10/08/25 A PRIMER and CHECKLIST for CHURCH MINISTRIES

10/08/25 A PRIMER and CHECKLIST for CHURCH MINISTRIES

The Bible refers to the office (position) of church bishop (overseer, elder, shepherd) but points out that it is a work (job).

The work (ministry) of the local church is spiritually oriented, but it takes many different forms. The church is actually the body of Christ, but the work of the church is in the natural and spiritual realms. Remember, the early church in Jerusalem was caring for the housing and feeding of out-of-towners after the death and resurrection of Jesus. Meeting the needs of the visiting Grecian Jews was important for the explosive evangelizing and equipping of the thousands of new converts. It required feeding them physically and spiritually. The apostles directed the church folks to find and appoint spiritual men to oversee the physical feeding and care of the visitors, while the apostles took care of the spiritual feeding and care (preaching and praying).

The contemporary local church has the same situation today. We are ministering to the physical and spiritual needs of people (seekers, new converts, and maturing believers). The ministries are varied and many. There is often more to be done than a small church is able to do, but hopefully the local church will grow in numbers as well as grow in grace.

Here is a list of ministries (obligations and opportunities), which need to be performed. As you read the list, think about your own local church and think about your ministries in that local church. Keep in mind that each individual ministry often has various attending aspects (I mention only a few examples).

CHURCH MINISTRY (preaching, teaching, music [singing instrumentation, writing and composing], audio/visual and internet).
EVANGELISM (personal, team, verbal, friendship, cross cultural, media [written, recorded, live]).
FOREIGN MISSSIONS (studies, support, communication, trips).
DISCIPLING and MENTORING.
BIBLE STUDIES (in home, in meeting house, online, on jobsite).
MINISTRY TRAINING (laity, pastoral, music, Bible, doctrine, Christian history).
COUNSELING (family, crises, marriage, vocational, relational).
CORE GROUPS (seniors, shut ins, men, women, youth, children, marrieds, singles).
SPECIAL GROUPS (single again, addiction, gender dysphoria).
SPECIALIZED ACTIVITIES (seminars, conferences, camping, boating, fishing, athletics, concerts, nutrition, printing, recording, audio/video).
HELP MINISTRIES (disabled folks, house cleaning, kitchen work,
MINISTRY PLANNING (programs, materials, facilities, properties, financial).

TOOLS AND FACILITIES
Building Maintenance, Upkeep, Development, Improvement,
Outdoor Properties...
Equipment (vehicles, lawn and garden, sound and video, recording, computing, cooking, athletic gear, library).

I am sure you can think of other ministries.

THIS IS RHETORICAL. DO NOT POST ANSWERS HERE.
(Questions to ask yourself)
What work needs to be done in my local church?
What work could I be doing in my local church?
What work should I be doing in my local church?
What am I doing in my local church?
What can I do to prepare or equipe myself for special work in my local church?
Am I preparing myself to do work in my local church?
Am I a giver or a taker in my local church?
How much time do I spend in service to my local church?

Keep in mind, there are Biblical and spiritual standards for any and all ministry in the body of Christ, and there is the need for spiritual unity, focus, energy, maturity and growth.