Gospel Motivated Ministry

Gospel Motivation and Unity

Last time, we studied gospel motivation and how it moves us into unity. Christ has saved us, redeemed us from our sins, and taken the wrath of the Father so that we would be wrathless for eternity. As a result, we enjoy fellowship with others who have experienced the same. We are all filled with the Spirit, blood-bought individuals, brothers and sisters in Christ. This unity is supposed to exist among us.

This evening, we examine how gospel motivation plays out in ministry. Paul uses gospel motivation to correct inactivity in our lives. As Christians, we have been saved not only from sin but to something—a lifestyle that cooperates with who we now are. That lifestyle is called ministry.

There is significant gospel motivation for Christians to stop being inactive, idle, or stagnant. Stagnant water sits still and develops a stench. Christ paid everything, died on the cross to make you wrathless, and now says, "Be active."

The Gifts for Equipping the Saints

Ephesians 4:11-16 (ESV)

And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.

Christians motivated by the gospel have work to do. There is a false perception that only paid staff or leaders do the work of ministry. Leadership does ministry, and the rest follow. But every one of us needs to be ministered to and follow leadership, especially the pastors and the Word of God.

Yet this passage shatters that idea. God gave apostles, prophets, evangelists, shepherds, and teachers to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ. The purpose of every category of leadership is to equip saints to do the work.

What Is Ministry?

Ministry is thrown around loosely—skate park ministry, volleyball ministry, coffee ministry, and more. Many are legitimate, but what is ministry truly?

First, equipping means to set a broken bone (katartismos in Greek), from the medical world, or to furnish a home completely. It corrects brokenness and sin in people's lives, adding what is necessary for proper function. Equipped people have sin addressed, grow in knowledge of God and His Word, and understand what to do in ministry. Ignorant people with ongoing sin are not equipped.

Ministry means mediation or being an intermediary—standing in the gap between God and people, communicating what God wants them to know, and bringing their needs to God. It is bringing the Word of God to someone and drawing them to Christ continually.

Ministry brings good news, the gospel. Material gifts can open doors, but the goal is the gospel—not just warmth for a night, but for eternity. The primary purpose is bringing the gospel to each other, especially believers. Paul was eager to preach the gospel even to Christians in Rome.

2 Corinthians 9:11-15 (ESV)

You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God. For the ministry of this service is not only supplying the needs of the saints but is also overflowing in many thanksgivings to God. By their approval of this service, they will glorify God because of your submission that comes from your confession of the gospel of Christ and the generosity of your contribution for them and for all others, while they long for you and pray for you, because of the surpassing grace of God upon you. Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift!

Ministry produces thanksgiving to God. If it does not cause people to thank God, it is not ministry. It overflows in grace, leading to praise, longing, and prayer.

Ministry is gospel-saturated lives, dense with the gospel, motivated to help each other become like Christ. It opposes sin and submits to the Word of God. It starts with each of us equipping and being equipped so Jesus becomes central.

Implications for Ministry

1. You are not automatically equipped for ministry by being saved. The Corinthians were zealous but abused gifts and sin ran rampant due to lack of equipping. No Christian is equipped apart from apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers giving God's Word.

2. Sin ruins ministry. Laziness ruins it too, as in Hebrews 5, where long-time Christians were immature due to laziness in hearing.

3. Ignorance of God's Word ruins ministry. It evidences no equipping.

4. Going rogue ruins ministry—the "Jesus and me" mentality ignores equipping from the body.

The Privilege and Results of Ministry

This is a privilege. Every person here can minister, leading to people overwhelmed by grace, longing for you, praying for you. It results in unity, maturity, Christ-likeness, security, and stability.

We grow into Christ, no longer children tossed by waves and winds of doctrine—human cunning, craftiness, deceitful schemes. Bad doctrine is trickery, like playing dice with your life, cheating you of true life.

Positive ministry means the body functions properly, each part working, growing in love. One unequipped person affects the whole body. The Word of God drives equipping, which drives ministry.

Don't seek equipping from non-biblical sources. We need Christ and His Word.