Ministry & Leadership: an introduction
Summery: - Ministry should be our priority. Make sure that others are influenced and challenged for better through our life.
Introduction:-
What are the duties of a Christian? How can we be more useful for the Lord and the people around us? How to be a profitable servant of God? These are important questions that every believer should ask?
Saved to Serve
We have been saved, regenerated and blessed so that we may be a blessing and help where ever we are. 1 Thess. 1:9. We ought to serve God and the people around us. Worship and witness are the two main purposes for which the Lord delivered us from darkness. 1 Peter. 2:, 5.
He has placed us in the Church that we may be edified and equipped for ministry. Ephes. 4:12.
We have been commanded to sacrifice our time, energy and resources in serving our fellow brethren. The Lord said, “You are the salt of the earth……..you are the light of the world.” Matt.5:13, 14. What a great responsibility! Live like ‘salt' and ‘light'. Give taste to the world, influence the world for better. Show light in this dark world. This is leadership all about.
Serve & influence
Christian leadership is influencing the people around us to progress. It is not a position or a job, but service. Taking the place of a servant, willing to be the least or the last. Cf Matthew 20:25—28.
A person with a higher position may not have followers. They may be effective managers, but not leaders as the Lord expects them.
But true leaders are those who persuade and help others to achieve a better life. People will spontaneously follow such leaders. He is able to influence, equip and encourage them to do what he urges them to do. Not by force or threat but by example.
The Lord Jesus is our leader, the captain of our faith. Heb. 12:1. He is our example too. 1Peter. 2:21 ; Matt. 20:28 . We who follow Him are supposed to carry out the work which is dear to Him: taking care of the Church. Ephes. 5:29. We must be under-shepherds and look after the flock of the Lord. 1Peter 5:1—4. Act. 20:28 .
Every thing depends upon the leader. Always it is true, whether at home, church or society, the followers can never go beyond the leader. The world is searching for such ideal leaders.
Many of the so-called leaders are selfish and power-mongers! They fight for position and power. Some other's sole aim is to feed themselves in the name of the flock, as the shepherds of Israel did! Ezekiel. 34:1—6.
The common people are suffering for there is no one to lead, teach, encourage and help them progress to spiritual life.
The Lord Jesus Christ was moved with compassion when He saw people were scattered as sheep having no shepherd. Matthew 9:35.
Prove our love
He asked Peter, “ Do you love me more than these?” When Peter replied ‘yes' what was the Lord's reply? “Feed My lambs.” We see the Lord repeats the question three times, and the Lord's word for a loving follower is, ‘take care of my people'! cf. John 21:15—17.
Let us have a commitment and zeal for the Lord's work. Oh, we may be moved by the compassion of the Lord.
Do not forget one day the Lord will reveal every secret and then our motive in Christian life and ministry will be manifested. The Lord has promised to reward for all our toil. 1 Pete. 5:4. 1 Cori. 4:5
So, brethren, let us continue in His work, propagating the gospel, winning souls, establishing local churches, teaching and equipping the saints etc.
“Therefore my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.”
1Corin. 15:58
More
