Be A World-Changer: Scope of Ministry

If you throw a pebble into a lake, the ripples radiate outward from the point of entry. Jesus used a similar analogy in Acts 1:8 (NLT): “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

In this verse Jesus laid out for the disciples a pattern for expanding their ministry geographically. Like a pebble thrown into a lake, they were to start where they were located – in Jerusalem; then they should expand to nearby regions – Judea and Samaria; and finally, their ministry should encompass the entire earth.

The same pattern applies to believers today. Most will focus on local ministry in their churches; some will be assigned to a regional or national ministry; and a few will have an international ministry.

The scope of your ministry is determined by God based on His plans and purposes. If you attempt to expand your ministry without God’s direction, you will be outside of God’s will. He will make the scope of your ministry abundantly clear by the opportunities He brings your way.

In 1995, after God called me to my ministry, I started teaching about God’s unique calling at my church. In 1998, out of the blue, I received a call from a believer in North Carolina who invited me to teach a weekend seminar. Finally, in 2010, I received an unsolicited invitation to teach on spiritual gifts at a seminary in Russia .

I didn’t pursue any of these opportunities; instead, God had someone invite me to extend my ministry. Looking back, God started my ministry locally at my own church; then He expanded it nationally from Illinois to North Carolina; and finally God extended it worldwide from the United States to Russia. God determined the scope of my ministry without my input or my self-effort. God will do the same in your life.

The scope of your ministry has nothing to do with your value or importance in the Kingdom of God. No one earns a broader ministry; rather, God chooses your scope of ministry based on His unique calling for you and the preparation He has given you. Whatever your scope of ministry, it’s vital to pursue it with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength knowing that you’re accountable to Him for your faithfulness.

The scope of ministry for most believers will be in their local churches. It’s a high calling to serve in your church in helping to meet the needs of fellow believers; in turn, the others in your church help to meet your needs.

If God chooses to give you a regional or national ministry, your impact will certainly be broader, but there also will be greater challenges. Satan is more likely to attack you; unbelievers scrutinize your life more closely; and your accountability to the Lord increases.

The same challenges, to an even greater degree, are true if God gives you an international ministry. “When someone has been given much, much will be required in return; and when someone has been entrusted with much, even more will be required” (Luke 12:48 NLT).

Someone has said, “Bloom where you are planted.” The place to start your ministry is wherever you are; God will expand it if that’s His will. Although you certainly can ask God to enlarge your ministry, the answer is His alone. Paul advised, “Let’s look at the boundaries of our work area that God has assigned to us … [but] we hope that our work grows even to the point of the gospel being preached in places beyond …” (2 Corinthians 10:13b,16a).

© 2013 Designed to Serve®

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