MINISTERS CLASS STARTS - THURS. APRIL 24 @ 8PM (MST)
MAIN TOPIC: 6 Characteristics of Effective Ministers
Click for Lesson Material: 6. Characteristics Of Effective Ministers (Colossians 1:24-29) | Bible.org
Effective Ministers Are Servants Of The Church
“I have become its servant by the commission God gave me to present to you the word of God in its fullness” (Col. 1:25).
Paul said he had become the church’s servant by the commission of God. This is true of all ministers who are effective. In fact, the word minister means servant. This is what Jesus said about himself: “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45).
Every effective minister must be a servant. This would seem to be fundamental to ministry; however, we should be aware that not all ministers are truly servants. It is very possible for ministers to seek to be served in the church instead of serving. In fact, we see this with most people who attend church. When a person starts going to a church, typically the first thing on their mind is, “How can this church serve me? How is the worship? How is the preaching? How is the youth ministry? What can I get out of this church?”
Most Christians are consumer-minded. They are thinking about what they can get and not what they can give. This can also happen with those who are serving in ministry in the church. It is very easy for ministry to become about us.
In Luke 22, the disciples were arguing about who would be the greatest in the kingdom. This consumer mindset had started to creep into Christ’s apostles as well. They were starting to serve Christ primarily for what they could get. Look at how Christ rebuked his disciples. He said,
The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those who exercise authority over them call themselves Benefactors. But you are not to be like that. Instead, the greatest among you should be like the youngest, and the one who rules like the one who serves. For who is greater, the one who is at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one who is at the table? But I am among you as one who serves (Luke 22:25–27).
Jesus said, even though the world’s model of leadership is about ruling and being served, it will not be that way with his disciples. The greatest among them should be like the youngest. In that culture, the older person was more exalted than the younger. The younger person would do all the dirty work and serve everybody in the house. Christ said that’s not how it would be with his disciples. They would be servants.
A fitting story about the American Revolution teaches this same principle.
During the American Revolution, a man in civilian clothes rode past a group of soldiers repairing a small defensive barrier. Their leader was shouting instructions at them but making no other attempt to help them. Asked why by the rider, the leader said with great dignity, ‘Sir, I’m a corporal!’
The stranger apologized, dismounted, and proceeded to help the exhausted soldiers. The job done, he turned to the corporal and said, ‘If you need some more help, son, call me.’ With that, the Commander–In–Chief, George Washington, remounted his horse and rode on.3
In this scenario, the corporal used his rank to order people around without being willing to get dirty and do some work. However, George Washington, the President of the United States at that time, chose to use his leadership to set the example by serving others. This is what Christian ministers do. They set the example by serving.
Listen to what Peter said to the elders of the churches in his epistle:
Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, serving as overseers—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not greedy for money, but eager to serve; not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock (1 Peter 5:2–3).
After learning this lesson from Christ, Peter told the elders to not lord over those God had given them. In this passage, Peter actually gives three vices common to leadership. Leadership can commonly fall into the vice of being lazy instead of willingly serving. They commonly fall into the vice of being greedy for money instead of eager to serve, and they commonly fall into the trap of lording over people instead of being examples to the flock. Peter had learned his lesson, and so must each of us as ministers of Christ, if we are going to be effective. We must be servants of the church instead of seeking for the church to serve us.
How are you serving the church? How has God called you to serve the church?
Application Question: What are characteristics of a good servant?
1. A Good Servant Is Always Seeking The Interests Of Others Before His Own.
Listen to what Paul said: “Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others” (Phil. 2:4). Our questions should not be, “What do I want or need?” and “How can I fulfill my needs?” but “What does the church need?” and “How can I help fulfill those needs?”
2. A Good Servant Is Willing To Perform The Menial Or Despised Tasks.
Some people always seek to do great things but are never willing to do the little things. God finds the shepherd doing his best to honor God in the menial task of taking care of sheep, and he exalts him to do the great task of shepherding his kingdom as seen in the story of David. Look at what Christ will say to the servants who were faithful with their talents at his second coming: “Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness’” (Matt. 25:23).
Those who are faithful with a few things, even in what seem like very small tasks, God will put in charge of many things. Certainly, we have a great example of this in Christ. When there was no one to wash his disciples’ feet, he got down on his knees and did the chore of a slave as he washed the feet of his disciples (John 13). Good servants are willing to do the small tasks.
3. A Good Servant Is Willing To Serve In Secret Without Applause.
“Jesus said this: ‘But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you’” (Matt. 6:3–4).
Christ called for his disciples to practice serving in secret. They should only care about the applause of heaven and not of men. Are you commonly seeking the applause of others? Or, is the applause of God enough (cf. 1 Cor. 4:5)? This is a servant mentality—caring exclusively about the master. Listen again to Christ’s instructions to the disciples: “So you also, when you have done everything you were told to do, should say, ‘We are unworthy servants; we have only done our duty’” (Luke 17:10).
4. A Good Servant Knows And Uses His Gifts.
Listen to Peter’s instructions:
Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen (1 Peter 4:10–11).
Each of us has at least one spiritual gift. We must know our gifts and employ them in service to Christ and his church. Certainly, at times God will call us to serve outside of our gifts, and when he does, he provides grace. But we must know our specific gifts so that we can faithfully use them as we see the need. In what ways is God calling you to be more of a servant?
Application Question: In what ways is God calling you to become more of a servant of Christ’s church?
Q&A
1. What makes a Good Servant a Good Servant in your view?
2. Why are Good Servants often in the background?
3. What is the profile of a Bad Servant in your view?
4. Why is God called the Good Shepherd and how does His profile influence us?
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CALL: (720) 843.2575 / ACCESS CODE: 393 52 64 (Teleconference)
Archived Topics Below
Topics:
* Expository Preaching and Teaching 101
* Sermon Prep 101
* How To Use Commentaries Properly 101
* Overcoming Demonic Attacks During Preparation and Preaching 101
* How To Offer Christ to Others
* How to Address Pride Within, Even When You Don't See It
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