Matthew 4:23 (ESV)
And he went throughout all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and
proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every
affliction among the people.
There were three aspects to Jesus’ ministry. He was teaching, preaching or heralding
the gospel of the kingdom, and healing. The teaching connected his ministry to a
correct understanding of the Old Testament scriptures. The healing validated
his ministry as a true prophet of God. The proclamation of the gospel was
central. He was proclaiming that the world was about to change. The kingdom was
near. Repentance was the proper response.
Our ministry as Christians and particularly as Christian ministers ought to
have those same three elements. We teach from the Word of God, demonstrating
that what we are saying is not just our ideas or the thoughts of mankind. We minister
to the hurting, the poor, the broken, the outsiders and unacceptable people, demonstrating
the love and compassion of God. We proclaim the gospel becaue that is what
truly changes people from the heart out.
The lack of any one of these invalidates our ministry. If we are not rooting
our teaching in the Scriptures then we have nothing but man’s ideas to put
forth. There is life changing power in the Word of God. If we fail to minister to
the broken, we fail to demonstrate that we truly are new creations in Christ
and that God’s message is real. It is the love of Christ in us that convinces
the world that what we have to say is worth listening to. Finally, if our ministry
fails to include the gospel then we provide temporary help at best. We are just
polishing the brass on a sinking ship. As believers, as leaders, and as
ministers may we follow the example of Jesus and point people to the truth
through our teaching, our serving, and our proclamation of the gospel.
Comments
Post a Comment