Sending into Ministry

Sermon Outline for Sunday, December 12, 2021

As I did a search for the words “Sending into Ministry” the results that popped up were “Jesus’ Descent into Hell”.

I then just looked for a dictionary meaning for the word MINISTRY. In both the secular and sacred meanings, the word MINISTRY means “The concept of serving.” Many times people believe that ministry is getting behind a pulpit and playing golf for 4 days a week. Some believe that ministry is just listening to people and telling them what they want to hear, so you can make them feel better. Ministry is not either of those last two examples. In TRUE ministry, there isn’t much time for golf and you don’t need to tell people something just to make them feel better.

In the OT Heb. šāraṯrefers especially to cultic ministry, applying to priests of the Lord who minister at the altar (Joel 1:9, 13), whether of Aaron (Exodus 28:35) or Zadok (Ezekiel. 40:46), or to Levites (Numbers 3:6). The term also has wider application for attending or serving someone (e.g., Exodus 24:13; 1 Kings 1:4, 15; 10:5; Psalm. 103:21).

Joel 1:9 ESV

The grain offering and the drink offering are cut off from the house of the Lord. The priests mourn, the ministers of the Lord.

Joel 1:13 ESV

Put on sackcloth and lament, O priests; wail, O ministers of the altar. Go in, pass the night in sackcloth, O ministers of my God! Because grain offering and drink offering are withheld from the house of your God.

Exodus 28:35 ESV

And it shall be on Aaron when he ministers, and its sound shall be heard when he goes into the Holy Place before the Lord, and when he comes out, so that he does not die.

Ezekiel 40:46 ESV

and the chamber that faces north is for the priests who have charge of the altar. These are the sons of Zadok, who alone among the sons of Levi may come near to the Lord to minister to him.”

Numbers 3:6 ESV

“Bring the tribe of Levi near, and set them before Aaron the priest, that they may minister to him.

Exodus 24:13 ESV

So Moses rose with his assistant Joshua, and Moses went up into the mountain of God.

1 Kings 1:4 ESV

The young woman was very beautiful, and she was of service to the king and attended to him, but the king knew her not.

1 Kings 1:15 ESV

So Bathsheba went to the king in his chamber (now the king was very old, and Abishag the Shunammite was attending to the king).

1 Kings 10:5 ESV

the food of his table, the seating of his officials, and the attendance of his servants, their clothing, his cupbearers, and his burnt offerings that he offered at the house of the Lord, there was no more breath in her.

Psalm 103:21 ESV

Bless the Lord, all his hosts, his ministers, who do his will!

It is used for serving or worshipping God (Exodus 3:12; Psalm 22:30).

Exodus 3:12 ESV

He said, “But I will be with you, and this shall be the sign for you, that I have sent you: when you have brought the people out of Egypt, you shall serve God on this mountain.”

Psalm 22:30 ESV

Posterity shall serve him; it shall be told of the Lord to the coming generation;

This range of meanings carries over into the NT primarily through terms related to “service” or “ministry.” Other words include “(be a) slave” (Romans 1:1); “(officiate in) worship” (Hebrews 13:10); and “priestly service” (Hebrews 8:6; Romans 15:16). Other words specify types of leaders in public ministry: a synagogue attendant (Luke 4:20), Christian “ministers,” or “servants of the word” (Luke 1:2); or (Acts 3:13; 4:25) for Jesus as God’s servant or child.

Romans 1:1 ESV

Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God,

 

Hebrews 13:10 ESV

We have an altar from which those who serve the tent have no right to eat.

Hebrews 8:6 ESV

But as it is, Christ has obtained a ministry that is as much more excellent than the old as the covenant he mediates is better, since it is enacted on better promises.

Romans 15:16 ESV

to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles in the priestly service of the gospel of God, so that the offering of the Gentiles may be acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit.

Luke 4:20 ESV

And he rolled up the scroll and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him.

Luke 1:2 ESV

just as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word have delivered them to us,

Acts 3:13 ESV

The God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, the God of our fathers, glorified his servant Jesus, whom you delivered over and denied in the presence of Pilate, when he had decided to release him.

Acts 4:25 ESV

who through the mouth of our father David, your servant, said by the Holy Spirit, “ ‘Why did the Gentiles rage, and the peoples plot in vain?

Not everyone called into ministry will be a Pulpit Pastor, but everyone called into ministry is called to serve. This does mean, regardless of what they are teaching today, being called into ministry or service, there will be sleepless nights, time away from family and friends, and lots of fasting and praying.

Pastors, they wear so many hats that many people do not see, but sure complain about. Pastors often must deal with complaints that are unmerited or unwarranted by people who don’t do anything. Pastors preach the Gospel, love on people, take care of people, help people physically, help people financially, clean the church, do the Maintenance, hear people’s problems, listen to other people complain about others, must endure gossip, hear the rumors of what people are saying about them and their family and the list goes on and on. In short, Pastors wear many hats and still hear people complain. Pray for every Pastor who is feeling down because of all the complaints despite their best efforts.

Pastor Andy Lambert ~ pastorandy@cvcog.church