Vocational Ministry Established on the Gospel
“He is the one we proclaim, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone fully mature in Christ. To this end I strenuously contend with all the energy Christ so powerfully works in me.”
Vocational ministry (when your calling becomes your career) is a unique and sacred space for the believer. It brings some of life’s most incredible moments. You get a front-row seat to watch God do amazing things through His people and His Church. But it also brings some of the most frustrating and spiritually complex situations. After more than ten years in full-time ministry, God has taught us many valuable lessons. We’ve walked through seasons filled with joy, purpose, and fruit - and others marked by exhaustion, disappointment, and discouragement. There have even been moments when we seriously considered quitting.
We live in a world where good news travels fast, but bad news travels faster - and the Church is not exempt from that reality. Far too often, it's the scandals, the failures, and the disappointments that make headlines. As two people who have committed our lives to full-time ministry, we regularly ask ourselves: What does it look like to remain faithful for the long haul? How do we stay grounded and not allow something (whether sin, burnout, or discouragement) to derail the work God has called us to?
At the end of the day, it comes down to remembering what ministry is all about, identifying the dangers that can derail it, and remaining connected to the Vine - Jesus Christ Himself.
Ministry at Its Core
There are so many different “types” of ministry we can engage in - international ministry, teaching, creative ministries, and more. And within those, there are countless roles: pastors, missionaries, deacons, worship leaders, administrators, and the list goes on. With such a wide range of expressions and functions, it’s easy to ask: What is ministry, really?
At its core, ministry is the proclamation and demonstration of the gospel of Jesus Christ. It’s the work of helping people become fully mature in Christ, just as Paul describes in Colossians 1:28–29. It involves proclaiming the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus - and walking with others as they learn to apply that truth to every area of their lives. Ministry is not about performance, competition, or position. It’s about helping disciples live fully mature in Christ, for the glory of God.
How Does Sin Derail Ministry?
After a decade in ministry, we’ve seen how subtle compromises and unchecked sin can quietly derail vibrant ministries. Sometimes the impact is temporary. Other times, it leaves permanent damage — to churches, communities, and individual souls. And more often than not, the derailment isn’t sudden or dramatic. It’s a slow drift — a series of small decisions that lead us away from dependence on Christ and toward self-reliance, pride, or burnout.
These dangers aren’t limited to pastors or church leaders — they can threaten the spiritual health and witness of every believer. But for those in vocational ministry, the risks are amplified. That’s why it's essential to recognize the signs early — and to fight against them through repentance, accountability, and ongoing intimacy with Christ.
When ministry becomes a performance, not a servant role…
One of the greatest threats to ministry is turning it into a platform for ourselves rather than a way to glorify God. As ministers of the gospel, we are called to be servants - vessels through which God works — not the stars of the show. But as God begins to work through our gifts, our platforms may grow. And with that growth can come a subtle shift: instead of being humbled by God's work, we begin to believe we’re the reason for it. The applause feels good. The spotlight feels affirming. And slowly, ministry becomes more about us than Him.
We struggle to let others lead (because we want to be seen as the best).
We crave recognition, affirmation, and the spotlight.
We view ministry as a stage — not a place of service.
When ministry becomes a competition, not an overflow…
Another subtle danger is comparison. It’s all too easy to look at the church down the street, the pastor with more followers, or the ministry that seems more “successful,” and let insecurity creep in. Ministry is meant to be an overflow of what God is doing in us, not a race to outdo those around us. When we let jealousy, comparison, or pride lead us, we stop ministering from a place of joy and start striving from a place of scarcity.
We quietly celebrate when others fail (because it makes us feel better).
We see those who challenge or differ from us as threats or enemies.
We always feel like we’re not doing enough — or that others aren’t doing enough.
When ministry becomes a job, not a calling…
One of the greatest challenges in vocational ministry is resisting the temptation to let it become just a job. This tension is especially real when your livelihood is directly tied to your role in a church. Many in full-time ministry have experienced the feeling of being stuck — staying in a church they wouldn’t attend if they weren’t on staff. Over time, this disconnect can lead to a ministry that feels dry, lifeless, and spiritually suffocating. When we remain in places we no longer feel called to, ministry can slowly shift from a calling to a paycheck — from a place of purpose to a place of obligation.
We dread showing up and no longer feel spiritually engaged.
We are bitter and resentful towards to the church
We are just "going through the motions" without passion or purpose.
When ministry becomes an idol, not an act of worship…
Perhaps one of the most sneaky shifts is when ministry itself becomes our idol. When our identity, worth, and sense of purpose become fully wrapped up in what we do for God, instead of who we are in God, we’ve missed the heart of ministry altogether. Ministry is meant to be a response to God’s love — not a substitute for it. When ministry becomes the thing we worship instead of the way we worship, even good things become spiritually toxic. Signs ministry has become an idol:
We feel lost without ministry — as if God’s love for us depends on our performance.
We neglect our personal relationship with God while “serving” Him.
We prioritize ministry success over spiritual obedience and faithfulness.