Ministry Focus & Equipping | Christian Ministry Training Blog

Bible Verses for Ministry Perseverance

Posted on December 5, 2018 by Ministry Tools Resource Center — No Comments ↓

Bible Verses for Ministry Perseverance Previously we looked at how it is possible to persevere in ministry if we’re pulling on the right source to sustain and strengthen us.

If you’re struggling to persevere, take time to reflect on the following promises. Consider memorizing at least one verse that seems to most encourage you so you are able to recall it during moments of distress or discouragement.

Scripture Promises Related to Persevering:

Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. (Rom. 5:3-4)

Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers. (1 Tim. 4:16)

You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised. (Heb. 10:36)

Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. (James 1:2-4)

Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him. (James 1:12)

As you know, we count as blessed those who have persevered. You have heard of Job’s perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy. (James 5:11)

… he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires. For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. (2 Pet. 1:4-7)

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. (Heb. 12:1-3)

For more about ministry perseverance, check out the Ministry God’s Way Discipleship Tool which looks at God’s intent for us to thrive not just survive and includes some questions to guide you in a short Bible study about persevering. This resource includes eight other key element of doing ministry God’s way.

Why Learn about Spiritual Gifts?

Posted on November 14, 2018 by Ministry Tools Resource Center — 2 Comments ↓

Learn about Spiritual Gifts in the Bible

God stresses the importance of spiritual gifts as evidenced by the amount of space given to this topic in the New Testament. If something matters to God, shouldn’t it also be important to us? If that doesn’t convince you of why you should learn about spiritual gifting, there are some other reasons.

3 Good Reasons to Learn About Spiritual Gifts

Spiritual gifts are part of God’s design for the growth of the church.

God designed the church to grow as everybody does their part according to Ephesians 4:16. Click below to read more about this verse:

Spiritual gifts are God’s power source for us to do ministry.

When we use the gifts we have been given, God is at work (1 Cor. 12:6). “Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. …” (1 Pet. 4:10-11) Click below to read about God’s power needed to effectively serve.

Spiritual gifts have pragmatic value.

Needs are met when we serve one another through the use of our spiritual gifts. Effective ministry therefore demands that we understand and use our gifts. Click below to read more about the practical side of everybody doing their part in this way.

For help teaching about spiritual gifting, identifying giftedness, and recruiting based on gifts, go to: Spiritual Gifts Resources

Tips for Parents to Effectively Shepherd Their Children

Posted on October 31, 2018 by Ministry Tools Resource Center — No Comments ↓

Training Category: Shepherding Ministry

Parents Shepherd their Children If we liken parents’ role to shepherding (Deut. 6:4-9; Prov. 22:6; Eph. 6:4), then we must conclude that their responsibilities include what shepherds would do.

Check out the following:

Tips for Parents Who Want to Effectively Shepherd Their Children

Shepherds are most effective in fulfilling their responsibilities when they understand the condition of the flock (Prov. 27:23-24). The same is true with parents which might be applied as follows:

Parents must learn the personal bent of each child.

Train a child in the way he should go (according to his bent), and when he is old he will not turn from it. (Prov. 22:6)

Parents must discern what is in the heart of the child.

The purposes of a man’s heart are deep waters, but a man of understanding draws them out. (Prov. 20:5)

Parents must be aware of the influences the child faces.

He who walks with the wise grows wise, but a companion of fools suffers harm. (Prov. 13:20)

The above points are included in the Shepherding Ministry Manual that lists parenting as a shepherding venue.

Parents’ Role of Shepherding Children

Posted on October 24, 2018 by Ministry Tools Resource Center — 1 Comment ↓

Training Category: Shepherding Ministry

Parents Role of Shepherding Children God has given parents the primary responsibility for the spiritual nurturing of children (Deut. 6:4-9; Prov. 22:6; Eph. 6:4). The Church assists parents in this responsibility but parents are the ones to shepherd their children.

To Read: Shepherding Ministry Venue: Parenting

Resource: Shepherding a Child’s Heart DVD (link goes to an affiliate store)

What does parents’ role of shepherding their children look like when they take it seriously?

1) Parents who shepherd their children get beyond simply providing for physical needs to their emotional and social well-being but also providing for the nurture of their souls, for their spiritual well-being.

2) Parents shepherding their children work at protecting them from bad people or physical harm but also protecting them from the Evil One and a world view that leaves out God.

3) Parents who shepherd don’t focus primarily on children’s behavior but focus primary on their heart.

Resource: Parenting is Heart Work (link goes to an affiliate store)

4) Parents who are shepherds move beyond merely telling children what they should do to showing them how through their own example.

The Shepherding Ministry Manual includes some information about parenting as a shepherding ministry venue. The above points are included in it.

Understand the Spiritual Gifting of Your Pastor

Posted on October 17, 2018 by Ministry Tools Resource Center — 1 Comment ↓

A previous post, What Do You Think About Your Pastor?, presented the reality that not everyone appreciates their pastor. Here we want to step back and look at how our expectations of what a pastor should be like affects our opinions. Face it, we all come to church with preconceived ideas of what a pastor should do.

The very title, pastor, engenders some expectations. Maybe we think they should be doing what someone with the spiritual gift of pastor would do. But, as noted in Shepherding Ministry Venue: Pastors, not everyone in the position of pastor has the spiritual gift of pastor which could conflict with our expectations. Or maybe we do have someone with the spiritual gift of pastor but we think the person in this role should be visionary or administrative, maybe more concerned about the unsaved, or perhaps a better preacher.

How People with the Spiritual Gift of Pastor Serve in the Position of “Pastor”

Those with the spiritual gift of pastor are the “pastors” who get involved in the individual lives of the flock — meeting needs, caring for them, protecting, guiding, and feeding them — the full-orbed work of a shepherd.

For more:

How People with Other Spiritual Gifts Might Serve in the Position of “Pastor”

Some in the position of “pastor” have the gift of leadership.

They are the “pastors” on the cutting edge who are constantly developing new means of ministry. More than tending to the daily and routine needs of the sheep, they are mapping out ways to take the sheep to greener pastures.

Some in the position of “pastor” have the gift of evangelism.

They are the “pastors” who are very seeker-oriented. More than building up believers they are into rescuing lost sheep.

Some in the position of “pastor” have the gift of administration.

They are the “pastors” who tend to emphasize smooth running programs and schedules. More than relating to the sheep, they tend to look after the pasture itself, the water, and the fence to make sure everything is in good condition for the proper care of the sheep.

Some in the position of “pastor” have the gift of teaching or prophecy.

They are the “pastors” who concentrate on good preaching. More than caring for the sheep’s total well-being, they focus on feeding.

(The above points are included in the Shepherding Ministry Manual where it looks at pastoring as a shepherding ministry venue.)

Adjust Expectations by Understanding the Spiritual Gifting of Your Pastor

When “pastors” have the spiritual gift of pastor, don’t expect them to have time to fully attend to the big picture vision and/or administrative duties of the Church. They’re very busy tending to the nitty-gritties of people’s lives. Their focus is on the sheep themselves not so much smooth running programs, being on the cutting edge, etc.

When “pastors” have gifts other than the gift of pastor, don’t expect them to spend as much time visiting and counseling individual members. They may care about the sheep but their gifting takes their primary focus elsewhere.

You might also be interested in reading: The solution for churches whose “pastor” is not truly a pastor by gifting

Biblical Basis for Ministry Assessments?

Posted on October 10, 2018 by Ministry Tools Resource Center — 2 Comments ↓

The Staffing Ministry section of this site identifies ministry assessment as an element of an effective staffing ministry. The TrainChurchLeaders.com site lists assessments as a church leadership skill.

But, is there a Biblical Basis for Doing Ministry Assessments?

As with anything we do as individual Christians or as a Body of believers, we must ask if it’s biblical. Look at God’s Word and you will find that ministry assessments are:

1) Evidenced in the character and ways of God.

God evaluates both what is outwardly visible, as seen in the creation account (Gen. 1), and that which is unseen, such as our hearts (Ps. 139:1-3, 23-24; Heb. 4:12). As Judge, certainly God makes assessments to arrive at His conclusions in accordance with justice and righteousness (Ps. 9:8; 1 Cor. 4:5; 1 Pet. 1:17; Rev. 20:12-13).

To Read:

2) Exhorted in the Word of God.

The wisdom of the prudent is to give thought to their ways … (Prov. 14:8)

By wisdom a house is built, and through understanding it is established; through knowledge its rooms are filled with rare and beautiful treasures. A wise man has great power, and a man of knowledge increases strength; for waging war you need guidance, and for victory many advisers. (Prov. 24:3-6)

Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Will he not first sit down and estimate the cost to see if he has enough money to complete it? For if he lays the foundation and is not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule him, … Or suppose a king is about to go to war against another king. Will he not first sit down and consider whether he is able with ten thousand men to oppose the one coming against him with twenty thousand? … (Lk. 14:28-32)

Are we lining up with God’s ways when doing ministry assessments?

It isn’t enough to say we can or should do ministry assessments because there’s biblical basis for it. How we develop and use the assessments also need to line up as well. Some of the evidences we’re lining up with God’s ways when doing ministry assessments include: