New Testament Models of Market Place Ministers

Global School of Ministry
Course 121   #4
New Testament Models of Ministers in the Market place
• Jesus. For the first 30 years of His life, Jesus lived an ordinary life as a Carpenter, a trade He learnt and practised from Joseph, the assumed father. His reputation as a carpenter was so clear that the people mocked his claim to be the Son of God.

• Disciples of Jesus. There is something interesting about the first disciples that Jesus called which is worth reviewing. Jesus did not call any of the full time religious leaders! He did not call the Levites, Scribes, Pharisees or members of the Sanhedrin! Jesus also did not call lazy people who were idlers and tattlers into the ministry! Jesus deliberately called people who were engaged in business or showed skill in particular professions that were needed for the Kingdom work. Peter, Andrew, James and John were active in their family fishing business when He called them. Matthew was active in his work as a customs officer when he was called so that his skills in setting records straight would be deployed to good effect in capturing key aspects of the biography of Jesus. The Lord clearly valued the contribution of people in the market place to His earthly ministry. Even the wife of a very high official was one of the deaconesses which ministered to Him! Some of the parables and illustrations of Jesus concerning the degree of faithfulness required to survive the end times centred on scenarios where people were actively engaged in day to do business pursuits Matthew 24:45 – 51; Luke 19: 10 – 27.

• Paul was a hybrid minister; his ministry was both in the marketplace and in the pulpit. Because of this he was able to provide for his own needs without recourse to support from unruly congregants such as those of Corinth. See Acts 18:1-3; Acts 20:33-35; 1 Corinthians 9:1-18.

• Barnabas was just a marketplace minister before his transitioning. He earned the sobriquet “son of consolation” because of the generous spirit through which multitudes were refreshed - Acts 4:32-37; Acts 9:26-27; Acts 11:19-26; Acts 12:25; Acts 13:1-3.

• Lydia was a business woman who traded in purple clothing. Out of her business profits Lydia took her niche as one of the divinely ordained key support persons of Paul the Apostle - Acts 16:14-15.

• Priscilla & Aquila. This unique couple were in the business of making tents. This is one of the reasons they empathised with Paul the Apostle who was also in the same line of business. They continued with their business after conversion but channelled their profits to execute the Kingdom mandate. To the glory of God, they deployed the gift of discernment and knowledge of the full counsel of God to good effect when they rightly understood the limits of revelation and spiritual experience of Apollos in spite of his eloquence. God used them to mentor and disciple this vessel who was to become an outstanding Apostle – Acts 18:1-3, 24-26.