Essential Disciplines I Learned in the Ministry

The work of the ministry is one huge responsibility to be taken lightly. As a preacher of the Gospel I have an accountability to God, first and foremost, and to the people I speak to and lead. It was only necessary that Paul had to say this words to Timothy who was then his young and promising disciple:

Till I come, give attention to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine. Do not neglect the gift that is in you, which was given to you by prophecy with the laying on of the hands of the eldership. Meditate on these things; give yourself entirely to them, that your progress may be evident to all. Take heed to yourself and to the doctrine. Continue in them, for in doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you. (1 Timothy 4.13-16)

Through the years since I became a preacher I’ve learned the importance of biblical self-discipline. They have helped me in my desire to become an able minister of the Word and a faithful steward of God’s manifold grace.

The discipline of godliness. When Paul exhorted Timothy to “exercise yourself toward godliness”, he was telling the young man about the perils of worldly pleasures and the great benefits of devotion to God. A minister of the Gospel must naturally be fully devoted to Author of the Gospel. His walk, speech and conduct - his whole lifestyle - should express his heart’s passion for the Lord.

The discipline of exampleship. 1 Timothy 4.12 was my earliest life-verse. As a young people in my father’s church I learned early the vanity of idolizing movie stars and the value of setting a godly example for my peers. It became even more important when I was given the responsibility of leading our youth ministry.

I learned that youths can set a pattern of godly living, faithfulness, purity and passion for Christ. And it humbles me to know that my teenage years has become an inspiration to other youths who aspire to serve God early in life.

The discipline of reading, exhortation and doctrine. Paul exhorted Timothy to give his attention to these three things as tools for learning. A minister’s life revolves around the Word of God. He studies it from beyond his private corner, meditates on it while he goes with the other routines of life. He literally lives it.

The minister of the Word should also learn from other ministers by listening to their advice and and watching for important statements in and out of the pulpit. I learned that I can expand my mind’s horizon by listening to other preachers’ sermons, reading their books, comparing notes and ideas or having a simple conversation.

The discipline of respect for elders. It is so easy and tempting to be carried by the authority and anointing that a young minister suddenly experiences in his life. I’ve seen many young preachers act like they know everything, they’ve lost regard to elderly servants of the Lord. As a growing minister I have to acknowledge that many other preachers have been in the field way ahead of me. No matter how I much study and prepare myself, these pulpit veterans will always be ahead of me in wisdom and experience.

I admire the senior ministers around me. I can see their great love for the Lord. The marks are showing in their lives. The years of spiritual warfare have made them even stronger in faith and more passionate in their work.

The discipline of prayer. Once in my early days I read a brochure that read, “No man is greater than his prayer life.” It struck me deeply. It seemed very true, as I see my shortcomings, then and now, in this part of Christian life. I know I can never pray enough, but still I have to make it a daily battle, if not a habit, to pray away.