We’ve already established that to do ministry God’s way, we need His power. We need to cease striving to do ministry in our own strength. When we do, we’ll see the power of God unleashed in ways that are “immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us” (Eph. 3:20).
The issue is not “if” we have this power available to us but how to pull on that power. God’s provides a variety of means for ministry empowerment that we can pull on.
God’s Means of Ministry Empowerment
The TrainChurchLeaders.com site has a section devoted to different means through which God provides us, His Church, with power, which will be listed below. To get a better grasp of those means, click on the links to read articles or check helpful books. (Please note that book links may take you to books on one of our affiliate sites which may use cookies to track your activity to ensure that Ministry Tools Resource Center gets commissions from any sales.)
– Gospel Message of the Cross
For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes … (Rom. 1:16)
- God’s Power: The Gospel of Jesus Christ
- Power of the Blood: Approaching God with Confidence by Bob Sorge
- Six Hours One Friday: Living the Power of the Cross by Max Lucado
- The Transforming Power of the Gospel by Jerry Bridges
– Grace
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—yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me. (1 Cor. 15:10)
- Find Yourself Making Excuses in Ministry?
- God’s Power: The Grace of God
- In the Grip of Grace by Max Lucado
- The Grace Awakening by Charles R. Swindoll
- Transforming Grace by Jerry Bridges
- What’s So Amazing About Grace? by Philip Yancey
– Holy Spirit
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses … (Acts 1:8)
- God’s Power: The Holy Spirit
- How Critical is the Holy Spirit in Ministry?
- Experiencing the Spirit: The Power of Pentecost Every Day by Henry Blackaby
- Living in the Power of the Holy Spirit by Charles F. Stanley
- The Counselor: Straight Talk About the Holy Spirit by A.W. Tozer
- The Holy Spirit by Charles C. Ryrie
- The Wonderful Spirit-Filled Life by Charles Stanley
– His Name
I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name, the name you gave me, so that they may be one as we are one. (Jn. 17:11)
- Beyond a Cerebral Understanding of the Names of God
- Glory to His Name
- God’s Power: The Name of the Lord
- Knowing God by Name: Names of God That Bring Hope and Healing by David Wilkerson
- Names of God by Nathan Stone
- The Names of God: 52 Bible Studies for Individuals and Groups by Ann Spangler
- The Names of God: An Illustrated Guide by George Knight
- The Power of God’s Names by Tony Evans
– Prayer
… The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective. (James 5:16)
- 3 Reasons Prayer is Critical in Ministry
- ASK for Wisdom Needed in Ministry
- Effective and Powerful Prayer
- God’s Power: Prayer
- Prayerlessness Because of What We Underestimate
- To Pray or Not to Pray?
- Alone with God: Rediscovering the Power and Passion by John MacArthur
- Discovering the Power of Prayer by Max Lucado
- Handle With Prayer: Unwrap the Source of God’s Strength for Living by Charles Stanley
– Resurrection
I want to know Christ – yes, to know the power of his resurrection … (Phil. 3:10)
- God’s Power: The Resurrection
- Jesus’ Resurrection is More Than an Easter Phenomenon
- What Does the Cross Plus the Resurrection Equal?
- Lifted: Experiencing the Resurrection Life by Allberry Sam
- Raised with Christ: How the Resurrection Changes Everything by Adrian Warnock
– Scripture
For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. (Heb. 4:12)
- God’s Power: The Word of God
- God’s Word: Power for Ministry
- God’s Word Benefits Us Today
- Since God is True to His Word, Then . . .
- The Power of God’s Word: Responding to It Only Makes Sense
- What You Believe About the Bible Has Implications
- Inspired – Experience the Power of God’s Word by Josh McDowell, Sean McDowell
– Spiritual Gifts
Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. … (1 Pet. 4:10-11)
- God’s Power: Spiritual Gifts
- Spiritual Gifts: God’s enablement for believers to do their part
- Everybody Has A Part: Getting A Grip on Spiritual Gifts by Ministry Tools Resource Center
- Everybody Has A Part Adult Spiritual Gifts Curriculum by Ministry Tools Resource Center
- Finding Your Best Fit in Ministry by Ministry Tools Resource Center
– Spiritual Weaponry
The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. (2 Cor. 10:4)
- Being Ready for Spiritual Battles
- Biblical Principles for Spiritual Battles
- God, Greater Than All Other Forces
- Resistance in the Spiritual Realm
- Strength for Spiritual Battles
- Praying God’s Word: Breaking Free from Spiritual Strongholds by Beth Moore
- When the Enemy Strikes: The Keys to Winning Your Spiritual Battles by Dr. Charles F. Stanley
***Learn more about each of these means in the Steering the Church Toward God’s Power Leadership Guide along with a more general look at God at the Church’s source of power. This resource also looks at how God’s power is needed in twenty-five different tasks or responsibilities leaders must either do themselves or oversee.***
***Also check out the Ministry God’s Way Discipleship Tool which contains a section on Ministry Empowerment along with eight other elements involved in doing ministry God’s way.***
How to be a good leader in the ministry
Greeting in the Lord, Mercy Badu. To be a good leader in ministry, we need to find our power to serve in the Lord as this post suggests. Also, we need to line up all we do with His character and ways. We need to use the basics of life in Christ as a grid. I hope you’re able to work your way through the TrainChurchLeaders.com site where this is further explained.