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Paul's Ministry Manual

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In I Thessalions 2, the Apostle Paul describes how he went about his ministry in Thessalonica. A careful reading of the chapter provides what I call in this message, Paul's Ministry Manual. In it he describes God's blueprint of how ministry is to take place. On this Sunday we commission small group leaders and challenged them to follow these same principals as they minister in their group. To have an effective ministry we must:

- proclaim the gospel proudly
- perform the ministry purely
- practice what we preach publicly
- prepare people to be disciples patiently

 

Everyone will either experience God’s wrath or God’s grace. Souls are in the balance, they are depending on our effectiveness in ministry.

 

 

 

 

Paul’s Ministry Manual

1 Thessalonians 2: 11-12

 

Doing God’s ministry in God’s way, will result in a Godly success.

 

1. Proclaim the Gospel Proudly. V. 2

 God commissions His children to take the gospel to the ends of the earth starting with our Jerusalem.

 

“I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile”

(Romans 1:16).

 

Courage is defined as doing what you’re afraid to do.

 

2. Perform the Ministry Purely. V. 3 - 6a

His message is genuine. V. 3 “For the appeal we make does not spring from error.”

 

His motives were pure. “For the appeal we make does not spring from...impure motives” (v. 3).

 

His methods of ministry are honest.

- “nor are we trying to trick you” (v. 3).

 

- “You know we never used flattery, nor did we put on a mask to cover up greed -- God is our witness” (v. 5).

 

3. Practice What You Preach Publicly. V. 6b-10

“We were gentle among you, like a mother caring for her little children”  (v. 7)

 

Nothing opens the door for the gospel faster than meeting of the needs of people from a heart of love.

 

 “People don’t care how much you know, until they know how much you care.” John Maxwell

 

“You are witnesses, and so is God, of how holy, righteous and blameless we were among you who believed” (v. 10).

 

 “In everything set them an example by doing what is good.”  Titus 2:7

 

“A man’s life is always more forcible than his speech. If his life and doctrine disagree the mass of onlookers accept his practice and reject his preaching.”  

C.H. Spurgeon:

 

 

4. Prepare People to Be Disciples Patiently. V. 11-12

. … teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age" Matthew 28:20.

 

Discipleship has a personal element.

 

“For you know that we dealt with each of you” (v. 11).

 

 “I...have taught you publicly and from house to house.” Acts 20:20

 

Discipleship is not effective in mass meetings alone.

 

-The encourager is like a cheer leader.

 

-The comforter is like a nurse.

 

-The one doing the urging is like a coach.

 

Conclusion: Souls are in the balance, they are depending on our effectiveness in ministry.