Discipleship Letters 47-48

Discipleship Letter 47                                                June 21, 2009

“Who is Apollos, and who is Paul, that we should be the cause of such quarrels? Why, we’re only servants. Through us God caused you to believe. Each of us did the work the Lord gave us” (1 Cor. 3:5, NLT).

What is ministry?

(1)   Ministry identity: Apollos and Paul are mere servants. They are the two great leaders of the church at Corinth. Leaders of the church are the servants of the Lord; the servants of the Lord are the servants of the church. A good leader is a good servant.

(2)   Ministry gift: Each of us does the work with the gifts God has entrusted to us. We serve with our gifts. In other words, we are bounded by the gifts that we’ve been entrusted. We aren’t good at everything because we don’t have all the gifts. “My job was to plant the seed in your hearts, and Apollos watered it…” (1 Cor. 3:6, NLT). Paul is called to evangelize; Apollos, help new converts grow toward maturity in Christ. Paul isn’t more important than Apollos, or vice versa. They just did the work the Lord gave them.

(3)   Ministry purpose: Its purpose is to cause others to believe God. “Just as you accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord, you must continue to live in obedience. Let your roots grow down into him and draw up nourishment from him, so you will grow in faith, strong and vigorous in the truth you were taught…” (Col. 2:6-7, NLT).

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Discipleship Letter 48                                                June 28, 2009

“If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all” (Rom. 12:18, ESV).

Once we get involved in ministry, it’s hard to say that it doesn’t depend on us. We often say that it doesn’t entirely depend on us. Rather, it usually depends on them. Paul says that “so far as it depends on you.” No matter what, the ups and downs of ministry depend on you more or less. Paul rarely spiritualizes Christian ministry. He knows that it’s hard and requires a lot of attention and energy. He knows that ministry doesn’t always go along with our plans, and the people who get involved don’t always get along well either.

That’s why Paul says, “If possible…” It’s not easy, but it’s possible because we who are in Christ do not be conformed to the standard of the world, but be transformed by the renewal of our mind (Rom. 12:2). Before we lived in flesh, everything was impossible. Now we still live in the flesh yet don’t live according to it, all things are possible.

This verse is a good reminder to myself, for it forces me to think about my part, not their parts. I realize that whenever I start to concentrate on their parts, I fail to “think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned” (Rom. 12:3, ESV).