An Effective Ministry
2 Corinthians 4:1-7
The following are excerpts taken from eye-catching and very professional-looking brochures that
all of Bakersfield and surrounding communities received through the mails some time ago:
Only Take Your Kids To The Movie Theater For “G” Rated Movies? Then Why Not Take
Them There For Church? There is nothing worse than adults finding a church that “does it”
for them only to hear the kids whining and crying because they don’t ever want to go back.
That’s why our approach is more like The Wiggles television show than a one-room county
school house from the 1800’s. “I Couldn’t Believe It When This Church Passed POPCORN
BUCKETS Instead Of COLLECTION PLATES...” “...But When They Told Me Not To Put
Any Money In The Offering...” The offering is a part of the worship service, but it is always
clearly explained that guests are guests, and they are not expected to participate. You have
to admit, it is kind of a kick to see an offering taken up in popcorn buckets in a movie
theater. We Are Starting What We Consider To Be The Most Exciting, Innovative Church
Ever... Attend One 59-Minute Service And See If You Agree. Many people used to go to
church when they were younger but stopped going because their memory of church was a
place where a boring preacher droned on and on with little to say about their personal
everyday lives. That’s why we use many different ways to communicate: songs, drama, or
comedy sketches, and even video clips. Each one is custom produced for the church
service. And the music is lively ... so it does more than just lull you to sleep. It will make
your heartstrings tug and your toes tap. Even the subject of every sermon looks like it came
right out of today’s headlines. Even better, we team with another church that has been
named “The Most Innovative Church In North America”. They’re certainly not boring ... and
neither are we. After all, isn’t that what you would expect from a church that meets in a
movie theater? Coming Attraction: LIFE JOURNEY CHRISTIAN CHURCH, Edwards
Cinema at The Marketplace, Bakersfield, CA.
This Madison Avenue approach to worship is nothing new, but it illustrates what is considered the
most effective way to do ministry in this modern age. I can’t help but wonder how the apostle Paul
would react to today’s church scene. I believe he would be very disturbed and would be writing a
letter of stern rebuke as he did to the Corinthian church of his day. God had spoken so clearly to
Paul about the Christian ministry and what it was intended to be. If the church is to have an
effective ministry, it must go back to that ministry as God regulated it, and which He clearly
revealed to the apostle Paul.
But first we must ask what has happened that the Christian ministry is in such a confused state
today? There are several reasons that can be cited: First, Bible instruction and doctrinal preaching
has fallen to a bare minimum. This doesn’t necessarily mean that the Bible is not referred to and
used, but rather, that its truths are often not explained or its doctrines taught. In this age of
entertainment and instant gratification, Bible studies and doctrine are not attractive. They are
thought to be too hard, too tedious, and for more and more people, boring. Inevitably, this results in
weak and easy-believing Christians who refuse to stand for anything and fall for everything; people
who will not endure sound doctrine, but, to suit their own fancy, gravitate toward those who say the
things they like and feel. Such preachers and teachers are like a carpenter without a tape
measure. The results are a structure that is not only flimsy, but dangerous. The apostle Paul
forewarned of this very thing when he wrote to Timothy:
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“For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts
shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; and they shall turn away their
ears from the truth, and shall be turned to fables.”
(2 Timothy 4:3, 4)
Earlier, in the same letter, Paul had written to Timothy that “All Scripture is given by
inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in
righteousness.”
(2 Timothy 3:16)
It is significant that doctrine is mentioned first, for from sound doctrine flow all the other things that
profit the Christian.
A second reason that the Christian ministry is in such a confused state results from the first, i.e.,
the dominance of Arminian Theology with its emphasis on human ability. Because man has a free
will, he has the ability to determine his own salvation. As a result, conversion is taken out of God’s
sovereign and unconditional election and the Holy Spirit’s jurisdiction, and placed in the hands of
man, i.e., the high pressure tactics of a charismatic evangelist who has the power to wring out the
desired emotional responses and force conversion!
A third reason that the Christian ministry is in such a confused state is the Madison Avenue
approach itself. It can be compared to the marketing of most breakfast cereals with their appeal to
those most vulnerable – the children. When cereals are brightly packaged and sugarcoated, with
enticing free toys and surprises inside, attention to the fine print on the side of the box is diverted
and ignored. And so we never know about all the empty calories we’ve eaten or realize how
malnourished we’ve become! This describes what has happened to the Christian ministry today.
Along with this Madison Avenue approach is the ego thing. When you look behind the scenes, and
when the lights, cameras and microphones are off, you find pride, dishonesty and hypocrisy lurking
in the shadows. It’s quite telling that almost without fail, the large mega churches are often referred
to by the name of the person (preacher) who has become its star performer. In saying this, one
could, conceivably, be accused of an envious spirit or a sour grapes attitude in making such an
accusation. However, the Bible is clear as to WHOSE church it is and WHO is to receive all the
glory. John the Baptist’s confession is very much to the point:
“He it is, who coming after me is preferred before me, whose shoe’s latchet I am not worthy
to unloose ... This is he of whom I said, After me cometh a man which is preferred before
me: for he was before me ... He must increase, but I must decrease. ”
(John 1:27, 30; 3:30)
For these reasons and more, this is certainly not what God intended for an effective ministry. In 2
Corinthians 4:1-7, the apostle Paul sets before us at least three qualities for an effective ministry.
As pastors and prospective pastors, as elders and members of the congregation, an effective
ministry must be of first and utmost concern. Those three qualities are:
1. A Biblical view of the ministry.
2. A Biblical methodology in the ministry.
3. A Biblical model for the ministry.
A Biblical view of the ministry
“Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not.” (2 Corinthians
4:1) “This ministry,” to which Paul refers, must not be thought of in some subjective or personal
way as so many do today, i.e., my ministry, your ministry, their ministry, etc. We must have the
biblical view of the ministry. The words, “this ministry,” find their context and explanation in the
preceding chapters. In the closing verses of chapter 2, Paul says that he comes in triumph, in the
fragrance of Christ, and in sincerity:
“Now thanks be unto God, who always causes us to triumph in Christ, and through us
spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere. For we are unto God a sweet
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aroma of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish: To the one we are an
aroma of death unto death; and to the other the aroma of life unto life. And who is sufficient
for these things? For we are not as many who corrupt the word of God: but as men of
sincerity, as commissioned by God, in the sight of God speak we in Christ.”
(2 Corinthians 2:14 -17)
A sceptic could read those words and conclude that Paul was bragging, attempting to present
himself as the one who is to be commended. But in chapter 3:1, Paul addresses such scepticism:
“Do we again begin to commend ourselves? Or need we, as others, epistles of commendation to
you or letters of commendation from you?” In those days itinerant evangelists would often travel
with letters of endorsement and recommendation. These letters functioned as a seal of approval
upon their ministry and were highly esteemed by the evangelist. Before his conversion Paul carried
such letters from the high priest which endorsed his religious zeal for imprisoning and putting
Christians to death (cf. Acts 22:4, 5). But Paul says his credentials are now different. In the
following verses he writes:
“You are our letter of recommendation, written in our hearts, known and read of all men:
and you show that you are a letter of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with
the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshly tables of the heart. ”
(2 Corinthians 3:2, 3)
No longer is Paul interested in impressing people. No longer does he draw upon himself for inner
strength. No longer is his confidence in human credentials. He had been there and done that.
Once he had boasted: “If any other man thinks that he has anything whereof he might trust in the
flesh, I have more: Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a
Hebrew born of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee; concerning zeal, persecuting the church;
concerning the righteousness under the law, blameless.” (Philippians 3:4-6) But that is no longer
Paul’s boast and confidence. Rather, his confidence is now in Christ. Continuing in 2 Corinthians 3,
we read: “Such is the confidence that we have through Christ toward God. Not that we are
sufficient of ourselves to think anything as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God. ” (2
Corinthians 3:4, 5)
Too often we work overtime to get people to notice us, to show them how adequate we are, how
competent, how gifted, how important. But it’s not important that they see us, only HIM. When we
are brought to Jesus, our lives are transformed. We stand before His cross with nothing in our
hands. Confessing our own inadequacy, we go away, claiming only HIS adequacy. No longer are
we concerned about transforming ourselves, but rather in being transformed by the power of His
Spirit. Only the Holy Spirit has the power to energize us. As Paul writes in Galatians 2:20, “I have
been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life I now live
in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. ” Only when
we can confess the same will we have that biblical view of the ministry. Only having ourselves
received an abundance of mercy do we have this ministry and thus able to effectively minister to
others.
A Biblical methodology in the ministry
Today there is tremendous emphasis placed upon methodology and how one is to preach. It is the
subject of numerous studies and books as well as seminary instruction. Here is what Paul has to
say about methodology:
“We have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling
the word of God deceitfully; but, by speaking the truth openly, we would commend
ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God. But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to
them that are lost: In whom the god of this world has blinded the minds of them which
believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should
shine unto them.”
(2 Corinthians 4:2-4)
Here Paul lists a number of specifics that provide us with a Biblical methodology for preaching:
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First, because Paul had received God’s mercy on the Damascus road, he renounced those
shameful things done in secret. He now refused to deal with God’s people through trickery and
gimmickry. He would not use God’s Word deceitfully, manipulating others out of self-interest. By
implication, his Corinthian opponents, false preachers and teachers, were employing craft and
dishonesty in twisting Paul’s words and subverting the congregation (cf. 1Timothy 1:19, 20).
Secondly, Paul was unwilling to rely on cleverness. He was committed to “not walking in
craftiness.” He didn’t rely on gimmicks to get results. He didn’t play on people’s emotions. He didn’t
use high-powered, promotional campaigns to get the desired results.
Thirdly, Paul refused to mishandle Scripture. He dedicated himself to not adulterating the Word of
God, or tampering with its meaning, or read into the text something that wasn’t there in order to
prove his point, or to use it for his own selfish purposes.
Fourthly, Paul invited the judgment of anybody’s conscience upon his ministry. Paul stated that by
declaring openly and consistently the truth of God’s Word, he could bear the scrutiny of any man.
He had this confidence because he knew the higher scrutiny his work had received. He knew that it
was to God that every minister has to answer, finally and eternally. Paul knew the power of God’s
Word on his own life: the clean, sharp knife of the Word:
“For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword,
piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is
a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. Neither is there any creature that is not
manifest in his sight: but all are naked and opened to the eyes of him with whom we have to
do.”
(Hebrews 4:12, 13)
The truth cuts through the hypocrisy in our lives and goes straight to the heart. Before God our
heart is like an open book. He can see all the underhandedness, all the sinful corruption, the lust
and stinking pride.
Fifthly, Paul realized that not all who heard him would believe. He gives a clear explanation of why
the same truth is exciting to one person and boring to another; why some people get turned on and
others get turned off. It is because the Word-sword is double-edged and cuts two ways. Earlier
Paul had stated clearly both the purpose and power of the preached Word: “For we are unto God a
fragrance of Christ in them that are saved and in them that perish: To the one we are an aroma of
death unto death; and to the other an aroma of life unto life.” (2 Corinthians 2:15, 16) The Word,
faithfully preached in all of its fullness, is the Biblical methodology, and will result in an effective
ministry as God intended.
A Biblical model
In 2 Corinthians 4:5 & 7, Paul gives the characteristics of the person who best exemplifies a
minister of God: “For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your
servants for Jesus’ sake ... But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the
power may be of God, and not of us.”
First, Paul does not preach or proclaim himself as anything. In the ministry, which has a certain
amount of power and prestige, it’s easy to become filled with pride. How can one tell when that has
happened? When a person makes frequent references to self; when a person expects special
treatment and favors; when there is a desire to be seen, known and promoted; when a person
requires the blind and complete submission of others, and lords himself over others. Godly humility
must characterize every minister of the Word. He must know that he is but an earthen vessel, a
clay pot, a sinner like everyone else. Like Paul, who knew his own heart the best, he, too, must see
himself as “the chief of sinners.” (cf. 1 Timothy 1:15)
Secondly, Paul lifted up Christ as Lord. The minister of God promotes Christ, knowing He must
increase and I must decrease! The minister of God has a deep, sincere love for God’s Word and
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God’s people. He fears God and takes Him seriously, knowing that it is a fearful thing to fall into the
hands of the living God (cf. Hebrews 10:31).
Thirdly, Paul was merely a bondservant – a humble slave to those under his care. We see this
principle inculcated in the lives of Paul and Barnabas in the 14th chapter of Acts. When the pagan
people of Lystra saw Paul heal the lame man, they exalted him and Barnabas: “The gods have
become like men and have come down to us.” (Acts 14:11) They called Barnabas, Zeus, and they
called Paul, Hermes, and wanted to offer sacrifices to them. How did Paul and Barnabas react?
What an opportunity to exalt themselves! Their response was that of servants, refusing the
temptation to be exalted:
“They rent their clothes, and ran in among the people, crying out, and saying, Sirs, why do
ye these things? We also are men of like passions with you, and preach unto you that ye
should turn from these vanities unto the living God, which made heaven, and earth, and the
sea, and all things that are therein.”
(Acts 14:14, 15)
Finally, in this Biblical model for an effective ministry, Paul gives God the glory and points others to
Christ: “For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to
give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.” (2 Corinthians 4:6)
Only God can cause light to shine out of darkness, both in the creation of this world and in the
creation of a believer’s heart. Consequently, only He deserves the credit. We may carry the lamp
that shows Christ to others, but the flame is always from the Lord.
Thus we have three qualities for an effective ministry as set forth by the apostle Paul, one called by
God to preach His Word: A Biblical View of the Ministry, A Biblical Methodology in the Ministry, A
Biblical Model for the Ministry. What a glorious and effective ministry has been given to us! Well
may we ask: “Who is sufficient for these things?” We are but earthen vessels and our sufficiency
can only come from God. The source of this ministry is God Himself, and its goal is found in Jesus
Christ and Him crucified. It is this ministry, the power of the Gospel, the power of the Word that will
never return void, that ministers are to be busy with each and every day. Such a ministry will be
effective.
AMEN.
Vernon Pollema
© 2014 Copyright by the Reformed Church in the U.S. All rights reserved. Reprinted with permission.
The views expressed are not necessarily those of the editors or official positions of the RCUS.
www.christianstudylibrary.org
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