100 Bible Verses about Ministers

Hebrews 13:17 ESV / 78 helpful votes

Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you.

Hebrews 13:7 ESV / 60 helpful votes

Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God. Consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith.

Jeremiah 3:15 ESV / 55 helpful votes

“‘And I will give you shepherds after my own heart, who will feed you with knowledge and understanding.

Acts 20:28 ESV / 48 helpful votes

Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood.

1 Timothy 5:17 ESV / 47 helpful votes

Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in preaching and teaching.

2 Timothy 4:5 ESV / 43 helpful votes

As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.

Ephesians 4:11 ESV / 42 helpful votes

And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers,

2 Timothy 2:15 ESV / 40 helpful votes

Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.

1 Peter 5:3 ESV / 39 helpful votes

Not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock.

Acts 1:8 ESV / 39 helpful votes

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

1 Timothy 2:7 ESV / 38 helpful votes

For this I was appointed a preacher and an apostle (I am telling the truth, I am not lying), a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth.

James 3:1 ESV / 36 helpful votes

Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness.

Ephesians 4:11-13 ESV / 35 helpful votes

And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ,

Titus 1:7 ESV / 34 helpful votes

For an overseer, as God's steward, must be above reproach. He must not be arrogant or quick-tempered or a drunkard or violent or greedy for gain,

Acts 18:26 ESV / 32 helpful votes

He began to speak boldly in the synagogue, but when Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him aside and explained to him the way of God more accurately.

1 Peter 3:15 ESV / 31 helpful votes

But in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect,

1 Timothy 3:2 ESV / 31 helpful votes

Therefore an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach,

Acts 6:4 ESV / 31 helpful votes

But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.”

Acts 20:24 ESV / 30 helpful votes

But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.

Ephesians 4:12 ESV / 29 helpful votes

To equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ,

Galatians 3:28 ESV / 29 helpful votes

There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

1 Timothy 4:12 ESV / 28 helpful votes

Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity.

Titus 1:5-9 ESV / 27 helpful votes

This is why I left you in Crete, so that you might put what remained into order, and appoint elders in every town as I directed you— if anyone is above reproach, the husband of one wife, and his children are believers and not open to the charge of debauchery or insubordination. For an overseer, as God's steward, must be above reproach. He must not be arrogant or quick-tempered or a drunkard or violent or greedy for gain, but hospitable, a lover of good, self-controlled, upright, holy, and disciplined. He must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it.

2 Corinthians 4:5 ESV / 25 helpful votes

For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus' sake.

2 Corinthians 3:6 ESV / 25 helpful votes

Who has made us sufficient to be ministers of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit. For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.

1 Timothy 6:20 ESV / 23 helpful votes

O Timothy, guard the deposit entrusted to you. Avoid the irreverent babble and contradictions of what is falsely called “knowledge,”

1 Corinthians 9:14 ESV / 23 helpful votes

In the same way, the Lord commanded that those who proclaim the gospel should get their living by the gospel.

Matthew 28:18-20 ESV / 23 helpful votes

And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

2 Timothy 4:2 ESV / 22 helpful votes

Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching.

1 Timothy 2:1-15 ESV / 22 helpful votes

First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, ...

1 Timothy 4:7 ESV / 21 helpful votes

Have nothing to do with irreverent, silly myths. Rather train yourself for godliness;

1 Thessalonians 5:12-13 ESV / 21 helpful votes

We ask you, brothers, to respect those who labor among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, and to esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Be at peace among yourselves.

Galatians 6:9 ESV / 21 helpful votes

And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.

1 Peter 5:1-4 ESV / 20 helpful votes

So I exhort the elders among you, as a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, as well as a partaker in the glory that is going to be revealed: shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly; not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock. And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory.

Titus 2:3-5 ESV / 20 helpful votes

Older women likewise are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers or slaves to much wine. They are to teach what is good, and so train the young women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be reviled.

Titus 1:6 ESV / 20 helpful votes

If anyone is above reproach, the husband of one wife, and his children are believers and not open to the charge of debauchery or insubordination.

2 Timothy 3:16-17 ESV / 20 helpful votes

All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.

1 Timothy 2:11-12 ESV / 20 helpful votes

Let a woman learn quietly with all submissiveness. I do not permit a woman to teach or to exercise authority over a man; rather, she is to remain quiet.

2 Corinthians 8:23 ESV / 20 helpful votes

As for Titus, he is my partner and fellow worker for your benefit. And as for our brothers, they are messengers of the churches, the glory of Christ.

2 Corinthians 4:1 ESV / 20 helpful votes

Therefore, having this ministry by the mercy of God, we do not lose heart.

2 Timothy 1:6-8 ESV / 19 helpful votes

For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands, for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control. Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God,

2 Corinthians 5:20 ESV / 19 helpful votes

Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.

2 Corinthians 5:18-20 ESV / 19 helpful votes

All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.

1 Peter 4:11 ESV / 18 helpful votes

Whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

1 Timothy 2:12 ESV / 18 helpful votes

I do not permit a woman to teach or to exercise authority over a man; rather, she is to remain quiet.

1 Thessalonians 5:12 ESV / 18 helpful votes

We ask you, brothers, to respect those who labor among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you,

Isaiah 52:11 ESV / 18 helpful votes

Depart, depart, go out from there; touch no unclean thing; go out from the midst of her; purify yourselves, you who bear the vessels of the Lord.

Psalm 126:6 ESV / 18 helpful votes

He who goes out weeping, bearing the seed for sowing, shall come home with shouts of joy, bringing his sheaves with him.

2 Chronicles 29:11 ESV / 18 helpful votes

My sons, do not now be negligent, for the Lord has chosen you to stand in his presence, to minister to him and to be his ministers and make offerings to him.”

Revelation 1:1-20 ESV / 17 helpful votes

The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants the things that must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John, who bore witness to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, even to all that he saw. Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear, and who keep what is written in it, for the time is near. John to the seven churches that are in Asia: Grace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven spirits who are before his throne, and from Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood ...

2 Timothy 2:17 ESV / 17 helpful votes

And their talk will spread like gangrene. Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus,

1 Timothy 5:17-18 ESV / 17 helpful votes

Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in preaching and teaching. For the Scripture says, “You shall not muzzle an ox when it treads out the grain,” and, “The laborer deserves his wages.”

1 Corinthians 4:1 ESV / 17 helpful votes

This is how one should regard us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God.

Philippians 3:17 ESV / 16 helpful votes

Brothers, join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us.

2 Corinthians 6:3-10 ESV / 16 helpful votes

We put no obstacle in anyone's way, so that no fault may be found with our ministry, but as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: by great endurance, in afflictions, hardships, calamities, beatings, imprisonments, riots, labors, sleepless nights, hunger; by purity, knowledge, patience, kindness, the Holy Spirit, genuine love; by truthful speech, and the power of God; with the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and for the left; ...

Romans 16:1 ESV / 16 helpful votes

I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a servant of the church at Cenchreae,

2 Timothy 3:14-15 ESV / 15 helpful votes

But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.

Colossians 4:17 ESV / 15 helpful votes

And say to Archippus, “See that you fulfill the ministry that you have received in the Lord.”

1 Corinthians 9:27 ESV / 15 helpful votes

But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.

Revelation 5:4 ESV / 14 helpful votes

And I began to weep loudly because no one was found worthy to open the scroll or to look into it.

2 Timothy 2:2 ESV / 14 helpful votes

And what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also.

1 Corinthians 12:1-31 ESV / 14 helpful votes

Now concerning spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be uninformed. You know that when you were pagans you were led astray to mute idols, however you were led. Therefore I want you to understand that no one speaking in the Spirit of God ever says “Jesus is accursed!” and no one can say “Jesus is Lord” except in the Holy Spirit. Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; ...

Acts 1:25 ESV / 14 helpful votes

To take the place in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas turned aside to go to his own place.”

John 3:16-17 ESV / 14 helpful votes

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.

Luke 6:39 ESV / 14 helpful votes

He also told them a parable: “Can a blind man lead a blind man? Will they not both fall into a pit?

Matthew 20:25-28 ESV / 14 helpful votes

But Jesus called them to him and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. It shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be your slave, even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Matthew 18:6 ESV / 14 helpful votes

But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a great millstone fastened around his neck and to be drowned in the depth of the sea.

1 Peter 4:10 ESV / 13 helpful votes

As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace:

Titus 2:7 ESV / 12 helpful votes

Show yourself in all respects to be a model of good works, and in your teaching show integrity, dignity,

2 Timothy 2:14-16 ESV / 12 helpful votes

Remind them of these things, and charge them before God not to quarrel about words, which does no good, but only ruins the hearers. Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth. But avoid irreverent babble, for it will lead people into more and more ungodliness,

1 Timothy 6:11 ESV / 12 helpful votes

But as for you, O man of God, flee these things. Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness.

Philippians 2:4 ESV / 12 helpful votes

Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.

Ephesians 6:1-4 ESV / 12 helpful votes

Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. “Honor your father and mother” (this is the first commandment with a promise), “that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land.” Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.

Acts 13:3 ESV / 12 helpful votes

Then after fasting and praying they laid their hands on them and sent them off.

Matthew 21:15-16 ESV / 12 helpful votes

But when the chief priests and the scribes saw the wonderful things that he did, and the children crying out in the temple, “Hosanna to the Son of David!” they were indignant, and they said to him, “Do you hear what these are saying?” And Jesus said to them, “Yes; have you never read, “‘Out of the mouth of infants and nursing babies you have prepared praise’?”

Jonah 1:2 ESV / 12 helpful votes

“Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and call out against it, for their evil has come up before me.”

Psalm 23:1-6 ESV / 12 helpful votes

A Psalm of David. The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. ...

Titus 1:5 ESV / 11 helpful votes

This is why I left you in Crete, so that you might put what remained into order, and appoint elders in every town as I directed you—

1 Timothy 6:21 ESV / 11 helpful votes

For by professing it some have swerved from the faith. Grace be with you.

Colossians 3:23-24 ESV / 11 helpful votes

Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.

Philippians 4:19 ESV / 11 helpful votes

And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.

2 Corinthians 5:18 ESV / 11 helpful votes

All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation;

Romans 1:1 ESV / 11 helpful votes

Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God,

Luke 10:7 ESV / 11 helpful votes

And remain in the same house, eating and drinking what they provide, for the laborer deserves his wages. Do not go from house to house.

Luke 10:2 ESV / 11 helpful votes

And he said to them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.

Malachi 2:7 ESV / 11 helpful votes

For the lips of a priest should guard knowledge, and people should seek instruction from his mouth, for he is the messenger of the Lord of hosts.

Jeremiah 1:5 ESV / 11 helpful votes

“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations.”

Isaiah 6:8 ESV / 11 helpful votes

And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” Then I said, “Here I am! Send me.”

Titus 1:8 ESV / 10 helpful votes

But hospitable, a lover of good, self-controlled, upright, holy, and disciplined.

1 Timothy 5:21 ESV / 10 helpful votes

In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus and of the elect angels I charge you to keep these rules without prejudging, doing nothing from partiality.

1 Timothy 4:13 ESV / 10 helpful votes

Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation, to teaching.

Colossians 3:16 ESV / 10 helpful votes

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.

Philippians 4:3 ESV / 10 helpful votes

Yes, I ask you also, true companion, help these women, who have labored side by side with me in the gospel together with Clement and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the book of life.

Philippians 1:1 ESV / 10 helpful votes

Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus, To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are at Philippi, with the overseers and deacons:

Luke 8:1-3 ESV / 10 helpful votes

Soon afterward he went on through cities and villages, proclaiming and bringing the good news of the kingdom of God. And the twelve were with him, and also some women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities: Mary, called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out, and Joanna, the wife of Chuza, Herod's household manager, and Susanna, and many others, who provided for them out of their means.

Ezekiel 3:17-21 ESV / 10 helpful votes

“Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel. Whenever you hear a word from my mouth, you shall give them warning from me. If I say to the wicked, ‘You shall surely die,’ and you give him no warning, nor speak to warn the wicked from his wicked way, in order to save his life, that wicked person shall die for his iniquity, but his blood I will require at your hand. But if you warn the wicked, and he does not turn from his wickedness, or from his wicked way, he shall die for his iniquity, but you will have delivered your soul. Again, if a righteous person turns from his righteousness and commits injustice, and I lay a stumbling block before him, he shall die. Because you have not warned him, he shall die for his sin, and his righteous deeds that he has done shall not be remembered, but his blood I will require at your hand. But if you warn the righteous person not to sin, and he does not sin, he shall surely live, because he took warning, and you will have delivered your soul.”

Proverbs 3:5-6 ESV / 10 helpful votes

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.

1 Corinthians 11:1 ESV / 9 helpful votes

Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.

Romans 15:16 ESV / 9 helpful votes

To be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles in the priestly service of the gospel of God, so that the offering of the Gentiles may be acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit.

Numbers 23:12 ESV / 9 helpful votes

And he answered and said, “Must I not take care to speak what the Lord puts in my mouth?”

Suggest a Verse


Visit the Bible online to search for words if you don’t know the specific passage your’re looking for.