{"id":2339,"date":"2024-01-08T17:28:56","date_gmt":"2024-01-08T23:28:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/collegiatedisciplemaker.com\/?p=2339"},"modified":"2024-01-08T17:28:58","modified_gmt":"2024-01-08T23:28:58","slug":"college-minister-your-students-arent-stepping-stones","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/collegiatedisciplemaker.com\/college-minister-your-students-arent-stepping-stones\/","title":{"rendered":"College Minister, Your Students Aren\u2019t Stepping Stones"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
Recently, I was interviewed for an article by the wife of a colleague who has been doing college ministry for 15 years. In answer to a question, I said that I hope to be doing college ministry for decades. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
With relief, she said, <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n“That’s so refreshing to hear. In 15 years of ministry, I can’t tell you how many times people in ministry have essentially asked my husband when he’s going to move on to “real” ministry or if he wants to be a “real” pastor.”<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
There are many jobs that people consider as stepping stones towards something bigger and better. Unfortunately, certain ministry roles, like youth ministry or college ministry, are often viewed this way. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
A stepping stone is something that helps you reach something else\u2014its significance is determined by the ends it helps achieve. Step on enough insignificant stones and you may just reach the riverbank that promises life satisfaction and a sense of self-worth. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Stepping stones in life, by definition, are not our desired destination. We step on them to reach a more fulfilling location. But this begs a convicting question as we consider this in the context of ministry roles: why is our ministry unfulfilling?\u00a0 If a ministry is actively fulfilling the Great Commission<\/a>, what more could we desire?\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For stone steppers in secular vocations, a desire for more influence, more money, and more frequent and noticeable success drives their steps. Is this any different for those that view ministry roles as stepping stones? We can answer that question by answering another; is it ever right <\/em>to consider ministry roles as stepping stones? As always, we answer these questions, and all questions, with the Word of God. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\nBiblical Evidence for Stepping Stone Ministries<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\u201cShow me that in the Bible\u201d is an often-unsatisfied request these days. Scripture serves as our defense against the many \u201clay-prosecutors\u201d <\/em>who put our ministry, beliefs, and conduct on trial. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Paul<\/em><\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
To those who consider any ministry as a stepping stone, I would call Paul to the witness stand and ask his opinion. His response would likely be the following,<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ. For this I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me (Col. 1:28-29 ESV).<\/em>
<\/em>
<\/em>Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord (1 Cor. 15:58 NASB). <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\nPaul didn\u2019t walk on stepping stones in ministry; he walked in the footsteps of the Holy Spirit, a path where he fulfilled his mission as a minister of the gospel in every place, with every person, to the extent of his energy, at all times. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Paul\u2019s vocational <\/em>destination was to be an apostle to the Gentiles, but that didn\u2019t stop him from visiting Jewish synagogues when first entering a city. Paul had a mission to the Gentiles, but he also had a commission \u2013 <\/em>to make disciples of all nations. He urged believers to be steadfast and immovable in all<\/em> work of the Lord. If we are actively serving in a ministry, can we claim to be immovable if we have the desire to move onto something bigger and better? <\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\nJames, John, and the Corinthians<\/em><\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
We would call the \u201csons of thunder\u201d to the witness stand as we did with Paul, but unfortunately, James and John would both be put on trial in this case. Recorded in Mark 10:35-45, the brothers seem to be considering their earthly ministry as a stepping stone to seats at the right and left of the throne of glory. Jesus\u2019s answer in verse 40, and Matthew 20:23, explain that the Lord sovereignly appoints the positions of His people in His Kingdom. The same applies to positions in ministry today. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Paul had a similar incident with the prideful Corinthains who were envious of believers who exercised prestigious and seemingly more spiritual giftings. His response to them in 1 Corinthians 12 was similar to Christ\u2019s response to His disciples. Paul explains that giftings are sovereignly appointed by the Lord, and that each one is vital <\/em>to Christ\u2019s Church. In his rebuke, Paul humbled the envious who sought prestigious and showy giftings and uplifted the lowly who may have felt insignificant. The same applies to ministries today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Our application from these passages is that the Lord sovereignly appoints His people to ministries and positions in the church. Ambition and merit have nothing to do with the Lord\u2019s sovereign will. Learning from this, we can understand why considering a ministry as a stepping stone towards something bigger and better is unbiblical, and those guilty of this would find themselves alongside the rebuked Corinthains and the selfish \u201csons of thunder.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n"Ambition and merit have nothing to do with the Lord's sovereign will." -Austin Pfrimmer #collegiatedisciplemaker College Minister, Your Students Aren\u2019t Stepping Stones <\/a><\/span>Click To Tweet<\/a><\/span>\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\nIf Ministries are Stepping Stones, People are Stones that are Stepped on<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
How do we define ministry? If we asked the Greeks, they would tell us that ministry, or diakoneo <\/em>and douleuo,<\/em> means, \u201cto be a servant or slave.\u201d Jesus declared himself a servant in Luke 22:27, serving the will of the Father as stated in John 5:30. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ministry is service to others in the name of Jesus, for His gospel, in assured anticipation of the consummation of His Kingdom. Put simply, our job in ministry is people<\/em>. If we consider any ministry as a stepping stone, we are stepping on the people that were brought to us to be served. Stepping stones are used <\/em>to achieve something further. If you use <\/em>ministry to achieve something further, you use <\/em>the people in your ministry to achieve it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Considering a ministry as a stepping stone will poison your discipleship. One of the most important attitudes my wife and I display to our BSU students is that we are on campus for them <\/em>and <\/em>have dedicated our lives to the ministry that is for them. <\/em>If my wife and I didn\u2019t have this attitude, our students wouldn\u2019t feel bad for missing Bible study; they wouldn\u2019t be surprised when we didn\u2019t reach out to support them; they wouldn\u2019t expect us to be devoted to their discipleship. <\/p>\n\n\n\n