We hang on to a lot of models in ministry – our pastor growing up, a Christian leader we respect, and sometimes our own parents, for example. As much as I want to encourage all of us to have mentors and models in ministry, it’s a matter of fact that at some points every one of them will let you down – everyone but Jesus.
Jesus is our ultimate model for ministry.More than anything else in my life, I want to be able to say that I’ve grown more like Jesus in both my character and my ministry. Here are 10 principles in Jesus’ ministry that we need to incorporate into our own.
1. Identification: Know who you are
If we’re ever going to be effective in ministry for Jesus Christ, we must know who we are. That involves knowing our strengths and weaknesses – and knowing our limitations. Identify who you are – your S.H.A.P.E. (spiritual gifts, heart, abilities, personality, and experiences). That’s why we spend a lot of time talking about S.H.A.P.E. at Saddleback. (See C.L.A.S.S. 301 for more information.)
In John 8:18 Jesus said, “I am one who testifies for myself.” (NIV) In John 4:10 he said, "If you only knew ... who I am, you would ask me, and I would give you living water." (NLT) Jesus had no self-doubts. He knew exactly who he was. Eight times in Scripture he said, “I am” and then defines himself.
If you don’t know the kind of minister God made you to be, you’re going to fall prey to two traps – comparison and copying. Some of you will get into the habit of comparing your ministry with someone else’s. That’s a bad idea. You can always find somebody who is better than you (causing envy) and you can always find someone who is worse than you (causing pride).
The other trap you’ll fall into is copying someone else’s ministry. It’s crucial that you get this. God gave you specific spiritual gifts, heart, abilities, personality, and experiences for a reason. He wants you to use them in ministry. He wants you to be you.
I’ve been helping pastors with their ministries for more than 25 years. I’ve never had the goal of trying to turn other pastors into me. My ministry has always existed to help you fulfill God’s purposes within your own particular context.
If your goal is to turn your church into another Saddleback, you’ve missed the point.
2. Motivation: Clarify why you are in ministry
This is a settled issue for Jesus. He dedicated his entire life to pleasing God. In John 5:30 Jesus says, “I seek not to please myself but him who sent me.” Jesus’ sole motivation for ministry was to serve God. He wasn’t trying to please himself, other people, become popular, or make a lot of money. He wanted to please God.
Ministry is too costly to be motivated by anything other than pleasing God. Learn to live for an audience of one. I’m learning more and more about the importance of that statement. No matter what I do, what matters is what Jesus thinks about what I’m trying to do.
3. Dedication: I must keep my life pure
Jesus said in John 14:6, “I am the truth.” He didn’t say, “I tell the truth” or “I have the truth.” He said “I am the truth.” Why did he say that? Integrity is the basis for all legitimate ministry. You need to constantly ask yourself, am I exactly what I appear to be? Or is my home life and ministry life like Dr. Jeykll and Mr. Hyde?
