“Everyone who lives in this body knows that he must be committed to that special task or ministry to which he has given himself in this life as a participant and a laborer, and he ought not to doubt that in that everlasting age he will also be the partner of him whose servant and companion he now wishes to be, according to what the Lord says, “If anyone serves me, let him follow me, and where I am, there also will my servant be.” (St. John Cassian)
“To minister is to serve someone else’s will…We too have a priestly calling to the world. Like Christ, we are called to serve and to sacrifice, through a ministry of presence and through prayer… we are reliant on others, for we are part of a priestly people.” (Orthodox Study Bible, Hebrews 6:10, Philip Ryken)
“God, by His grace, draws us toward the impossible heights of humility. We are to serve others truly, however menial the task. We need to minister, while others need our services.” (Dynamis 9/12/2020)
“God so often has to fight through so much junk in my life that I am constantly amazed that He uses me at all. Over the years I have made considerable progress in some areas. But in other areas I have repeatedly blown it. Now because God is extremely merciful, kind, and patient, He forgives and restores me, and uses me as far as He can to set others free. But this type of partnership with God is far below His standard of unbroken fellowship with those to whom He shares His ministry.” (Eric M. Hill)
“The ministry of those in the foreground is supported by those whose work is less visible but just as essential. Offer your resources to God, whether or not you will be on center stage.” (Life Application Study Bible, Luke 8:2-3)
“Today I am reminded that ministry to others on the path of salvation is ineffective or even damaging, if the “minister” has neglected to minister to his or her own self. Because service to others on this path is about sharing a lived experience, rather than teaching a set of abstract principles. Today let me take up my cross, once again, and tend to “the log” that is in my own eye, so that, if necessary, I can share the experience with someone else in the same predicament.” (Sr. Dr. Vassa Larin)
“Recognizing and confronting sin in ourselves and in our leaders is as much a part of the ministry of the body as baptizing, preaching, and teaching.” (Jan Winebrenner and Debra
Frazier)
“The key to ministry is sensitivity: sensing the condition of each person and offering the appropriate remedy for each situation. You can’t effectively help until you know the problem. You can’t apply the medicine until you know where the wound is.” (Life Application Study Bible, 1 Thessalonians 5:14)
“Strive to love others! God can ignite our love for the unlovable, showing us how to extend care to the hateful, to give even when we are being used, and to go that extra mile (see Mt 5:41). Such love may seem impossible to our fleshly mind, but God mercifully equips us to extend Christ’s ministry without wavering or becoming discouraged by abuses we encounter. ” (Dynamis 8/13/2014)
“The Ministry of the Church belongs to all her members. Being the Body of Christ, Clergy and Laity together have the responsibility to minister/serve the people of God.” (Very Reverend Sebastian Skordallos)