Comments on: What is Your View of Ministry?

By: Matthew

Matthew — Fri, 09 May 2008 19:21:38 +0000

Thanks for this – it’s a really worthwhile point. In a similar vein, it’s worth reflecting again on Jesus’ parables of the seeds in Mark 4: After the religious leaders and his own family oppose and reject him, Jesus tells a series of parables about the way in which his ministry of the Word will appear to be mostly fruitless, with rejection and opposition… but in the end, there will be an astonishingly big harvest… It makes me look forward to that eye-widening moment when we finally see an innumerable multitude gathered around the lamb… great post!

By: Ecclesiology matrix « He is Sufficient

Ecclesiology matrix « He is Sufficient — Wed, 07 May 2008 01:05:08 +0000

[...] as the result of this recent post on ministry, the key question I gravitated toward thinking about was whether the work of the Holy Spirit is [...]

By: Puritan Lad

Puritan Lad — Mon, 05 May 2008 23:54:45 +0000

In the end, we need to take Jesus at His Word, “I will build my church”. While we can surely be excited over events that bring thousands of true converts, we need to make sure that our main objective isn’t merely numbers. In such cases, evangelism can become superficial. Instead, we should focus on feeding the sheep, however many there may be.

By: Iris

Iris — Fri, 02 May 2008 16:51:26 +0000

One of the things I teach my leaders is how to not evaluate a work of obedience by what we see it did or did not do. I agree with Oswald Chambers and am a firm believer in not doing the “critical analysis” approach. I also do not invite audiences to evaluate an event. Same principle. I do believe in committing any questions I have to the Lord in prayer and trust Him to address them in His time. I find Him very good here. He is always insisting on change from me one direction or another. He is a very good trainer.

People in the churches are very quick to tell you what they think, so you won’t be without that data — but it should not count much.

By: TC

TC — Thu, 01 May 2008 17:14:08 +0000

Oswald Chambers held the conviction that anything beyond proclaiming the gospel was the dominion of the Holy Spirit and that we ought to not assert ourselves there or take credit for results.

Elshaddai, I’ve always held the view that the book of Acts is really about the “Acts” of the Holy Spirit in conversion and consecration, salvation and sanctification (I think I have a knack for alliteration today!)

Bryan, if they only knew! Isn’t that what Paul says in 1 Cor 2? From a secular standpoint we are messed up beyond human repair, but we even fail to realize this one, so we try to invent the next best thing.

It’s the commercial world and how best to satisfy the consumer!