On Being a Servant of God

By Warren W. Wiersbe and Jim Cymbala

Sometimes people lose sight of the core of their ministry. They feel overwhelmed by the needs that surround them on a daily basis. Wise and beloved pastor Warren Wiersbe invites ministry leaders to listen in on thirty short "armchair chats" to encourage and strengthen them for service. He shares what he wishes he had known about ministering to others when he began his own Christian pilgrimage. "Ministry," he says, "takes place when divine resources meet human needs through loving channels to the glory of God." With this new edition of a classic book, which includes a foreword by Jim Cymbala, the next generation of ministry leaders can take advantage of Wiersbe's years of wisdom.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Baker Publishing Group
• Release date: Jun 1, 2007
• ISBN: 9781441200389

Warren W. Wiersbe

Warren W. Wiersbe, former pastor of the Moody Church and general director of Back to the Bible, has traveled widely as a Bible teacher and conference speaker. Because of his encouragement to those in ministry, Dr. Wiersbe is often referred to as "the pastor’s pastor." He has ministered in churches and conferences throughout the United States as well as in Canada, Central and South America, and Europe. Dr. Wiersbe has written over 150 books, including the popular BE series of commentaries on every book of the Bible, which has sold more than four million copies. At the 2002 Christian Booksellers Convention, he was awarded the Gold Medallion Lifetime Achievement Award by the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association. Dr. Wiersbe and his wife, Betty, live in Lincoln, Nebraska.

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By Way of Introduction

That a new edition of this book is called for is a great encouragement to me. I rejoice that there are believers who want to be servants of God and who are willing to pay the price. I am as fallible as any other human being, but I have done my best to share with you the principles the Lord has taught me. It’s been my happy privilege to pastor three churches, teach in the seminary classroom, counsel and pray with a host of God’s servants in different parts of the world, and fellowship with some of God’s choicest servants from whom I have learned much. Such as I have, I give you.

This book is for ministers spelled with a small m as well as for those who are in what we call full-time Christian service, that is, Ministers with a big M. Both are essential to the building of God’s church, and we are all laborers together with the Lord. The Bible knows nothing about lay and clergy. We are all one in Christ and seeking to use our gifts for His glory.

The thirty chats in this book deal with some principles of ministry that I wish somebody had shared with me when I was ordained back in 1951. Christian ministry has never been easy, but it seems to be more difficult today in spite of the sophisticated electronic tools that are available. People are still people and churches are still churches; human nature hasn’t changed and the enemy is as deceptive and destructive as ever. There are still problem people and people with problems, and like the beggar at the temple door in Acts 3, they expect to receive something from us. May we not fail them!

Jim Cymbala was very gracious to write the foreword. It has always been thrilling to minister at The Brooklyn Tabernacle and see the power of the Word of God and prayer demonstrated there day after day. I’m honored that Jim would endorse this book so enthusiastically. Thank you!

For a more detailed study of Christian ministry, see Ten Power Principles for Christian Service, which I coauthored with my pastor son David, also published by Baker.

May you have much joy and fruitful blessing as you serve the Lord of the harvest!

Warren W. Wiersbe

1

Whether you are a volunteer or a full-time Christian worker, I wish I could sit down and leisurely chat with you about your ministry. I obviously can’t do that, so I’m doing the next best thing and sharing my thinking with you in this book. Perhaps you’re just getting started in your ministry, or you may be a veteran with battle scars. In either case, I trust that what I say will encourage you in the greatest work in the world, serving the Lord Jesus Christ.

Serving God is a wonderful thing if we understand what it is and how God does it through us. Ministering for Jesus Christ can be as uplifting and exciting as hang gliding, or it can be as burdensome and boring as repeatedly rolling the same rock up the mountain as Sisyphus did in the Greek myth. No matter how difficult the work or how many times we feel like quitting, we can keep going and growing if we minister the way God tells us to in His Word.

When I began my ministry back in 1950, I’m afraid I didn’t have a clear vision of what Christian work was all about. Consequently, I floundered and was frustrated, not knowing exactly what to do or how to evaluate what I was doing. A Roman proverb says, When the pilot does not know what port he is heading for, no wind is the right wind. I was certainly a bewildered pilot! Because I had received excellent training, I didn’t lack for methods or ideas; but I wasn’t clear as to principles. I was on the ocean of life with a road map instead of a compass, and I wasn’t sure how to handle the rudder of the ship.

Now, many years and tears later, I think I have a limited grasp of a few of the principles of ministry; and I want to share them with you. As the familiar couplet puts it,

Methods are many, principles are few;

Methods always change, principles never do.

Certainly we need methods to serve God, but we must remember that methods work because of the principles behind them. To adopt a new method just because it worked for somebody else, without first understanding the principles behind that method, is to abandon both the compass and the rudder and start drifting helplessly on the tempestuous sea of service.

If you’re frantically searching for guaranteed quick-fix methods, this book isn’t for you because ministry is built on basic principles, not clever methods. God doesn’t want us to have ministry by imitation. He wants ministry by incarnation, what Paul wrote about in Philippians 2:13: For it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.

Let’s begin with a definition of ministry that I’ve been using for several years. All definitions have their limitations, and this one isn’t perfect; but it will at least keep us on the right track as we think together.

Ministry takes place when divine resources meet human needs through loving channels to the glory of God.

The kind of ministry this definition is talking about is best illustrated by an event recorded in Acts 3:

Now Peter and John went up together to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour. And a certain man lame from his mother’s womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms from those who entered the temple; who, seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, asked for alms. And fixing his eyes on him, with John, Peter said, Look at us. So he gave them his attention, expecting to receive something from them. Then Peter said, Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk. And he took him by the right hand and lifted him up, and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength. So he, leaping up, stood and walked and entered the temple with them—walking, leaping, and praising God. And all the people saw him walking and praising God (vv. 1–9).

Here you have the four basic elements of ministry. Peter and John saw a man in great need: he was physically lame and spiritually dead. Manifesting the compassion of Christ, they shared God’s power with him; and he was completely healed and soundly converted to Christ. God was glorified, opportunity was given to preach the gospel, and two thousand more people trusted Christ (Acts 2:41; 4:4).

So, if you and I are going to serve Jesus Christ—the way God wants us to minister and the way the apostles ministered—we must (1) know the divine resources personally, (2) see the human needs compassionately, and (3) become channels of God’s mighty resources so that (4) God alone is glorified. When God is glorified, His Spirit can work to bring Christ to those who need to know Him. In reaching one individual, Peter was able to reach the masses.

Before you turn to the next chapter, ponder this definition of ministry and examine your own heart. Do you know God personally and the marvelous resources that are available through Jesus Christ? Are you concerned about the needs of others so that you see them and want to help? Do you have compassion for those with needs? Are you willing to be a channel for God’s glory?

Ministry takes place when divine resources meet human needs through loving channels to the glory of God.

I suggest you memorize this definition.

2

The trouble with too many of us is that we think God called us to be manufacturers when He really called us to be distributors. He alone has the resources to meet human needs; all we can do is receive His riches and share them with others. Silver and gold I do not have, Peter announced, but what I do have I give you (Acts 3:6). When it comes to ministry, all of us are bankrupt, and only God is rich. Like Paul, we are as poor, yet making many rich (2 Cor. 6:10).

The miracle of Christ’s feeding the five thousand comes to mind, the only miracle of Christ that is recorded in all four Gospels (Matt. 14:15–21; Mark 6:35–44; Luke 9:12–17; John 6:1–14). When the disciples saw more than five thousand hungry people before them, they didn’t know what to do; but they made their suggestions just the same. As yet, they didn’t really know how poor they were!

First, they advised Jesus to avoid the problem by sending the crowd home. Where was their compassion? The Lord knew that the people were hungry and could never make the journey, so He rejected that plan. By the way, we are often tempted in ministry to get rid of the very people God wants us to help. The disciples did it more than once (Matt. 15:21–28; 19:13–15).

Philip admitted that there wasn’t enough money on hand to buy food to feed such a big crowd, so a bigger budget wasn’t the answer. (Most people think that having more money to spend is the solution to every problem.) Then Andrew found a boy with a small lunch of five barley loaves and two fish, a food supply totally inadequate to meet the need. But what are they among so many? Andrew asked ( John 6:9), and the answer is, Of themselves, they are nothing.

The disciples were trying to be manufacturers. They thought that it was their responsibility to come up with the money or the food or some clever way to solve the problem. But all the while, He Himself knew what He would do ( John 6:6). Jesus needed His disciples, not as manufacturers but as distributors. He took the lad’s lunch, looked up to heaven, blessed the food, broke it, and put it into the disciples’ hands for them to feed the hungry multitude. The multiplication took place in His hands; the distribution was the work of the disciples’ hands.

Once you accept yourself as a distributor of God’s riches and not a manufacturer, you will experience a wonderful new freedom and joy in service. You won’t be afraid of new challenges because you know God has the resources to meet them. You won’t be frustrated trying to manufacture everything needed to get the job done; and when God blesses your work, you won’t be tempted to take the credit. Dr. Bob Cook used to remind us in our Youth for Christ ministry, If you can explain what’s going on, God didn’t do it! That sounds like the experience of the Jews recorded in Psalm 126: We were like those who dream. . . . The LORD has done great things for us, and we are glad (vv. 1, 3). How do you explain a miracle? You don’t! You just receive it and share it and let God have all the glory.

What are the divine resources that God makes available to His servants for their ministry? The word that best summarizes it is the familiar word grace: And of His fullness we have all received, and grace for grace ( John 1:16). The image here seems to be that

Reviews for On Being a Servant of God

[thelogo · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Here is a man experienced in ministry, having served for over 60 years, offering his advice on being a leader for God. Wiersbe begins his book by defining leadership: "Christian leaders are people who, by faith, willingly use their character, abilities, authority, and opportunities to serve others and to help them reach their fullest potential, to their benefit, the benefit of the organization, and the glory of God." He then spends the rest of the book exploring each part of this definition in detail. I have long been a fan of On Being a Servant of God by Wiersbe. It is one of the books I try to give to people starting out in ministry and I make all of my interns read it. I was pleased to find that this companion volume, which compliments Servant without repeating it, will be going on that same list. Wiersbe offers good thoughts and advice on a broad array of topics to do with leadership. This is not an in depth textbook exploring the issues, theological, practical, or otherwise, but, instead, it is a series of reflections on being a godly leader. As that, it is well worth reading.A few quotes to whet your appetite. In speaking of Jesus as a CEO, a concept which Wiersbe disagrees with, Wiersbe notes that "Nobody ever called Jesus 'boss,' because His title was always 'Lord' - and it still is." He urges Christian leaders to turn to God first, not the wisdom of this world: "If Christians are to make a difference in this world, they must avoid thinking like the world and imitating the world. Right planning and right serving begin with right thinking, and right thinking comes from the wisdom of God." In another chapter, Wiersbe offers this excellent quote from Markings by Dag Hammarskjold: "Your position never gives you the right to command. It only imposes on you the duty of so living your life that others can receive your orders without being humiliated." Wiersbe concludes: "Ponder that statement." Indeed. Conclusion: 5 Stars. No, this book will not tell you everything you need to know about leadership. Instead, it is an excellent book on thinking rightly about leadership and focusing on God. A must read, especially for those just starting out. "Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc. Available at your favourite bookseller from Baker Books, a division of Baker Publishing Group".

[Tameka Dixon · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I enjoyed reading this book on ministry. It gave wise insight on God’ s word with interpretation and ways to live a righteous life. I highlighted all the scriptures and philosophically remarks that touched my spirit.

[nate · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Good, rather superficial, but a good weekend read for you

[vigosgroove · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Awesome book!!

[kratz_2 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Book Review: "On Being a Leader for God" by Warren Wiersbe. Review written by Matthew KratzIn the preface, pastor and Bible teacher Warren W. Wiersbe articulates the purpose of this book is to be "a practical 'theology of leadership' based on the principles and illustrated taught in the Bible" (p.10). He makes clear distinctions throughout the book between "leaders" who deal with vision and direction from "managers" to deal with day to day implementation (p.15). This book is filled with helpful bible verses, quotes, stories, and illustrations of what it means to be a godly and biblical leader for God’s glory. There are times when the theology is not as tight and precise as I would like (God "needed" Adam and Eve to tend the garden (p.18) yet it is generally helpfulThis book is meant to be a sequel to the well-known and loved book On Being A Servant Of God by Wiersbe. In that book we have a powerful exhortation to serve God’s people and maintain a servant’s heart in ministry. In this book we have a broader look at the responsibilities, character and Biblical description of a Christian leader. Wiersbe deals biblically with topics that are relevant to Christian leadership, including:*obedience*character*maturity*ability*God's authority*seizing opportunities*biblical images of leadership*measuring management*being a leader versus a boss*change management*organizational leadership*visionThe chapters are short (4-7 pages), making the book easy to read, though the lack of chapter headings or titles is very frustrating. For my own reference, I summarised the topics of each chapter and made my own table of contents. Only after completing the book did some of the progressions from topic to topic become a little clearer. Although, the progression in each chapter seems not to flow at times and the logical link was sometimes hard to follow, for connections were not always made.I appreciated the focus on a leaders humility and faithfulness, over a "leadership principle" approach. Indeed, there a no quick actions to long term effective leadership. Self-checks on Biblical principles (p. 30) were helpful.Although a seasoned pastor/writer/speaker/board member, Wiersbe shows particular insight in dealing with those of various generations (p. 111). There are often times I wished he would have taken a topic/passage and drawn out the meaning and implications instead of just dealing with it in passing.The work would be an excellent introduction to leadership since it is an overview of Biblical principles. It is suitable for an introductory college (or high school) course on leadership, or for a Christian in any leadership situation. Price:$13.99ISBN:978-0-8010-1382-9ISBN-10:0-8010-1382-8Dimensions:5.5 x 8.5Number of pages:144Carton Quantity:76Publication Date:Jun. 11Formats:Paperback"Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc. Available at your favourite bookseller from Baker Books, a division of Baker Publishing Group".