Here are some key quotes from Message #1 in our "The Work of Ministry" series, along with some helpful quotes from others on this foundational topic. We pray these are an encouragement to you!

Key Quotes from Message #1:

...“the work of ministry” is the church's vocation. It isn't what saves us, but it does explain why God doesn't snatch us up to himself the moment we are saved.

...“the work of ministry” always begins with the gospel.

This call of Christ therefore was a call, not simply to divine forgiveness and reconciliation, but also to transformation through Jesus; even more specifically, transformation into the likeness of Jesus.

There is no higher love for others than that which helps them love God above everything else.

...These men recognized who it was that called them (i.e., the Lord Jesus), and that the work to which he called them, the “work of ministry”, is the most important work in all the world.

A right understanding of “the work of ministry” must be founded upon and fueled by a right understanding of the call of Christ on your life.

...not only did [Jesus] leave us divine explanations and a divine example to follow, he gave us divine power as well; divine power through redemption from and resurrection in and restoration to God himself.

'Bonus Quotes' (that didn't make the final draft): 

Jesus as the Lamb of God who “cleanse[s] us from all unrighteousness” cannot be separated from Jesus as the promised King, the perfect Teacher, the loving Lord who leads us in all righteousness.

Being a disciple or student of Jesus means joyfully surrendering your life plans to His life-changing mission.

Fishing with Jesus is not about drawing a fish from life to death. It's about drawing a person from death to life.

Helpful Related Quotes: 

“When Christ calls us by his grace we ought not only to remember what we are, but we ought also to think of what he can make us. It is, 'Follow me, and I will make you.' We should repent of what we have been, but rejoice in what we may be.” (Charles Spurgeon)

"Simply put, following Jesus will cost you everything, but what you gain is greater than what you lose. Through the cross, we get the Christ, who for our salvation bore it before we did." (Adriel Sanchez)

“Christianity without discipleship is always Christianity without Christ..." (Dietrich Bonhoeffer)

“Discipleship is not an option. Jesus says that if anyone would come after me, he must follow me.” (Tim Keller)

"Cheap grace is grace without discipleship... Costly grace is the treasure hidden in the field; for the sake of it a man will gladly go and sell all that he has. It is the pearl of great price to buy which the merchant will sell all his goods. It is the kingly rule of Christ, for whose sake a man will pluck out the eye which causes him to stumble; it is the call of Jesus Christ at which the disciple leaves his nets and follows him.” (Dietrich Bonhoeffer)

“A true Christian lives and labors on earth not for himself but for his neighbor. Therefore the whole spirit of his life him impels him to do even that which he needs not do, but which is profitable and necessary for his neighbor.” (Martin Luther)

“When Christ calls a man, he bids him come and die.” (Dietrich Bonhoeffer)

“Discipleship is the process of becoming who Jesus would be if he were you.” (Dallas Willard)

"The greatest challenge the church faces today is to be authentic disciples of Jesus." (Dallas Willard)

“The Christian life is the discipled life and the discipling life.” (Mark Dever)

“I think I may say to every person whom I am addressing— If you are saved yourself, the work is but half done until you are employed to bring others to Christ. You are as yet but half formed in the image of your Lord.” (Charles Spurgeon)

“…you lead people to become disciples of Jesus by ravishing them with a vision of life in the kingdom of the heavens in the fellowship of Jesus. and you do this by proclaiming, manifesting and teaching the kingdom to them in the manner learned by Jesus himself.  You must change the belief system that manages their lives…” (Dallas Willard)

“The greatest gift a church can receive is to have a group of [individuals] who take their responsibilities with such Christian seriousness that they are willing to completely alter their lifestyle to raise up disciples for Jesus Christ.” (Abraham Kuyper)

“Live with Jesus, follow Jesus, and he will make you fishers of men. See how he does the work, and so learn how to do it yourself. A Christian man should be bound apprentice to Jesus to learn the trade of a Saviour. We can never save men by offering a redemption, for we have none to present; but we can learn how to save men by warning them to flee from the wrath to come, and setting before them the one great effectual remedy. See how Jesus saves, and you will learn how the thing is done: there is no learning it anyhow else.” (Charles Spurgeon)

“Making disciples of Jesus is the overflow of the delight in being disciples of Jesus.” (David Platt)

“We must be disciples, we must intend to make disciples...” (Dallas Willard)

"Being a Christian is less about cautiously avoiding sin than about courageously and actively doing God's will." (Bonhoeffer)

“We reduce discipleship to a canned program, and so many in the church end up sidelined in a spectator mentality that delegates disciple making to pastors and professionals, ministers and missionaries.” (Francis Chan)