Thinking About Ministry

1 Timothy 1:12–17 (ESV)

¹²I thank him who has given me strength, Christ Jesus our Lord, because he judged me faithful, appointing me to his service,

¹³though formerly I was a blasphemer, persecutor, and insolent opponent. But I received mercy because I had acted ignorantly in unbelief,

¹⁴and the grace of our Lord overflowed for me with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.

¹⁵The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost.

¹⁶But I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in him for eternal life.

¹⁷To the King of the ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.

When Paul thought about his ministry, what came to his mind? According to this passage, at least five things filled his mind and should fill ours too:

1.     Christ’s Power (verse 12)

Read Paul thoroughly and you’ll discover one thing: he knew where his power for ministry came from. For him, Christ was the one “who has given me strength.” As Life Group leaders, we too must constantly find the Lord as our might for ministry.

2.     Christ’s Appointment (verse 12)

No true ministry leader is a ministry leader simply because he or she decided to become one. Rather, a true ministry leader is one that Christ has appointed to the task. Paul held onto this truth tightly, and it gave him courage and conviction.

3.     Christ’s Provision (verses 13-14)

Paul never separated his ministry from the provision of mercy and grace that Christ had poured out on him in salvation. And we shouldn’t either. Instead, we should always seek to lead out of a heart that is assured by, satisfied with, and resting in our salvation.

4.     Christ’s Appearing (verse 15)

“Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.” Simple. Concise. Profound beyond all imagination or grasp of reason. This is the brilliant Gospel: bright as the sun, the center of our faith and the axis of our ministry. Paul never left it behind.

5.     Christ’s Purpose (verse 16)

Why had Paul, the chief of sinners, received mercy? Why had Christ been so gracious toward him? The Lord had indeed had a purpose: Paul was to be an example, for the entire world to see, of Christ’s great love and grace. In other words, a ministry leader is a picture of how the Lord treats those who turn to him. When people see us, they should see a portrait of God’s lovingkindness.