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There have always been many voices saying “This is the way to know God.” Today’s media explosion has created more voices and more confusion. Why then another? Our purpose is to share truth to help strengthen your relationship with God and with other believers in your locality.

Personal connection with other believers cannot be replaced by the mass media. It is much more satisfying to have a deep spiritual relationship with ten believers than to be in a crowd of ten thousand. Every individual is important to God, and His plan involves each one in a very real way. There are things that are important to God that can only take place in close personal relationships.

The goal of God is to build a family of His children together in love, walking in truth. Personal submission and obedience to Christ will bring conformity of each member to Christ, and a growing expression of the nature of God in a local gathering. The testimony going out to the world around will be as a “light set on a hill that cannot be hidden” and “the pillar and ground of the truth.”

Use the search box (upper right) to find topics of interest. View a full list of titles at http://www.ntchurchsource.com/podcast/.

May 19, 2016

Episode 26: The Purpose of Ministry


In past episodes we have discussed some the individual ministries in the church. Today we want to look at the purpose of those ministries all working together in harmony under the direction of God. Many times we tend to focus on one particular ministry that we like or think is most important. A common one today is “The Pastor.” While pastors (or elders) are a very important ministry in the local gathering, God does not intend for us to focus on a single ministry but rather allow God to use all of the ministries together to bring us into maturity in Christ. We need everything that God has provided to achieve God’s goals.


• God’s way of maturity (Ephesians 4:11-16)
o To prepare each member for work of ministry
o To bring unity of the faith
o A true knowledge of the Son of God
o A perfect (mature) man
o Fullness of Christ
o No longer children, tossed to and fro by every wind of doctrine
o Not deceived
o Speaking the truth in love
o Growing up into Christ
o Every joint (relationship) supplying
o Edification in love
• Some specific fruit of ministry
o Christ as Lord of each individual and assembly as a whole
o Spiritual life (manifestation of the Spirit, I Cor. 12:1-11)
o Expression of God’s love—Col. 3:14)
o Maturity (growth in expression of God’s character)
o The expression of the Cross (death to world, sin, law)
o Holiness (expression of God’s nature)
• The importance of ministry functioning together
o No one man (or ministry) can fully express God (I Cor. 12:12-31)
o We “together” are the Body of Christ

A very good discussion of the “work of ministry” in the plan of God:
http://www.ntchurchsource.com/literature/read/ministry/

• Additional resources at  http://www.ntchurchsource.com/
• Theme song “Will Your Anchor Hold” sung by J. Ashley Milne
• Comments and questions welcome. Email David@AnchorOfTruth.com