by John Stone
Ministry is predicated upon a simple fact…it involves other people. Sounds too obvious doesn’t it? But it’s true. Ministry involves being concerned with other people. It requires that we get outside ourselves and into the lives of other people.
Ok, we get that. It involves other people. But that involvement can’t be from our view point. We must see people from God’s point of view or true ministry can’t take place.
Until and unless we see people from God’s point of view we cannot truly minister to them.Let’s see what we have to do to view people the way God views them:
And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people. But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd. Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the laborers are few; Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth laborers into his harvest. -Mat. 9:35-38
1. Where was Jesus when he saw these multitudes?
2. What condition did Jesus see that wasn’t obvious to the multitudes?
3. Did the healing of sickness and disease have any bearing on their condition?
4. What does it mean to see people as “sheep having no shepherd?”
5. “They fainted” how were they fainting?
6. They were scattered implies what about their condition?
7. A popular song years ago had these words; “They are sharing a drink called loneliness, but it is better than drinking alone.” Does that sound at all like something in this passage?
8. What does it say about how we are to labor in the harvest?
9. What is meant by “they were scattered abroad?”
10. Do you see the multitudes as “Sheep having no shepherd?”
11. What has to happen inside you to see the multitudes as sheep having no shepherd?
12. Is it possible for you to have that kind of passion?
13. Where does that passion come from?
14. Who are your multitudes?
15. What do you plan to do to begin to see the multitudes as Jesus sees them?
16. Knowing that there is a harvest should cause laborers to quickly involve themselves in the harvest. If you believe that there is a harvest what will you do?
17. “The harvest is plenty” implies what about how we are to view the world?
18. What do you know about a harvest that illuminates this passage?
19. The term “laborers” implies what concerning the state of the multitudes?
20. What does a laborer do to ready himself for the harvest?
21. What do you have to possess if you are to be a laborer in the harvest?
22. What must a laborer be possessed by to be a competent laborer?
23. When you see the multitudes in your neighborhood what do you feel?
by John Stone
Original article can be found at http://lighthousebaptistinbutte.com/?p=1