THE MARK OF A FAITHFUL MINISTRY (12 OF 53)
by Mike Stone
Scripture: 1 Corinthians 4:1, 1 Corinthians 4:3-5
This content is part of a series.
The Mark of a Faithful Ministry (12 of 53)
Series: Straight Up Truth for a Messed Up Church
Mike Stone
1 Corinthians 4:1-5
What do you think are the marks of a faithful minister?
Preaching? Visiting? Administrating? Counseling?
There are a lot of ideas about how to identify a faithful ministry. Increased baptisms, growing budgets, expansive buildings. Each of these things MAY mark a faithful ministry. But those things may also mark a ministry that is powered by the flesh, built on pragmatism, and destined for ultimate failure.
In this culture of quick results and instant gratification, it's important for us to realize that everything that glitters isn't gold. And sometimes the real, lasting gold of ministry may not seem too bright and shiny at the time.
One of the problems in the Corinthian church is they were divided over their favorite ministers. Some said they followed Paul, others Apollos, and others Cephas. Paul anticipates the reasons why each minister had a following and he says to each group, ''You are basing your ministerial evaluation on the wrong criteria.''
The reason Paul knows they are using the wrong criteria is that the RIGHT CRITERIA is ultimately known ONLY to God and revealed ONLY in eternity.
In the opening section of chapter 4, Paul indicates there's only ONE JUDGE of a ministry. And that is GOD HIMSELF. And there's only ONE CRITERIA by which God will judge the faithfulness of a ministry, and that is, FAITHFULNESS.
1. The role of the minister (1)
Many churches have unrealistic expectations for their minister. One search committee did a survey of the church and came up with the following expectations for the new pastor:
A. He prepares deep hour-long sermons that can be preached in ? twenty minutes.
B. 27 years old with 30 years' experience.
C. Tall and short
D. Thin and heavy set
E. One blue eye and one brown eye
F. Hair parted down the middle, straight on one side, wavy on ? the other with a balding spot to ...
Series: Straight Up Truth for a Messed Up Church
Mike Stone
1 Corinthians 4:1-5
What do you think are the marks of a faithful minister?
Preaching? Visiting? Administrating? Counseling?
There are a lot of ideas about how to identify a faithful ministry. Increased baptisms, growing budgets, expansive buildings. Each of these things MAY mark a faithful ministry. But those things may also mark a ministry that is powered by the flesh, built on pragmatism, and destined for ultimate failure.
In this culture of quick results and instant gratification, it's important for us to realize that everything that glitters isn't gold. And sometimes the real, lasting gold of ministry may not seem too bright and shiny at the time.
One of the problems in the Corinthian church is they were divided over their favorite ministers. Some said they followed Paul, others Apollos, and others Cephas. Paul anticipates the reasons why each minister had a following and he says to each group, ''You are basing your ministerial evaluation on the wrong criteria.''
The reason Paul knows they are using the wrong criteria is that the RIGHT CRITERIA is ultimately known ONLY to God and revealed ONLY in eternity.
In the opening section of chapter 4, Paul indicates there's only ONE JUDGE of a ministry. And that is GOD HIMSELF. And there's only ONE CRITERIA by which God will judge the faithfulness of a ministry, and that is, FAITHFULNESS.
1. The role of the minister (1)
Many churches have unrealistic expectations for their minister. One search committee did a survey of the church and came up with the following expectations for the new pastor:
A. He prepares deep hour-long sermons that can be preached in ? twenty minutes.
B. 27 years old with 30 years' experience.
C. Tall and short
D. Thin and heavy set
E. One blue eye and one brown eye
F. Hair parted down the middle, straight on one side, wavy on ? the other with a balding spot to ...
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