Earlier, I promised
to pass along stuff from the Ministry of the Word class, which has met twice now. The majority of the time spent in the class has focused on Col 1:24-2:7. This passage comprises a good description of what is involved in ministry of the word. Here is the passage:

Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in Christ's afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church, of which I became a minister according to the stewardship from God that was given to me for you, to make the word of God fully known, the mystery hidden for ages and generations but now revealed to his saints. To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ. For this I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me. For I want you to know how great a struggle I have for you and for those at Laodicea and for all who have not seen me face to face, that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of God's mystery, which is Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. I say this in order that no one may delude you with plausible arguments. For though I am absent in body, yet I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good order and the firmness of your faith in Christ. Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.

Dr. Johnson spent several hours of class lecture time elaborating seven themes contained in this passage.

They were:

Content - The content of Paul's message is Christ. This comes through pretty loud and clear in this passage.

Listeners - Paul's audience is the gentiles.

Purpose - Paul's purpose in ministry is 'that we may present everyone mature in Christ'. The word 'mature' here is teleios which is also translated elsewhere as perfect(morally), complete.

Method - Paul's primary method is to teach and to warn (admonish).

Price - The price Paul pays for his ministry is toil and struggle, (and elsewhere, suffering from opposition, as is well known and struggling with his own sin).

Resource - Jesus e.g. "struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me".

Master - Paul viewed the gospel, the church, and God as that for which he was a slave.

A personal note on the class is that the general tone is geared for those who are called to pastor a group of believers. That leaves me out. So it is a little awkward at times. Although it was good to be back in class. I had a revelation of sorts; okay, not a revelation, more like a thought or a resolve. I see that there is no compelling thing behind me finishing this coursework. My attitude is that I shall show up for one class at a time as long as the sem. lets me and as long as my job will allow it. What comes of it all is TBD.

Coming, maybe not so soon but probably by the end of the week is a sanctification view. The problem is to sort out the distinctives of each view where there is a fair amount of overlap. The last one presented was easy because it was so distinctly unique. But the one I am working on now is tough.