Heart Connex Parents Page - December 28-31, 2011 - Ministry as ...
Truth Flowing from One Generation to the Next—Through Strong Heart Connections
PA R ENTS PAGE December 28-31, 2011 Ministry as Vocation—Richard Ross, Ph.D. 1. Heart Surprise (Today a parent goes first): Say: If marriage is part of God’s plan for you, I’m already looking forward to loving the person you’ll choose. I’m guessing it will be easy to love this person because . . . 2. Read Scripture: Invite a family member to pray. Ask your family members to read Ephesians 4:11-12; 1 Timothy 5:17-18; and 3 John 3-4. Discuss the Truth and Untruths in light of these passages. Truth • God calls out particular believers to do Christian ministry as their vocation. Untruths • I don’t think God calls people like me to be paid ministers. • It’s like grading on the curve. The most spiritual automatically become paid ministers. • I would not be a paid minister for anything on earth. 3. Explore Scripture: Read aloud 1 Timothy 5:17-18. Use these verses to explain that God calls certain individuals to earn their living by serving as full-time ministers. Read aloud Ephesians 4:11-12. Ask: In our day, what are some of the full-time ministry positions to which God might call a believer? Beyond some obvious choices, encourage family members to consider jobs like missionary pilot, prison chaplain, crisis pregnancy counselor, homeless shelter director, and so forth. 4. Think It Through: A teenager will lead this step. 5. Nail It Down: Ask: Which of these is our pastor’s higher priority: Sharing his faith with lost people or equipping believers to share their faith with lost persons? Discuss responses. Read again Ephesians 4:11-12. Say: Vocational ministers do the work of the ministry, but they have an even higher call to equip other believers to do the work of the ministry. They are a player on the athletic field, but they also serve as a coach and trainer to other players who are in the game. 6. Pray: A teenager will lead this prayer. 7. Blessing: Say: I bless family members who are willing to accept God’s call to vocational ministry. Parent Tip: A heart connection is the pipeline connecting the hearts of parents and their children. Through that pipeline, spiritual influence flows from one generation to the next. Parents who keep the heart connection strong usually see evidence that their faith and values are passing to their children.
Copyright © 2011 LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention
PA R ENTS PAGE December 28-31, 2011 Ministry as Vocation—Richard Ross, Ph.D. 1. Heart Surprise (Today a parent goes first): Say: If marriage is part of God’s plan for you, I’m already looking forward to loving the person you’ll choose. I’m guessing it will be easy to love this person because . . . 2. Read Scripture: Invite a family member to pray. Ask your family members to read Ephesians 4:11-12; 1 Timothy 5:17-18; and 3 John 3-4. Discuss the Truth and Untruths in light of these passages. Truth • God calls out particular believers to do Christian ministry as their vocation. Untruths • I don’t think God calls people like me to be paid ministers. • It’s like grading on the curve. The most spiritual automatically become paid ministers. • I would not be a paid minister for anything on earth. 3. Explore Scripture: Read aloud 1 Timothy 5:17-18. Use these verses to explain that God calls certain individuals to earn their living by serving as full-time ministers. Read aloud Ephesians 4:11-12. Ask: In our day, what are some of the full-time ministry positions to which God might call a believer? Beyond some obvious choices, encourage family members to consider jobs like missionary pilot, prison chaplain, crisis pregnancy counselor, homeless shelter director, and so forth. 4. Think It Through: A teenager will lead this step. 5. Nail It Down: Ask: Which of these is our pastor’s higher priority: Sharing his faith with lost people or equipping believers to share their faith with lost persons? Discuss responses. Read again Ephesians 4:11-12. Say: Vocational ministers do the work of the ministry, but they have an even higher call to equip other believers to do the work of the ministry. They are a player on the athletic field, but they also serve as a coach and trainer to other players who are in the game. 6. Pray: A teenager will lead this prayer. 7. Blessing: Say: I bless family members who are willing to accept God’s call to vocational ministry. Parent Tip: A heart connection is the pipeline connecting the hearts of parents and their children. Through that pipeline, spiritual influence flows from one generation to the next. Parents who keep the heart connection strong usually see evidence that their faith and values are passing to their children.
Copyright © 2011 LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention
