How to Find Your Place in Ministry

Jesus said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you become fishers of men.” And immediately they left their nets and followed him. Mark 1:17-18 (NIV)

1. Establish your relationship
If you want to serve Christ, you must first get to know him. Spend time with him. Walk with him in the Word and in prayer. Follow him with faith and joyful obedience. That’s what the first disciples did and, over time, they grew in their commitment and love for Jesus, so that when he called them, they were ready for whatever he might call them to do.

2. Cultivate your gifts
Christ says, “I will make you fishers of men.” There is a sphere in which Christ will equip you to serve him. Where do your gifts lie? What has he made you good at? What does God bless when you do it? How are you using these gifts now? As the disciples walked with Jesus, they watched him work and they learned from him, as they prepared for the work he assigned them to do.

3. Receive your ministry assignment
“[Jesus] went out to the mountain to pray, and all night he continued in prayer to God. And when day came, he called his disciples and chose from them twelve, whom he named apostles” (Luke 6:12-13). Christ “chose from them.” That means there were more than 12. Christ was discerning who should be given this work and who should be given other work.

Intimacy with Christ comes before activity for Christ.

How is your walk with Jesus? Are you following hard after him? Are you using the gifts you know about? Are you hung up on “having a position”?