BIBLE’S MESSAGE UNCOVERED

2 Peter 2:5 “Noah, a preacher of righteousness.”

1 Peter 1:12 “It was revealed to them [the prophets] that, not to themselves, but to you, they were ministering.”

Every Christian Must Be a Minister

Romans 10:10-15 “For with the heart one exercises faith for righteousness, but with the mouth one makes public declara­tion for salvation…. For ‘anyone that calls upon the name of Je­hovah will be saved’. However, how will they call upon Him in whom they have not put faith? how, in turn, will they put faith in Him of whom they have not heard? How, in turn, will they hear without someone to preach? How, in turn, will they preach unless they have been sent forth? Just as it is written: ‘How beau­tiful are the feet of those who declare good news of good things!'”

John 21:15-17 “When, now, they had breakfasted, Jesus said to Simon Peter: ‘Simon son of John, do you love Me more than these?’ He said to Him: ‘Yes, Master, You know I have affec­tion for You.’ He said to him: ‘Feed My young lambs.’ Again He said to him, a second time: ‘Si­mon son of John, do you love Me?’ He said to Him: ‘Yes, Mas­ter, you know I have affection for You.’ He said to him: ‘Shepherd My little sheep.’ He said to him the third time: ‘Simon son of John, do you have affection for Me?’ Peter became grieved that He said to him the third time: ‘Do you have affection for Me?’ So he said to Him: ‘Master, You know all things; You are aware that I have affection for You.’ Jesus said to him: ‘Feed My little sheep.’ “

Ordination Comes from God Through Christ

Isaiah 61:1-3 “The spirit of the Lord Jehovah is upon me; be­cause Jehovah has anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; He has sent me to bind up the broken-hearted, to pro­claim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound; to proclaim the year of Jehovah’s favor, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn; to ap­point unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them a garland for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they may be called trees of right­eousness, the planting of Jeho­vah, that He may be glorified.”

1 Corinthians 12:18 “But now God has set the members in the body, each one of them, just as He pleased.”

John 15:16 “You did not choose Me, but I chose you, and I ap­pointed you to go on and keep bearing fruit and that your fruit should remain, in order that no matter what you ask the Father in My name He might give it to you.”

No Man or Organization Can Ordain God’s Ministers

Galatians 1:1, 12 “Paul, an apostle, neither from men nor through a man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father,… for nei­ther did I accept it from man, nor was I taught it, except through revelation by Jesus Christ.”

No Certificate of Ordination Necessary

2 Corinthians 3:1-3 “Do we, perhaps, like some men, need letters of recommendation to you or from you? You yourselves are our let­ter, inscribed on our hearts and known and being read by all mankind. For you are shown to be a letter of Christ written by us as ministers, inscribed not with ink but with spirit of the living God, not on stone tablets, but on fleshly tablets, on hearts.”

Theological Seminary Training Not Necessary

John 7:15 “Therefore the Jews fell to wondering, saying: ‘How does this man have a knowledge of letters, when He has not studied at the schools?’ “

Acts 4:13 “Now when they be­held the outspokenness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were men unlettered and ordinary, they got to wondering. And they began to recognize about them that they used to be with Jesus.”

Dedication Must Precede Ordination

Matthew 16:24 “Then Jesus said to His disciples: ‘If anyone wants to come after Me, let him disown himself and pick up his torture stake and follow Me continually.’ “

Hebrews 10:7 “Then I said, ‘Look! I am come (in the roll of the book it is written about me) to do Your will, O God.’ “

Baptism a Symbol of Such Dedication to Be God’s Minister

Matthew 28:19 “Go therefore and make disciples of people of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the holy spirit.”

Matthew 3:13-17 “Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John in order to be baptized by him. But the latter tried to pre­vent Him, saying: ‘I am the one needing to be baptized by You, and are You coming to me?’ In reply Jesus said to him: ‘Let it be, this time, for in that way it is suitable for us to carryout all that is righteous.’ Then he quit preventing Him. After being baptized Jesus immediate­ly came up from the water; and, look! the heavens were opened up, and He saw descending like a dove God’s spirit coming upon Him. Look! also, there was a voice from the heavens that said: ‘This is My Son, the beloved, whom I have approved.’ “

Women May Be Ministers

Acts 2:17, 18 ” ‘And in the last days,’ God says, ‘I shall pour some of My spirit out upon every kind of flesh, and your sons and your daughters will prophesy and your young men will see visions and your old men will dream dreams; and even upon My men slaves and upon My women slaves I will pour out some of My spirit in those days, and they will prophesy.’ “

Acts 21:9 “This man had four daughters, virgins, that proph­esied.”

Romans 16:1 “I recommend to you Phoebe our sister, who is a min­ister of the congregation which is in Cenchreae.”

Titus 2:3 “Likewise let the aged women be reverent in behavior, not slanderous, neither enslaved to a lot of wine, teachers of what is good.”

Galatians  3:28 “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor freeman, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in union with Christ Jesus.”

John 4:28-30, 39-42 “The wom­an, therefore, left her water-jar and went off into the city and told the men: ‘Come here, see a man that told me all the things I did. This is not perhaps the Christ, is it?’ They went out of the city and began coming to Him. Now many of the Samari­tans out of that city put faith in Him on account of the word of the woman who said in wit­ness: ‘He told me all the things I did.’ Therefore when the Sa­maritans came to Him, they be­gan asking Him to stay with them: and He stayed there two days. Consequently many more believed on account of what He said, and they began to say to the woman: ‘We do not believe any longer on account of your talk; for we have heard for our­selves and we know that this man is for a certainty the savior of the world.’ “

Child Ministers

Luke 2:42, 46, 47, 49 “And when He became twelve years old, they went up according to the custom of the feast. Well, after three days they found Him in the temple sitting in the midst of the teachers and listening to them and questioning them. But all those listening to Him were in constant amazement at His un­derstanding and His answers. But He said to them: ‘Why did you have to go looking for Me? Did you not know that I must be in the house of My Father?’ “

2 Timothy 3:15 “And that from infancy you have known the holy writings which are able to make you wise for salvation through the faith in connection with Christ Jesus.”

1 Timothy 4:12 “Let no man ever look down on your youth.”

Jeremiah 1:6, 7 “Then said I, Ah, Lord Jehovah! behold, I know not how to speak; for I am a child. But Jehovah said unto me, Say not, I am a child; for to whomsoever I shall send you, you shall go, and whatsoever I shall command you, you shall speak.”

1 Samuel 2:18 “But Samuel min­istered before Jehovah, being a child, girded with a linen ephod.”

Psalm 148:12, 13 “Both young men and virgins; old men and chil­dren: let them praise the Name of Jehovah.”

Ecclesiastes 12:1 “Remember also your Creator in the days of your youth, before the evil days come, and the years draw nigh, when you shall say, I have no pleasure in them.”

Psalm 8:2 “Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings You have established strength.”

Acts 2:17 “I shall pour some of My spirit out upon every kind of flesh, and your sons and your daughters will prophesy and your young men will see visions.”

Matthew 21:16 “Jesus said to them: ‘Yes. Did you never read this: “Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings You have furnished praise”?’ “

Luke 10:21 “I publicly praise You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because You have care­fully hidden these things from wise and intellectual ones, and have revealed them to babes.”

Matthew 19:14 “Jesus, however, said: ‘Let the young children alone, and stop hindering them from coming to Me, for the king­dom of the heavens belongs to such kind of persons.’ “

Job 32:4-9 “Now Elihu had waited to speak unto Job, be­cause they were elder than he. And when Elihu saw that there was no answer in the mouth of these three men, his wrath was kindled. And Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite answered and said, I am young, and you are very old; wherefore I held back, and did not show you my opinion. I said, Days should speak, and multitude of years should teach wisdom. But there is a spirit in man, and the breath of the Almighty gives them un­derstanding. It is not the great that are wise, nor the aged that understand justice.”

Ordination Must Be Followed by Works of Preaching

1 Peter 2:21 “In fact, to this course you were called, because even Christ suffered for you, leav­ing you a model for you to fol­low His steps closely.”

2 Timothy 4:2, 5 “Preach the Word, be at it urgently in favorable season, in troublesome season, reprove, reprimand, exhort, with all longsuffering and art of teach­ing. You, though, keep your bal­ance in all things, suffer evil, do missionary work, thoroughly accomplish your ministry.”

1 Corinthians 9:16 “If, now, I am de­claring the good news, it is no reason for me to boast, for ne­cessity is laid upon me. Really, woe is me if I did not declare the good news!”

Hebrews 13:15 “Through Him, let us always offer to God a sacrifice of praise, that is, the fruit of lips which make public declaration to His Name.”

No Retirement for God’s Ministers

2 Timothy 2:3, 4 “As a right kind of soldier of Christ Jesus take your part in suffering evil. No man serving as a soldier involves himself in the commercial busi­nesses of life, in order that he may meet the approval of the one who enrolled him as a soldier.”

Matthew 24:13 “But he that has endured to the finish is the one that will be saved.”

Ecclesiastes 8:8 “There is no discharge in war.”

Revelation 2:10 “Do not be afraid of the things you are destined to suffer. Look! the devil will keep on throwing some of you into prison that you may be fully put to the test, and that you may have tribulation ten days. Prove yourself faithful even with the danger of death, and I will give you the crown of life.”

Philemon 9 “I am exhorting you rather on the basis of love, see­ing that I am such as I am, Paul an aged man, yes, now also a prisoner for the sake of Christ Jesus.”

2 Timothy 4:7 “I have fought the right fight, I have run the course to the finish, I have observed the faith.”

Revelation 1:9 “I John, your brother and a sharer with you in the tribulation and kingdom and endurance in company with Jesus, came to be in the isle which is called Patmos for speaking about God and bearing witness to Je­sus.”

Luke 9:62 “Jesus said to him: ‘No man that has put his hand to a plow and looks at the things behind is well fitted for the King­dom of God.’ “

1 Samuel 7:15 “And Samuel judged Israel all the days of his life.”

The Flock Is God’s, Not the Minister’s

John 21:15-17 “When, now, they had breakfasted, Jesus said to Simon Peter: ‘Simon son of John, do you love Me more than these?’ He said to Him: ‘Yes, Master, You know I have affection for You.’ He said to him: ‘Feed My young lambs.’ Again He said to him, a second time: ‘Simon son of John, do you love Me?’ He said to Him: ‘Yes, Master, You know I have affection for You.’ He said to him: ‘Shepherd My little sheep.’ He said to him the third time: ‘Si­mon son of John, do you have affection for Me?’ Peter became grieved that He said to him the third time: ‘Do you have affec­tion for Me?’ So he said to Him: ‘Master, You know all things; You are aware that I have affection for You.’ Jesus said to him: ‘Feed My little sheep.’ “

1 Peter 5:2, 3 “Shepherd the flock of God in your care, not under compulsion, but willingly, neither for love of dishonest gain, but eagerly, neither as lording it over those who are God’s inheri­tance, but becoming examples to the flock.”

Acts 20:28 “Pay attention to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the holy spirit has appointed you overseers, to shep­herd the congregation of God, which He purchased with the blood of His own [Son].”

John 10:16 “And I have other sheep, which are not of this fold; those also I must bring, and they will listen to My voice, and they will become one flock, one shep­herd.”

Further Appointment to Special Service Duties Made Through Christian Organization

Acts 6:2, 3 “So the twelve called the multitude of the disciples to them and said: ‘It is not pleas­ing for us to abandon the Word of God to distribute food to tables. So, brothers, search out for yourselves seven certified men from among you, full of spirit and wisdom, that we may appoint them over this necessary busi­ness.’ “

Acts 14:23 “Moreover, they ap­pointed older men to office for them in the congregation and, offering prayer with fastings, they committed them to Jehovah in whom they had become believers.”

Titus 1:5 “For this reason I left you in Crete, that you might correct the things that were de­fective and might make appoint­ments of older men in city after city, as I gave you orders.”

“Laying On of Hands” Desig­nates Appointment, Either by Personal Word or Contact, by Letter, or Through Representatives

1 Timothy 5:22 “Never lay your hands hastily upon any man; neither be a sharer in the sins of others; preserve yourself pure.”

Acts 6:3, 6 “So, brothers, search out for yourselves seven certi­fied men from among you, full of spirit and wisdom, that we may appoint them over this nec­essary business; and they placed them before the apostles, and after having prayed these laid their hands upon them.”

Acts 13:2, 3 ‘As they were publicly ministering to Jehovah and fasting, the holy spirit said: ‘Of all persons set Barnabas and Saul apart for me for the work to which I have called them.’ Then they fasted and prayed and laid their hands upon them and let them go.”

2 Timothy 4:11 “Luke alone is with me. Take Mark and bring him with you, for he is useful to me for ministering.” [By letter]

Acts 1:26 “So they cast lots over them, and the lot fell upon Matthias, and he was reckoned along with the eleven apostles.”

Matthew 3:17 “Look! also, there was a voice from the heavens that said: ‘This is My Son, the beloved, whom I have approved.’ “

John 15:16 “You did not choose Me, but I chose you, and I ap­pointed you to go on and keep bearing fruit and that your fruit should remain, in order that no matter what you ask the Father in My name He might give it to you.”

Acts 22:10 “At that I said: ‘What shall I do, Lord?’ The Lord said to me: ‘Rise, go your way into Damascus, and there you will be told about everything it is appointed for you to do.'”

Methods of Preaching

House-to-house preaching

Acts 20:20 “I did not hold back from telling you any of the things that were profitable nor from teaching you publicly and from house to house.”

Acts 5:42 “Every day in the temple and from house to house they ceased not t teach and declare the good news about the Christ, Jesus.”

Return visits and home Bible studies

Acts 15:36 “Now after some days Paul said to Barnabas: ‘Above all things, let us return and visit the brothers in every one of the cities in which we published the Word of Jehovah to see how they are.’ “

1 Corinthians 3:6 “I planted, Apollos watered, but God kept making it grow.”

Galatians 6:6 “Let anyone who is being orally taught the Word share in all good things with the one who gives such oral teach­ing.”

Acts 17:11, 12 “Now the latter were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, for they received the Word with the great­est readiness of mind, carefully examining the Scriptures daily as to whether these things were so. Therefore many of them be­came believers.”

Matthew 18:20 “Where there are two or three met together in My name, there I am in their midst.”

Isaiah 28:24-26 “Does he that plows to sow plow continually? does he continually open and harrow his ground? When he has levelled the face thereof, does he not cast abroad the fitches, and scatter the cummin, and put in the wheat in rows, and the barley in the appointed place, and the spelt in the border thereof? For his God does in­struct him aright, and does teach him.”

Preaching in streets and public places

Acts 17:17 “Consequently he began to reason in the synagogue with the Jews and the other people who worshiped God and every day in the market-place with those who happened to be on hand.”

Jeremiah 19:2 “Go forth unto the valley of the son of Hinnom, which is by the entry of the gate Harsith, and proclaim there the words that I shall tell you.”

Ezekiel 4:3, 4 “This shall be a sign to the house of Israel. More­over lie upon your left side, and lay the iniquity of the house of Israel upon it; according to the number of the days that you shall lie upon it, you shall bear their iniquity.”

Delivering public sermons

Matthew 5:1, 2 “When He saw the crowds He went up into the mountain; and after He sat down His disciples came to Him; and He opened His mouth and began teaching them.”

Matthew 13:1-3 “On that day Je­sus, having left the house, was sitting by the sea; and great crowds gathered to Him, so that He went aboard a boat and sat down, and all the crowd was standing on the beach. Then He told them many things by illus­trations.”

Mark 6:34, 44 “On getting out, He saw a great crowd,.. . And He started to teach them many things.. .. Those who ate of the loaves were five thousand men.”

Mark 8:9 “Yet there were about four thousand men. Finally He sent them away.”

Acts 17:22 “Paul now stood in the midst of the Areopagus and said: ‘Men of Athens, I behold that in all things you seem to be more given to the fear of the deities than others are.’ “

Acts 20:7 “Paul began dis­coursing to them, . . . and he pro­longed his speech until midnight.”

Missionary work

2 Timothy 4:5 “You, though, keep your balance in all things, suffer evil, do missionary work, thor­oughly accomplish your ministry.”

Acts 21:8 “We entered into the house of Philip the missionary.”

Ephesians 4:11 “He gave some as apostles, some as prophets, some as missionaries, some as shep­herds and teachers.”

The Minister’s Congregation

2 Corinthians 5:18, 19 “God, who rec­onciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of the reconciliation, namely, that God was by means of Christ reconciling a world to Himself.”

Matthew 13:38 “The field is the world.”

His assigned territory

2 Corinthians 10:13-16 “For our part, we will boast, not outside our assigned boundaries, but according to the boundary of the ter­ritory which God apportioned to us by measure, making it reach even as far as you.. .. No, we are not boasting outside our assigned boundaries in the labors of some­one else, but we entertain hope that, as your faith is being in­creased, we may be made great among you with reference to our territory. Then we will abound still more, to declare the good news to the countries beyond you, so as not to boast in someone else’s territory where things are already prepared.”

Matthew 15:24 “[Jesus] said: ‘I was not sent forth to any but to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.’ “

Matthew 10:5, 6 “These twelve Je­sus sent forth, giving them these orders: ‘Do not go off into the road of the nations, and do not enter into a Samaritan city; but, instead, go continually to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.’ “

His Bible studies and good-will persons

2 Corinthians 3:1-3 “You yourselves are our letter, inscribed on our hearts and known and being read by all mankind. For you are shown to be a letter of Christ written by us as ministers.”

The local congregation, in which he may be a specially appointed servant

Romans 12:8 “He that presides, let him do it in real earnest.”

1 Timothy 5:17 “Let the older men who preside in a right way be reckoned worthy of double honor, especially those who work hard in speaking and teaching.”

1 Peter 5:1-3 “To the older men among you I give this ex­hortation, . . . Shepherd the flock of God in your care, not … as lording it over those who are God’s inheritance, but becoming examples to the flock.”

Acts 20:28 “Pay attention to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the holy spirit has appointed you overseers, to shep­herd the congregation of God, which He purchased with the blood of His own [Son].”

Publishing Can Include Use of Literature

2 Timothy 4:13 “When you come, bring the cloak I left at Troas with Carpus, and the scrolls, es­pecially the parchments.”

Isaiah 52:7 “How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that brings good tidings, that publishes peace, that bring­s good tidings of good, that publishes salvation, that says unto Zion, Your God reigns!”

Psalm 68:11 “The Lord gives the word: the women that publish the tidings are a great host.”

Acts 17:11 “They received the Word with the greatest readiness of mind, carefully examining the Scriptures daily as to whether these things were so.”

Scope of Ministerial Field and Shortness of Time Make Modern Methods Essential

Matthew 24:14 “And this good news of the Kingdom will be preached in all the inhabited earth for the purpose of a wit­ness to all the nations, and then the accomplished end will come.”

Matthew 28:19, 20 “Go therefore and make disciples of people of all the nations,. . . teaching them to observe all the things I have commanded you.”

Daniel 11:33 “And they that are wise among the people shall in­struct many.”

Isaiah 60:22 “The little one shall become a thousand, and the small one a strong nation: I, Jehovah, will hasten it in its time.”

Jeremiah 51:6 “Flee out of the midst of Babylon, and save every man his life; be not cut off in her iniquity: for it is the time of Jehovah’s vengeance; He will ren­der unto her a recompense.”

Matthew 24:15-20, 34 “When you catch sight of the disgusting thing that causes desolation,… begin fleeing to the mountains. Let the man on the housetop not come down to take the goods out of his house; and let the man in the field not return to the house to pick up his outer gar­ment. .. . Keep praying that your flight may not occur in winter­time nor on the sabbath day. Truly I say to you that this gen­eration will by no means pass away until all these things occur.”

Ephesians 5:16 “Buying out the op­portune time for yourselves, be­cause the days are wicked.”

Zephaniah 2:2, 3 “Before the decree bring forth, before the day pass as the chaff, before the fierce anger of Jehovah come upon you, … Seek Jehovah, all you meek of the earth,… it may be you will be hid in the day of Jehovah’s anger.”

Receipt of Contributions Proper

1 Corinthians 9:7-14 “Who is it that ever serves as a soldier at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard and does not eat of its fruit? Or who shepherds a flock and doss not eat some of the milk of the flock? … ‘You must not muzzle an ox when it is treading out the grain.’… If we have sown spiritual things to you, is it something great if we shall reap things for the flesh from you? … Do you not know that the men performing sacred duties eat the things of the temple, and those constantly attending at the altar have a portion for them­selves with the altar? In this way, too, the Lord ordained for those proclaiming the good news to live by means of the good news.”

Romans 15:27 “If the nations have shared in their spiritual things, they also owe it to minister pub­licly to these with things for the physical body.”

Philippians 4:16, 17 “Even in Thessalonica, you sent something to me both once and a second time for my need. Not that I am earnest­ly seeking the gift, but that I am earnestly seeking the fruitage that brings more credit to your account.”

Luke 10:6, 7 “If a friend of peace is there,… stay in that house, eating and drinking the things they provide, for the worker is worthy of his wages. Do not be transferring from house to house.”

Matthew 19:29 “Everyone that has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or lands for the sake of My Name will receive many times more and will inherit everlasting life.”

The Minister Is Not Commercial, nor a Peddler

2 Corinthians 2:17 “We are not ped­dlers of the Word of God as many men are, but as out of sincerity, yes, as sent from God, under God’s view, in company with Christ, we are speaking.”

Some Ministers Have Secondary Occupations to Provide Needs

Acts 18:2-4 “He found a cer­tain Jew named Aquila,.. . and Priscilla his wife,. . . and on ac­count of being of the same trade he stayed at their home, and they worked, for they were tentmakers by trade. However, he would give a talk in the synagogue every sabbath and would win over Jews and Greeks.”

Colossians 4:14 “Luke the beloved physician sends you his greet­ings.