Central Union Church of Christ

Romans 12:1-8

My Ministry

What is Your

Ministry?

What is Your

Ministry?

Verses 4-5, here is one of Paul’s favorite analogies. Just as every part of the physical body has a part and needs to function for the benefit of the whole body, so every member as a ministry in the church.

My Ministry

1 Corinthians 12:14-26 (KJV) 14   For the body is not one member, but many. 15  If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? 16  And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? 17  If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling? 18  But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him. 19  And if they were all one member, where were the body? 20  But now are they many members, yet but one body. 21  And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you. 22

 Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary: 23  And those members of the body, which we think to be less honourable, upon these we bestow more abundant honour; and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness. 24

 For our comely parts have no need: but God hath tempered the body together, having given more abundant honour to that part which lacked: 25  That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another. 26  And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it.

Ephesians 4:16 (NASB) 16  from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by what every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love.

We are members of one another!

You are part of my life and I am a part of yours. We are all in this together.

For want of a nail the shoe was lost,

For a want of a shoe the horse was lost,

For want of a horse the knight was lost,

For want of a knight the battle was lost,

For want of a battle the kingdom was lost.

So a kingdom was lost – all for a want of a nail.

What is Your

Ministry?

God in His love has been so good to each of us in giving us gifts, gifts that makes it possible for us to be His ministers (6a).

My Ministry

What is Your

Ministry?

Paul proceeds to give us a list of areas we can serve. The seven kinds of ministry named are not intended as a complete list, but makes the point that though different everyone should find his/her place of ministry and do it faithfully (6b-8)

My Ministry

My Ministry

What is Your

Ministry?

Is it a job… or is it a ministry?

Some people have a job, others involve themselves in a ministry. What’s the difference?

If you are doing it just because no one else will, it’s a job. If you are doing it to serve the Lord, it is a ministry.

If you are doing it just well enough to get by, it’s a job. If you are doing it to the best of your ability, it’s a ministry.

If you quit because someone criticized you, it was a job. If you kept on serving, it’s a ministry.

If you’ll do it only so long as it doesn’t interfere with other activities, it’s a job. If you’re so committed to staying with it, even when it means letting go of other things, it is a ministry.

If you quit because no one ever praised you or thanked you, it was a job. If you stay with it even though no one notices your effort, it is a ministry.

Is it a job… or is it a ministry?

It is hard to get excited about a job. It’s almost impossible not to be excited about a ministry.

An average person does a job. A great and growing person is involved in a ministry.

If your concern is success, it’s a job. If your concern is faithfulness, it’s a ministry.

People will say, “Well done.” when you do your job. The Lord will say, “Well done my good and faithful servant,” when you complete your ministry.