LESSON 20 Christian Ministry

Our Gospel Ministry 1 Corinthians 4:1-2 1 So then, men ought to regard us as servants of Christ and as those entrusted with the secret things of God. 2 Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful.

Our Gospel Ministry I Corinthians 12:4-7 4There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. 5There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. 6There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men. 7Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.

Our Gospel Ministry 1. Every Christian is a minister (servant) of Jesus with a ministry to carry out.

Our Gospel Ministry Luke 24: He said to them, "This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms." 45 Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. 46 “This is what is written: The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, 47 and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. 48 You are witnesses of these things.

Our Gospel Ministry 1. Every Christian is a minister (servant) of Jesus with a ministry to carry out. 2. We need to share God’s Word with all people.

Our Gospel Ministry Luke 10:16 16 “He who listens to you listens to me; he who rejects you rejects me; but he who rejects me rejects him who sent me.”

Our Gospel Ministry 1. Every Christian is a minister (servant) of Jesus with a ministry to carry out. 2. We need to share God’s Word with all people. 3. We are Jesus’ representatives.

Our Gospel Ministry Matthew 16: When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, "Who do people say the Son of Man is?" 14 They replied, "Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets." 15 "But what about you?" he asked. "Who do you say I am?" 16 Simon Peter answered, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."

Our Gospel Ministry Matthew 16: Jesus replied, "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven. 18 And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. 19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven." 20 Then he warned his disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Christ.

Our Gospel Ministry John 20: On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you!" 20 After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord. 21 Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” 22 And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive anyone his sins, they are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.”

Our Gospel Ministry Jesus has given us the “keys to the kingdom of heaven.”

Our Gospel Ministry 2 Samuel 12: Then Nathan said to David, "You are the man! This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: 'I anointed you king over Israel, and I delivered you from the hand of Saul. 8 I gave your master's house to you, and your master's wives into your arms. I gave you the house of Israel and Judah. And if all this had been too little, I would have given you even more. 9 Why did you despise the word of the LORD by doing what is evil in his eyes? You struck down Uriah the Hittite with the sword and took his wife to be your own. You killed him with the sword of the Ammonites. 10 Now, therefore, the sword will never depart from your house, because you despised me and took the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your own.'

Our Gospel Ministry 2 Samuel 12: "This is what the LORD says: 'Out of your own household I am going to bring calamity upon you. Before your very eyes I will take your wives and give them to one who is close to you, and he will lie with your wives in broad daylight. 12 You did it in secret, but I will do this thing in broad daylight before all Israel.' " 13 Then David said to Nathan, "I have sinned against the LORD." Nathan replied, "The LORD has taken away your sin. You are not going to die.

Our Gospel Ministry 4. Jesus has given us the “keys to the kingdom of heaven.” a. We forgive penitent sinners. We open the door to heaven.

Our Gospel Ministry Matthew 18: "What do you think? If a man owns a hundred sheep, and one of them wanders away, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go to look for the one that wandered off? 13 And if he finds it, I tell you the truth, he is happier about that one sheep than about the ninety-nine that did not wander off. 14 In the same way your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should be lost.

Our Gospel Ministry Matthew 18: “If your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault, just between the two of you. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over. 16 But if he will not listen, take one or two others along, so that ‘every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.’ 17 If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, treat him as you would a pagan or a tax collector. 18 “I tell you the truth, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. 19 "Again, I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. 20 For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them."

Our Gospel Ministry 4. Jesus has given us the “keys to the kingdom of heaven.” a. We forgive penitent sinners. We open the door to heaven. b. We discipline impenitent sinners. We lock the door to heaven (as long as they do not repent).

Our Gospel Ministry 1) Speak lovingly one on one with them. 2) Bring loving witnesses along. 3) Have the church speak lovingly to them. 4) Excommunicating them if they reject God’s Word.

Our Gospel Ministry 1 Corinthians 5:13 13 “Expel the wicked man from among you.”

Our Gospel Ministry 2 Corinthians 2:6-8 6 The punishment inflicted on him by the majority is sufficient for him. 7 Now instead, you ought to forgive and comfort him, so that he will not be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow. 8 I urge you, therefore, to reaffirm your love for him.

Our Gospel Ministry 5. By gladly returning them to fellowship when they repent.

Our Gospel Ministry b. We discipline impenitent sinners. We lock the door to heaven (as long as they do not repent). 1) Speak lovingly one on one with them. 2) Bring loving witnesses along. 3) Have the church speak lovingly to them. 4) Excommunicating them if they reject God’s Word. 5) Gladly forgiving them and restoring them when they repent.

Our Gospel Ministry Ephesians 4: It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, 12 to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up.

Our Gospel Ministry 5. Jesus gives us leaders who serve for us and train us for gospel ministry.

Our Gospel Ministry 1 Thessalonians 5: Now we ask you, brothers, to respect those who work hard among you, who are over you in the Lord and who admonish you. 13 Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work. Live in peace with each other.

Our Gospel Ministry 6. We honor our pastors (shepherds, leaders of God’s flock) as they train us.

Application Mike says to you: “I know that God gave the right to forgive sins to every Christian, but I think pastors do it better because they know all the right words to say.” How would you answer Mike?

Our Body Ministry

1 Corinthians 12: The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ. 13 For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free— and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. 14 Now the body is not made up of one part but of many. 15 If the foot should say, "Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body," it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. 16 And if the ear should say, "Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body," it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. 17 If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? 18 But in fact God has arranged the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. 19 If they were all one part, where would the body be? 20 As it is, there are many parts, but one body.

Our Body Ministry 1 Corinthians 12: The eye cannot say to the hand, "I don't need you!" And the head cannot say to the feet, "I don't need you!" 22 On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, 23 and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty, 24 while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has combined the members of the body and has given greater honor to the parts that lacked it, 25 so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. 26 If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it. 27 Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.

Our Body Ministry 1. Every Christian has certain gifts from God. We need to use thosee gifts!

Our Body Ministry 1 Corinthians 4:1-2 1 So then, men ought to regard us as servants of Christ and as those entrusted with the secret things of God. 2 Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful.

Our Body Ministry 1 Peter 4:10 10 Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms.

Our Body Ministry 1. Every Christian has certain gifts from God. We need to use those gifts! 2. We can serve each other with our gifts for the good of the whole body.

Our Body Ministry Ephesians 4: …to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. 14 Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming.

Our Body Ministry 1. Every Christian has certain gifts from God. We need to use those gifts! 2. We can serve each other with our gifts for the good of the whole body. 3. We build each other up spiritually.

Gifts In Action Program Connecting People, Gifts & Ministry Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. Romans 12:3-6a m

Gifts In Action Program Connecting People, Gifts & Ministry WHAT IS GIFTS IN ACTION? CONNECTING PEOPLE, GIFTS & MINISTRY

Gifts In Action Program Connecting People, Gifts & Ministry GIA VISION Gifts in Action is the central resource for people to get connected with a personal ministry within the Church, using God- given gifts & passions to serve the Lord with natural energy and joy. m

Gifts In Action Program Connecting People, Gifts & Ministry GIA MISSION Gifts in Action manages an on-going system to engage church leaders, ministry needs and people’s unique gifts and passions which connect Both for effective, rewarding and gift-based service.. m

Gifts In Action Program Connecting People, Gifts & Ministry NATURAL STRENGTHS: MEMBERS OPPORTUNITY FOR ASSESSMENT & WORKSHOP: 4 times/year SPIRITUAL GIFTS: MEMBERS OPPORTUNITY FOR ASSESSMENT & WORKSHOP: 4 times per year m

Gifts In Action Program Connecting People, Gifts & Ministry Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. Romans 12:3-6a m

ASSIGNMENT FOR NEXT WEEK 1. Study carefully the notes you have taken in class; be sure you understand. 2. Study carefully questions in the Catechism. Be able to answer them in your own words. 3. Complete the “Working with God’s Word” section. Have parents check your work. 4. Memorize these Bible passages: VIP Ephesians 4:11-12 “Christ gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up.” I Peter 4:10 “Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms.” 5. Memorize “What is the use of the Keys?” and “Where is this written?” 6. Complete Worksheet #20 at home and have your parents correct them at home and be prepared for a Unit Review on Lessons on Wednesday, April 6 5:45 – 6:45 p.m. 7. Keys Truths for Lesson 20

KEY TRUTHS Lesson 20 Ministry means _________ in Jesus’ name. Every Christian is a minister because we are all Christ’s ______________ who speak his word to all people. Jesus has given us the keys to the kingdom of heaven to _______ penitent sinners and ____________ impenitent sinners. Jesus gives us pastors and teachers to _______ us for ministry. We are managers, or _____________, of God’s gifts to us. As we serve faithfully, we _________ each other up.

Closing Prayer Luther’s Evening Prayer: In the name of the God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen. I thank you, my heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, your dear Son, that you have graciously keep me this day. Forgive me all my sins, and graciously keep me this night. Into your hands I commend my body and soul and all things. Let your holy angel be with me that the wicked foe may have no power over me. Amen.