Why Do I Need Training for Ministry?
“Great news, folks! We’ve arranged a training night for . . .” (insert pastoral care team, children’s ministry, music team, etc.). Does that sound like good news? Even with coffee and donuts, many just hear this as another demand on scarce time. But training for ministry isn’t optional polish; it’s how we love God’s people and honor Christ.
Everybody is busy. Time is at a premium. How can we ask those involved in leading ministry in our local churches to invest more of that precious time training for ministry rather than actually doing it? How can we make it feel significant and not just another box to tick before the real work begins?
Ministry Is for Everyone
First, we need to see that ministry is for everyone. Not all are called as pastoral ministers, but all are called to use their spiritual gifts to benefit the church in some way (Rom. 12:4–8). That should be exhilarating. The King of the church, who can do all things without any assistance, has included you and me on His team to accomplish His glorious mission. We’re all different, but He has a role for you in the life of people who need to be reached with the gospel or who are seeking to live as followers of Jesus. And what we do will have eternal consequences. That sounds like something to get excited about! But it also means that when we neglect training, in addition to stunting our own growth, we weaken the church’s capacity to love and teach.
Listen to the instruction Paul gives Timothy, the man he is mentoring in pastoral ministry: “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth” (2 Tim. 2:15).
Do Your Best
We need to train for ministry because we want to do our best for our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. For example, when I hear the pianists at our church, I recognize that I am not like them. Though I learned to play the piano when I was young and understood the basics quickly, I didn’t practice or learn from an experienced teacher or train enough to improve. We should not let this happen in our ministries that serve Jesus.
Training is not merely pragmatic; it is an act of worship as we offer our minds and methods to Christ.
“Do your best” is an invitation to work hard. God has said He will enable us, but that does not preclude the need to train as best as we can so that we are equipped to serve God as well as possible. Maybe you could ask a mature leader to observe you and give constructive feedback, or take a course to develop your abilities. Perhaps you could resolve to practice weekly a skill you use to serve.
Rightly Handling the Word of Truth
All of this starts by rightly handling the Word of truth, the Bible. Knowing, understanding, and being able to apply God’s Word to your life and ministry requires training. So, find ways to grow in your understanding of the Bible, God’s character, and the way He calls His people to serve Him. Delve deep into the delights of God as He reveals Himself in His Word. The more we know God, the more we will desire to serve Him. The more we reflect on all He is and has done for us, the more we will be shaped by His Spirit into the kind of people fitted for service in the gospel. Knowing God’s Word and being shaped by its truth is essential for everyone as they serve God in any capacity, not just pastors and teachers.
Finally, training is not merely pragmatic; it is an act of worship as we offer our minds and methods to Christ. How we serve God in the church and the world is one of the primary ways we respond to the gospel. How we serve shows the glory of our Savior and the thankfulness we have for being saved. The stakes are incredibly high as we seek to communicate the life-changing message of Jesus Christ.
Before becoming a minister, I was a physical education teacher. It took me four years to qualify for that position. If it took me four years to qualify to teach forward rolls, how much more should we prepare to handle souls and the Word? I am now involved in the selection and training of ministers for my denomination. In ministerial training, we teach not only what to do but why it must be done. And the things we do in training are applicable for all forms of ministry. We underpin all our programs with constant reflections on the gospel of Jesus. This does not have to feel demanding. When we see God in all His majesty and delight, the way He relates to sinners like us, and when we remember how Christ has welcomed us in the gospel, then we train not to earn acceptance but to serve in joy.
God has given you a role in His church, so receive training as a gift. Choose one step this month—find a mentor, enroll in a course, or establish a rhythm of learning—and offer your growth to Jesus.
