Ministry

From: Doctrinal Definitions: A Handbook of Doctrinal Terms & Expressions in the New Testament

Narrator: Chris Genthree

Duration: 1min

• 1 min. read • grade level: 10

This refers to the exercise of a person’s spiritual gift—the discharge of the service the Lord has given us to do for Him (1 Peter 4:10-11¹⁰As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. ¹¹If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen. (1 Peter 4:10‑11)). Since all Christians have a gift, all Christians should be in the ministry. It may not be in ministering the Word publicly in Bible meetings, but exercising one’s gift will result in the person being a “joint of supply” to the whole body in some way (Eph. 4:16¹⁶From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love. (Ephesians 4:16)). (See Gift.)

People talk about being “called to the Ministry.” They mean that they feel they are being led to pursue the occupation of a clergyman (a so-called Minister or Pastor), and thus enroll in a seminary to be trained for that position in a church denomination. But in the Scriptural sense of the word, we have all been “called to the ministry,” because we all have a gift that is to be exercised for the Lord. The problem in the Church today is that there are many like “Archippus” who are not fulfilling their ministry (Col. 4:17¹⁷And say to Archippus, Take heed to the ministry which thou hast received in the Lord, that thou fulfil it. (Colossians 4:17)).

Click here to show subject links in the text for more information.