Ministry: in the name of Ministry: in the name of JesusJesus

John 4: 1 - 30John 4: 1 - 30

What is “ministry”What is “ministry”

Is “ministry” a Christian form of Is “ministry” a Christian form of charitycharity

Charity: according to WebsterCharity: according to Webster Benevolent goodwill or love of humanityBenevolent goodwill or love of humanity Generosity and helpfulness toward the Generosity and helpfulness toward the

needy or sufferingneedy or suffering Aid given to those in needAid given to those in need A gift for public benevolent purposesA gift for public benevolent purposes

Four Aspects of CharityFour Aspects of Charity

My initiativeMy initiative Activity basedActivity based

My own My own resourcesresources

One wayOne way

The woman at Jacob’s WellThe woman at Jacob’s Well Samaria – the Northern KingdomSamaria – the Northern Kingdom

Assyrian assimilation – other godsAssyrian assimilation – other gods Pentateuch onlyPentateuch only Temple on Mount GerizimTemple on Mount Gerizim Defiling the Temple in JerusalemDefiling the Temple in Jerusalem Taking the “long cut” around SamariaTaking the “long cut” around Samaria

WomanWoman Seen as inferior to menSeen as inferior to men Conversation kept to a minimumConversation kept to a minimum

The StoryThe Story

Starts with a physical needStarts with a physical need Who’s need?Who’s need? Not a subterfugeNot a subterfuge Ministry from our own need, weakness Ministry from our own need, weakness

and vulnerabilityand vulnerability Ministry in the midst of “ordinary life”Ministry in the midst of “ordinary life”

OpportunityOpportunity Leading of the SpiritLeading of the Spirit Initiated by GodInitiated by God

Jesus in MinistryJesus in Ministry

Movement from self-awareness to Movement from self-awareness to other awarenessother awareness Very difficult in a “me, me, me” worldVery difficult in a “me, me, me” world Too much “noise”Too much “noise”

The role of the Holy SpiritThe role of the Holy Spirit Doing what God leadsDoing what God leads Hearing the “voice” of the SpiritHearing the “voice” of the Spirit The empowering presence of GodThe empowering presence of God

Ministry in the Name of Ministry in the Name of JesusJesus

God’s initiativeGod’s initiative Henry Blackaby and the Southern Henry Blackaby and the Southern

Baptist Churches in Vancouver Baptist Churches in Vancouver Watching to see what God is doingWatching to see what God is doing

Not an activity but a full time Not an activity but a full time availability and responsivenessavailability and responsiveness Looking to do the will of GodLooking to do the will of God No part time options No part time options A full time, for all of lifeA full time, for all of life

Ministry in the Name of Ministry in the Name of JesusJesus

Uses both God’s resources and our Uses both God’s resources and our resourcesresources The resource of the SpiritThe resource of the Spirit I do my best and God does the restI do my best and God does the rest

Two way ministryTwo way ministry Other lives get impactedOther lives get impacted Our lives get impactedOur lives get impacted God’s amazing role reversal – Luke 24God’s amazing role reversal – Luke 24 Engaging with the poorEngaging with the poor

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GOD’S INITIATIVE

MY RESOURCES AND GOD’S RESOURCES

NOT PART-TIME BUT FULL-TIME

TWO-WAY