LACED WITH GRACE...the 5 "M's" of Ministry

I have shared the following Devotional with the readers of LACED WITH GRACE today. I hope that you will be blessed and encouraged as you continue to labor for God in all of your ministries! Please support all of our daily devotional writers over at www.lacedwithgrace.com

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One of my favorite things to do is encourage and minister to small groups. There is so much wisdom and growth that can come out of small groups. I have had the privilege of leading youth and women in small group settings. So many churches are now gearing towards bringing in new people thru small group ministry. I applaud this effort but at the same time want to express my concern over so many churches that are replacing “church” with small groups.


Small groups for me is entirely different than church service. According to the Bible, worshipping together serves several functions:


1. It leads to deeper fellowship among believers (Acts 2:42)
2. It enables believers to break bread together (Acts 2:2)
3. Worshipping together brings God into our presence (Matthew 18:19-20)
4. It encourages “glad and sincere hearts” (Acts 2:46)
5. It brings collective praise of God (Acts 2:47)

6. It encourages growth in the body of Christ (Acts 2:47)

7. It helps Christians to encourage one another (Hebrews 10:25)
8. And it invites the Holy Spirit unto the group (Acts 10:44)

Even though we can experience all of the above in a small setting, there is just something about gathering together in one accord to worship in a church setting. Whether it is “Church” that you love or “Small Groups”, here are 5 “M’s” to enhance the ministry of worshipping together…

MINISTER TO NEEDS

“A healthy church is a growing church”, many times we overlook that the members of our church or small groups are hurting. It should be an intended goal to become healthy, not just as leaders but our members should be healthy as well. We need to open our eyes and see the needs before us and minister to them.

MENTOR SPIRITUAL MATURITY

In order to be a spiritual mentor, we must first know the condition of those we are trying to mentor. An effective ministry leader should seek to cultivate spiritual habits in those in their realm of influence. How we can do that really depends upon the spiritual habits that exist in our own hearts. We cannot mentor, or train, what we don’t already know.

MOTIVATE FOR MINISTRY

If you want people to step up to ministry, we must first model what servant hood is. When people see in us the ideal of serving others, it will only have a ripple effect. What they see, they will do.


MULTIPLICATION EFFECT

Every church and small group desires to grow numerically, but multiplying in number is not the same as multiplying their life through others. Every church and small group will grow effectively when the leaders pour their life into others, so that those will in turn pour their lives into others as well. The multiplication effect.

MODEL A SURRENDERED HEART

There is not enough room at the pulpit or in the leaders manual for pride and arrogance. Never lose sight of the fact that everything that we are doing is by the grace of God and for His glory, not ours. Christian leaders must model a surrendered, humble attitude. God will always work best in our weakness, for when we are weak – He is strong. Give all of your fears, and inabilities to God and just see what He does with your ministry.

I love going to church. And I love being a part of a small group. I wouldn’t want to trade one for the other. Whichever place that you find yourself, may you experience the 5 “M’s” to the fullest!