Welcome to Day 2474 of Wisdom-Trek. Thank you for joining me.

This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom

Day 2474 – A Precise Explanation of Ministry – Daily Wisdom

Putnam Church Message – 09/29/2024 Jesus Christ, Our Lord – A Precise Explanation of Ministry Colossians 1:24-29 Last week, we continued in the letter of Colossians, explored the great Christ Hymn, and studied the six realms in which Christ is supreme. Today’s passage is Colossians 1:24-29, on page 1832 of your Pew Bibles. We are going to dive into what Christian Ministry really is. I am reading from the NLT. ²⁴ I am glad when I suffer for you in my body, for I am participating in the sufferings of Christ that continue for his body, the church. ²⁵ God has given me the responsibility of serving his church by proclaiming his entire message to you. ²⁶ This message was kept secret for centuries and generations past, but now it has been revealed to God’s people. ²⁷ For God wanted them to know that the riches and glory of Christ are for you Gentiles, too. And this is the secret: Christ lives in you. This gives you assurance of sharing his glory. ²⁸ So we tell others about Christ, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all the wisdom God has given us. We want to present them to God, perfect^[g] in their relationship to Christ. ²⁹ That’s why I work and struggle so hard, depending on Christ’s mighty power that works within me. (Show large knife) If used occasionally, a knife remains sharp and continues to cut with precision. However, when we use a knife regularly, it begins to lose its edge. Words are like that. Certain words are used so frequently that they begin to lose their edge. Their real meanings become blunted by clichés, dulled by familiarity, and rendered ineffective by diminished precision. This is especially true of the word ministry, a word that is tossed around in churches and other Christian contexts. Because of its overuse, the term now conveys a wide variety of meanings, many of which have little, if anything, to do with actual ministry. The same could be said of those who serve as “ministers.” What exactly does it mean to be a “minister”? And what is involved in having a “ministry” in the lives of others? Interestingly, when we think about ministry, we’re often better at pointing out what it’s not supposed to be | than explaining what it should be. For example, we know it’s not supposed to be a commercial enterprise that involves the sale of goods and services. We know it’s not supposed to be an entertainment industry that sells tickets to an eager audience, hoping to get great reviews and boost ratings. And we know it’s not supposed to be an educational institution that charges tuition, offers degrees, or provides on-the-job training to further a person’s career. A ministry should not be a country club, a manufacturing plant, or a war room. We know that much. But how do we define an authentic, healthy ministry? Paul understood his role as God’s servant. He was first and foremost under the authority of the Lord, to whom he had to give an account. Though he was to serve on behalf of the flock, it was not to the flock that he was to be subject but to the Lord Jesus Christ (see 1 Pet. 5:1–4). As a minister of God, he was sworn to a single task: to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ (Col. 1:23). Paul had a clear understanding of the calling, character, responsibility, and task of the minister. As we consider the role of a minister, let us not lose sight of the fact that we are all called to be ministers (servants) of Jesus Christ. But what about ministry itself? In the remainder of Colossians 1, Paul provides insight into authentic ministry. Through his candid appraisal, we can discern some things that make a healthy ministry. A careful reading of these final verses of chapter 1 reveals that Paul has in mind three essential aspects of authentic ministry, which are pertinent for every believer in every generation: suffering for Christ (1:24), proclaiming Christ (1:25–28), and depending on Christ (1:29). —1:24— (Bulletin Insert) Let’s start with a little exercise in word association. What’s the first thing that comes to mind when you hear the word suffering? Like most people, you probably thought about pain, misery, sadness, or something similar. If you’re in a more theological frame of mind, maybe you thought of the suffering of Christ on the cross. Chances are, the first word that popped into your mind wasn’t rejoicing. But this is precisely how Paul describes suffering as he discusses his ministry: “I am glad when I suffer ” (1:24). Before we begin to think that Paul had lost his mind, we need to understand why he would rejoice in his sufferings. As an authentic minister of the gospel of Christ, Paul knew that his suffering was for the sake of others: “I suffer for you in my body” (1:24). This is the first essential aspect of authentic ministry: suffering for Christ and His people. What kinds of sufferings had Paul endured? In 2 Corinthians, he recounts the hardships he had faced. As a genuine servant of Christ, he had endured the following when contesting those who were trying to damage his ministry: ²³ Are they servants of Christ? I know I sound like a madman, but I have served him far more! I have worked harder, been put in prison more often, been whipped times without number, and faced death again and again. ²⁴ Five different times the Jewish leaders gave me thirty-nine lashes. ²⁵ Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked. Once I spent a whole night and a day adrift at sea. ²⁶ I have traveled on many long journeys. I have faced danger from rivers and from robbers. I have faced danger from my own people, the Jews, as well as from the Gentiles. I have faced danger in the cities, in the deserts, and on the seas. And I have faced danger from men who claim to be believers but are not.^[a] 27 I have worked hard and long, enduring many sleepless nights. I have been hungry and thirsty and have often gone without food. I have shivered in the cold, without enough clothing to keep me warm. ²⁸ Then, besides all this, I have the daily burden of my concern for all the churches. (2 Cor. 11:23–28) In all these sufferings for the sake of the ministry of the gospel, there isn’t a hint of self-pity. Instead, Paul expresses real, deep-seated joy in doing his share: “I am participating in the sufferings of Christ that continue for his body, the church.” (Col. 1:24). He knew that what he suffered had purpose. Yes, Paul experienced the grace and power of God by suffering like Christ suffered (Phil. 3:10–11). And special honor is given to those who suffer for Christ (Rom. 8:17–18). However, in Colossians, Paul is much more concerned about fulfilling his ministry of suffering on behalf of others to strengthen the church. This suffering, Paul says, is “participating in the sufferings of Christ” (Col. 1:24). “Because Paul’s apostolic ministry is an ‘extension’ of Christ’s work in the world, Paul identifies his sufferings very closely with Christ’s. It may be that Paul has in mind the idea of Christ’s close association with His body, the church, so that when one persecutes the body, they are, in a sense, persecuting Christ. This notion is seen in Acts 9:3–5. When Paul (still called Saul at that point) was persecuting the church before his conversion, he was confronted by the resurrected Lord on his way to Damascus. Jesus said to him, “Saul! Saul! Why are you persecuting me?” ⁵ “Who are you, lord?” Saul asked. And the voice replied, “I am Jesus, the one you are persecuting! (Persecuting the Church is persecuting Christ) Now, years later, Paul himself has suffered great persecution on behalf of the church at the hands of the enemies of Christ. In a sense, Paul is filling up the fixed amount of suffering the church must endure until the second coming of Christ and the end of all persecution and suffering. In short, authentic ministry is characterized by those willing to suffer for the sake of Christ, the church, and the gospel proclamation. In our world of indulged comfort, where we recoil at any thought of hardship or mistreatment, this concept of fulfilling our calling to suffer for Christ seems foreign. In many places around the world, though, this is a common expectation for ministers of Christ, who suffer regularly at the hands of unbelievers. Even in places where Christ can be freely proclaimed and embraced, authentic ministry requires entering into the suffering, if required, instead of fleeing from it. One of our tasks as ministers is to help people live through their pain and suffering to survive and thrive in the midst of it. Ministers who are too busy to do that are too busy for authentic ministry. People who enter into the lives of others invest time. They listen. They care. They weep and grieve. A ministry is not healthy if those who minister refuse to enter into suffering on behalf of others. —1:25–28— The second essential aspect of authentic ministry is proclaiming Christ. Paul states that it’s his God-given stewardship to “the responsibility of serving his church by proclaiming his entire message to you” (Col. 1:25). The content of this message from God was once stored in His unrevealed plans, but with the coming of Christ, it has been revealed to God’s people. (1:26). What’s this great secret entrusted to Paul and his fellow ministers? It’s that Christ now dwells among and within the Gentiles—“And this is the secret: Christ lives in you” (1:27). The revealed mystery is Christ Himself (2:2). God’s saving mercy, once openly proclaimed only among the Jews through their prophets and in their Holy Scriptures, was now being proclaimed far and wide among Jews and Gentiles alike through the person and work of Jesus Christ! The Gentiles could now experience all the benefits of being children of God:

• They were now included in the glory and the riches of God’s grace.
• They had received redemption, reconciliation, and forgiveness of sins.
• Christ lived in them by the Spirit, filling them with inner hope.

This was absolutely revolutionary. Not only would the Gentiles have difficulty believing this message, but the Jews would resent it and reject it. Consider what this message of salvation by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone must have meant to those Gentiles who never dreamed that such salvation would come to them! In Colossians 1:28, Paul reveals the main content of his proclamation: So we tell others about Christ. Christ alone was the focus of Paul’s preaching. As he had written to the Corinthians, “For I decided that while I was with you I would forget everything except Jesus Christ, the one who was crucified.” (1 Cor. 2:2). A ministry that drifts from the proclamation of the saving work of Christ is a ministry that has strayed from authenticity. No gospel message is complete, and no ministry is healthy if it doesn’t point people to the Name above every name, Jesus Christ. The passionate proclamation of the person and work of Jesus Christ—and what He expects from those who have been saved by His grace—involves both “warning” and “teaching” (Col. 1:28). “Warning” represents what might be called the negative ministry of the Word. The Greek word nouth/eteō, translated as “warning,” means “to counsel about avoidance or cessation of an improper course of conduct.” Any ministry that neglects or deliberately leaves out warnings is unreliable and inauthentic. This is why Paul solemnly charged his understudy Timothy to Preach the word of God. Be prepared, whether the time is favorable or not. Patiently correct, rebuke, and encourage your people with good teaching. (2 Tim. 4:2). The second aspect of proclamation is teaching. This represents the positive ministry of the Word. While warning people about what not to believe or do,/ teaching instructs them on how to think and live as followers of Jesus Christ. In a healthy ministry, both sides of authentic proclamation go hand in hand. Just as some ministries can get off-kilter by neglecting warnings, other ministries can go awry by overemphasizing the negative. Authentic proclamation needs both teaching and warnings. How helpful would road signs be if all they told us was where the roads were not going? We need to know where they can take us, or we won’t get anywhere. Or how many accidents would we encounter on our daily commute if there were no yellow warning signs, speed limits, or prospects of getting pulled over? People need some constraints to keep them from danger. How do we balance warnings and teaching to apply to each person’s circumstances? It takes God-given wisdom and a clear understanding of where we’re trying to lead people. This is why Paul writes that ministers are to admonish and instruct every person with all the wisdom God has given us. We want to present them to God, perfect in their relationship to Christ. (Col. 1:28). The word “perfect” refers to maturity—the result of ongoing spiritual growth through the effective application of God’s Word. A ministry is unhealthy if those who minister fail to proclaim Christ by wisely admonishing and instructing others toward maturity in Him. —1:29— The third essential aspect of authentic ministry is depending on Christ. Anybody who has invested time ministering to others knows it can be agonizing work. Paul uses strong language to communicate this fact to readers who may not know about the struggles involved in authentic ministry. The two verbs Paul uses to describe the work of the ministry are kop/iaō, meaning “to labor,” and agōniz/omai, meaning “to strive.” The first term means “to exert oneself physically, mentally, or spiritually.” It’s also used to describe the all-night toiling of fishermen (Luke 5:5). The second term is the source of our English word agonize. It refers to fighting or struggling to accomplish a difficult task. Sloth is an enemy of authentic ministry or any worthwhile endeavor, including any ethical occupation. The unfortunate result throughout the years of Christendom is the separation of| and the priority of |the so-called sacred over the secular. The importance of ‘full-time ministers. As believers, we are all ministers of God, regardless of what your occupation is or if you are retired. There should be no distinction. All ethical occupations are sacred for the believer. We are all full-time ministers, and our vocation is building God’s kingdom. But Paul doesn’t leave his description at “labor and strive.” Had he done so, we’d have the impression that God assigns a nearly impossible task and says, “It’s all your responsibility now. Have at it! See you on the other side … if you even make it!” Not at all! Instead, Paul says, “That’s why I work and struggle so hard, depending on Christ’s mighty power that works within me.” (1:29). The key to effectively ministering to others is dependence on the power of Christ. Christ is the Lord of the church and the Lord of all who serve others. He empowers each of us who serve others to suffer, to proclaim the good news, and to endure hardship and labor until the end. A ministry is unhealthy if those who serve fail to depend on Christ for the power to labor and strive for the sake of Christ.   Application: COLOSSIANS 1:24–29 Our Common Calling We don’t need a Damascus-road conversion or a personal Shore-of-Galilee summons to be called into ministry. Every one of us who has personally accepted Christ as Savior and seeks to serve Him as Lord has a calling to minister to others and has been gifted by the Spirit. It’s not just the evangelists, pastors, and teachers who are called to ministry; those are just gifts to the church. “Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ.” (Eph. 4:12). Ministry includes all those in the body of Christ, which means that if you’re listening to this and you claim the name of Christ, you share a common calling with all other believers. Since we’re all called to minister in the body of Christ, let me offer four important reminders about healthy, authentic ministry that directly relate to all of us. First, we’re appointed as servants, not hired to hold a job. Some of us may have the gift and privilege to pastor and teach. In many churches, this position may receive compensation for their labor, which I have chosen not to be (1 Tim. 5:17–18). But even then, those paid workers are to be servants of Christ and ministers in His body. They take their cues from Him and follow His example of shepherding. Second, we should be joyful in suffering, not resentful of it. We who minister or serve must realize that it may sometimes include a difficult road of hardship and the painful path of struggle. As we endure our trials and tribulations, we learn how to empathize with others who are going through the same struggles.