If you are a Christian, you are called to ministry. I don’t mean vocational ministry—few of God’s people are called to vocational ministry. But I do mean ministry.
The question is, what is ministry supposed to do, and what is that ministry aiming to accomplish?
Simply put, ministry is this: proclaim to present. This language comes from Col 1:28: “We proclaim Him, admonishing every man and teaching every man with all wisdom, so that we may present every man complete in Christ.” In this passage we find out what we are supposed to do, and what are aiming to accomplish.
First, what are we supposed to do? We are to proclaim Jesus.
Christian ministry is fundamentally a word-based ministry. After all, God gave us a book of words. We are to communicate Jesus with our words.
What are we to communicate about Jesus? We are to communicate all about Jesus—his divinity, humanity, birth, life, death, resurrection, ascension, and session. And how are we to communicate this? “With all wisdom.” We must know our audience. We must know our content. We must apply the gospel wisely to all of life.
Second, what are we aiming to accomplish? To present every person mature.
Christian ministry has the goal of presenting every person mature or complete. This, after all, is the reason God redeems people—that he might conform them into the image of his Son (Rom 8:29). The Son is the measure of perfection and maturity. He is the measure that we are all striving for every person to become like.
Recognize, therefore, that in the relationships God has given you in your family, friends, workplace, community, church, and even strangers, God has placed you into his ministry. Today, whatever relationships God has put before you (e.g., spouse, children, colleagues), he wants you to “proclaim to present.” Let us have this action and aim as we begin 2019.
Pastor Dan Burrus