35 Bible Verses about Ministry, Qualifications For

but God hath chosen things that are foolish in the eye of the world to put it's wise men to confusion; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the mighty; and things in the opinion of the world ignoble, and despicable, and accounted as nothing, hath God chosen, to abolish things that are in esteem among men; that no flesh may glory in his presence.

Now faith is the confident expectation of things hoped for, and a conviction of things not seen: for by it the ancients obtained an honorable testimony.

And He called unto Him his twelve disciples, and gave them power over impure spirits, even to cast them out; and to cure all diseases and every malady whatsoever. Now these are the names of the twelve apostles: first Simon, called Peter, and Andrew his brother; Philip, and Bartholomew; Thomas, and Matthew the publican; James the son of Alpheus, and Lebbeus who was surnamed Thaddeus;read more.
Simon the Canaanite, and Judas Iscariot, even he that betrayed Him.

and He appointed twelve to be with Him, and that He might send them forth to preach the gospel, and to have power to heal diseases, and to cast out demons; even Simon, whom He surnamed Peter,read more.
and James the Son of Zebedee, and John the brother of James, (and He surnamed them Boanerges, which is to say, Sons of thunder,) and Andrew, and Philip, and Bartholomew, and Matthew, and Thomas, and James the son of Alpheus, and Thaddeus, and Simon the Canaanite, and Judas Iscariot, even him who betrayed Him.

And in those days He went out to a mountain to pray, and He continued all night in prayer to God. And when it was day, He called his disciples to Him: and chose out twelve from among them, whom He also named his apostles: (to wit, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, James and John, Philip and Bartholomew,read more.
Matthew and Thomas, James the son of Alpheus, and Simon called Zelotes, and Judas the brother of James, and Judas Iscariot, who was the traitor:)

But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way, for he is the instrument I have chosen, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel:

And now I stand arraigned for the hope of the promise which was made by God to our fathers:

But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power might be evidently of God, and not of us: being afflicted on every side, but not oppressed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken;read more.
cast down, but not destroyed; always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be manifested in our body. For we, who are yet living, are always exposed to death for the sake of Jesus, that the life also of Jesus may be manifested in our mortal flesh. So that death is wrought in us, but life in you.

And least I should be too much lifted up with the abundance of the revelations, there was given me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, least I should be too much elevated.

But for this end I obtained mercy, that in me a chief sinner Jesus Christ might display his long-suffering, for an example to those who should afterwards believe on Him to eternal life.

for God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, how incessantly I make mention of you always in my prayers,

James a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes in dispersion sendeth greeting.

Paul a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle,

The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto Him, to shew to his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and He sent and signified it by his angel to his servant John,

of which I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God conferred on me by the effectual operation of his power.

if so be ye continue grounded and settled in the faith, and be not moved from the gospel, which ye have heard, and which hath been preached throughout the whole creation, of which I Paul am a minister.

that I may be delivered from the unbelievers in Judea; and that this my service at Jerusalem may be acceptable to the saints:

I recommend to you Phebe, our sister, who is a servant of the church in Cenchrea:

I beseech you, brethren, (for ye know the family of Stephanas, that they are the first-fruits of Achaia, and

Now concerning the relief intended for the saints, it is superfluous for me to write to you:

But that ye also may know my affairs, and what I am doing here, Tychicus a beloved brother, and a faithful minister in the Lord, shall make all known to you: whom I have sent to you,

As ye also learned of Epaphras our beloved fellow-servant, who is a faithful minister of Christ for you;

Who hath also fitted us to be ministers of the new covenant, not of the letter, but of the Spirit: for the letter killeth, but the Spirit giveth life.

Therefore having received this ministry, as we have obtained mercy, we are not disheartened:

So the twelve called the multitude of the disciples to them and said, It is not seemly that we should leave the word of God and attend at tables. Wherefore, brethren, look out from among you seven men of good character, full of the holy Spirit, and of wisdom, whom we may appoint over this matter: but we will constantly attend to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.

But all these things are from God, who hath reconciled us to Himself by Jesus Christ, and made us ministers of the reconciliation;

to take part of this ministry and apostleship, from which Judas is fallen by his transgression, that he might go to his own place.

(for He who wrought effectually in Peter as to the apostleship of the circumcision, wrought effectually also in me as to the gentiles:)

that I should be the minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, administring the gospel of God, that the offering of the Gentiles might be acceptable, being sanctified by the holy Spirit.

Wherefore it is necessary that one of these men, who have been conversant with us all the time that the Lord Jesus came in and out among us,

Wherefore, brethren, look out from among you seven men of good character, full of the holy Spirit, and of wisdom, whom we may appoint over this matter:

A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of but one wife, sober, prudent, grave, hospitable, able to teach, not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of sordid gain, moderate, not quarrelsome, not covetous, governing his own family well, having his children in subjection with all gravity;read more.
(for if any one know not how to govern his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?) not one newly converted, least being puffed up he fall into the condemnation of the devil. He ought also to have an honorable testimony from those that are without, least he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.

For a bishop must be blameless as the steward of God, not self-willed, not passionate, not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of sordid gain: but hospitable, benevolent, sober, just, holy, temperate; holding fast the faithful word, according as he hath been taught, that he may be able both to instruct in sound doctrine, and to convince gainsayers.

The deacons should likewise be grave, not double-tongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of base gain, holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience. (And let these also first be proved, then let them take the office of deacons, if they be found blameless.)read more.
And their wives likewise grave, not slanderers, sober, and faithful in all things. Let the deacons too be husbands of one wife only, governing their children and their own houses well. For they, that discharge the office of a deacon well, gain to themselves a good degree of honor, and much freedom in promoting the faith that is in Christ Jesus.

But do thou, O man of God, flee these things, and follow after righteousness, piety, fidelity, love, patience, meekness.