Preaching, Teaching and Serving

In one simple verse in Scripture, we find Jesus' modus operandi - His method of operating - during His earthly ministry. Here it is...

Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness.
Matthew 9:35 NIV

Jesus preached the good news of the kingdom. The Greek word for "preached" is kerusso. Think of a herald in a town square, shouting at the top of his lungs the important news for the day. That's the idea behind kerusso. Jesus went around Israel telling people of God.

There's a great Christian company called Kerusso that sells all kinds of Christian clothes and retail items. That's the idea. Share the good news and proclaim the goodness of God in your attitudes, actions and words.

Another part of Jesus' M.O. was teaching. He has charged us with this task as well.

Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.
Matthew 28:19-20 NIV

Jesus didn't tell us to go and make converts. He told us to go and make disciples. You can't disciple someone without imparting wisdom to them, mentoring them and investing in their lives. That's what teaching is all about!

The other thing we see Jesus doing a lot of during His earthly ministry was healing. He performed all kinds of miracles, but healing was something special. We see very clearly that when Jesus healed someone, he was meeting a need. He was serving that person practically.

...just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many. Matthew 20:28 NIV

When you and I can find a way to serve someone and meet a practical need, we're imitating the model that Jesus set for us. It doesn't always have to be miraculous in terms of healing or multiplying loaves and fish supernaturally. It can be as simple as buying groceries for a family in need, providing a warm, dry, safe place for someone to sleep or caring for someone who is ill.

Jesus was preaching, teaching and serving. He was, is and will always be our model for ministry. Preaching, teaching and serving need to become the M.O. for the Church today.