An Approved Worker: Discovering the Importance of Being Family, Fellow Laborers, and Militia in the Church

By Mauricio Berguño Rodriguez

An Approved Worker is a disciple who understands and loves being family, militia, and a coworker.

In order to have competent Christian workers for the harvest of the last days, it is urgent for every disciple and leader to focus on mentoring new believers. Only then will the laborers be plentiful and the world be reached with the

• Language: English
• Publisher: Trilogy Christian Publishing
• Release date: May 7, 2024
• ISBN: 9798890419422

Mauricio Berguño Rodriguez

Born in Washington D.C., the author grew up in Virginia and lived in Santiago, Chile. He moved to Dallas, earning a bachelor's degree in psychology and a master's degree in counseling. In 2000, he returned to Chile, where he accepted a calling to ministry in 2001 and has been pastoring at The House of the Lord Church since then. He and his wife, Paul Alvarez, have three children and currently live in Santiago.

Book preview

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An Approved Worker

Discovering the Importance

of Being Family, Fellow Laborers, and Militia

in the Church

Mauricio Berguno Rodriguez

greyscale Trilogy Publishing logo

An Approved Worker

Trilogy Christian Publishers

A Wholly Owned Subsidiary of Trinity Broadcasting Network

2442 Michelle Drive, Tustin, CA 92780

Copyright © 2024 by Mauricio Berguno Rodríguez

Scripture quotations are taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce this book or portions thereof in any form whatsoever. For information, address Trilogy Christian Publishing Rights Department, 2442 Michelle Drive, Tustin, CA 92780.

Trilogy Christian Publishing/ TBN and colophon are trademarks of Trinity Broadcasting Network.

For information about special discounts for bulk purchases, please contact Trilogy Christian Publishing.

Trilogy Disclaimer: The views and content expressed in this book are those of the author and may not necessarily reflect the views and doctrine of Trilogy Christian Publishing or the Trinity Broadcasting Network.

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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is available.

ISBN 979-8-89041-941-5

ISBN (ebook) 979-8-89041-942-2

Acknowledgements & Gratitude

First of all, I would like to thank our God for His infinite mercy in my life. Having saved me from hell, transported me to His Kingdom and given me the seal of sonship, I find myself in awe, every day of my life.

I would also like to thank my pastors, Tomás Gutiérrez and Paulina Rodríguez, who have shown and taught me Christ’s narrow path—not just by word, but by modeling a passionate walk with Him and demonstrating an utmost giving of themselves to others. They are genuinely the best pastors anyone could ever have. Their love has really made an impact on my life. This book is the fruit of a Christ-centered discipleship I have received from them.

¡Gracias, Tíos!

Index

Acknowledgements & Gratitude

Index

Introduction

Chapter 1: Three Key Questions

Chapter 2: The Three Main Roles

Chapter 3: We Are Family

Chapter 4: We Are Co-laborers

Chapter 5: We Are a Militia (an Army)

Chapter 6: Walking in Our Roles in the Church

Conclusion

Introduction

Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

— 2 Timothy 2:15

To do our best and become an approved worker is an important goal for any one of us who desires to please our eternal Father. To be approved, we must focus on knowing and using the Word of Truth and applying it to everything we do. In this book, I intend to embrace one aspect of what the Word of God teaches us, which has a direct relation with our work in the Church. What Jesus said 2000 years ago remains true and relevant today.

Then He said to His disciples: The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore, pray to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.

— Matthew 9:37-38

I truly believe we are living in the last days, and there is still an important lack of competent Christian workers for the harvest. It is urgent for every disciple and leader to focus on mentoring new believers. Only then will the laborers be plentiful and the world be reached with the gospel. A believer becomes an approved laborer through working every day at the local church. That is the place where God will teach and train all those who wish to be used by Him. It is in the context of the local church that the believer learns the importance of being family, a fellow laborer, and militia. This book deals with those three roles, their importance, and their practical application for approved Christian laborers all over the world.

Throughout my years of ministry, I have seen that every believer who embraces these three roles and takes each one seriously becomes an apt member for the ministry, capable of going out and reaching the world effectively.

As we study the importance of being family, co-laborer, and militia, I will refer to the letter from the Apostle Paul to Philemon, which is a marvelous text that presents these three roles from the opening verses of the greeting through its last verse. The Apostle Paul puts them into application throughout the letter as he disciples his brother and co-laborer. In this book, we will learn how to recognize specific verses that relate to each role.

I give thanks to the Lord for the letter to Philemon which has greatly helped me understand and love Christian ministry. It is a letter filled with ministerial principles as well as practical guidance anyone can follow. In addition to dealing with a personal matter regarding Philemon, in this letter the Apostle Paul reveals the pulse, intensity and multiple dynamics of Christian ministry.

Ultimately, understanding how these three roles operate, and their spiritual importance, a believer will become a useful and energetic servant in the body of Christ.

Today, due to the great amount of immaturity in the body of Christ, local churches and their efforts to spread the gospel have been severely affected. The presence and practice of humanism has undermined the Church