BETA: FOUNDATION SCHOOL- MODULE 7

CLASS 7

701 CHRISTIAN SERVICE AND MINISTRY

INTRODUCTION

The objective of this class is to teach the student:

a. What Christian service and ministry is

b. The various aspect of ministry such as:

i. The Great commission

ii. The ministry of reconciliation

iii 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

Addicts’ teachings. These areas collectively make up the Christian life. At the end of

the class the students should know in clear terms why he needs to render service in the

church, maintain the right attitude with his or her leaders, as well as the right attitude

in courtship and engagement according to the ministry’s teachings.

7.1.0 CHRISTIAN SERVICE

Ministry is rendering service in the body of Christ or the church. Consequently,

Christian service or ministry is the believer's active involvement in the body of Christ.

(Romans 12-1, GoodNews Bible) Examples of service or ministry:

a. Your involvement in the activity groups such as: choir, ushering, helps etc.

b. Your involvement in the cell system and social media etc.

c. Your involvement in the ministry programmes.

7.2.0 THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE CHRISTIAN

a. THE GREAT COMMISSION (Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 16:16-18; Acts 1:8)

The great commission is a charge or commission given to all Christians by our Lord

Jesus Christ to preach the Gospel (Good News) 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; 2Tim 3:16-17; 2Tim 2:20-21)

The reasons why you need to be trained for Christian service or ministry are as

follow:

 It helps you to identify your ministry office (Ephesians 4:11).

 It helps you to be effective in the work of the ministry (Ephesians 4:12).

 It perfects you unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ

(Ephesians 4:13).

 It ensures that you receive good doctrines which is necessary to guide your

Christian life (Ephesians 4:14).

Examples of people that were trained by God is;

 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.

 Moses: (Exodus 1-3) Moses training was in 3 phases:

28-The first 40 years was in the courts of Pharaoh where he was raised as a

King's son.

-The next 40 years was in Medina when he was a shepherd

-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 to fulfill their ministry;

God is also training us for the work of the ministry.

7.3.0. THE MINISTRY OF RECONCILIATION (2Cor 5:18-21; Dan 12:3;

2Timothy 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 GoodNews 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). It brings the unbeliever unto repentance;

which are broken up into two portions from the Greek words:

Re: meaning to return

and Pent: meaning to the top

7.4.0 GROWING THE CHURCH (Ephesians 4:12-16; 1 Corinthians 12-12-

28; Exodus 35:5 Exodus 36:5)

Ways in which we can grow in the church:

a. Carrying out the great commission (Matthew 28:18-20)

b. Being involved in Christian service or ministry (Ephesians 4:12)

c. Edifying (strengthening, giving support, encouraging) the church in love

(Ephesians 4:16)

d. Bringing (special) offerings for the work of the ministry such as the expansion of

the ministry in the internet and hosting, social media platforms, programs and

equipment, the building of recording studio, ministry programs, etc… (Exodus

35:5).

7.5.0 YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH YOUR SPIRITUAL LEADER

(Hebrews 13:17; 1 Samuel 15:22-23; Numbers 16)

As a Christian, you are to submit completely to your spiritual leaders in obedience.

You should never criticize or judge your spiritual leaders in a bad light, even if you

perceive they are not living right with God. It is your duty to pray for them instead

(Hebrews 13:1b).

7.6.0 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

Christians. This we can do in two ways:

a. Purity in courtship (Eph 5:3-5, 1Cor 6-18-20, Hebrews 13:4): You must abstain

from fornication and all uncleanliness. Fornication before marriage is a blood

covenant and brings death into all that you do.

29b. Getting the church involved (Matthew 16:19, Matthew 13:4): Your spiritual

leaders, notably your Pastor should be aware of your relationship. Your Pastor will

counsel you about marriage with the inspiration of the Holy Spirit; those who don't

listen to their Pastor will end up with shattered dreams and broken homes. Pastors are

there to guide you, as they are the Shepard of the flock. "Be careful whether you are

married or not, live as though you were not. Note that there is no marriage in

heaven” (Matthew 22:36).

7.7.0 SHOULD A CHRISTIAN BE IN RELATIONSHIP WITH A

NONCHRISTIAN? (2 Corinthians 6:14-16, 1 Corinthians 6:16-20)

A Christian should not be in courtship or be engaged with an unbeliever, because the

unbeliever is still in darkness and living in sin. Your relationship should be to preach

the Gospel to them first. Christians are unequally yoked with those who don’t share

their believes.

7.8.0 WHAT WOULD YOU DESCRIBE AS A PROPER CONDUCT OR

DRESS CODE FOR A CHRISTIAN?

It is very important to conduct oneself in a manner befitting citizens of the Kingdom

of God. This means your behavior, manner of life must align with what God says you

are (Philippians 1:27, 3:17-20, II Corinthians. 1:12, Ephesians. 4:22). (I Corinthians.

10: 3, I Colossians. 3:17, 3:1-3). When a person gets born again, the Holy Spirit

becomes his guide and teacher; In other words, he no longer acts according to his

feelings, but is led by an inward witness. (Jhn. 14:26), His spirit is alive to God, he

knows what to wear to glorify God, because he is led of God. Now, the bible says the

law has been abolished – that is, the law or ordinances and decrees that prescribed

do’s and don’ts for the children of Israel. We are not under the law but under grace

(Ephesians 2:15-16, Romans 6:14). Paul emphasizes on the heart or inward man, not

the body: “For man looketh on the outward appearance, but God looketh on the

heart” 1 Samuel 16:17; Some have said ladies should not wear trousers or come to

church with their hair uncovered. Their Bible references for the judgment is usually

Deuteronomy 22:5, 1 Corinthians 1:1-15, 1 Peter 3:3, 1 Timothy 2:9. Deuteronomy

22:5 is the basis for stopping ladies from wearing trousers. What pertaineth unto man

is not restricted to trousers. It could be underwear, shirt or skirt. In fact, the Bible

records that during this time men wore skirts (Psalms.133:2). The Bible could not

have been referring to trousers because there were no trousers in those days. As long

as you are not dressed in a way which can tempt lustful thoughts, you can wear what

is comfortable and suitable to you.

Again, such people should look at verses 9-11 because the world would according to

their judgement be guilty of those verses. Ephesians 2:15 tells us that the law has

been abolished. So brothers and sisters go ahead and wear beautiful things, as you are

led by the Spirit. The covering of hair as mentioned in 1 Corinthians 1:1-6 is not

supposed to be controversial. Some believe ladies who do not use scarf over their

heads lack authority over devils, and the angels of God will not act when such speak.

This is a misconception. Our weapon and authority could not possibly be a mere scarf.

The Bible says the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but are mighty through God

to be pulling down of stronghold (2 Corinthians 10:4). The name of Jesus is our only

authority.

307.9.0 CONCLUSION

Christianity is a life of service to God. A Christian can render his service through his

active involvement in the body of Christ. Every Christian has been commissioned by

our Lord Jesus Christ to preach the gospel. In other words, he has been called into the

ministry of reconciliation. So any Christian who is not involved in reconciling men

back to God is not functioning well. A Christian must maintain the right attitude in

courtship by keeping himself pure and getting the Church involved. A Christian

should not be in courtship or engagement with a non-Christian. Lastly, the class

explained what a proper Christian conduct should be from scriptural perspective, as

against the common man made theologies, which has held so many Christian into

bondage.