perspective. I will always minister my own limited power and depend on the Almighty’s power. I will not rely on improbable exceptions to achieve perfection. Furthermore, embracing the grace of God will be my first step each time I make a mistake so that I can learn and move on confidently. Additionally, rather than imposing my personal plan’s in ministry, I will strive to identify God’s purpose, for the most positive outcomes. I persistently remind God to equip me with the humility I require to work so that I can satisfy Him, as opposed to validating myself or pleasing other individuals. Secondly, I will maintain short accounts with my Maker. I will acknowledge my sins every day, keeping in mind that sins, no matter how great or small, have the ability to decrease my intimacy with God. I will continuously thank God for His daily mercies and His great love for me and His creation. According to Palmer-Atkins (2018) i gnoring one’s sin fosters failure in ministry. Hence, I will pursue spiritual restoration by confessing, repenting, being accountable, and renewing my mind.
God’s word has always been misinterpreted and twisted for personal gain. Remarkably, most of those who claim to be ministers of Christ lack an understanding of the Scriptures. It is therefore crucial for people who wish to be God’s disciples to extensively study theology to not only create an intimate relationship with God, but also to understand His character, ways, and most of all the ways in which He manifests Himself. Undeniably, effective ministry is contingent on the attainment of this knowledge
References
Kansiime, E. K. (2015). Integrating Faith with Work: a transformational ministry model . Globethics. net International.
Palmer-Atkins, C. B. (2018). An Exploratory Study of a Nondenominational Church and Leadership Behaviors, Principles, Strategies, and Practices. Retrieved from
https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/dissertations/4671/
Strong, P. (2015). Effective Youth Ministry: theology-driven in a cultural context. In die Skriflig , 49 (3), 1-9.
