Minister and the People Galatians 4:12-20

And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.

Ministry for the People Galatians 4:12-20

Paul

Brothers, I entreat you, become as I am, for I also have become as you are. my little children, for whom I am again in the anguish of childbirth until Christ is formed in you! I wish I could be present with you now and change my tone, for I am perplexed about you.

Brothers, I entreat you, become as I am, for I also have become as you are.

7 Hudson Taylor

You know it was because of a bodily ailment that I preached the gospel to you at first (Galatians :4:13)

20 To the Jews I became as a Jew, in order to win Jews. To those under the law I became as one under the law that I might win those under the law. 21 To those outside the law I became as one outside the law that I might win those outside the law. 22 To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some. (1 Corinthians 9:20-22)

5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Philippians 2:5-8

Ministry is : becoming like those we are trying to reach as a Church

Brothers, I entreat you, become as I am, for I also have become as you are.

Becoming like Paul 1.Loyalty to the gospel (1:13- 2:14)(2:5,2:14) 2.Dead to the Law – to live for God (2:19) 3.No longer under the law (3:25) 4.Living by faith in Christ (2:20; 3:26- 29) 5.Not nullifying the grace of God(2:21) 6.Enjoying the benefits of the Gospel by faith in Christ ( 3:6-47)

Becoming like Paul = Becoming like Christ Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ. (1Corinthians 11:1)

Ministry is : Modeling our faith

16 Have I then become your enemy by telling you the truth?17 They make much of you, but for no good purpose. They want to shut you out, that you may make much of them. 18 It is always good to be made much of for a good purpose, and not only when I am present with you,

11 And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, 12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, …,, 14 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. 15 Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, (Ephesians 4:11-15)

Ministry is : speaking the truth in love for the glory of God (and not self)

19 my little children, for whom I am again in the anguish of childbirth until Christ is formed in you!

11 I am afraid I may have labored over you in vain.

14 and though my condition was a trial to you, you did not scorn or despise me, but received me as an angel of God, as Christ Jesus. 15 What then has become of your blessedness? For I testify to you that, if possible, you would have gouged out your eyes and given them to me.

5 For as we share abundantly in Christ's sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too. [ 6 If we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation;….. 8 For we do not want you to be unaware, brothers, [ of the affliction we experienced in Asia. For we were so utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life itself. (2 Corinthians 1:5-8)

24 Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in Christ's afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church, …29 For this I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me. ( Colossians 1:24-29)

“It is only in the trial of GOD’S grace that its beauty and power can be seen. Then all our trials of temper, circumstances, provocation, sickness, disappointment, bereavement, will but give a higher burnish to the mirror, and enable us to reflect more fully and more perfectly the glory and blessedness of our MASTER.” 33

Ministry is : 1.Becoming like those we are trying to reach as a Church 2.Modeling our faith 3.Speaking the truth in love for the glory of God (and not self) 4.Being willing to suffer for those we are reaching