…continuing this short throw-back series with the metaphor of a rockslide on I-40 on the NC/TN border that happened in 1997. That rockslide caused a lot of detours for months, and in the pre-GPS days, you had to pay attention to the road signs.

When a rockslide closes the highway, and you have to take a detour, you learn to rely a lot on road signs…

“Men at Work” is a common sign on the road today. Actually, the signs should read “Men & Women at Work” because many road crews have several women on them.

courtesy roadtrafficsigns.com

Ministry is men and women at work, becoming ministers of God to His world.

Christian compassion and the principles of God’s Kingdom demands that we minister to all persons without regard to their race, religious affiliation, abilities, or circumstances. We meet the needs of others in response to the command of Christ. If we fail to minister, we fail to obey the Lord’s command. In eternity, we will find we have ministered to Jesus as we have ministered to needy, hurting, persons.

Whoever wants to be great must become a servant. Whosoever wants to be first among you must be your slave. That is what the Son of Man has done: He came to serve, not be served – and then to give his lie in exchange for the many who are held hostage. (Matthew 20:26-28, The Message)

Christians may view ministry as something they can do in their own power and with their own resources. We cannot save persons in our own power. Neither can we adequately meet their needs. Only God can provide the means to minister to the overwhelming needs of persons worldwide.

We desperately need God’s help and blessing in this huge task. We are to help the helpless and hurting persons and love them in the name of Christ with the resources He provides. The physical and spiritual needs of persons require our attention. God has chosen use us to meet those needs. With His help and power, we can do it.

The needs of churches and believers are constant and challenging. No one person can meet every need in the church alone, but serving together, with the power of the Holy Spirit, the needs can be met. The Lord will provide through His people and beyond His people the resources we need.

No church will be healthy unless it commits to minster as the Lord provides need and opportunities.

part of a series taken from presentations 16 years ago, introducing the Purpose Driven Church principles to a church leadership team

brought back today to connect to Auxano’s release of the first Team UP resource, featuring the Top 100 Quotes from Purpose Driven Church, with applications and exercises from Church Unique