Ministers

Overview

Ministers are set apart by God to preach the gospel, teach Scripture, and lead the church in holiness. They are called to exemplify Christ's character, speak truth with gentleness, and serve sacrificially. The pastoral office carries both privilege and solemn responsibility before God.

Key Scriptures

"Whoever speaks, let him speak as one who speaks the oracles of God; whoever serves, let him serve as one who by the strength that God supplies, in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ" (1 Peter 4:11, ESV).

"We are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making his appeal through us" (2 Corinthians 5:20, ESV).

"The lips of a priest should preserve knowledge, and people should seek instruction from his mouth, because he is the messenger of the Lord Almighty" (Malachi 2:7, NIV).

Application

Support your pastor in prayer, hold him accountable to Scripture, and recognize that faithful ministry requires both God's empowerment and the congregation's spiritual cooperation.

✦ Scripture References 40 references

1 Peter 4:11 Philippians 1:7 1 Thessalonians 2:8 1 Thessalonians 2:11 2 Corinthians 5:20 2 Corinthians 6:4 1 Timothy 3:2 2 Timothy 2:24 Colossians 4:17 Matthew 24:47 1 Corinthians 3:14 1 Corinthians 9:17 1 Corinthians 9:18 1 Peter 5:4 Malachi 2:7 Matthew 23:3 2 Corinthians 10:8 2 Corinthians 13:10 Acts 11:23 1 Timothy 3:2 Titus 1:7 2 Corinthians 12:19 Ephesians 4:12 Exodus 28:1 Hebrews 5:4 Acts 8:5 Acts 8:35 1 Corinthians 2:2 2 Corinthians 1:4 2 Corinthians 1:5 2 Corinthians 1:6 2 Corinthians 4:2 Matthew 28:19 2 Corinthians 4:7 1 Timothy 3:3 Titus 1:7 Titus 1:9 2 Corinthians 4:2 John 10:12 Philippians 1:7

✦ Topical Scripture Breakdown 239 verses

According to the oracles of God

1 Peter 4:11

Affectionate to their people

1 Thessalonians 2:8 1 Thessalonians 2:11 Philippians 1:7

Ambassadors for Christ

2 Corinthians 5:20

Approve themselves as the ministers of God

2 Corinthians 6:4

Apt to teach

1 Timothy 3:2 2 Timothy 2:24

Archippus

Colossians 4:17

Are rewarded

1 Corinthians 3:14 1 Corinthians 9:17 1 Corinthians 9:18 1 Peter 5:4 Matthew 24:47

Attend to their instructions

Malachi 2:7 Matthew 23:3

Authority of, is for edification

2 Corinthians 10:8 2 Corinthians 13:10

Barnabas

Acts 11:23

Blameless

1 Timothy 3:2 Titus 1:7

Build up the Church

2 Corinthians 12:19 Ephesians 4:12

Called by God

Exodus 28:1 Hebrews 5:4

Christ crucified

1 Corinthians 2:2 Acts 8:5 Acts 8:35

Comfort

2 Corinthians 1:4 2 Corinthians 1:5 2 Corinthians 1:6

Commend themselves to the consciences of men

2 Corinthians 4:2

Commissioned by Christ

Matthew 28:19

Compared to earthen vessels

2 Corinthians 4:7

Contentious

1 Timothy 3:3 Titus 1:7

Convince gainsayers

Titus 1:9

Crafty

2 Corinthians 4:2

Deal treacherously with their people

John 10:12

Defenders of the faith

Philippians 1:7

Delude men

Jeremiah 6:14 Matthew 15:14

Described

Isaiah 56:10 Isaiah 56:11 Isaiah 56:12 Titus 1:10 Titus 1:11

Devoted

Acts 20:24 Philippians 1:20 Philippians 1:21

Disinterested

1 Thessalonians 2:6 2 Corinthians 12:14

Easily dispirited

2 Corinthians 4:8 2 Corinthians 4:9 2 Corinthians 6:10

Endure hardness

2 Timothy 2:3

Ensample to the flock

1 Peter 5:3 1 Timothy 4:12 2 Thessalonians 3:9 Philippians 3:17

Entangled by cares

2 Timothy 2:4 Luke 9:60

Entrusted with the gospel

1 Thessalonians 2:4

Epaphroditus

Philippians 2:24

Everywhere

Acts 8:4 Mark 16:20

Excellency of

Romans 10:15

Exhort

Titus 1:9 Titus 2:15

Feed the Church

1 Peter 5:2 Acts 20:28 Jeremiah 3:15 John 21:15 John 21:16 John 21:17

Follow their holy example

1 Corinthians 11:1 Philippians 3:17

Fully, and without reserve

Acts 5:20 Acts 20:20 Acts 20:27 Romans 15:19

Gentle

1 Thessalonians 2:7 2 Timothy 2:24

Give them joy

2 Corinthians 1:14 2 Corinthians 2:3

Given to wine

1 Timothy 3:3 Titus 1:7

Glory in their people

2 Corinthians 7:4

Greedy of filthy lucre

1 Peter 5:2 1 Timothy 3:3 1 Timothy 3:8 Acts 20:33

Have authority from God

2 Corinthians 10:8 2 Corinthians 13:10

Help them

Philippians 4:3 Romans 16:9

Hold them in reputation

1 Thessalonians 5:13 1 Timothy 5:17 Philippians 2:29

Holy

Exodus 28:36 Leviticus 21:6 Titus 1:8

Hospitable

1 Timothy 3:2 Titus 1:8

Humble

Acts 20:19

Imitate their faith

Hebrews 13:7

Impartial

1 Timothy 5:21

Labours of, vain, without God's blessing

1 Corinthians 3:7 1 Corinthians 15:10

Lords over God's heritage

1 Peter 5:3

Love them

1 Thessalonians 3:6 2 Corinthians 8:7

Matthias

Acts 1:26

Men-pleasers

1 Thessalonians 2:4 Galatians 1:10

Ministers of Christ

1 Corinthians 4:1

Necessity for

Matthew 9:37 Matthew 9:38 Romans 10:14

Not setting forth themselves

2 Corinthians 4:5

Not to despise them

1 Timothy 4:12 Luke 10:16

Not with enticing words of man's wisdom

1 Corinthians 1:17 1 Corinthians 2:1 1 Corinthians 2:4

Obey them

1 Corinthians 16:16 Hebrews 13:17

Patient

2 Corinthians 6:4 2 Timothy 2:24

Paul

Acts 28:31

Philip

Acts 8:5

Pray for the increase of

Matthew 9:38

Pray for their people

Colossians 1:9 Joel 2:17

Pray for them

2 Corinthians 1:11 Ephesians 6:19 Hebrews 13:18 Romans 15:30

Prayerful

Ephesians 3:14 Philippians 1:4

Preach the gospel to all

1 Corinthians 1:17 Mark 16:16

Pure

1 Timothy 3:9 Isaiah 52:11

Qualified by God

2 Corinthians 3:5 2 Corinthians 3:6 Isaiah 6:5 Isaiah 6:6 Isaiah 6:7

Rebuke

Titus 1:13 Titus 2:15

Regard them as God's messengers

1 Corinthians 4:1 Galatians 4:14

Rejoice in the faith and holiness of their people

1 Thessalonians 3:6 1 Thessalonians 3:7 1 Thessalonians 3:8 1 Thessalonians 3:9

Repentance and faith

Acts 20:21

Seek gain

2 Peter 2:3 Micah 3:11

Self-denying

1 Corinthians 9:27

Sent by the Holy Spirit

Acts 13:2 Acts 13:4

Separated to the gospel

Romans 1:1

Shall be punished

Ezekiel 33:6 Ezekiel 33:7 Ezekiel 33:8 Matthew 24:48 Matthew 24:49 Matthew 24:50 Matthew 24:51

Should avoid giving unnecessary offence

1 Corinthians 10:32 1 Corinthians 10:33 2 Corinthians 6:3

Should make full proof of their ministry

2 Timothy 4:5

Should seek the salvation of their flock

1 Corinthians 10:33

Simeon, &c

Acts 13:1

Sober, just, and temperate

Leviticus 10:9 Titus 1:8

Specially protected by God

2 Corinthians 1:10

Stewards of the mysteries of God

1 Corinthians 4:1

Strengthen the faith of their people

Acts 14:22 Luke 22:32

Strict in ruling their own families

1 Timothy 3:4 1 Timothy 3:12

Strong in grace

2 Timothy 2:1

Studious and meditative

1 Timothy 4:13 1 Timothy 4:15

Support them

1 Corinthians 9:7 1 Corinthians 9:8 1 Corinthians 9:9 1 Corinthians 9:10 1 Corinthians 9:11 2 Chronicles 31:4 Galatians 6:6

Teach

2 Timothy 2:2

Thank God for his gifts to their people

1 Corinthians 1:4 1 Thessalonians 3:9 Philippians 1:3

The Eleven Apostles

Matthew 28:16 Matthew 28:17 Matthew 28:18 Matthew 28:19

The servants of Christ's people

2 Corinthians 4:5

The seventy

Luke 10:1 Luke 10:17

Timothy

Philippians 2:22

Titus

Titus 1:5

Tychicus

Ephesians 6:21

War a good warfare

1 Timothy 1:18 2 Timothy 4:7

Warn affectionately

Acts 20:31

Watch for souls

Hebrews 13:17

Watchful

2 Timothy 4:5

Willing

1 Peter 5:2 Isaiah 6:8

With boldness

Ezekiel 2:6 Isaiah 58:1 Matthew 10:27 Matthew 10:28

With consistency

2 Corinthians 1:18 2 Corinthians 1:19

With constancy

2 Timothy 4:2 Acts 6:4

With faithfulness

Ezekiel 3:17 Ezekiel 3:18

With good will and love

Philippians 1:15 Philippians 1:16 Philippians 1:17

With heedfulness

1 Timothy 4:16

With plainness of speech

2 Corinthians 3:12

With zeal

1 Thessalonians 2:8

Without charge, if possible

1 Corinthians 9:18 1 Thessalonians 2:9

Without deceitfulness

1 Thessalonians 2:3 1 Thessalonians 2:5 2 Corinthians 2:17 2 Corinthians 4:2

Woe to those who do not preach the gospel

1 Corinthians 9:16

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