Walking in Servanthood. (Ephesians, Hebrews, John, and Thessalonians)

This Podcast is part of a 10-year project to complete an in-depth, daily study of the entire Bible, chapter by chapter, verse by verse. 

Episode Notes:  Walking in Servanthood. (Ephesians, Hebrews, John, and Thessalonians)

Today we’re returning to a couple of verses we looked at in our last episode. (Ephesians 4:11–12) And some other New Testament verses, but you might be wondering why. 

 Didn’t we already cover this? Didn’t we already talk about unity, diversity, and spiritual gifts?

 Yes — but now we’re going to slow down and look at something far more practical: 

 How do we actually serve one another?

How do we walk in servanthood?

How do we minister to real people in real situations?

Every believer has a spiritual gift. Every believer has a calling. Every believer has a ministry. The only difference is the type of gift we bring.

 So today, I want to lay out some general principles that apply to all pastoral ministries. Principles that work in every situation, in every church, and in every relationship.

 And then I’ll look at a few practical examples of how to support people in real‑world scenarios….

Transcript

 Transcript: Walking in Servanthood. (Ephesians, Hebrews, John, and Thessalonians)

Today we’re returning to a couple of verses we looked at in our last episode. (Ephesians 4:11–12) And some other New Testament verses, but you might be wondering why.

Didn’t we already cover this? Didn’t we already talk about unity, diversity, and spiritual gifts?

Yes — but now we’re going to slow down and look at something far more practical: 

How do we actually serve one another?

How do we walk in servanthood?

How do we minister to real people in real situations?

Because the biblical viewpoint is clear that every Christian is in ministry.

Not just ministers.

Not just elders.

Not just missionaries.

Not just the “professionals.”

Every believer has a spiritual gift.

Every believer has a calling.

Every believer has a ministry.

The only difference is the type of gift we bring.

So today, I want to lay out some general principles that apply to all pastoral ministries. Principles that work in every situation, in every church, and in every relationship.

And then I’ll look at a few practical examples of how to support people in real‑world scenarios….

Let’s begin with some verses from Hebrews: 

“Let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds…”

(Hebrews 10:24–25)

Notice the phrase “spur one another on.” This is not written to pastors or leaders; it’s written to everyone. This is a ministry for the whole church, for every believer, which means it is a ministry for you.

And the word translated “spur on” is packed with meaning. In Greek, the noun form of this word is related to paraklētos, a word used repeatedly in John 14 to describe the Holy Spirit.

In verse 26 of that chapter, we hear Jesus say.

“The Advocate — the Holy Spirit — whom the Father will send in My name, will teach you all things and remind you of everything I have said to you.”

(John 14:26)

In the King James Version, He is called the Comforter, the Helper, the Counsellor, the Advocate, and the Encourager. So, when Hebrews tells us to “spur one another on,” it is calling us to reflect the ministry of the Holy Spirit in all of these aspects in the lives of others.

That’s a high calling, but it’s also a simple one. Because when you boil it down, pastoral ministry — real, every day, practical ministry rests on three foundational principles.

1. Be There.

Before you can help anyone,

You must be there.

Now, being there can mean a phone call, a text, a message, a FaceTime chat, and in recent years, particularly during COVID, these methods of being there were lifelines.

But “being there” means more than contact. It means presence and friendship and walking alongside someone. There is no substitute for that.

But once you’re there, you must do something else.

2. Listen

Hebrews says, “Let us consider one another.”

To consider someone means to pay attention, to take note,

to listen carefully, and you cannot do that if you are doing all the talking.

One of the occupational hazards of being a Christian is that we think we have answers, so we rush to give them. We see someone struggling, and we immediately reach for a Bible verse or a piece of advice or a spiritual solution.

But that is not pastoral ministry. Pastoral ministry begins with listening.

Most people who go to a counsellor are not looking for answers. They are looking for someone who will listen to them.

Romans 12:15 says: “Weep with those who weep; rejoice with those who rejoice.” You cannot do that unless you know what they are feeling, and you cannot know what they are feeling unless you listen.

3. Identify With Them (Empathy)

After being there and after listening, comes empathy.

It’s about compassion, understanding, and entering into their experience.

Only after these three steps do we earn the right to offer help, guidance, or support. And that fourth step, the actual pastoral action

will always depend on the situation the person is facing.

But the foundation is always the same:

·         Be there.

·         Listen.

·         Identify.

This is the ministry of the Holy Spirit reflected in the ministry of God’s people. This is what it means to walk in servanthood.

Part Two: Types of Pastoral Ministry Situations.

So now that we’ve laid the foundation — be there, listen, identify —

I want to show how these principles work in real pastoral situations.

Scripture gives us several examples of people who needed comfort,

encouragement, and support. And each example teaches us how to minister wisely and lovingly.

The first comes from 1 Thessalonians, where the issue was grief.

1. When the Issue Is Grief — Offer Comfort and Hope.

(1 Thessalonians 4:13–18)

Paul had visited Thessalonica, led many to Christ, and then, under persecution, was forced to flee the city. The young church he left behind was full of new believers who remembered Paul’s teaching that Christ would return and that believers would be caught up to meet Him.

But after Paul left, some members of the congregation died, and these new Christians were confused and distressed. 

What would happen to those who had died? 

Would they miss the return of Christ?

Would they be left out of the resurrection?

So, Paul writes to them and says:

“I do not want you to be ignorant, brothers and sisters, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope…”

(1 Thessalonians 4:13)

And after explaining the resurrection, he ends with this instruction:

“Therefore, comfort one another with these words.”

(1 Thessalonians 4:18)

This is pastoral ministry in its purest form.

When someone is grieving, they don’t need explanations. They don’t need theological lectures, and they don’t need someone to fix their pain…. They need comfort.

They need presence.

They need to be listened to.

And they need empathy.

And after those three things — and only after those three things — they need hope.

This passage is specifically about bereavement, but grief comes in many forms because grief is not only about death, it is about loss

Psychologists define loss as anything that forces a change of identity. 

The loss of a spouse turns a married person into a widow or widower.

The loss of a job turns an employed person into an unemployed person.

The loss of a marriage turns a couple into a single person or a single parent.

The loss of health turns an active person into someone limited or disabled.

The loss of mental capacity can feel like the loss of the person you once knew.

Every loss forces a person to adjust to a new identity they did not choose…. And with every loss comes grief.

So, whether someone is grieving a death,

a divorce,

a diagnosis,

a redundancy,

a broken relationship,

or even the loss of a dream….

The pastoral response is the same:

·         Be there.

·         Listen.

·         Identify with them….

And then offer hope, because.

“We Do Not Grieve as Those Who Have No Hope”

(Ephesians 4:13)

We still grieve.

We still feel the pain.

We still feel separation.

We still feel the loneliness.

But in the midst of all that, we have hope.

Hope that Christ will return.

Hope that the dead in Christ will rise.

Hope that we will be reunited.

Hope that loss is not the end of the story.

When someone is grieving, you cannot remove their pain, but you can stand with them in it and gently remind them that the story is not over.

That is what Paul means when he says: “Comfort one another with these words.”

Comfort them with the truth that Christ is coming.

Comfort them with the truth that death is not final.

Comfort them with the truth that separation is temporary.

Comfort them with the truth that we will all be together again.

This is how we minister when the issue is loss.

·         Be there.

·         Listen.

·         Identify.

·         And then — comfort them with hope.

We’ve looked at how to minister to those who are grieving. Now Paul gives us a second scenario, one that is just as common, and sometimes even more dangerous. 

Discouragement.

When the issue is discouragement, offer encouragement and direction

In 1 Thessalonians, chapter 3, Paul describes a church that was shaken. He and Titus had planted the church in Thessalonica, but persecution came quickly, and they were forced to flee.

Imagine that happening today. Imagine the police arriving at your church, arresting the leadership team, hauling away half the congregation. You would probably wonder…. Am I next? Is this worth it? 

Should I give up this life of faith?

That was the atmosphere in Thessalonica.

Fear.

Confusion.

Discouragement.

And discouragement doesn’t only come from persecution. It can come from things like criticism from non‑believers or criticism from inside the church. Disappointment in ministry and unmet expectations. Spiritual fatigue, relational conflict, or personal failure

Discouragement is one of the most common reasons people drift away from church and from their calling.

So, what does Paul do?

He sends Timothy.

“…to strengthen and encourage you in your faith.”

(1 Thessalonians 3:2)

Timothy couldn’t remove their problems. He couldn’t change their circumstances. But he could be there,

Listen,

Identify,

and then say:

“You can do this. You can still make it. Don’t give up.”

Sometimes that’s all a discouraged believer needs: someone who believes in them when they no longer believe in themselves. Encouragement is one of the most underrated spiritual gifts, yet it is one of the most powerful ministries in the church.

Encouragement should be a daily ministry

The book of Hebrews was written to Jewish believers who were under pressure from family, culture, and tradition. Some were thinking of abandoning Christianity and returning to Judaism. So, the writer says:

“Encourage one another daily…”

(Hebrews 3:13)

Not occasionally.

Not when convenient.

Not when someone asks.

Daily.

Because discouragement is daily, and temptation is daily, and weariness is daily, and spiritual battles are daily, but encouragement is the antidote to all these things.

But encouragement is not just saying, “You’ll be fine.” “Cheer up.” Or, 

“Things will get better.” Biblical encouragement points people forward.

Hebrews 6:1 says: “Let us go on to maturity…”

When someone is discouraged, they don’t just need comfort; they need direction. They need to be reminded that spiritual maturity is the path out of discouragement. Growing in Christ puts our struggles in perspective and strengthens us to endure.

So, when discouragement is the issue:

·         Be there.

·         Listen.

·         Identify.

·         And then encourage them to keep moving toward spiritual maturity.

There is a third pastoral scenario — and this one is the most delicate of all.

Paul writes:

“If someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore that person gently…”

(Galatians 6:1)

This is not casual advice. This is holy ground; restoring a believer who has fallen is one of the most difficult and sensitive ministries in the church.

But the same three principles still apply:

·         Be there.

·         Listen.

·         Identify.

You cannot restore someone you do not know. You cannot restore someone you have not walked with. You cannot restore someone you have not listened to. You cannot restore someone you do not love.

This ministry requires a deep relationship as well as a deep level of trust between both parties as well as a deep sense of humility.

And let me say this plainly. More damage has been done in churches

by people “speaking the truth in love” but without love. More damage than by almost anything else.

Very rarely should anyone march up to another believer and tell them where they are wrong. Correction should arise naturally from accountable relationships and from trusted friendships. And often, the most important restoration work is the work we do in our own hearts.

If you sense the Holy Spirit convicting you, then you should seek someone out. Someone you trust, someone who has been there for you, someone who listens, someone who understands.

Ask them to pray with you.

Ask them to walk with you.

Ask them for wisdom.

Because Scripture is clear:

“All Scripture is God‑breathed and useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness…”

(2 Timothy 3:16)

Before we finish today, I want to share a story quoted by Pastor Don Ginkel in a sermon he had published some time ago, called “Encouragement Desperately Needed.”

It comes from a man who served for over thirty years as the head of a state education department in the United States. At the end of his career, he reflected on the most remarkable examples of leadership and teaching he had ever witnessed.

For him, one situation stood out.

A primary school teacher,  the sort we would call a Year 5 or Year 6 teacher here in the UK, had just come through a very difficult class the previous year. And early into the new term, she could see the same patterns beginning to emerge.

So just before Christmas, she decided to try an experiment.

She asked each student to write down the names of every other child in the class, leaving space between each name.

Then she said: “Write the nicest, most positive thing you can think of about each person.”

The children spent the rest of the lesson writing. As they left the room, each one handed in their paper.

Over the weekend, the teacher took every sheet and created a list for each child, a list of all the good things their classmates had said about them.

On Monday morning, she handed each student their list. Within minutes, the room was full of smiles. Children were saying things like. “I never knew anyone thought that about me.” “I didn’t know I meant that much to people.” “I didn’t know people liked me so much.”

The teacher never mentioned the exercise again. She didn’t know if it would have any lasting effect. But she felt the atmosphere in the class had changed. The children were happier, kinder, and more confident. And the rest of the year was a great success.

Years later, one of those students, a boy named Mark, joined the army and was sent to Vietnam. He was killed in action.

The teacher attended his funeral. To her surprise, many of Mark’s old primary school classmates were there.

After the service, Mark’s parents approached her. 

“We want to show you something,” his father said, pulling out a worn wallet.

Inside was a folded, taped, refolded piece of paper, creased from years of being opened and read.

It was Mark’s list.

The list of kind things his classmates had written about him all those years ago.

“Thank you,” his mother said softly. “Mark treasured this.”

One by one, the former classmates gathered around.

“I still have mine,” one said. “It’s in the top drawer of my desk at home.”

“My wife put mine in our wedding album,” another said. “She said it helped her understand who I really was.”

Another reached into her purse and pulled out her own list, worn, folded, but still cherished.

“I carry this with me everywhere,” she said.

Most of them still had their lists.

And Don Ginkel, the author, concluded:

“Words of love, comfort, and encouragement are desperately needed and deeply appreciated. We forget that life will end one day, and we don’t know when that day will be.”

A Call to Walk in Servanthood.

My friends, please hear me when I say this:

We should love and care for one another. We should tell people what they mean to us. We should encourage one another today, and every day, all the time.

Don’t wait. Don’t assume they know. Don’t leave it unsaid.

Tell them and tell them now.

Because encouragement is not optional. It is a ministry. It is a calling. It is a command. And Scripture says:

“Let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, but encouraging one another — and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” (Hebrews 10:24–25)

This is what it means to walk in servanthood.

To be there. To listen. To identify. To comfort. To encourage. To restore. To love.

And this is also the ministry of the Holy Spirit reflected in the ministry of God’s people.

This is the calling of every believer.

This is the heart of Christ.

Outro:

Thank you for joining me today. Next time, we’ll continue our journey through Ephesians as we explore what it means to walk in righteousness and to put off the old self, put on the new, and live a life shaped by the truth of Christ.

Until then, may the Lord help you walk in servanthood, speak words of life, and encourage one another as the Day approaches.