Following the Example of Christ
Dylan Holmes
CHMN 501 – Introduction to Christ Ministry
November 3rd, 2025
Contents
Part I – Christ’s Theology of Ministry.......................................................................................1
Part II – The Role of the Practitioner – Scenario 1....................................................................2
Part III – The Role of the Practitioner – Scenario 2...................................................................3
Part IV – Following the Example of Christ................................................................................4
Bibliography............................................................................................................................7
1
Part I – Christ’s Theology of Ministry
The theology of ministry is the study of a Christian’s heart in service—its motives,
purpose, and connection to God’s character. It reflects the desire of every believer to walk with
God in a way that mirrors Christ’s earthly ministry, which was marked by servitude, obedience,
and love. Ministry is not merely a task; it is a calling rooted in the heart of God. As Grace
Theological Seminary explains, “The theology of ministry forms the core concepts of service to
God and others,” and is grounded in the understanding that ministry is done under God’s
authority and for the benefit of others.¹ The term ministry comes from the Greek words
diakoneō (“to serve”) and doulos (“to serve as a slave”), emphasizing acts of service that reflect
loyalty, humility, and divine purpose.
One of the most powerful moments in Scripture that reveals the heart of ministry is
Jesus’ baptism. As He rises from the water, the heavens open and the Father declares, “This is
my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased” (Matt. 3:17). This moment anchors the love
between Father and Son and affirms Jesus’ mission of obedience and sacrifice. It also sets the
tone for every believer called into ministry: to serve with humility, endure with faith, and walk in
the light of divine purpose.
Jesus stated, “The Son can do nothing of his own accord, but only what he sees the
Father doing” (John 5:19). This reveals the depth of Christ’s obedience and the importance of
maintaining a relationship with the Father. Without that relationship, the will of God cannot be
fulfilled—regardless of one’s doctrine, status, or strength of faith. Christ’s ministry was
successful because it was rooted in the Father’s will. This truth is echoed in 1 John 2:6:
“Whoever claims to live in him must live as Jesus did.” Living as Jesus did require daily surrender
and the crucifixion of the flesh.
2
In the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass
from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will” (Matt. 26:39). This moment reveals the
depth of Christ’s obedience—choosing the Father’s will even when it meant suffering. Peter
affirms this in his epistle: “To this you were called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving
you an example, that you should follow in his steps” (1 Pet. 2:21). Ministry involves suffering,
sacrifice, and steadfastness. It is a calling that demands endurance, just as Christ endured for
the sake of humanity.
Part II – The Role of the Practitioner – Scenario 1
Jesus and the Samaritan Woman (John 4:1–26)
One of the most transformative moments in Christ’s ministry occurs when He meets the
Samaritan woman at the well. This encounter breaks cultural, religious, and gender barriers,
revealing the depth of Christ’s compassion and intentionality. The Samaritans were often
viewed as religious outsiders. Yet Jesus chooses this woman to receive one of His most profound
teachings: “Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks of the
water that I will give him will never be thirsty again” (John 4:13–14). This demonstrates that
ministry must address the deepest wounds with truth and compassion.
Jesus then commissions the woman to share her testimony, saying, “The true worshipers will
worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him”
(John 4:23). This shows that ministry is not merely about informing others, it is about inviting
them into transformation. As John 13:15 reminds believers, “I have set you an example that you
should do as I have done for you.” Ministry practitioners today must be willing to serve with
humility, cross cultural and personal boundaries, and speak truth that leads to healing.
3
Köstenberger affirms that Jesus’ approach was intentional and strategic, modeling a
ministry style that continues to shape Christian leadership today. ² His example calls
practitioners to imitate Christ—not only in teaching, but in the posture of their hearts and the
depth of their compassion.
Part III – The Role of the Practitioner – Scenario 2
Jesus Raises Lazarus (John 11:1–44)
In John 11, the resurrection of Lazarus reveals a powerful dimension of Christ’s ministry
—one that enters into grief, speaks transformative truth, and calls others into faith and
obedience. When Jesus arrives in Bethany, Lazarus has been dead for four days. Rather than
remain distant, Jesus steps into the sorrow of Martha and Mary, weeping with them: “Jesus
wept” (John 11:35). This shows that ministry is not detached; it is deeply relational and
compassionate.
Jesus tells Martha, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die,
yet shall he live” (John 11:25). He offers this truth in the midst of her grief, reminding believers
that hope is not found in circumstances but in Christ Himself. Ministry practitioners must carry
this message of resurrection life into places of despair.
Jesus commands the people to roll away the stone from Lazarus’s tomb. This act required faith
and obedience, even when it seemed irrational. In the same way, ministry today demands a
heart transformed by both faith and obedience to the Father. The Samaritan woman responded
to Jesus with obedience, going to tell her entire community. Her testimony sparked communal
transformation—just as Lazarus’s resurrection led many to believe (John 11:45).
4
Willmington explains that the raising of Lazarus was not only a miracle but a revelation
of Christ’s identity and a model for ministry that embraces suffering, speaks life, and calls others
into deeper faith. ³
Part IV – Following the Example of Christ
Real-Life Ministry Scenario: Pursuing the One Who Is Lost
A real-life ministry scenario that reflects the example of Christ is the moment when a
believer chooses to leave behind comfort, recognition, or status to pursue someone who is
spiritually lost. One such example is a man who walked away from a high-ranking position at a
Christian camp to support the spiritual restoration of his wife. This act of sacrificial love reflects
the heart of Christ, who said, “There will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents
than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance” (Luke 15:7).
This truth is echoed in Jesus’ encounter with the Samaritan woman and His raising of
Lazarus. In both scenarios, Jesus entered into brokenness, grief, and social discomfort to bring
healing and truth. Ministry practitioners today must be willing to cross boundaries—emotional,
cultural, or professional—for the sake of another’s salvation. As Galatians 6:2 instructs, “Bear
one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.” This call to walk alongside those who
suffer is especially relevant today, in a world marked by violence, addiction, and despair.
Matthew 9:36 reminds us, “When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them,
because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.” This verse anchors
the practitioner’s role in empathy and presence. Ministry is not about fixing people—it is about
walking with them toward healing. The story of Lucas Holmes, who chose obedience to God
over the approval of others, illustrates this beautifully. His faith led to the restoration of his wife
and the birth of a family rooted in Christ. His example shows that ministry is not for the pleasing
5
of men, but for the fulfillment of God’s will—carried out through compassion, humility, and
truth.
Christ’s ministry continues to shape hearts, restore lives, and guide practitioners toward
the celestial city— “the place of everlasting joy,” as John Bunyan describes in Pilgrim’s
Progress, where the faithful finally lay down their burdens and enter rest. ⁴
Bibliography
Bunyan, John. The Pilgrim’s Progress. London: Nath. Ponder, 1678.
English Standard Version Bible. Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2001.
Grace Theological Seminary. “A Theology of Ministry.” May 6, 2021.
https://seminary.grace.edu/a-theology-of-ministry.
Köstenberger, Andreas J. John. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2004.
Willmington, Harold. “The Miracles of Jesus Christ: Raising of Lazarus.” Liberty University,
Scholars Crossing, 2018. https://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/second_person/239.
6
Bibliography
