Let Your Light ShineSample

If your goal is to increase the reach, scope, and initiatives of your ministry, then following Jesus' example in ministry is critical. Not only that, the first step to becoming an expert in Christian ministry growth is in changing your mindset from marketing being a "bad word" to embracing the truth that marketing is spiritual. 

Take for example, Luke 19:16. Isn’t it the “spiritual” thing to do to take the one mina God gives you and increase it 1000% (Luke 19:16)? 

Or isn’t it the “spiritual” thing to do to take the one mina God gives you and increase it 500% (Luke 19:18)? 

Read the parable in Luke 19 again if you haven’t in a while. You’ll see that the master in the story didn’t have any overly friendly things to say to the servant who got one mina and didn’t bother to increase it at all. If I remember correctly, he stripped him of what little he had, and then uttered some pretty nasty words on top of that. 

The words of the master would be considered “mean” in today’s politically correct culture so I won’t include them here. But they are in your Bible and I recommend you take a look at it for yourself. Because those are the same words He will use for you, or anyone, who takes what has been entrusted to him or her in this area of ministry, and does nothing with it. 

As God’s steward in your job at your ministry, mission, church, or in your platform, you are responsible to produce growth. It is your duty. Anything less is failure in what matters most—pleasing the Lord and bringing Him glory (John 17:4, Luke 19:22-26). 

God uses the gifts, talents, effort, and intuition of His followers to expand His reach and impact lives. If growing a ministry reach isn’t spiritual, then the great commission is one of the most unspiritual commands of the entire Bible. 

In fact, Jesus is the greatest ministry expander of all time. We will look at that more fully in tomorrow's devotional. But for now, spend time with the Lord in prayer asking Him to give you HIS heart for how He wants to expand your ministry reach. Ask Him to give you an open mind as well as greater insight into the good that comes from embracing principles that produce growth.