5 Minute Ministry // Alan Nelson

California Community Church

5-Minute Ministry

The 3 Goals of Today’s Message:
1. Re___________________ how you see yourself as a believer
2. Re___________________ how you perceive ministry
3. Re___________________ how you live your life

1. How you see yourself:
- Christian culture caste system (unbiblical): clergy vs laity
- We assume that if we’re not ordained, we can’t do legit ministry (2nd rate at best)
- Oops: Exodus 19:5-6 All God’s people are a Holy “priesthood.”
- Double oops: 1 Peter 2:9-12 The New Testament echoes the Old (see above)

2. How you perceive ministry:
Common Myth-perceptions
1. Real “ministry” requires ordination
2. Authentic ministry requires you to go somewhere (e.g., church, mission field, etc.)
3. It takes quite a bit of time (1 hour on Sundays, weeknight, weekend, week, month, etc.)
- Legit ministry is ___________________________
- Examples: Colossians 3:17, Matthew 4:19; 5:14
- The laity are not to be in the church, for the church, or do work at the church...
we ARE the Church!
- The “Good News” Continuum means ministry looks different depending on the type and
location a person is on their path

- The two main ministry roadblocks are: _________________________ & __________________________
- Two words in the Greek for time:
chronos: quantity of time (Western mindset of schedules, speed, efficiency)
kairos: quality of time (biblical/Eastern mindset of ripeness, readiness, fertility)
- Ecclesiastes 3: God makes everything beautiful “in its time”
- Matthew 13:3-8 Parable of the soils; look for fertile conditions
- God is a good steward; emphasizing effectiveness over efficiency; knowing our location,
God creates divine appointments every day
- Pareto Principle (80/20 rule); most ministry opportunities are convenient (brief/close)

3. How you live your life:
Five examples of 5-Minute Ministry; fertile, convenient opportunities to make an instant impact
A. The power of ______________________________
- Encouraging words re-courage battle-weary people
- Biblical mandates: 1 Thes. 5:11; 1 Peter 3:15; Romans 15:1; Eph. 4:29
B. The power of ______________________________
- … so that in times of felt needs, we can cross them
- Examples: Galatians 1:1-5, Ephesians 1:1-2, Philippians 1:1-6, and Colossians 1:1-6
- List ways you can keep in touch with those in your network:
C. The power of ______________________________
- Initiating interest primes the pump for ministry opportunities
- Biblical examples: Luke 19:1-10; John 4:7-26
- It’s NOT the unbeliever's responsibility to initiate interest with believers
- SALT (Matt. 5:13): Say something, Ask a question, Listen, Turn it deeper (if appropriate)
D. The power of ______________________________
- A soul is nearest the surface during times of intense pain and joy
- Biblical examples: John 11:35; 19:25-37; Luke 2:1-11
Conclusion: What’s 1 thing you got out of today’s message?
How do you want to act on it today? This week?