The Centrality of the Ministry of the Word

Picture a familiar scene. It’s Monday morning, and your email inbox is already full with feedback from Sunday’s sermon, issues with a lack of volunteers in the kids’ ministry, and maintenance needs for the church building that require action soon. Perhaps you can resonate with the constant pull between urgent administrative needs and the next Sunday already rapidly approaching.

The Apostles experienced a similar situation in the book of Acts. Amidst rapid growth, a crisis emerged that had the potential to unravel the church. In response to this crisis, they appointed trusted and godly men to address it (Acts 6:1–3). Meanwhile, they declared, “But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word” (Acts 6:4). In this instance, the Apostles model the priorities for a pastor—prayer and the faithful proclamation of God’s word.

But how does the ministry of the word move from the pulpit and into the life of the church? In this short article, I offer three reflections for how the ministry of the word takes shape in the life of the church.

The Ministry of the Word begins with Prayer

Nothing is more foundational to our ministry than time spent with God in prayer. As Hudson Taylor, a missionary to China, often said, “When we work, we work. When we pray, God works.” Nothing expresses our dependence on God working on our behalf more than prayer.

The Apostles modeled that prayer was not only foundational, but first in the ministry of the word. In other words, before we begin to study, teach, or preach, we should pray. Prayer is a humble expression of dependence on God and an invitation to ask for His help. Prayerlessness often indicates our propensity to do ministry in our own strength. The ministry of the word begins with prayer, because without God’s help we face an impossible task.

Furthermore, prayer is also a ministry to your people. Pastor, don’t neglect the great privilege and responsibility to go before God’s throne on behalf of your congregation. Talk to God about your people. Mention them by name. Pray through the membership roll. Prioritize prayer by scheduling daily times to seek God’s grace for your ministry assignment.

The Ministry of the Word is Central to Pastoral Ministry

What is the ministry of the word? In their book, The Trellis and The Vine, Colin Marshall and Tony Payne define the ministry of the word as “vine work.” If the vine represents gospel growth within the church, then the ministry of the word is the speaking of the gospel to see people converted, transformed, and grow in maturity as they receive the gospel. Meanwhile, the “trellis” represents the systems, programs, and budgets that support the growth of the “vine” in the church. However, as the authors point out, most pastors spend their time and energy managing the church’s trellises rather than tending the vine of gospel growth. Pastor, resist this temptation.

W.A. Criswell recounts a Lutheran Church in Siberia that was without a pastor for over forty years. How did the congregation respond when they finally received a pastor? They said to him, “Take your Bible and preach to us.” As the story goes, the new pastor preached for an hour, and they asked for another hour. He preached for a second, and they asked for a third. Finally, after the fourth hour, the preacher’s voice began to give way. After forty years without a pastor, the church did not ask for small groups, programs, or mission statements—they simply wanted to hear the word of God. [1]

The ministry of the word is central because pastors are called to shepherd God’s flock through the faithful teaching of God’s word (John 21:15–17; Acts 20:20–31; 1 Peter 5:1–4). Furthermore, pastors are commanded to preach God’s word (2 Tim. 4:1–2), and those who work hard at this ministry are worthy of double honor (1 Tim. 5:17).

In the words of John Stott, “The symbol of our ministry is a Bible, not a telephone. We are ministers of the Word, not administrators, and we need to relearn the question of priority in every generation.”

Through preaching, the congregation is instructed, comforted, and challenged to grow in their love of God and maturity in Christ. Each generation feels the tension of competing priorities in ministry. Nevertheless, all of us must commit ourselves to dependence on God in prayer and the faithful proclamation of his word.

The Ministry of the Word is for the Congregation

While the ministry of the word is central to the work of pastors, this ministry continues after the sermon has concluded. [JM6] Pastor, preaching is significant, but it is not intended to carry the full weight of word ministry in the church. Instead, like a rock thrown into a lake, the sermon provides the splash, and the ongoing word ministry is the ripples.

In Ephesians 4:11, Paul instructs pastors to equip the saints for the work of ministry. What kind of ministry? It is the ministry of building up the body of Christ into full maturity (Eph. 4:11–16). In other words, while the congregation does not preach, they do “speak the truth in love” to one another. Pastor, your role is to equip the saints to grow in their knowledge and obedience of the gospel, so they can minister the gospel to others.

In another letter, Paul further explains the congregation’s role in the ministry of the word. He states, “Let the word of Christ dwell richly among you, in all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another through psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts” (Col. 3:16). Elsewhere, we see that older men and women have a responsibility to teach younger men and women in the church (Titus 2:1–8). Furthermore, Hebrews makes plain that believers have a responsibility to care for and encourage one another daily (Heb. 3:12–14). While these are just a few examples, they illustrate that the congregation is responsible for exercising a word ministry as well. Pastor, your job is to equip and encourage them to carry out that ministry.

The congregation’s word ministry is essential because it flows from the mission that Jesus prescribes for the Church in the Great Commission (Matthew 28:18–20). In other words, the ministry of the word also belongs to the congregation because disciple-making is the normal agenda and priority for every Christian.

Pastor, do your church members recognize their role in the ministry of the word? How are you currently equipping them to grow in their own knowledge of God’s word and in their ability to faithfully speak God’s word to others? This is our task.

Conclusion

Pastoral ministry is demanding work. Inevitably, you will face various problems, challenges, and distractions as you carry out this work. Nevertheless, prayer and the ministry of the word remain at the center of your ministry assignment. Devote yourself to prayer, shepherd the flock of God, and mobilize the saints. This is the work of eternity, and this will enable you to fulfill your ministry.

[1] W.A. Criswell, Criswell’s Guidebook for Pastors (Broadman Press, 1980), 27–28.