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Ministers

Called by God—Ex 28:1; Heb 5:4

Qualified by God—Isa 6:5-7; 2Co 3:5,6

Commissioned by Christ—Mt 28:19

Sent by the Holy Spirit—Ac 13:2,4

Have authority from God—2Co 10:8; 13:10

Authority of, is for edification—2Co 10:8; 13:10

Separated to the gospel—Ro 1:1

Entrusted with the gospel—1Th 2:4

DESCRIBED AS

• Ambassadors for Christ
• —2Co 5:20
• Ministers of Christ
• —1Co 4:1
• Stewards of the mysteries of God
• —1Co 4:1
• Defenders of the faith
• —Php 1:7
• The servants of Christ's people
• —2Co 4:5

Specially protected by God—2Co 1:10

Necessity for—Mt 9:37,38; Ro 10:14

Excellency of—Ro 10:15

Labours of, vain, without God's blessing—1Co 3:7; 15:10

Compared to earthen vessels—2Co 4:7

SHOULD BE

• Pure
• —Isa 52:11; 1Ti 3:9
• Holy
• —Ex 28:36; Le 21:6; Tit 1:8
• Humble
• —Ac 20:19
• Patient
• —2Co 6:4; 2Ti 2:24
• Blameless
• —1Ti 3:2; Tit 1:7
• Willing
• —Isa 6:8; 1Pe 5:2
• Disinterested
• —2Co 12:14; 1Th 2:6
• Impartial
• —1Ti 5:21
• Gentle
• —1Th 2:7; 2Ti 2:24
• Devoted
• —Ac 20:24; Php 1:20,21
• Strong in grace
• —2Ti 2:1
• Self-denying
• —1Co 9:27
• Sober, just, and temperate
• —Le 10:9; Tit 1:8
• Hospitable
• —1Ti 3:2; Tit 1:8
• Apt to teach
• —1Ti 3:2; 2Ti 2:24
• Studious and meditative
• —1Ti 4:13,15
• Watchful
• —2Ti 4:5
• Prayerful
• —Eph 3:14; Php 1:4
• Strict in ruling their own families
• —1Ti 3:4,12
• Affectionate to their people
• —Php 1:7; 1Th 2:8,11
• Ensample to the flock
• —Php 3:17; 2Th 3:9; 1Ti 4:12; 1Pe 5:3

SHOULD NOT BE

• Lords over God's heritage
• —1Pe 5:3
• Greedy of filthy lucre
• —Ac 20:33; 1Ti 3:3,8; 1Pe 5:2
• Contentious
• —1Ti 3:3; Tit 1:7
• Crafty
• —2Co 4:2
• Men-pleasers
• —Ga 1:10; 1Th 2:4
• Easily dispirited
• —2Co 4:8,9; 6:10
• Entangled by cares
• —Lu 9:60; 2Ti 2:4
• Given to wine
• —1Ti 3:3; Tit 1:7

Should seek the salvation of their flock—1Co 10:33

Should avoid giving unnecessary offence—1Co 10:32,33; 2Co 6:3

Should make full proof of their ministry—2Ti 4:5

ARE BOUND TO

• Preach the gospel to all
• —Mr 16:16; 1Co 1:17
• Feed the Church
• —Jer 3:15; Joh 21:15-17; Ac 20:28; 1Pe 5:2
• Build up the Church
• —2Co 12:19; Eph 4:12
• Watch for souls
• —Heb 13:17
• Pray for their people
• —Joe 2:17; Col 1:9
• Strengthen the faith of their people
• —Lu 22:32; Ac 14:22
• Teach
• —2Ti 2:2
• Exhort
• —Tit 1:9; 2:15
• Warn affectionately
• —Ac 20:31
• Rebuke
• —Tit 1:13; 2:15
• Comfort
• —2Co 1:4-6
• Convince gainsayers
• —Tit 1:9
• War a good warfare
• —1Ti 1:18; 2Ti 4:7
• Endure hardness
• —2Ti 2:3

SHOULD PREACH

• Christ crucified
• —Ac 8:5,35; 1Co 2:2
• Repentance and faith
• —Ac 20:21
• According to the oracles of God
• —1Pe 4:11
• Everywhere
• —Mr 16:20; Ac 8:4
• Not with enticing words of man's wisdom
• —1Co 1:17; 2:1,4
• Not setting forth themselves
• —2Co 4:5
• Without deceitfulness
• —2Co 2:17; 4:2; 1Th 2:3,5
• Fully, and without reserve
• —Ac 5:20; 20:20,27; Ro 15:19
• With boldness
• —Isa 58:1; Eze 2:6; Mt 10:27,28
• With plainness of speech
• —2Co 3:12
• With zeal
• —1Th 2:8
• With constancy
• —Ac 6:4; 2Ti 4:2
• With consistency
• —2Co 1:18,19
• With heedfulness
• —1Ti 4:16
• With good will and love
• —Php 1:15-17
• With faithfulness
• —Eze 3:17,18
• Without charge, if possible
• —1Co 9:18; 1Th 2:9

Woe to those who do not preach the gospel—1Co 9:16

WHEN FAITHFUL

• Approve themselves as the ministers of God
• —2Co 6:4
• Thank God for his gifts to their people
• —1Co 1:4; Php 1:3; 1Th 3:9
• Glory in their people
• —2Co 7:4
• Rejoice in the faith and holiness of their people
• —1Th 3:6-9
• Commend themselves to the consciences of men
• —2Co 4:2
• Are rewarded
• —Mt 24:47; 1Co 3:14; 9:17,18; 1Pe 5:4

WHEN UNFAITHFUL

• Described
• —Isa 56:10-12; Tit 1:10,11
• Deal treacherously with their people
• —Joh 10:12
• Delude men
• —Jer 6:14; Mt 15:14
• Seek gain
• —Mic 3:11; 2Pe 2:3
• Shall be punished
• —Eze 33:6-8; Mt 24:48-51

THEIR PEOPLE ARE BOUND, TO

• Regard them as God's messengers
• —1Co 4:1; Ga 4:14
• Not to despise them
• —Lu 10:16; 1Ti 4:12
• Attend to their instructions
• —Mal 2:7; Mt 23:3
• Follow their holy example
• —1Co 11:1; Php 3:17
• Imitate their faith
• —Heb 13:7
• Hold them in reputation
• —Php 2:29; 1Th 5:13; 1Ti 5:17
• Love them
• —2Co 8:7; 1Th 3:6
• Pray for them
• —Ro 15:30; 2Co 1:11; Eph 6:19; Heb 13:18
• Obey them
• —1Co 16:16; Heb 13:17
• Give them joy
• —2Co 1:14; 2:3
• Help them
• —Ro 16:9; Php 4:3
• Support them
• —2Ch 31:4; 1Co 9:7-11; Ga 6:6

Pray for the increase of—Mt 9:38

Faithful-Exemplified

• The Eleven Apostles
• —Mt 28:16-19
• The seventy
• —Lu 10:1,17
• Matthias
• —Ac 1:26
• Philip
• —Ac 8:5
• Barnabas
• —Ac 11:23
• Simeon, &c
• —Ac 13:1
• Paul
• —Ac 28:31
• Tychicus
• —Eph 6:21
• Timothy
• —Php 2:22
• Epaphroditus
• —Php 2:24
• Archippus
• —Col 4:17
• Titus
• —Tit 1:5