Comments on: Your Work and Ministry Realities (Ministry and Work #1) http://godhungry.org/2009/08/14/your-work-and-ministry-realities-ministry-and-work-1/ Attempting to connect life to what matters most Wed, 23 May 2012 03:39:25 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: JimMartin http://godhungry.org/2009/08/14/your-work-and-ministry-realities-ministry-and-work-1/comment-page-1/#comment-8685 JimMartin Sat, 15 Aug 2009 18:40:34 +0000 http://godhungry.org/?p=2900#comment-8685 Connie, Thanks. I suspect you echo the thinking/feeling of a number of others. You are so right regarding the need to affirm everyday Christians who are doing ministry through the power of the Spirit in the ordinary course of life. The main task of the church is to live out the gospel during the week. Unfortunately, some of us have left the impression with churches that real ministry goes on within the confines of the church building or in some way has been organized by the church. Both of these are legitimate ministries and both are carried on by good people who love God and want to serve in some way. However, I am bothered when we keep talking about the ministry of the church in a way that suggests that only the organized efforts really count. They may be important and quite often extremely important. However, the church carries on the ministry of God wherever the church happens to be. For so many of us during the week, that place is work. Thanks so much. Connie,
Thanks. I suspect you echo the thinking/feeling of a number of others.

You are so right regarding the need to affirm everyday Christians who are doing ministry through the power of the Spirit in the ordinary course of life. The main task of the church is to live out the gospel during the week.

Unfortunately, some of us have left the impression with churches that real ministry goes on within the confines of the church building or in some way has been organized by the church.

Both of these are legitimate ministries and both are carried on by good people who love God and want to serve in some way. However, I am bothered when we keep talking about the ministry of the church in a way that suggests that only the organized efforts really count. They may be important and quite often extremely important. However, the church carries on the ministry of God wherever the church happens to be. For so many of us during the week, that place is work.

Thanks so much.

]]> By: JimMartin http://godhungry.org/2009/08/14/your-work-and-ministry-realities-ministry-and-work-1/comment-page-1/#comment-8684 JimMartin Sat, 15 Aug 2009 18:31:38 +0000 http://godhungry.org/?p=2900#comment-8684 Greg, Sounds like you are exactly where you are supposed to be and where God would like to use you at this point in your life. Wonderful! I am glad that you are finding this time of life to be so satisfying in this way. Greg,
Sounds like you are exactly where you are supposed to be and where God would like to use you at this point in your life. Wonderful! I am glad that you are finding this time of life to be so satisfying in this way.

]]> By: JimMartin http://godhungry.org/2009/08/14/your-work-and-ministry-realities-ministry-and-work-1/comment-page-1/#comment-8683 JimMartin Sat, 15 Aug 2009 18:30:15 +0000 http://godhungry.org/?p=2900#comment-8683 Brandon, That is a great question. I am still learning on this one but there are a couple things I have learned. Those of us who teach Sunday AM Bible classes can talk about work in the context of ministry. Far too often some seem to almost apologize for bringing up the subject of work. We could even even pray regarding our jobs and ministry there. In small groups, the facilitators of these groups can focus on especially praying for people at work. Those of us who speak/teach/preach can use examples from the workplace that suggest that God is at work in this place. I would love to hear other suggestions. Brandon,
That is a great question. I am still learning on this one but there are a couple things I have learned. Those of us who teach Sunday AM Bible classes can talk about work in the context of ministry. Far too often some seem to almost apologize for bringing up the subject of work. We could even even pray regarding our jobs and ministry there.

In small groups, the facilitators of these groups can focus on especially praying for people at work.

Those of us who speak/teach/preach can use examples from the workplace that suggest that God is at work in this place.

I would love to hear other suggestions.

]]> By: Connie http://godhungry.org/2009/08/14/your-work-and-ministry-realities-ministry-and-work-1/comment-page-1/#comment-8682 Connie Sat, 15 Aug 2009 16:03:54 +0000 http://godhungry.org/?p=2900#comment-8682 Jim, You've touched on something that has long been a concern of mine. When the only affirmation that is given is to those who work within "organized ministries," it makes it seem that it is more important to support the "institutional church" than it is to go out and simply be a Christian in your everyday life. I feel strongly that this emphasis is completely wrong. My calling is to be Jesus to the people around me everywhere I go. If I am doing what I need to do in my roles as wife, mother, friend, neighbor, nurse, etc., I really don't have much time left over to join some program at church. And while I don't expect a pat on the back for simply doing what I am called to do in my everyday walk, I don't appreciate being placed on a guilt trip for not signing up for the latest program being pushed by someone on the staff at church. Perhaps that sounds harsh, but that is truly the way I feel. Jim, You've touched on something that has long been a concern of mine. When the only affirmation that is given is to those who work within "organized ministries," it makes it seem that it is more important to support the "institutional church" than it is to go out and simply be a Christian in your everyday life. I feel strongly that this emphasis is completely wrong. My calling is to be Jesus to the people around me everywhere I go. If I am doing what I need to do in my roles as wife, mother, friend, neighbor, nurse, etc., I really don't have much time left over to join some program at church. And while I don't expect a pat on the back for simply doing what I am called to do in my everyday walk, I don't appreciate being placed on a guilt trip for not signing up for the latest program being pushed by someone on the staff at church. Perhaps that sounds harsh, but that is truly the way I feel.

]]> By: Greg England http://godhungry.org/2009/08/14/your-work-and-ministry-realities-ministry-and-work-1/comment-page-1/#comment-8681 Greg England Fri, 14 Aug 2009 20:40:08 +0000 http://godhungry.org/?p=2900#comment-8681 I preached 30 years. I hope some good came out of it. By far, the most significant ministry of my life has occurred since leaving the preaching profession just over two years ago. I go home almost every night knowing for a fact that what we did that day touched people's lives in a significant way. I preached 30 years. I hope some good came out of it. By far, the most significant ministry of my life has occurred since leaving the preaching profession just over two years ago. I go home almost every night knowing for a fact that what we did that day touched people's lives in a significant way.

]]> By: MyersBaker http://godhungry.org/2009/08/14/your-work-and-ministry-realities-ministry-and-work-1/comment-page-1/#comment-8680 MyersBaker Fri, 14 Aug 2009 02:52:12 +0000 http://godhungry.org/?p=2900#comment-8680 In some of my ministry courses I remember a big deal being made of one's calling to "full-time ministry". I don't guess it is any surprise the latent effect framing all other Christians as part-timers. How do we highlight the important ministry of every Jesus-follower? In some of my ministry courses I remember a big deal being made of one's calling to "full-time ministry". I don't guess it is any surprise the latent effect framing all other Christians as part-timers.

How do we highlight the important ministry of every Jesus-follower?

]]> By: JimMartin http://godhungry.org/2009/08/14/your-work-and-ministry-realities-ministry-and-work-1/comment-page-1/#comment-8679 JimMartin Fri, 14 Aug 2009 02:50:53 +0000 http://godhungry.org/?p=2900#comment-8679 Tim--I'm familiar with the title but have not read it. Thanks for the recommendation. I like what you said here, Tim---"The assembly isn't our Christian life." Tim–I'm familiar with the title but have not read it. Thanks for the recommendation. I like what you said here, Tim—"The assembly isn't our Christian life."

]]> By: Tim Archer http://godhungry.org/2009/08/14/your-work-and-ministry-realities-ministry-and-work-1/comment-page-1/#comment-8678 Tim Archer Fri, 14 Aug 2009 01:25:49 +0000 http://godhungry.org/?p=2900#comment-8678 I'd also recommend the book Roaring Lambs. Not new, but speaks well to this situation. I think we have a real assembly obsession. Maybe that's because it's easier to feel like we're doing what we're supposed to be doing in the assembly. But the assembly isn't our Christian life; it empowers us to go out and live the Christian life. Grace and peace, Tim Archer I'd also recommend the book Roaring Lambs. Not new, but speaks well to this situation.

I think we have a real assembly obsession. Maybe that's because it's easier to feel like we're doing what we're supposed to be doing in the assembly. But the assembly isn't our Christian life; it empowers us to go out and live the Christian life.

Grace and peace,
Tim Archer

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