How Each Person Blessed Through His Word Can is Called to Bless Others with His Word

I suspect that when most Christians hear the phrase, "ministry of the word", their thoughts move toward New Testament passages about apostles, elders, and evangelists. And of course, Scripture has much to say about "the word" and these offices. For example, the Apostles' first commission was to go and proclaim, "The kingdom of heaven is at hand" (Matthew 10:7), and later, "repentance for the forgiveness of sins... in his name to all nations" (Luke 24:47). The book of Acts consistently depicts leaders like Peter (Acts 2), Stephen (Acts 7), Philip (Acts 8; later called an "evangelist" in 21:8), and Paul (Acts 9) declaring the word of God in a variety of settings. After this, Paul not only encourage a young leader like Timothy to "preach the word" (2 Timothy 4:2), but is also clear that the elder of a local church "must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it." (Titus 1:9) So with both believers and unbelievers, it's abundantly clear that these kinds of leaders were given a "ministry of the word".

But what about everyone else? What about disciples who do not (and may never) occupy these roles or offices? Do they also possess a "ministry of the word"? Absolutely. The New Testament is just as clear on this point. Below are just some of the verses/passages that speak to the different ways in which every follower of Jesus is called to bless others with God's word, both believers and unbelievers. I pray these passages will stir your hearts and minds, as well as inspire your prayers and efforts in this area. May we ask along with Paul, "pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word... [and] that I may make it clear, which is how I ought to speak." (Colossians 4:3–4)

Telling Those Around Us How Much the Lord Has Done for Us

As he was getting into the boat, the man who had been possessed with demons begged him that he might be with him. [19] And he did not permit him but said to him, “Go home to your friends and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you.” [20] And he went away and began to proclaim in the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him, and everyone marveled. (Mark 5:18–20)

The former demoniac described here is not commissioned as a leader. He is simply encouraged to do what the psalmist did a thousand years earlier: "Come and hear, all you who fear God, and I will tell what he has done for my soul." (Psalm 66:16)

Speaking the Word of God with Boldness

When they were released, they went to their friends and reported what the chief priests and the elders had said to them... [31] And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness. (Acts 4:23, 31)

The "friends" mentioned here seem to be a larger group than just the apostles, quite possibly the original core group of 120 disciples mentioned in Acts 1:15.

Sharing the Word Wherever We Go

And there arose on that day a great persecution against the church in Jerusalem, and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles... [4] Now those who were scattered went about preaching the word. (Acts 8:1–5)

The "all" mentioned by the writer here seem to be a large number (thousands in light of Acts 2:41?) of everyday disciples. Later in Acts 11:19-20, we're told that some from this group "traveled as far as Phoenicia and Cyprus and Antioch, speaking the word to no one except Jews. But there were some of them, men of Cyprus and Cyrene, who on coming to Antioch spoke to the Hellenists also, preaching the Lord Jesus."

"Speaking the Truth in Love" to Build One Another Up

I myself am satisfied about you, my brothers, that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge and able to instruct one another. (Romans 15:14)

Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ... (Ephesians 4:15)

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom...(Colossians 3:16)

Like the believers to whom the author of Hebrews wrote ("For though by this time you ought to be teachers..." Hebrews 5:12), Paul confirms in many places that as disciples grow in grace and knowledge (cf. 2 Peter 3:18), they should be fulfilling their ministry of the word, helping other believers grow in the same way. Though this ministry is not a formal teaching office (James 3:1), it is a vital part of God's design for the growth of each local church.

Instructing Our Children in God's Word

Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. (Ephesians 6:4) 

Jewish-Christian listeners in Ephesus would have understood this parental charge in light of God's words through Moses in Deuteronomy 6.  The Old Testament would have also reminded these readers that this word to the head of the household included both a "father's instruction" and a "mother's teaching" (Proverbs 1:8).

Ready to Answer Outsiders with God's Word

Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time. [6] Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person. (Colossians 4:5–6)

...but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect... (1 Peter 3:15)

Both Paul and Peter envisioned situations in which a Christian's distinctive way of life (marked by qualities like wisdom and hope) would inspire questions, generate conversations, and open doors for the gospel. In both passages, an element of preparedness is presented as vital to our ministry of the word.