MINISTRIES

Ministry & Action

Jesus didn’t proclaim his ministry, he just did it.  We will be known and remembered by our actions not so much by our words.  People may not remember a sermon but they will remember being prayed for, being helped, being fed, being taken care of.  St. Francis said, “preach the gospel, when necessary use words”!  Ministry makes church a verb rather than a noun.  Most ministry happens outside of the church walls. We are called to be the hands and feet of Christ in the world.  Ministry is deployed.  Feet go, hands do.  Let’s go, be the church.

Ministries at Trinity

Making Disciples (Video)

“What is Christian ministry?”

 “Ministry” is from the Greek word diakoneo, meaning “to serve” or douleuo, meaning “to serve as a slave.” In the New Testament, ministry is seen as service to God and to other people in His name. Jesus provided the pattern for Christian ministry—He came, not to receive service, but to give it (see Matthew 20:28; Mark 10:45; John 13:1-17).

A Christian ministers by meeting people’s needs with love and humility on Christ’s behalf (see Matthew 20:26; Mark 10:43; John 2:5,9; Acts 6:3; Romans 1:1;Galatians 1:10; Colossians 4:12). Christians are to minister to others out of their devotion to Christ and their love for others, whether the other people are believers or unbelievers, whether friends or enemies.  Ministry to others should strive to be impartial and unconditional, always seeking to help others as Jesus would.

The ministry in our day has taken on more of a vocational meaning as we call pastors “ministers” to full-time service. Pastors do spend their lives in the ministry, they do minister to others, and they can rightly be designated as ministers, but pastors are not the only ones who are to be involved in ministry. From the early New Testament churches to the churches of our day, each Christian is called to be in the ministry of helping others (see Romans 12:3-8, 10-13; 2 Timothy 2:24-26). Ministry can, and should, include ministering to the physical, emotional, mental, vocational, and financial needs of others. Jesus did, and so should we!