• Ephesians 4:11-16
    And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ— from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.
     
  • John 21:15-19
    So when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, 'Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me more than these?' He said to Him, 'Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.' He said to him, 'Feed My lambs.' He said to him again a second time, 'Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?' He said to Him, 'Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.' He said to him, 'Tend My sheep.' He said to him the third time, 'Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?' Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, 'Do you love Me?' And he said to Him, 'Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You.' Jesus said to him, 'Feed My sheep. Most assuredly, I say to you, when you were younger, you girded yourself and walked where you wished; but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will gird you and carry you where you do not wish.” This He spoke, signifying by what death he would glorify God. And when He had spoken this, He said to him, 'Follow Me.'
     
  • Romans 12:3-8
    For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith. For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function, so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another. Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith; or ministry, let us use it in our ministering; he who teaches, in teaching; he who exhorts, in exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.
     
  • 1 Peter 5:1-4
    The elders who are among you I exhort, I who am a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that will be revealed: Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly; nor as being lords over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock; and when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that does not fade away.
     
  • Matthew 28:19-20
    Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen.
     
  • 1 Corinthians 3:6-10
    I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase. So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase. Now he who plants and he who waters are one, and each one will receive his own reward according to his own labor. For we are God's fellow workers; you are God's field, you are God's building. According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I have laid the foundation, and another builds on it. But let each one take heed how he builds on it.
     
  • 1 Corinthians 12:5-6
    There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all.
     

For more scripture references, please see Bible verses for Ministry, Function of


Resources

The Purpose of the Ministry

Sermon by John O. Reid

The purpose of the ministry is to train members for service to God, edifying them, equipping them for their job, and bringing them to spiritual maturity.


The Ministry

Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by John O. Reid

The church has lost faith in God to work through His ministry. We must develop a balanced insight into the function of the helpers of our joy.


Titus (Part Two): A Faithful Ministry

Sermon by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

Titus had the remarkable ability for being a problem solver, exercising tact, diplomacy, strength, stability, and leadership when sent to problem areas.


Jesus Christ, the Head of the Church

Sermonette by David C. Grabbe

If we lose sight that Jesus is the head of the Church, we will forget that Christ is currently purifying His Church, sanctifying those called to be His family.


The Shepherd's Guidance (Part Three)

CGG Weekly by David C. Grabbe

If sheep choose to become 'without a shepherd,' they reject one of Christ's major gifts to His flock, taking themselves outside of His established order.


Who Is Doing the Work of God?

'Personal' from John W. Ritenbaugh

We should concentrate on reversing the church's serious spiritual decline before we presume to go to the world.


The Parables of Matthew 13 (Part Nine): The Parable of the Householder

Bible Study by Martin G. Collins

The Parable of the Householder is addressed to Christ's disciples, and beyond them, to God's ministers, whom Jesus wants to feed His flock a balanced spiritual diet.


'I'll Never Follow Another Man!'

'Personal' from John W. Ritenbaugh

This is an oft-repeated refrain in these days of distrust of the ministry. But is it a godly attitude? What does the Bible say about human leadership?



For more resources, please see the library topic for Ministry, Function of