Comments on: The Ministry of One-Anothering

By: Joanie

Joanie — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 11:13:07 +0000

Dear Brother Chip: Thankyou for this teaching, and I thankyou all of you for sharing. I too felt I was doing nothing for God, until one day, after a long trial, my dryer broke down, and I met a woman at the laundry mat. I sensed a connection with her. We got into a conversation some how, and she shared her horrible trial she had gone through. It matched my own to a tee. I , however did not go through it alone, but leaning on jesus…I listened to her fully. Then I said, now it’s my turn. I told her a story that matched her own. All the comfort I received from God, and scriptures that strengthened me came along with my story. It ended that this woman was encouraged, strengthened and healed before my eyes. She held on to my hand while I was trying to leave with my laundry. She was raised by a baptist minister and said I had spoken to her and she was reminded of her lost faith. She would be ok. I then realized that because I was hearing from God, and leaning on Him for strength, my well was full enough to share with others. The words from my mouth amazed me, it seemed all the comfort I received from my Lord, was inside of me and ready to give to another.

By: Bob McCullough

Bob McCullough — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 05:06:46 +0000

Julie,

Your time is not being wasted. If so, then same for everyone else! Whatever you are doing even it’s the same ol’ routine do it as onto the Lord. To start out the day ask the Lord to bless your day whatever you are doing. He is already using you! Just thank Him? And ask the Lord if there is something He would have you do. He will answered your prayer knowing your situation. Our God is very creative in working with each individual.
As for attending church, pray as to where God wants you and even better yet find a house church or you can start one.

By: Miguel Gonzalez

Miguel Gonzalez — Sun, 21 Feb 2010 04:19:44 +0000

My dear brother Chip i have been reading from your web site, your e-books, and participated of some of the webinars. Doing some reflections about the increasing of Christ in all i have a question. How can we understand the affirmation of the increasing of Christ in all things when we see the actual state of our world. I know the Lord warned us about wars, rumors of wars and so on, but how we can understand it? Shouldn´t be different? I mean so many wrong things happening are by some meaning a testimony of the return of Christ, of His increasing? Thanks my brother.

By: julie stewart

julie stewart — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 10:09:33 +0000

thank you so much, i needed this article. i feel i am so lacking in the area of service to my brothers and sisters in the Lord. i work all day, come home and babysit grandchildren until bedtime, then its morning and the same routine all over again. i dont attend ‘church’ because it is so sickening to see the twisting of scripture to promote success and prosperity. so pretty much, other than family, i am around noone. my job consists of me driving all day, contact with noone. i dont know how He will ever be able to use me. any brotherly or sisterly advice out there? i am 49 and feel like time is being wasted.

By: Doris Paxton

Doris Paxton — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 21:57:19 +0000

After my precious husband of 55 years died in August, I asked the Lord, “What now?” He reminded me of a vocational notebook I wrote in Jr. High. I was unable to use my church library because it was only open between Sunday school and church and on Wed. nights, so I used literature from a neighbor from another denomination. I got an “A”, but even then I considered it a vocation, rather than a ministry. My husband and I served in an interdemonational “Lay Witness” movement, which I found to be the most exciting ministry I had ever even heard of. The results reverberate to this day, (mostly positively, but some preachers didn’t want to pastor a bunch of on-fire fanatics who wanted to tell everybody about Jesus.) After reading your article I realize I don’t have to go overseas or help the Haitians. I have a ministry right here and I plan on ministering as long as the Lord allows.

By: Jim

Jim — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 21:14:28 +0000

I felt I should give an example of how this all works out.
25 years ago I met a new man when he began coming to a small church we attended. The Holt Spirit impressed on me that we were to become friends and I told him. He wasn’t sure how to deal with all that but as time went on we did become close friends. Well the small church blew up for a whole host of reasons and we sort of lost contact. We saw or talked once in a great while but that was it. The blowup from the church left a lot of hard feelings that haven’t healed to this day. At the urging of the Holy Spirit I got back in contact with my friend. When he came to see me he talked of a drinking & drug problem that he was working thru. I have some background in working with those sorts of problems so I jumped right in. We went thru a lot of ups and downs but I praise God that he is sober & dry today and loving the Lord more than ever. My friend has always helped people and has never seemed to get much in return not that he was expecting anything. The Holy Spirit laid it on my heart to give him a blessing and I followed thru on it. It was a large thing to him and I told him the Holy Spirit was just returning the blessing he had been to others. The part of the story is today he called to tell me that as much as the blessing meant to him our friendship meant more. That really made my day and I felt it sort of went along with what Chip was talking about.

By: Sylvia Sargent

Sylvia Sargent — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 16:21:04 +0000

This was a wonderful response! It cut right to the heart of some of the issues we face and the challenges for the church today.

By: Bob McCullough

Bob McCullough — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 00:40:46 +0000

Thank you Chip for the article. It was very well written and important message.
I can very much relate to this as I have been involved in pastoral ministries for many years at several churches. At one major conference I was often asked what I did and how many attended. When I answered that I was a volunteered asst. pastor in a pioneer work with a small congregation that was the end of discussion because I didn’t fit in with “pastors of larger churches”. It was such a weird experience.
But since 1996 I been practicing one-another and enjoy it very much.

Thanks again,

Bro. Bob

By: Madonna

Madonna — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 00:27:43 +0000

Thank you Chip. I am humbled by your ability to teach us in the spirit of His Word and to also witness His work in those who respond with comments. The responses confirm to me the truth of your teaching. In my life journey, I see a pattern like Roger, of God’s grace and mercy, even in His discipline. I also know that there is a price to pay in learning His way and have had to not count the cost to continue reaching out in compassion and love. Sometimes it has meant reaching out to those who have caused pain of rejection and told me that they don’t want my attempts. God does not give up on us and we can not give up on the hope of a right relationship with one another.

By: Mary Darrell

Mary Darrell — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 21:27:37 +0000

While in South Africa visiting my son and his wife who were administrators at an urban church there, I met and chatted with a black pastor affiliated with the church. The Holy Spirit communicated with me that I needed to listen carefully to what this man had to say. He never shared the circumstances of his salvation but apparently he did not receive much discipling at that time. He explained that after being saved he began to have a great concern for those in his community who were in need, including the many AIDS victims. At times he was almost overwhelmed by their needs and his desire to help them. In fact, he said, he began to think there was something “wrong” with him because of the strong urges in his heart. He spent many hours sharing Christ and giving whatever help he could. Finally, someone from the church (mentioned above) visited his area and the pastor shared with this man his concerns and the anxiety he had that there was something wrong with him. After further instructing him in the Word, this man told him that he most likely had a pastor’s ministry and calling. Now, the pastor said, everything began to make sense and he understood how the Holy Spirit had been working in his life.

I have never forgotten my chat with this black pastor. Somehow I felt like I had met with a real New Testament “ministry”. My “word” for 2010 is “Simplify”. And, in regards to everything Christian I really desire to clear the field, shovel back all the trash that has accumulated over the years; to find and go back to the basics: Christianity 101.