In today’s time it can be very easy for a minister to miss the purpose that God has for us. So many times we get caught up in the tradition of preaching opposed to sticking to the Biblical purposes for the minister. Let us look through the Bible to see what the Lord has for us as preachers and teachers.

As a minister one of the multiple purposes is to be an example to others of God’s mercy.

1st Timothy 4:12, “Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.”

In this letter, Paul encourages Timothy to be an “example” of the believers. What does it mean to be an example? An example is one that demonstrates something. In this case we have Paul telling Timothy to demonstrate who God is through actions. Demonstrate who God is through your word, conversation, charity (love), spirit, faith, and purity. Many times we are the only example that people will have of God. So let us be an example to people where we stand. Lets look at a couple of these words that are given as examples of how we to demonstrate who God is through our lives.

Your word and conversation is so important in demonstrating the Lord in your life. How is it that we as preachers, let alone believers, can use certain vocabulary around the church? However, when your around the unsaved your vocabulary changes. Shouldn’t your words be the same? Through our word people will see our passion and our love. Just think about someone who loves sports or cars or cooking. Usually you can tell within a couple of minutes of the conversation because they will always find a way to bring their passion into it. Should it be any less for lovers of Christ?

Love is another example that we have received as to how we can demonstrate to the unbelievers who God is. If God has sent His only begotten son to save sinners, which we are, then should we also love? Love is one of the fruits of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22). This means that as soon as we were saved the Holy Spirit came to live in you and with Him He brought love. Therefore, you should also love. How is it at times ministers can be so hard hearted and callused when we deal with people? We should demonstrate on a regular basis that we love because God first loved us.

In our lives, people watch how we stand in times of trouble. Do we give up or give in? Do we crumble under pressure and try to fix things on our own? People are watching and we have to set an example as to where we turn in tough times. When I have had issues in the past I have had to humbly stand before God and ask that He give me the faith, which He did. In other words, I would ask God to help me believe in Him and what He has said in His word. In the faith that we reveal, people will soon see our help is from above.

Finally, we get to purity. Oh, yes! Purity! We must live a holy life before the people. Guess what? When we are saved we can no longer live the way the world does. We must live a pure life. If you do not live a pure life then your not demonstrating a pure God. Remember, you are supposed to be living as an example. Have you ever heard a minister using foul language, have vodka in their refrigerator, getting a divorce? I have and that is not purity. You must live above what is expected and excepted from the world. We have to live out the word. If we do all that the people in this world do then how can we help them to know the King? If we want to help someone we have to be where they want to get and not where they are.

Another purpose of a minister is to make disciples.

Matthew 28:19-20, “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.”

This requirement of God is for any believer but to the minister you must do this. This is not a request from Jesus but rather it is a command or a requirement. We as ministers must look at this verse and take very serious all that Christ has instructed.

When the term disciple is mentioned what is that first comes to mind? What definition would you use for the word disciple? A disciple in the most simplistic definition is a learner or a follower. However, we want to look at the definition to the fullest extent. A disciple is one that will accept, believe and follow the rule or guideline set by God/Christ. In other words the person that we are dealing with takes God’s instruction and makes it theirs to live by.

You can not have a person be a true disciple if the truth has not been given to them. If it is our job to make disciples then we have to give to the people truth. I can’t tell you how many times I have heard the Gospel message watered down to the point that even I could not understand what the point of believing in Christ was. It is not our job to convince people of the truth.

Teaching or instructing someone about the truths is not what we deem as necessary. If God has given the entire Bible then use it to teach. Let’s not use commentary, other peoples sermons, or copy people verbatim. Rather, lets just teach what has already been revealed to us, the Bible. When we teach we need to teach who the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit are. That is what the scripture says. Lets not be concerned who we may offend with truth, let God deal with that. Teach the Trinity. Teach what the role of each person of the Trinity is.

It is so important to teach the truth about the Gospel.

2nd Timothy 2:2, “And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.”

Through this verse you can see that one of our objectives is to teach so that they too can teach. We want the gospel to continue on. This is one of the reasons that you don’t want to teach the people your own opinion. What you teach will have a lasting impression. It may sound like a huge responsibility, it is! You must never give your own thoughts or impressions but always give the truth according to the word of God. Let the word speak for itself.

Finally, in regards to the purpose of a minister, we have to be witnesses for Christ. Witnessing must be a way of life for the minister. If we understand that there is a real Hell. If we understand that there is a real Heaven. Then we must share the good news. How can we love the way Christ loved and yet not open our mouths in order to warn someone of the impending danger? That is a question that must be asked. Do we really care the way Christ cared? He was willing to lay down His life. What are you will to do?

Lets look at the life of Paul. Paul, a man that was sold out for Christ to the point that even when he was bound in prison he asked the Colossian believers to pray for him. Guess what Paul asked them to pray about.

Colossians 4:3-4, “Withal praying also for us, that God would open unto us a door of utterance, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds: That I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak.”

Paul asked for the opportunity of witnessing again. He wanted to tell people about Jesus (mystery of Christ) even while he was locked up. Anything could have been asked for by Paul such as freedom, help, or an escape but he chose to ask for the chance to witness again. How awesome was his dedication to the spreading of the Gospel.

In closing, are you fulfilling the purpose of a minister through your life, your discipline, and your witness? Your job as a minister is not merely to sit in the front of the church for all to see. Your job is not to act as though you have everything together. Your job is not for people to serve you. Your job is tough in that, you must live by example, teach people to follow what Christ has instructed, and witness as a way of life. Trust in God and all of this will be possible.

References

• What the Bible Says to the Minister: The Minister‘s Personal Handbook. (1996). Chattanooga: Leadership Ministries Worldwide.