## Ministry for Me?

## Ephesians 4:12

Tonight I want to begin a series of studies on ministry. Now that may seem a bit foreign to some. For many years, when the word ministry was spoken, my mind immediately went to the idea of pastor, missionary, etc. But the more I have grown as a believer, I have learned that ministry is not something that God has reserved for a special few, but it is something that He expects from every child! None of us would deny that God has given to us the Great Commission. We accept that, and rejoice in it. We, as believers, are to be God's instruments through which the world might know how to be reconciled to Him. This is our mission, however, each of us also has a ministry.

Mission: What God has called us to do.

(Mat 28:19-20) "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: {20} Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen."

(Mark 16:15) "And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature."

(Acts 1:8) "But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth."

Ministry: The way in which we fulfill the mission that God has given to each of us.

(2 Cor 5:18) "And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;"

(Eph 4:12) "For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:"

Is it possible for a believer to complete their mission without being involved in ministry? (No, our ministry cannot be separated from our mission.)

Consider various ministries of this church. How does they fulfill the mission that God has given to each of us? Examples?

Is a ministry valid if it does not enable us to fulfill the mission that God has given us? Examples?

What keeps a believer from becoming involved in true ministry?

Is there a point in our lives as believers, where we no longer should be involved in ministry?

Next Week: Preparation for Ministry