THE CHRISTIAN LIFE/GROWTH
INTRODUCTION
The objective of this class is to teach you:
a) What Christian
service and ministry is
b) The various
aspect of ministry such as:
The Great commission
The Ministry of Reconciliation
Growing the Church
c) The believer’s relationship with his or her
leaders
d) The believer’s attitude during courtship and engagement according to Gospel Envoys teachings.
These areas collectively make up the Christian life. At the
end of the class you should know in clear terms why you need to render service
in the church, maintain the right attitude with your leaders as well as the
right attitude in courtship and engagement according to Gospel Envoys
teachings.
CHRISTIAN SERVICE
Ministry is rendering service in the body of Christ or the
church. Christian service or ministry is the believer’s active involvement in the body of Christ, (Romans
12-1 Good news Bible Examples of service or ministry:
a. Your
involvement in the activity groups such as: choir, ushering, helps e.t.c
b. Your
involvement in the cell system etc
c. Your
involvement in the ministry programmes
THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE CHRISTIAN
THE GREAT COMMISSION (Matthew 28:18-20;
Mark 16:16-18; Acts1:8) the great commission is a charge or
commission given to all Christians by our Lord Jesus Christ to preach the
gospel of salvation. It is necessary for us as members of the body to preach
this gospel, thus liberating men from the evil intentions of the devil. We are
to be witnesses of Christ in our world. Witnessing Christ helps us grow
spiritually. The gospel of Christ is God’s
power for salvation for man (Romans 1:16). Carrying out this commission is
equally rendering service in the body.
B. THE NEED FOR TRAINING (Eph 4:11-16; 2Tim3:16-17;
2Tim 2:20-21).
The reasons why you need to be trained for Christian service
or ministry are as follows:
a) It helps
you to identify your ministry office (Eph 4:11).
b) It helps you
to be effective in the work of the ministry (Eph4:12).
c) It perfects
you unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ (Eph 4:13).
d) It ensures
that you receive good doctrines necessary to guide your Christian life
(Ephesians 4:14).
Examples of people that were trained by GOD
i. David: (1
Samuel 17:34-36). David was trained from when he was a shepherd boy at the age
of 17 to becoming the king of Israel.
ii. Moses:
(Exodus 1-3). Moses training was in 3 phases:
1. The first 40 years was in the courts of pharaoh where he
was raised as a king’s son.
2. The next 40 years was in median when he was a shepherd.
3. The last 40 years was from when God delivered the
Israelites through him, from Egypt through the red sea to the wilderness. And
God gave him the Ten Commandments and the unction to write the first five books
of the Bible.
Note: Just as God trained each of these men to enable them
fulfil their ministry, God is also training us for the work of the ministry.
C. THE MINISTRY OF RECONCILIATION (2 Cor 5:18-21; Dan
12:3; 2 timothy 4:1-5; Proverbs 11:30).
The ministry of reconciliation means reconciling or uniting
man from his sinful nature back to the nature of God (righteousness, holiness
and love). It means making men God’s
friends (Ephesians 5:19 Good news Bible). God made Christ to be sin for us so
that we can be made righteous. Therefore as the ambassadors of Christ, we are
to reconcile men back to God (Daniel 12:3)
GROWING THE CHURCH (Eph 4:12-26; 1Corinthians
12:12-28; Exodus 36:5)
Ways in which we can grow the church:
Carrying out the great commission (Matthew 28:18-20).
Being involved in Christian service or ministry (Ephesians
4:12)
Edifying (strengthening, giving support, encouraging) the
church in love (Ephesians 4:16).
Bringing (special) offerings for the work of the ministry
such as: Total Experience, Camp Meeting, Loveworld Television Ministry, Church
building projects, etc (Exodus 35:5).
YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH YOUR SPIRITUAL LEADER (Hebrews
13:17; 1Samuel 15:22-23; Numbers 16)
As a believer, you are to submit completely to your
spiritual leaders in obedience. You should never criticize or judge your
spiritual leaders, even if you perceive they are not living right with God. It
is your duty to pray for them (Hebrews 3:16).
THE RIGHT ATTITUDE IN COURTSHIP OR ENGAGEMENT (1
Corinthians 7:32-34).
Courtship is the period of engagement between two people
making preparation for marriage. During courtship it is important that we
maintain the right attitude as believers. This we can do in two ways:
a. Purity in courtship (Eph 5:3-5, 1Cor 6:18-20, Heb 13:4)
You must abstain from fornication and all uncleanliness.
