The Ministry of the Word - Part 1
John 21 (KJ2000)
14 This is now the third time that Jesus showed himself to his disciples, after he was risen from the dead.
15 So when they had dined, Jesus said to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, do you love me more than these? He said unto him, Yea, Lord; you know that I love you. He said unto him, Feed my lambs.
16 He said to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, do you love me? He said unto him, Yea, Lord; you know that I love you. He said unto him, Feed my sheep.
17 He said unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, do you love me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Do you love me? And he said unto him, Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you. Jesus said unto him, Feed my sheep.
The relationship between Jesus and Simon Peter was an interesting one. Jesus had 12 apostles, but the 4 gospels do not record any personal conversations between Jesus and most of them. Peter is the exception - at least 16 conversations between Jesus and Peter are recorded.
During the Lord’s Supper, Jesus informed His apostles that all of them would abandon Him that night. Peter was not amused at the idea he could abandon Jesus. He loved his Master too much to do that, and he didn't hesitate to let Him know it:
Luke 22 (KJ2000)
33 …Lord, I am ready to go with you, both into prison, and to death.
Well, we know what happened. Three times Peter was asked if he was a disciple of Christ, and three times he denied he was one. How sad he must have been when he came to himself, and realised Jesus had been right about the fact that he (Peter) would be just as unreliable as the others!
Luke 22 (KJ2000)
55 And when they had kindled a fire in the midst of the courtyard, and were set down together, Peter sat down among them.
56 But a certain maidservant beheld him as he sat by the fire, and earnestly looked upon him, and said, This man was also with him.
57 And he denied it, saying, Woman, I know him not.
58 And after a little while another saw him, and said, you are also of them. And Peter said, Man, I am not.
59 And after the space of about one hour another confidently affirmed, saying, Of a truth this fellow also was with him: for he is a Galilean.
60 And Peter said, Man, I know not what you say. And immediately, while he yet spoke, the cock crowed.
61 And the Lord turned, and looked upon Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said unto him, Before the cock crows, you shall deny me three times.
62 And Peter went out, and wept bitterly.
Some have suggested that Jesus asked Peter if He loved him 3 times, to give Him 3 opportunities to recant the 3 denials. Interesting idea! Notice also that the 3 times Peter proclaimed his love for Jesus, Jesus didn't bring up the past or insist on discussing why Peter denied Him. Instead, He asked Peter to prove the love he had for Him by doing one thing:
John 21 (KJ2000)
15 …Feed my lambs.
16 …Feed my sheep.
17 …Feed my sheep.
As a minister of the gospel, the greatest demand the call of God will make upon your life is to feed His flock. The great evidence of the extent of your love for God as a minister will be how far you’re ready to go in feeding His flock. You may or may not be called to pastoral ministry, but anyone called to pulpit ministry will always have a calling to feed His flock.
In our day and time, we have seen ministers that seem to excel at doing every other thing well, except feeding the flock. You may be a very gifted person as a pulpit minister, but until you are good at the feeding the flock, you are not yet on your way to fulfilling your ministry.
Some ministers are good administrators. They would function well in any corporate office in town and could show you how to improve and optimise any business process.
Some ministers are good at managing money. They can raise money well and spend it optimally within budget.
Some ministers are good facility managers. They have put up the best church building in town, and they are running it very well.
Some ministers are good leaders. It doesn’t matter whether you ask them to lead the Army or the Boy Scouts or a Committee of Good Women. They will take that group and lead them to achieve incredible goals!
Some ministers are great orators. Cicero of Rome would concede they have the gift of the garb! They could speak for 3 hours, and it would seem they’ve only been speaking for 30 minutes.
All these abilities are good. In fact, some ministries are not as effective as they could be, because the people running them lack some of these abilities.
But if you’re called to pulpit ministry, all these abilities, and many others I haven’t mentioned, could never replace your need to be good at feeding the flock. Think about it. Parents may need to combine several skills and abilities to be good parents, but their most important task would always be feeding their children. It doesn’t matter how good they are at everything else, if they aren’t feeding the children well, they would always come short.
In these series, I’d like us to examine what makes for effective ministry of God’s Word. I believe paying attention to this will help us all be more effective in our pulpit ministries.
Continue in grace!