Objective of Christian Ministry

QUESTION: What is the objective of Christian ministry?

ANSWER:

In Jesus' very last words to His disciples, He gave what is called "The Great Commission" or the objective of Christian ministry. Often in a person's departing words, they sum up the essence of their message. Jesus proclaimed a most important message not just to His disciples, but to all of us. It is found in Matthew 28:19-20, "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."

Christian ministers and ministries have four major objectives:

• Share the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Mark 16:15 says, "He said to them, 'Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation.'"
  
  
• Shepherd the people. John 21:16 says, "... Jesus said, 'Take care of my sheep.'" Acts 20:28 says, "Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood."
  
  
• Be a spiritual watchman. Hebrews 13:17 says, "Obey your leaders and submit to their authority. They keep watch over you as men who must give an account. Obey them so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no advantage to you."
  
  
• Teach the Word of God: Acts 5:20 says, "Go, stand in the temple courts…and tell the people the full message of this new life."

But the work of the ministry is not just to be done by ministers and Christian ministries. All Christians are all called to serve. Ephesians 2:10 says, "For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do."

Ephesians 4:11 points out: "It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers." That is just the beginning of the ways we might be used to carry out the ministry of God. Some people have their ministry in music, others with children, some to specific groups like the chemically dependent or to prisoners, but everyone has a spot to minister.

For everyone, the objective of ministry is the same - to save as many as possible for the kingdom of God before Christ returns. The Bible says it many different ways, but the message is always the same. The objective of ministry is: God is not willing that any should be condemned to eternal damnation in hell, but that all should be saved and have eternal life in heaven!

2 Peter 3:9 says "The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance."