Called to Ministry, Called to ScriptureSmakprov

As we devote ourselves to knowing and growing in God’s Word, our calling also involves sowing his Word. As spiritual seeds, the truth of God’s Word is meant to be planted into the hearts of others so that it will take root and bear fruit for God’s glory. Our desire is to see people become like the tree planted by the water that continues to be nourished and refreshed by its life-giving power. As we soak in God’s Word, we must squeeze it out into the lives of others.

In leading and serving our people, one of the most difficult things to learn is how to minister to them in various situations.

When we saturate our hearts with Scripture, we will have a word to encourage God’s people. Whether it’s a moment of crisis or an everyday challenge, it is easy for people to become discouraged. But God’s Word can provide them with joy, hope, and peace as they struggle through a difficult situation or extended season of hardship. In order to minister to them, we must be equipped with verses or passages of Scripture that can meet them where they are.

As we encourage God’s people with his Word, it’s not always related to difficulty or pain. Often our encouragement will be more of an exhortation that propels them forward in their faith. The Bible regularly instructs ministry leaders to compel God’s people to “excel still more” (1 Thess. 4:1,10 NASB 1995). Calling people to deeper intimacy with Christ and to faithfully live for him requires us to challenge them with an appeal and thorough biblical instruction.

In addition to offering encouragement, when our hearts are saturated with Scripture, we will also have a word to equip God’s people. Often, our people will look to us for explanations and answers to life’s most challenging questions. They may be theological or practical. Whether they are trying to make the right decision or wrestling with a deep, difficult truth, we want to be careful that we don’t simply offer up our opinions.

It is so critical for us to point our people to what the Bible says about an issue or suggest Scriptures that provide the wisdom they need to make important decisions. This requires us to know God’s Word through diligent study so that we can faithfully lead them. While no one can be prepared for every question, we should continue to grow in our biblical knowledge to help them navigate God’s Word and discern its truth together.

When God uses Scripture to transform our lives, he is simultaneously equipping us to minister to others through the power of his Word. As you fulfill his calling and foster your love for Scripture by soaking it in and saturating your heart, the Lord will prepare you to squeeze it out into the lives of his people as you water the seed of God’s Word from the overflow of your own life!

Thank you for reading this plan, which is based on the book, Calling Out the Called (B&H Publishing Group, 2022).