The Chosen

 

Scripture: 1 Peter 2:9 But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;

 

Introduction:  Name or describe the certain expectations of a minister.

We are all ministers the same expectation that you mentioned you should have for yourself. 

Pastoral ministry is only one part of the ministry. 

There are ministers of all degrees and capacities within the body of Christ.  In other words, if you are in Christ you are a minister.     

 

I.                   Minister Defined

A.    Define minister:  One who serves others

The Bible gives us all kinds of examples and meanings to help us understand the word minister.

 

Ambassadors for Christ, 2 Cor. 5:20;

Defenders of the Faith, Phil. 1:7;

Fishers of Men, Matt. 4:19; Mark 1:17;

Laborers in the Gospel of Christ, 1 Thess. 3:2;

Messengers of the Church, 2 Cor. 8:23.

Messengers of the Lord of Armies, Mal. 2:7;

Ministers of God, Isa. 61:6; 2 Cor. 6:4;

of the Lord, Joel 2:17;

Christ, Rom. 15:16; 1 Cor. 4:1;

of the Sanctuary, Ezek. 45:4;

of the Gospel, Eph. 3:7; Col. 1:23;

of the Word, Luke 1:2;

of the New Testament, 2 Cor. 3:6;

of the Church, Col. 1:24, 25;

of Righteousness, 2 Cor. 11:15;

Servants of God, Tit. 1:1; Jas. 1:1;

of the Lord, 2 Tim. 2:24;

of Jesus Christ, Phil. 1:1; Jude 1;

of the Church, 2 Cor. 4:5;

Soldiers of Christ, Phil. 2:25; 2 Tim. 2:3, 4;

Witnesses, Acts 1:8; 5:32; 26:16;

Workers Together with God, 2 Cor. 6:1.

 

B.    2 Cor. 5:20-6:1 20 Now then, we are  ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God. 21 For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

We then, as workers together with Him also plead with you not to receive the grace of God in vain.

 

Are you a worker with Christ?

The book Heavenly places states that…

Today God's chosen people are to be zealous of good works, separating from all worldly ambition and walking humbly in the footsteps of the lowly Nazarene. . . .  {HP 339.3}

 

Are we zealous at our Christian Work or are we guilty of spending more time on the temporal things than we do on the eternal things.

 

II.                The Chosen

A.  God has a church upon the earth, who are His chosen people, they are those who keep His commandments.

1 Peter 2:9 But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;

You were chosen for a specific purpose with a specific task

 

B.    You are a royal priesthood. The priesthood was set apart from the rest of Israel to serve in the temple of God.  They were responsible for all spiritual and physical aspects of the temple.

 

The Bible calls you chosen.  Do understand the significance of being one of the chosen ones?   Because you are chosen, God has given you specific gifts to help bring others out of darkness just like you were once in.   

Ellen White says,

“The Lord has called out a people from among men, and has given them great light and knowledge in regard to His word.”  She is talking about me and you.

 

 

III.             Ministry is a Serious Work

A.  Don’t take your ministry responsibilities lightly, ministry is a serious work. 

If you are not in some sort of ministry where you are connecting with people, then you are not living up to your baptism commitment.  Church I am not talking about witnessing at work, ministry goes beyond witnessing. 

 

Both witnessing and ministry is nothing less then an extension of Christ.  It is Christ living in you fulfilling His purpose. 

 

Ministry is about regular scheduled activity where I take time out of my schedule to connect people with Christ.

In a ministry there is vision, a God given vision

 

B.  Ministry can either consist of in-reach or outreach.

In-reach is nothing more than reaching out and touching someone in the church.

In-reach example:

The letters that you get from Jean Tucker is an in-reach ministry.

When Millie, Dianne and Chuck take the youth group on an excursion it is an in-reach ministry.

 

Outreach example: 

When Penny and Ed go to Waynesville they are reaching out to those soldiers.

When we have a concert at the church it is an outreach ministry. 

When the deaconesses prepare a meal for a funeral it is an outreach ministry. 

When Dorothy holds an arthritis meeting, it is an outreach ministry. 

 

 

C.  If you are not in some sort of ministry where you are connecting with people, then you are not living up to your baptism commitment.  Number 17 of our fundamental beliefs declares…

 

17. Spiritual Gifts and Ministries:

God bestows upon all members of His church in every age spiritual gifts which each member is employ in loving ministry for the common good of the church and of humanity.  Given by the agency of the Holy Spirit, who apportions to each member as He wills, the gifts provide all abilities and ministries needed by the church to fulfill its divinely ordained functions.  According to the Scriptures, these gifts include such ministries as faith, healing, prophecy, proclamation, teaching, administration, reconciliation, compassion, and self-sacrificing service and charity for the help and encouragement of people.  Some members are called of God and endowed by the Spirit for the functions recognized by the church in pastoral, evangelistic, apostolic, and teaching ministries particularly needed to equip the members for service, to build up the church to spiritual maturity, and to foster unity of the faith and knowledge of God.  When members employ these spiritual gifts as faithful stewards of God’s varied grace, the church is protected from the destructive influence of false doctrine, grows with a growth that is from God, and is built up in faith and love.

 

Conclusion: Witnessing is part of everyday life; it is nothing more than the expression of Christ living in us.

Ministry on the other hand is regular scheduled activity where I take time out of my schedule to connect people with Christ.

 

When we connect people with Christ then the church is edified. 

 

 

Hymn: #579 Tis Love that Makes Us Happy

Hymn: #572 Give of Your Best to the Master