Author Archives: Ministry Tools Resource Center

Find Yourself Making Excuses in Ministry?

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God Makes All Grace Abound so No Excuses in MinistryIf we find ourselves making excuses in ministry about why we didn’t do something or didn’t do a better job, we need to work through how this verse relates.

And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed. (2 Cor. 9:8, NASB)

Principles from 2 Corinthians 9:8 that Apply to Ministry

The Apostle Paul wrote to the Corinthians about their ministry to the Macedonian church in 2 Corinthians 9. He told them that they needed to be prepared to follow through with their commitment and should do so generously and cheerfully. Though these verses refer to giving, we could apply the principles in 2 Corinthians 9:8 to any kind of ministry.

  1. What God wills, He provides for. — “And God is ABLE to make”
  1. God’s provision to do His will is complete, not just a trickle or portion of grace. — “ALL grace ABOUND to you”
  1. God will always come through with the grace to do His will, no exceptions. — “so that in ALL things at ALL times”
  1. Though God will give us everything essential for accomplishing His will, He may or may not give us excess. — “having ALL you NEED”
  1. God’s objective in giving us grace to do His will isn’t that we keep His provision for ourselves but that we have in order to give. — “you will ABOUND in EVERY good work”

Do Some Soul Searching If You Find Yourself Making Excuses in Ministry

If we have problems following through on commitments, the problem is with us, not with God. Before making excuses for not doing ministry, or doing it well, let’s ask God to search our hearts (Ps. 139:23-24) as we seek to answer these questions.

Is this really God’s will?

Perhaps we’re struggling because we’re pursuing something that’s not truly God’s will. We may have good intentions but not God’s intentions. We may have good ideas but not God’s ideal. — Keep praying about it to make sure you’re on page with God.

Are my motives right?

Perhaps in the depths of our hearts, we want God’s grace so we’re blessed. While God does take care of us, ultimately He gives us His grace so we can serve others. “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) — Learn to be generous and faithful with the little God gives. He could be waiting to give more until our motives are right.

Am I missing what God is actually doing?

Perhaps we’re putting expectations on God as to how He must operate and therefore don’t see what He’s putting into place for us. God provides for ministry in a variety of ways, not just monetarily. He might be providing but we don’t see it because we’re looking elsewhere. — Let God be God, and we won’t give up just because we don’t see it. God knows what’s truly needed to accomplish His will. He sees the big picture.

Maybe instead of making excuses in ministry, what we need is to ask God for a restart based on His abundant grace.

Church Leaders, Also Read: God’s Power for the Church: The Grace of God

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Church Leaders, Be an Example of Servanthood

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Servanthood Follows Jesus' ExampleChurch leaders, do you want your church body to engage in Body life, living out the one another passages of Scripture with everyone doing their parts? Do you want people to treat their spouses and families well? Do you want them to extend the love of Christ to people in the workplace? Do you want people to reach out with charity and kindness to those in need? Do you want people to work out conflict and find unity in the midst of diversity? — Then follow Jesus’ ways and be an example of servanthood.

Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, serving as overseers – not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not greedy for money, but eager to serve; not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. (1 Pet. 5:2-3)

Notice that we’re to be eager to serve, doing so willingly and authentically.

Ways Leaders Exemplify Servanthood

While serving can manifest itself in what we do, it also comes out in our attitudes and how we treat others.

  • Leaders have many opportunities to be a servant example by the way they treat those who criticize, falsely accuse, or betray them.
  • Leaders can exemplify being a servant in the way they deal with personality conflicts, differences of opinion, and philosophical challenges.
  • Leaders can model servanthood in their approach to people who seem unlovable, difficult, or hard to reach.
  • Leaders can demonstrate servanthood by respecting all people regardless of age, spiritual maturity, gender, type or position of ministry, etc.

In a world disillusioned and distrusting of people in leadership, someone who authentically leads in these ways as a servant, will tend to get people’s attention in a good way. This is the kind of leader who can make a real impact in people’s lives.

Also Read: Church Leadership Qualities: Be a Servant

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Facing Issues?

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We can face all sorts of issues at work, church, and in the home. Some may be the consequences of our own choices while other issues may be the result of what someone else did. Nonetheless, we may have to deal with the fallout, which can still be stressful and anxiety producing.

What to Do When Facing Issues

Cast All Anxiety on Him When Facing Issues
Let’s remember God’s ability and desire to help us and turn to Him first and foremost.

Here’s the reason:

Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. (1 Pet. 5:7)

Notice the results when taking our issues to the Lord:

1) We find peace in the midst of our circumstances.

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Phil. 4:6-7)

2) He makes a way for us to navigate whatever we’re facing.

Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. (Prov. 3:5-6)

An Approach to Working Through Issues

The approach taken in a training resource for Bible teachers facing specific discipline issues could be helpful for other kinds of situations as well. For each of the 56 issues covered in that resource, teachers look at the challenge, cause, corrective and circumventive measures. Read on and you’ll see how this approach could apply to other types of issues. Remember to first and foremost turn to the Lord. Note how He needs to be part of each step to experience the above-mentioned results.

Challenge: What is really happening and what effects is it having?

This is a good starting point. We must be real. We can’t live in denial. Neither should we obsess or exaggerate what’s happening. Rather, let’s lay it out before the Lord, much like King Hezekiah did upon receiving a threatening letter from the enemy (2 Kings 19:14-19). Philippians 4:6-7 says “in everything” to present our requests to the Lord. That implies we get specific in laying it out before the Lord. ‘Here’s what’s happening. Here are the effects it’s having. We / I need your help, Lord.’

Cause: What brought on this issue?

Understanding why something has become an issue can help us know how to resolve it. As we lay out the issue before the Lord, we ask Him to show us what part we might have in the situation and what we should do about it. We can pray similar to the psalmist, “Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” (Ps. 139:23-24)

Corrective Measure: Based on the cause, what steps should be taken?

We can’t merely sit around analyzing the situation. We must act before the problem worsens, but it needs to be the right steps. More problems have escalated out of control in the church, home, and workplace because the wrong corrective measures were taken. Though possibly filled with good intentions, people misunderstood the real issue or assumed they knew. Let’s be sure to ask God for help understanding. We have two means of obtaining the wisdom we need: 1) God’s Word because it “is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness” (2 Tim. 3:16-17); 2) Prayer because we have the promise that “If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all” (James 1:5)

Circumventive Measure: How might this issue be prevented from becoming a problem?

Learning from what has happened helps prevent it from happening again. We should want to get beyond merely applying a temporary fix. Think of Jesus’ words to the woman caught in adultery. He extended forgiveness but also told her to “go now and leave your life of sin” (Jn. 8:11).

Obviously many issues require more than a straight line or 1-2-3-4 step approach. Application of the verses with which this post began must infiltrate every phase of working through issues. When we trust in the Lord and acknowledge Him in all our ways, He’ll give us peace as He straightens our path. Let’s not overestimate our own abilities to deal with life.

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Responding to God’s Word Only Makes Sense

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Skimming through Psalm 119, we find many different kinds of responses to God’s Word that make sense only if we grasp these truths:

Respond to God’s Word with Our Whole Being

Responding to the Word Only Makes Sense Since it Lights Our Way
The psalmist understood the importance and power of Scripture. He therefore responded with the whole of his being as seen in the following references.

MIND:

look upon (Ps. 119:6)
meditate on (Ps. 119:15, 23, 27, 48, 78, 97, 99, 148)
regard (Ps. 119:15, 117)
remember / not forget (Ps. 119:16, 52, 61, 83, 93, 109, 141, 153, 176)
behold (Ps. 119:18)
place before me (Ps. 119:30)
learn (Ps. 119:7, 71, 73)
know (Ps. 119:79, 125, 152)
consider (Ps. 119:95)

HEART:

treasure (Ps. 119:11)
rejoice in/at (Ps. 119:14,162)
delight in (Ps. 119:16, 24, 35, 47, 70, 77, 92, 143, 174)
cling to (Ps. 119:31)
trust in (Ps. 119:42)
wait for (Ps. 119:43, 74, 81, 114, 147)
seek (Ps. 119:45)
love (Ps. 119:47-48, 97, 113, 119, 127, 140, 159, 163, 165, 167)
lift up my hands to … shows that we honor or exalt it (Ps. 119:48)
hope (Ps. 119:49)
believe in (Ps. 119:66)
incline to (Ps. 119:36, 112)
fear (Ps. 119:120)
esteem right (Ps. 119:128)
stand in awe of (Ps. 119:161
praise (Ps. 119:164, 171, 175)

WILL:

run the way of (Ps. 119:32)
not turn aside from (Ps. 119:51, 102, 157)
turn my feet to (Ps. 119:59)
not forsake (Ps. 119:87)
not go astray from (Ps. 119:110)
choose (Ps. 119:30, 173)

MOUTH:

tell of (Ps. 119:13)
give thanks (Ps. 119:7, 62)
praise (Ps. 119:164, 171, 175)
sing of (Ps. 119:172)

ACTION:

walk in (Ps. 119:1, 35)
observe (Ps. 119:2, 22, 33, 34, 56, 69, 100, 115, 129, 145)
keep (Ps. 119:4-5, 8, 17, 34, 44, 55, 57, 60, 63, 67, 88, 101, 106, 134, 146, 167-168)
incline heart to perform (Ps. 119:36)
do (Ps. 119:166)

When we truly grasp the significance of God’s Word, we respond both internally and externally.

Observations about Responding to God’s Word based on Psalm 119

Look above under the list of how the psalmist responded in ways associated with his mind. He referenced meditating on and remembering (not forgetting) the most. — If we don’t keep the Word ever before us, we will find it too easy to forget its benefits and lose out on its power in our lives.

Under the list of heart responses, delighting in and loving it occur many more times. — If we don’t delight in or love His Word, we will undoubtedly fail to respond in the other ways, like trusting and obeying it.

Notice the large number of occurrences under the action list of observing and keeping. Both of those words signify watching over or guarding much like they would have kept watch over a vineyard or flock. — If we don’t consistently trust God to use His Word, we will likely let down our guard and not reap the benefits of His Word.

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Since God is True to His Word, Then . . .

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God always was and always will be true to His Word
Read through Scripture and you’ll find a faithful God who is capable of keeping His Word. God always was and always will be true to His Word for “the Word of our God endures forever” (Isa. 40:8).

How God is Faithful to His Word

God responds in accordance with His Word as He accomplishes His purposes. The Psalmist therefore prayed …

Remember the word to Your servant, in which You have made me hope. (Ps. 119:49)

My soul weeps because of grief; Strengthen me according to Your word. (Ps. 119:28)

Let my supplication come before You; Deliver me according to Your word. (Ps. 119:170)

God makes it possible for us to understand and live by His Word. The Psalmist therefore prayed …

Open my eyes, that I may behold wonderful things from Your law. (Ps. 119:18)

Teach me, O LORD, the way of Your statutes, and I shall observe it to the end. (Ps. 119:33)

Give me understanding, that I may observe Your law and keep it with all my heart. (Ps. 119:34)

Make me walk in the path of Your commandments, for I delight in it. (Ps. 119:35)

Incline my heart to Your testimonies … (Ps. 119:36)

Establish Your word to Your servant, as that which produces reverence for You. (Ps. 119:38)

Establish my footsteps in Your word, and do not let any iniquity have dominion over me. (Ps. 119:133)

Uphold me that I may be safe, that I may have regard for Your statutes continually. (Ps. 119:117)

Since God is True to His Word, What Does That Mean for Us?

Reflect on these implications:

Take God at His Word and pray accordingly. If God establishes a certain way, He will work through it. -— Let’s not disregard God’s ways and purposes just because we can’t see how it will work in our situation.

Interpret circumstances through His Word. God’s provision for us will line up with what He’s already set forth in His Word. — Let’s not expect Him to do something for us that isn’t “according to” His Word.

Trust God to help you, and those you serve, follow His Word. He’s the One who must enlighten us to understand. — Let’s not interpret Scripture based on our own understanding and preferences.

We follow the Word because “all Scripture is God-breathed” (2 Tim. 3:16). The Author is always dependable and always true so we can count on His Word to be the same.

 

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God’s Word Benefits Us Today

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God's Word Benefits Us Today
Some may question the relevance of a Book written long ago for us today. The Bible claims to be a useful tool to not only show us the way for eternal salvation but also to equip us to navigate life (2 Tim. 3:15-17). Read through Psalm 119 to see some specific ways Scripture benefits us as a source of power for our good. God’s Word provides so much of what we need for our everyday living and ministry.

How the Word Benefits Us According to Psalm 119

Here’s a list of what Scripture does for us from Psalm 119:

keeps our ways pure (Ps. 119:9)
prevents us from sinning (Ps. 119:11)
counsels us (Ps. 119:24)
enlarges our heart (Ps. 119:32)
produces reverence for God (Ps. 119:38)
revives us (Ps. 119:50)
provides comfort (Ps. 119:50, 52, 76)
helps us stand in affliction (Ps. 119:92)
makes us wise (Ps. 119:98)
gives us insight and understanding (Ps. 119:99, 100, 104)
lights our way (Ps. 119:105, 130)
sustains us (Ps. 119:116)
provides great peace (Ps. 119:165)
keeps us from stumbling (Ps. 119:165)
helps us (Ps. 119:175)

Who doesn’t need the above benefits today? The Word provides just what we need, when we need it. Even the same familiar passage can minister to us in different ways at different times. Why? — Because God, who is faithful and true, powerfully works through His Word.

Responding to the Relevant Power of God’s Word

When we understand all God’s Word does for us, we will exclaim, with the psalmist:

Your testimonies also are my delight; They are my counselors. (Ps. 119:24)

How sweet are Your words to my taste! Yes, sweeter than honey to my mouth! (Ps. 119:103)

I have inherited Your testimonies forever, For they are the joy of my heart. (Ps. 119:111)

Need Help on Where to Begin? Go To: New to Bible Bible Reading Discipleship Tool

Want Other Resources to Help Study the Word? Go To: Resources for Bible Study

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