One of the teaching methods I’ve used is the Agree/Disagree Statement.  I choose a statement that can be looked at in more than one way and ask students if they agree or disagree.  This method often generates some lively discussions.  Maximizing your ministry is one of those issues I could easily turn into an agree/disagree statement, saying something like

          “Maximizing your ministry is biblical.
                   Agree or disagree?”

Here’s how I could disagree with that statement:

If by that statement you are looking at self-effort, getting all you can out of it for self-glory, self-promotion or self-actualization, then it is a worldly perspective and I would have to most definitely say, “I disagree.”  God’s Word is filled with verses about how it needs to be God’s power at work in and through us to HIS glory if what we do is going to count for eternity.   Here are a sampling of verses:

I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.   (Jn. 15:5)

Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit.  (Phil. 2:3)

“… for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.  (Phil. 2:13)

May the God of peace … equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.  (Heb. 13:20-21)

His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.  (2 Pet. 1:3)

Here’s how I could agree with that statement:

If by that statement you are suggesting the need to plan, be diligent, and work toward excellence in ministry, to make the most of your time and resources in it, I would have to say, “I agree.”  God’s Word is filled with verses about giving God our best and being faithful stewards of what He has given us.  Here are a sampling of verses:

So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. (1 Cor. 10:31)

… so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, … (Phil. 1:10)

… if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – think about such things. (Phil. 4:8)

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

We must look at the whole counsel of God.  When we do, we must conclude that we are to do our best, to maximize our efforts, but to do so in the grace and power of the Almighty God.  The Apostle Paul said, “But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them (He maximized his ministry efforts.) – yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me” (1 Cor. 15:10).  The last phrase of that verse is the key.

God is in the business of maximizing ministry … beyond what we would ever think:

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.  (Eph. 3:20-21)

Based on this perspective, let me ask:  Is your church reaching maximum effectiveness?

I received an e-mail from a young man who sensed God’s call to become a pastor.  He felt like he was at an impasse, not having much money and needing guidance on where, when and how to answer this call.  I thought perhaps my response could be helpful to others.

If God has laid this on your heart and gifted you to be a pastor, it will be a matter of timing for it to come to fruition.  God does not always bring about what He calls us to do immediately.   Look at examples in Scripture … Moses, the 12 disciples (spent 3 years with Jesus), Paul. 

If God has laid this on your heart and gifted you accordingly, He will provide for what is His will.  Do not let a lack of money deter pursuit of God’s will in your life.  Learn early on that pastoral ministry is not a means of “great gain” (1 Tim. 6:3-10).  It is waiting on Him and trusting Him to bring about His desires.  If you don’t learn to do that now, you could find pastoral ministry very difficult.  You must patiently wait on the Lord so that ministry is about Him and done according to Him.  It is not about you and your ideas.  It is His church.  He is the Head.

If God has laid this on your heart and gifted you accordingly, He will prepare you to serve in this way.  While this will undoubtedly include formal training, His preparation will involve so much more. 

The “where, when, and how” will fall into place and be more obvious when He has more fully prepared you and it is His timing.  Let me caution you against trying to make it happen or thinking others can tell you all this.  God will make it clear when the time is right.  Look at examples in Scripture.  God did not reveal all ahead of time.  (Ex. – Abraham – Gen. 12:1 – “The Lord had said to Abram, ‘Leave your country, your people and your father’s household and go to the land I will show you.’”  God merely told him to go.  He didn’t provide all the details.)  We step out in obedience one step at a time as God directs us.  We must be faithful in what He has given us now and trust Him for what is to come.

Following are some suggestions to begin doing now.  If God is calling you into pastoral ministry, these things will serve to intensify that prompting in your heart.  If that doesn’t happen, you should question if it really is God’s leading or simply an emotional reaction or self-imposed expectations.

1. Spend time in God’s Word and in prayer consistently.  You need to be in tune with the Lord, to know His heart and ways, which will be a guiding factor now and in future ministry.  If you do not learn to constantly rely on God now, it will cut into ministry effectiveness. (See Jn. 15:1-7, especially verse 5 where Jesus said “Apart from me you can do nothing.”)
2. Ask God to continually search your heart (Ps. 139:23-24) and mold you to be the person with qualities in 1 Timothy 3:1-7 and Titus 1:5-9.  Character is very important in pastoral ministry.
3. Ask God to continue to prepare in your heart a love for Him and His people.  According to Matthew 22:37-40, love is the greatest in God’s book.  According to 1 Corinthians 13:1-3, without love, you have and gain nothing.  According to 2 Corinthians 5:14-15, love is what should compel us. Jesus told Peter, “If you love me, feed my sheep” (Jn. 21:15-17).  Pastoral ministry needs to grow out of a love for God which spills over into a love for people.  If you are having a hard time loving anyone, work that out now through His power and grace.
4. Take time to specifically study God’s design and purpose for the church.  A pastor needs a philosophy of ministry based on the Word of God.
5. Involve yourself in a variety of ministry opportunities to get hands-on experience of the various facets of church ministry.  A pastor has a servant’s heart.  You are not going to be a servant if you do not serve.  (Mk. 10:42-45; Lk. 9:23-26; Jn. 13:1-17; Phil. 2:5-8)  Being an example, which is part of this calling, should begin now. (1 Pet. 5:1-4; 1 Tim. 4:11-16)
6. Seek out a respected pastor who would be willing to take you under his wings, to mentor/disciple you.  This will help to give you a realistic view of pastoral ministry and it will also give opportunity for someone else to observe you and identify evidence of God’s calling.  If God is the One calling you to pastoral ministry, certainly others will recognize God’s hand in your life this way.  We have the example of Paul and Timothy and others Paul took under his wings.  Also see Proverbs 11:14, 15:22, 20:18.
7. Begin now to offer pastoral care to others and to communicate God’s Word to others.  You do not need a title or position to begin using gifts He has given you.  The more you do, the more this passion should develop within you if God is calling you to pastoral ministry.  (Gal. 6:1-5; 2 Tim. 2:24-26)

As you do these things, God will be preparing you for any specific ministry He has in mind for you when the time is right  — character / heart preparation, philosophical preparation, and skill preparation.