Before answering the question, “Should I spend my life in full time gospel ministry?” I need a clear understanding from the Bible of the nature of gospel ministry. The Bible’s teaching on the subject can be summarised by a few couplets:
1) TWO GOALS
a) The glory of God
This must be the ultimate goal: to be driven above all by a concern to see God’s name honoured. Paul said of his ministry: “all this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God.” (2 Cor 4:15)
b) The service of others
We follow the Lord Jesus who chose “not to be served but to serve” (Mark 10:45) and we are to follow his example. Paul had a position of great authority as an apostle, but he always remembered that he was a servant – both of Christ (Philippians 1:1) and of other people (Colossians 1:25).
2) TWO FORMS
a) Universal
All Christians are called to engage in gospel ministry. One church listed the names of its staff with their positions on a notice board. The next line read: “ministers: the whole congregation”. That is absolutely right. We all have a responsibility to take the gospel to the world and to encourage other believers with the word of God.
b) Particular
Some Christians are set apart particularly for gospel ministry, whether as evangelists or as pastor-teachers. For example, Paul and Barnabus were commissioned to be missionaries (Acts 13:2-3) and Paul told Titus to appoint elders on Crete (Titus 1:5-9).
3) TWO PRIORITIES
In the early days of the church the apostles were being deflected from their primary responsibilities by other jobs. Deacons were then appointed so that the apostles could give their attention to their priorities: “prayer and the ministry of the word” (Acts 6:4)
a) The Word
Paul said to Timothy: “Devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to preaching and to teaching” (1 Timothy 3:13; see also 2 Timothy 1:13-14; 2:2, 4:1-2). It is through the word of God that non-Christians are converted and Christians are built up in Christ
b) Prayer
The Lord Jesus was God incarnate yet he still gave himself to prayer (e.g. Mark 1:35). The apostle Paul was also a man of prayer (Ephesians 1:15-16, 2 Timothy 1:3). Unless God works, our efforts will produce no fruit so we must look to him to work through our weakness.
4) TWO SPHERES
a) Church
Much gospel ministry is focussed on the church. Paul urged the Ephesian elders to be “shepherds of the church of God” (Acts 20:28). This responsibility is exercised supremely by teaching both by Word and, most challengingly, by deed. The pastor must set an example by living out what is taught (Titus 2:7).
b) World
Paul urges Timothy to “do the work of an evangelist” (2 Timothy 4:5). All gospel ministers must give some of their time to reaching the lost. Some are specifically commissioned to be evangelists.
5) TWO EXPECTATIONS
“What contradictions meet
in ministers’ employ.
It is a bitter sweet,
a sorrow full of joy” (John Newton and William Cowper)
a) Suffering
Gospel work is hard work. That is obvious from the life of both the Lord Jesus and the apostle Paul. God chooses to use us in our weakness so that all the glory goes to him (1 Corinthians 1:27& 29). We can expect discouragement, persecution and plenty of hard work.
b) Joy
Paul wrote to the Thessalonians: “For now we really live, since you are standing firm in the Lord. How can we thank God enough for you in return for all the joy we have in the presence of our God because of you” (1 Thessalonians 3:8-9). Nothing beats the joy of being used to bring somebody to Christ or help them grow in Christ. No job is more worthwhile or more fulfilling. Gospel work is eternal work with eternal consequences.
Vaughan Roberts