Reference: Ministry
Hastings
The foregoing art. has sufficiently dealt with the general idea of ministry, but something remains to be said more particularly of the foreshadowings and beginnings of an official Christian ministry as these are found in the NT. The earliest historical datum is the distinction drawn by the Twelve between the 'diakonia of the word' and the 'diakonia of tables' (Ac 6:2,4)
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In those days, as the number of the disciples was increasing, complaints were made by the Greek-speaking Jews against the native Jews that their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution of food. So the Twelve called in the whole body of disciples and said to them, "It is not desirable that we should give up preaching the word of God to keep accounts.
while we devote ourselves to prayer and to delivering the message."
About that time some prophets from Jerusalem came down to Antioch,
There were at Antioch in the church there a number of prophets and teachers??arnabas, Symeon who was called Niger, Lucius the Cyrenian, Manaen, who had been brought up with Herod the governor, and Saul.
There were at Antioch in the church there a number of prophets and teachers??arnabas, Symeon who was called Niger, Lucius the Cyrenian, Manaen, who had been brought up with Herod the governor, and Saul.
But when the apostles, Barnabas and Paul, heard of it, they rushed into the crowd, tearing their clothes
But when the apostles, Barnabas and Paul, heard of it, they rushed into the crowd, tearing their clothes
Judas and Silas were themselves prophets, and gave the brothers much encouragement and strength by their words.
From Miletus he sent to Ephesus for the elders of the church.
From Miletus he sent to Ephesus for the elders of the church. When they came, he said to them, "You know well enough how I lived among you all the time from the first day I set foot in Asia, read more. and how I served the Lord most humbly and with tears, through all the trials that I encountered because of the plots of the Jews. I never shrank from telling you anything that was for your good, nor from teaching you in public or at your houses, but earnestly urged Greeks as well as Jews to turn to God in repentance and to believe in our Lord Jesus. I am here now on my way to Jerusalem, for the Spirit compels me to go there, though I do not know what will happen to me there, except that in every town I visit, the holy Spirit warns me that imprisonment and persecution are awaiting me. But my life does not matter, if I can only finish my race and do the service intrusted to me by the Lord Jesus, of declaring the good news of God's favor. Now I know perfectly well that none of you among whom I went about preaching the Kingdom of God will ever see my face again. Therefore I declare to you today that I am not responsible for the blood of any of you, for I have not shrunk from letting you know God's purpose without reserve. Take care of yourselves and of the whole flock, of which the holy Spirit has made you guardians, and be shepherds of the church of God, which he got at the cost of his own life.
Take care of yourselves and of the whole flock, of which the holy Spirit has made you guardians, and be shepherds of the church of God, which he got at the cost of his own life. I know that after I am gone savage wolves will get in among you and will not spare the flock, read more. and from your own number men will appear and teach perversions of the truth in order to draw the disciples away after them. So you must be on your guard and remember that for three years, night and day, I never stopped warning any of you, even with tears. Now I commit you to the Lord, and to the message of his favor, which will build you up and give you a place among those whom God has consecrated. I have never coveted anyone's gold or silver or clothes. You know well enough that these hands of mine provided for my needs and my companions. I showed you in every way that by hard work like that we must help those who are weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, for he said, 'It makes one happier to give than to be given to.' "
I showed you in every way that by hard work like that we must help those who are weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, for he said, 'It makes one happier to give than to be given to.' "
The next day we left there and went on to Caesarea, where we went to the house of Philip the missionary, who was one of the Seven, and stayed with him.
We spent a number of days there, and in the course of them a prophet named Agabus came down from Judea.
We have gifts that differ with the favor that God has shown us, whether it is that of preaching, differing with the measure of our faith, or of practical service, differing in the field of service, or the teacher who exercises his gift in teaching, read more. the speaker, in his exhortation, the giver of charity, with generosity, the office-holder, with devotion, the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness.
Remember me to Andronicus and Junias, my fellow-countrymen, who went to prison with me. They are noted men among the missionaries, and they became Christians before I did.
For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the good news??ut not with fine language, or the cross of Christ might seem an empty thing.
As far as preaching the good news is concerned, that is nothing for me to boast of, for I cannot help doing it. For I am ruined if I do not preach.
And God has placed people in the church, first as apostles, second as inspired preachers, third as teachers, then wonder-workers; then come ability to cure the sick, helpfulness, administration, ecstatic speaking.
And God has placed people in the church, first as apostles, second as inspired preachers, third as teachers, then wonder-workers; then come ability to cure the sick, helpfulness, administration, ecstatic speaking. Is everyone an apostle? Is everyone an inspired preacher? Is everyone a teacher? Is everyone a wonder-worker?
And he has given us some men as apostles, some as prophets, some as missionaries, some as pastors and teachers,
Paul and Timothy, slaves of Christ Jesus, to all the devoted adherents of Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, with the superintendents and assistants;
He existed before all things and he sustains and embraces them all.
It is on account of these things that God's anger is coming.
You who are masters must treat your slaves justly and fairly, and remember that you have a Master too, in heaven.
A superintendent must be a man above reproach, only once married, temperate, sensible, a man of good behavior, hospitable, able to teach;
Whoever fails to provide for his own relatives, and particularly for members of his own family, has disowned the faith and is worse than an unbeliever. No one under sixty years of age should be put on the list of widows. A widow must have been married but once, read more. and have a good reputation for Christian service, such as bringing up children, being hospitable to strangers, washing the feet of God's people, helping people in distress, or devoting herself to any form of doing good. Do not put young women on the list of widows, for when their youthful vigor comes between them and Christ, they want to marry,
They must be silenced, for such men upset whole households by teaching things they ought not to teach, for the sake of dishonest gain.
They must be silenced, for such men upset whole households by teaching things they ought not to teach, for the sake of dishonest gain.
In every way set them an example of good conduct yourself. Teach with sincerity and seriousness,
In every way set them an example of good conduct yourself. Teach with sincerity and seriousness,
This is a trustworthy teaching, and I want you to insist on these things, so that those who believe in God may make it their business to do good. All this is right and beneficial to mankind. But have nothing to do with foolish controversies, pedigrees, strife, and wrangles about the Law, for they are profitless and futile. read more. If a man is inclined to a sect, after warning him once or twice, have nothing more to do with him. You may be sure that a man of that kind is corrupt and sinful, for his own actions condemn him. When I send Artemas or Tychicus to you, do your best to come to me at Nicopolis, for I have decided to settle there for the winter. Do all you can to help Zenas the expert in the Law and Apollos on with their journey, and see that they have everything they need.
If any one is sick, he should call in the elders of the church and have them pray over him, and pour oil on him in the name of the Lord,