Ministering
In the Bible, "ministering" generally refers to the act of serving or attending to the needs of others, particularly in a spiritual or religious context. The term is often associated with the roles of priests and leaders in the community who serve God and the people. For example, in the Old Testament, the Levites were designated to minister before the Lord and to assist the priests in the Tabernacle (Numbers 18:2-4). This ministerial role involved performing sacrifices, maintaining the sanctuary, and ensuring that worship was conducted according to divine instructions.In the New Testament, the concept of ministering expands to encompass the service of all believers, emphasizing the importance of serving one another in love. In Matthew 20:28, Jesus exemplifies this by stating that He came "not to be served, but to serve." Additionally, Ephesians 4:11-12 highlights that God has given various roles within the church, such as apostles, prophets, evangelists, and pastors, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, thereby building up the body of Christ. Therefore, ministering in a biblical sense involves both serving God and serving others, reflecting the character of Christ and fulfilling the call to love and support one another within the community of faith.