 |
Following in the footsteps of the Acts of the
Apostles, written by St. Luke, Shepherd's Cross Christian Helps Ministry
exists by the grace of God to further the first century Apostolic tradition
serving in the Great Commission. |
 |
|
Ministry
The Gospel According To St Matthew Matthew 9:36-38 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, "The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest." Matthew 18:12-14 What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them has gone astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountains and go in search of the one that went astray? And if he finds it, truly, I say to you, he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine that never went astray. So it is not the will of my Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish THE CALL TO THE GREAT COMMISSION MANDATE Matthew 28:16-20 Mark16: 14-20 Luke 24: 44-49 Being members within God’s Ecclesia, as believers we are all mandated by Christ Jesus, to be like medical general practitioners, to perform our share in the Ministry of Reconciliation to the unsaved world and with disciplining neophyte members of Christ’s Body, the faithful. VOCATION Ephesians 4:4-7 There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift. Just as there are those that function within the health profession that are medical specialists, like the oncologists, the cardiologists … there are those within God’s Ecclesia that are called to serve within a specific ministry genre. Romans 12:3- 21 For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned. For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness. Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality. Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight. Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, "Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord." To the contrary, "if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head." Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. 1 Corinthians 12:4-11 Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. For to one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the ability to distinguish between spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills. Ephesians 4:11- 16 And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love. Being present in this world today, during the 21st century, living out this authentic, divinely sanctified vocation as a Christian minister of the Divine Word and Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, exchanging material possessions for a life of simplicity following the example of the early desert Christians and Christian faithful, St Francis of Assisi and the like … is evidence to the One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church tradition that God is alive and well working through historical time and space in His body faithful. Being a Christian minister, The Spiritual and Corporal Works of Mercy, found within My Rule Of Life, under the tab entitled “Ministry,” brings me to live out the Great Commission mandated by Christ Jesus prior to His ascension before the presences of his elect. Seven Spiritual Works of Mercy To counsel the doubtful To instruct the ignorant To admonish the sinner To comfort the sorrowful To forgive all injuries To bear wrongs patiently To pray for others Seven Corporal Works of Mercy To feed the hungry To give drink to the thirsty To clothe the naked To ransom the captive (Opposition of slavery) To harbor the harborless To visit the sick To bury the dead Adding to this, Hospitality and of Mercy, being two of my affirmations of my vocation to the Most Holy Blessed Trinity, I am living out the Beatitudes found in the Sermon of the Mount recorded in both the Gospels of Matthew chapter 5 and Luke chapter 6. Matthew 5:3-12 "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. "Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. "Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. "Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy. "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. "Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. "Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you. Luke 6:20-26 And he lifted up his eyes on his disciples, and said: "Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. "Blessed are you who are hungry now, for you shall be satisfied. "Blessed are you who weep now, for you shall laugh "Blessed are you when people hate you and when they exclude you and revile you and spurn your name as evil, on account of the Son of Man! Rejoice in that day, and leap for joy, for behold, your reward is great in heaven; for so their fathers did to the prophets. "But woe to you who are rich, for you have received your consolation. "Woe to you who are full now, for you shall be hungry The Outreach Ministries of Shepherd's Cross Christian Helps Ministry A. Sent to specific assignments to answer a need as needed. Examples: The Acts of the Apostles Philip and the Eunuch Acts 08:26-39 Ananius and Paul Acts 09: 10-18 Peter and Cornelius Acts 10: 19-48 B. Spontaneous opportunities as I go through daily routines. Examples: The Acts of the Apostles Peter, John and the lame man Acts 03:1-11 Paul and the lame man Acts 14:8-10 Paul and the Ephesus disciples Acts 19:1-7 Paul and the possessed damsel Acts 16:16-18 C. Writing Ministry Through The World Wide Web (Reaching the World One Essay @ A Time) FELLOWSHIP IN FOCUS A ministry to the Christian Faithful focusing on ancient biblical truth for life application in the twenty-first century (Matthew 28:18-20) SHEPHERD'S REFLECTIONS Classical apologies using epistles and treatises (Jude 3) SHEPHERD'S CROSS CHRISTIAN INSTITUTE FOR THE PRESERVATION OF ORTHODOXY A prophetic teaching ministry to admonish, warn, encourage, and counsel the people of God's one Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church (Nicene Creed) (Ephesians 4:5-6)(2 Timothy 4:2) SHEPHERD'S WELL A ministry of devotion and spiritual affection for the Blessed Trinity (Psalms 23) SHEPHERD'S NEWS AND FOCUS Special announcements and ministry updates (Proverbs 25:25) CITY OF DAVID OUTREACH An outreach ministry to our Jewish family, friends, and neighbors (Luke 2:11) SHEPHERD’S CROSS CHRISTIAN THROUGH THE RED DOOR SALVATION OUTREACH MINISTRY MESSAGES FOR THE CHRISTIAN BELIEVER A ministry to the Christian Believer focusing on brokenness, private grief, and repentance from sin. (Psalm 51) THROUGH THE RED DOOR SALVATION OUTREACH MINISTRY A ministry to the Christian Believer and the Inquiring Seeker. (Matthew 6:33) MESSAGES FOR THE INQUIRING SEEKER An outreach ministry to the Non-Christian Person seeking clarification, information, and understanding of the Christian Faith and work of Jesus Christ. (1Peter 3:15) |
Shepherd's Cross Christian Helps Ministry