Learning from what others have written about ministry in their books, articles, and video presentations can be quite helpful, keeping you from having to always learn the hard way. Using curriculum and other ministry tools already developed saves time so you can focus your attention elsewhere. For this reason, Ministry Tools Resource Center provides pages devoted to listing ideas and resources to enhance your learning and better equip you for ministry. Check out the List of Ministry Resources Pages pointing you to resource pages for church life (i.e., body life, fellowship, spiritual gifts), doctrine, equipping & ideas for ministry, holidays & seasons, and people groups — currently near 90 different topics.
While all of those pages may contain beneficial resources, we’d be remiss to think it’s all we need for effective ministry. And, we’d be unwise to view those resources as our starting point.
Begin with God When Looking for Ministry Resources
God does encourage us to consult with and learn from others (Prov. 15:22) but He also says “the fear of the Lord is THE BEGINNING of knowledge” (Prov. 1:7) and “the fear of the Lord is THE BEGINNING of wisdom” (Ps. 111:10). The more we know and love the Lord our God in the fullness of who He is, the more we’ll trust Him to be our all in all, leading to a realization of His power at work in and through us. That’s where we begin!
His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence. (2 Pet. 1:3, NASB)
Only the unchanging character of our glorious God gives us a firm foundation upon which to stand (Ps. 40:2) as well as a shield and fortress to shelter and protect (Ps. 18:2; 94:22; Prov. 18:10).
When we start with God, we’ll be in a better position to discern and filter what we read from other resources so we apply what is not only doctrinally sound but also a good fit for our situation. God promises to direct our paths when we trust in Him with all our heart rather than lean on our own understanding (Prov. 3:5-6).
When we begin with God, we’ll be better able to withstand the pressures and stressors of ministry, knowing that He not only has the best answers but also the ability to calm the soul just as Jesus calmed the raging sea (Mk. 4:35-41).
Be Sure to Check Out: The Ministry Worker’s Devotional: A Mighty Fortress Is Our God