God, who calls his people to minister, also equips his people. The chief qualifications are a response to God's call, faithfulness, godliness and Christlikeness.
God calls people to minister
Qualification is by call, not gifting or achievement
Deuteronomy 7:7–8 See also Deuteronomy 9:4–5
The LORD did not set His affection on you and choose you because you were more numerous than the other peoples, for you were the fewest of all peoples. But because the LORD loved you and kept the oath He swore to your fathers, He brought you out with a mighty hand and redeemed you from the house of slavery, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt.
God calls those who the world regards as weak or foolish
Feelings of inadequacy to God's call are common
Exodus 3:11 Moses; Judges 6:15 Gideon; 1 Samuel 9:21 Saul; 1 Samuel 18:18 David; 1 Kings 3:7 Solomon; Isaiah 6:5 Isaiah; Jeremiah 1:6 Jeremiah
Responding to God's call to minister
Readiness and availability
Faith, rather than natural talent or moral perfection, is required
Hebrews 11:1–2 See also Genesis 27:19–24 Jacob was a deceiver; Numbers 27:12–14 Moses and Aaron disobeyed God.2 Samuel 11:4, 2 Samuel 11:14–15 1 Kings 11:9–13 Solomon disobeyed God's command.
Now faith is the assurance of what we hope for and the certainty of what we do not see. This is why the ancients were commended.
NT ministers are recognised by call rather than their achievement
The Twelve
Matthew 10:1–4 parallels Mark 3:14–19, Luke 6:12–16 The Twelve, including Peter and Judas, failed Jesus Christ at critical times.
Paul
Acts 9:15, Acts 26:6; 2 Corinthians 4:7–12, 2 Corinthians 12:7 Though greatly gifted, Paul was kept humble by his sense of unworthiness, difficulties and disappointments and his “thorn in the flesh”; 1 Timothy 1:16
Ministry in the NT is described as service
Serving God
Serving Jesus Christ
Romans 1:1; Jude 1:1; Revelation 1:1
Serving the gospel
Ephesians 3:7; Colossians 1:23
Serving the church
Romans 15:31, Romans 16:1; 1 Corinthians 16:15; 2 Corinthians 9:1; Ephesians 6:21; Colossians 1:7, Colossians 1:25
Ministry is described in terms of its source, content or nature
Its source
It is of the Spirit: 2 Corinthians 3:6, 2 Corinthians 3:8; 2 Corinthians 4:1 It is from God.
Its content
Acts 6:2–4 the word of God; 2 Corinthians 5:18 reconciliation
Its nature
Apostolic: Acts 1:25; Galatians 2:8; Romans 15:16 priestly
Various ministries are equally linked by qualifications of character
Acts 1:21 the replacement for Judas; Acts 6:3 the Seven; 1 Timothy 3:2–7; Titus 1:7–9; 1 Timothy 3:8–13 deacons; 1 Timothy 6:11 Timothy
The personal qualifications for ministry
Faithfulness
1 Timothy 6:11–14 Timothy; 2 Timothy 4:7 Paul's claim for his own ministry; Colossians 1:7, Colossians 4:7
Godliness
Acts 8:21 Simon was not right with God.; 1 Timothy 6:11, 1 Timothy 6:20–21
Christlikeness
Acts 1:21–22 The replacement apostle for Judas had to have been with Jesus Christ from the beginning.
Related themes
Dictionary of Bible Themes © 1999 Martin Manser, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Bible Aquifer. Formatted for this site, with Scripture from the Berean Standard Bible.