Quotes about Ministry

Apostolic ministry is not just about founding new churches and movements; it is as much about the renewal of existing organizations, that is, helping the church retain its primal movemental nature and stay vibrant. And so it has ongoing relevance for established churches as well.

Whether we choose it or not, almost all expressions of church in the West are implicitly vulnerable to nondiscipleship, professionalized ministry, spiritual passivity, and consumerism. The problem is rooted in the profoundly nonmissional assumptions of the system itself.

It is unscriptural to pray for the sick if one is not prepared also to cast out demons. Jesus did not separate one from the other.

The task of pastoral ministry, above all else, is to arrange contingencies for an encounter with the divine.

2 Corinthians 5:20: So we are ambassadors for Christ, since God is making his appeal through us; we entreat you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.

The distinction between objective and personal thinking must truly first be learned. Many people never learn this (look at our colleagues in the ministry! among others).

In trying to be strong for them, I had cheated them out of opportunities to strengthen me. Guilt overwhelmed me, because I could-at last-see their gifts to me. The shame flowed all over me, and I began to cry. This is their ministry, I thought, and I've been spoiling it. I felt such intense shame over not letting them help.

On subsequent visits I expanded further on the life and ministry of Jesus

The goal in Pietism was the service of God in ministry to the world.

Other people are going to find healing in your wounds. Your greatest life messages and your most effective ministry will come out of your deepest hurts.

When I consider my ministry, I think of the world. Anything less than that would not be worthy of Christ, nor of his will for my life.

We must have a strong inner life of fellowship and intimacy with Jesus if we are going to have a strong outer life of ministry