7944 ministry, qualifications for
Dictionary of Bible Themes

Dictionary of Bible Themes  »  7000 God's people  »  7900 The life of the church  »  7939 ministry  »  7944 ministry, qualifications for

God, who calls his people to minister, also equips his people. The chief qualifications are a response to God's call, faithfulness, godliness and Christlikeness.

God calls people to minister

Qualification is by call, not gifting or achievement

Deuteronomy 7:7-8 See also Deuteronomy 9:4-5

God calls those who the world regards as weak or foolish

1 Corinthians 1:27-29

Feelings of inadequacy to God's call are common

Exodus 3:11 Moses; Judges 6:15 Gideon; 1 Samuel 9:21 Saul; 1 Samuel 18:18 David; 1 Kings 3:7 Solomon; Isaiah 6:5 Isaiah; Jeremiah 1:6 Jeremiah

Responding to God's call to minister

Readiness and availability

1 Samuel 3:10; Isaiah 6:8

Faith, rather than natural talent or moral perfection, is required

Hebrews 11:1-2 See also Genesis 27:19-24 Jacob was a deceiver; Numbers 27:12-14 Moses and Aaron disobeyed God.

David committed adultery and murder:

2 Samuel 11:4,14-15 1 Kings 11:9-13 Solomon disobeyed God's command.

NT ministers are recognised by call rather than their achievement

The Twelve

Matthew 10:1-4 pp Mark 3:14-19 pp Luke 6:12-16 The Twelve, including Peter and Judas, failed Jesus Christ at critical times.

Paul

Acts 9:15; Acts 26:6; 2 Corinthians 4:7-12; Corinthians 12:7 Though greatly gifted, Paul was kept humble by his sense of unworthiness, difficulties and disappointments and his “thorn in the flesh”; 1 Timothy 1:16

Ministry in the NT is described as service

Serving God

Romans 1:9; James 1:1

Serving Jesus Christ

Romans 1:1; Jude 1; Revelation 1:1

Serving the gospel

Ephesians 3:7; Colossians 1:23

Serving the church

Romans 15:31; Romans 16:1; 1 Corinthians 16:15; 2 Corinthians 9:1; Ephesians 6:21; Colossians 1:7,25

Ministry is described in terms of its source, content or nature

Its source

It is of the Spirit:

2 Corinthians 3:6,8 2 Corinthians 4:1 It is from God.

Its content

Acts 6:2-4 the word of God; 2 Corinthians 5:18 reconciliation

Its nature

Apostolic:

Acts 1:25; Galatians 2:8 Romans 15:16 priestly

Various ministries are equally linked by qualifications of character

Acts 1:21 the replacement for Judas; Acts 6:3 the Seven

Overseers:

1 Timothy 3:2-7; Titus 1:7-9 1 Timothy 3:8-13 deacons; 1 Timothy 6:11 Timothy

The personal qualifications for ministry

Faithfulness

1 Timothy 6:11-14 Timothy; 2 Timothy 4:7 Paul's claim for his own ministry

“faithful” is the sole description of the ministries of Epaphras and Tychicus:

Colossians 1:7; Colossians 4:7

Godliness

Acts 8:21 Simon was not right with God.

Timothy:

1 Timothy 6:11,20-21

Christlikeness

Acts 1:21-22 The replacement apostle for Judas had to have been with Jesus Christ from the beginning.

See also

5932  response
6620  calling
7720  elders in the church
8020  faith
8206  Christlikeness
8248  faithfulness
8265  godliness
8420  equipping



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