TOPIC 25 OF 47
The Public Ministry of the Church
Christ serves his Church through the ministry of Word and Sacrament.
THE MAIN TRUTH
When the risen Lord Jesus commissioned his apostles to preach the Gospel and make disciples of all nations, he entrusted to them a public ministry that belongs to the whole apostolic Church.
The teaching
From the book · pages 75–78
When the risen Lord Jesus commissioned his apostles to preach the Gospel and make disciples of all nations, he entrusted to them a public ministry that belongs to the whole apostolic Church. This mission and ministry include the proclamation of the Gospel of Jesus, the Baptism of disciples in the Triune name, the preaching and teaching of God’s Word, and the faithful administration of the Lord’s Supper, along with the call to love one another.
The apostles publicly carried out this ministry for the sake of Christ’s Church. Now, through his Church, Christ calls and ordains qualified men into the public ministry—such as pastors, teachers, and evangelists—to represent him by serving the Church with God’s Word and Sacraments, so that the Holy Spirit may create and sustain faith and the Gospel may spread to the world.
As a royal priesthood, baptized believers share in this ministry of Christ’s body according to the gifts of the Holy Spirit and in the callings God has given them in their daily life. Through this public ministry, as pastors and people serve together, Christ the God-man is present to seek and save the lost.
Scripture foundations
All Scripture excerpts from this topic are presented below in the book’s order. Ellipses and bracketed explanations follow the manuscript. Select a reference to read the surrounding passage in the EHV.
Reading these passages together
These passages connect Christ’s commission with the calling of public ministers and the service of the whole body. Their purpose is the giving of Christ’s gifts and the building up of faith.
15 Scripture excerpt groups
SCRIPTURE 01
Matthew 28:18-20 ↗
[Jesus to the eleven apostles:] “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and gather disciples from all nations by baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and by teaching them to keep all the instructions I have given you. And surely I am with you always until the end of the age.”
Book page 76
SCRIPTURE 02
Mark 16:15-16 ↗
“[Jesus] said to them, ‘Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.’”
Book page 76
SCRIPTURE 03
Luke 24:46-48 ↗
“The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things.”
Book page 76
SCRIPTURE 05
Luke 22:19 ↗
“This is my body . . . given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”
Book page 76
SCRIPTURE 06
John 13:34 ↗
“A new commandment I give you: Love one another. Just as I have loved you, so also you are to love one another.”
Book page 76
SCRIPTURE 08
Ephesians 4:11-12 ↗
“. . . [Christ] ascended far above all the heavens, so that he might fill all things. He himself gave the apostles, as well as the prophets, as well as the evangelists, as well as the pastors and teachers, for the purpose of training the saints for the work of serving, in order to build up the body of Christ.”
Book page 77
SCRIPTURE 09
Acts 14:23 ↗
“[Paul and Barnabas] had elders elected for them in every church, and with prayer and fasting they entrusted them to the Lord, in whom they believed.”
Book page 77
SCRIPTURE 10
Colossians 1:25 ↗
“I became a minister of the church for your benefit when God gave me the task of fully proclaiming the word of God. . .”
Book page 77
SCRIPTURE 11
1 Corinthians 4:1 ↗
“This is the way a person should think of us: as servants of Christ and stewards of God’s mysteries.”
Book page 77
SCRIPTURE 13
1 Peter 2:9 ↗
“But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation. . .”
Book page 77
SCRIPTURE 14
1 Corinthians 12:4-6, 27 ↗
“There are various kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are different kinds of ministries, and yet the same Lord. There are various kinds of activities, but the same God, who produces all of them in everyone . . . You are the body of Christ. . .”
Book page 77
SCRIPTURE 15
1 Corinthians 3:5,7 ↗
“What then is Apollos? And what is Paul? They are ministers through whom you believed . . . God . . . causes the growth.”
Book page 78
Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture passages are from the Holy Bible, Evangelical Heritage Version (EHV), copyright 2019 Wartburg Project, Inc. All rights reserved. Used by permission, as noted in the manuscript.
PERSONAL REFLECTION OR GROUP DISCUSSION
Reflect and pray
What work does Christ entrust to the public ministry?
How does that ministry serve the priesthood of all believers?
How can pastors and people support one another in the Church’s mission?
A prayer
Lord of the Church, sustain faithful ministers of your Word. Bless pastors and people as they serve together, so that many may receive your Gospel and grow in faith. Amen.