I’ve already considered the first 6 chapters of Paul Tripp’s Instruments in the Redeemer’s Hands. That provides a theological foundation for one another, or personal, ministry. The rest of the book is Tripp’s model for personal ministry.
He does not lay out steps, but rather simultaneous practices: love, know, speak, do. He explains how personal ministry is loving people, getting to know them (and their sin), speaking truth (in love) and the process of moving them from one place to another (agenda, responsibility, identity).
I found this model to be quite helpful. It is not just helpful for pastors & counselors, but is intended to be used by normal Christians as they minister to one another. This is a great way to train lay leaders (elders, small group leaders, ministry leaders/volunteers) in how to do personal ministry.
It is easy to understand, and contains many examples from Paul’s own personal & ministry experience. The only constructive criticism would be to make some of the chapters shorter, and therefore easier to digest. He covers lots of ground in those chapters, often covering 2 or more important ideas. Those chapters would have to be broken up to effectively train people in personal ministry.
One of my favorite sections is on Establishing Agenda and Clarifying Responsibility. In particular is the eschatological nature of the Christian life (pp. 240-1).
“Paul understands the Christian life eschatologically. This means that today is preparation for tomorrow, and tomorrow is preparation for something else yet to come. … He is exposing our wandering hearts and foolish minds and the ways we trust our passions more than the principles of his Word. He is calling us to forsake our own glory for his, and teaching us that the idols we pursue will never satisfy us.”
“Everything you face today is premarital preparation- living now with then in view. In contrast, sin produces in all of us a tendency toward ‘now-ism,’ which means we forget three things: who we are (betrothed to Christ); what he is doing (preparing us for the final wedding); and what we are supposed to be doing (remaining faithful to him). … A common factor in depression is self-absorbed now-ism. Anger is often fueled by a self-righteous now-ism. Fear and anxiety are strengthened by an obsession with the hear and now. Maturity and perseverance are weakened by a ‘now’ mentality.”
“We all forget that God’s primary goal is not changing our situations and relationships so that we can be happy, but changing us through our situations and relationships so that we will be holy. We need people who love God and us enough to come alongside and help us deal with our spiritual myopia.”
This is where I am living, and where most of us live. I see the obsession with ‘now’ crippling many. They are running a sprint rather than a marathon. We seek mercy (a change of circumstances) rather than grace (God changing us). Sometimes he sends mercy (thankfully!), but often the grace comes first. He changes us before he changes our circumstances. He is shaping our hearts.
Personal ministry is helping one another “deal with our spiritual myopia.” What an important, essential ministry that is missing in most churches today.
