God calls every believer to ministry.
Every believer.
The local church mobilizes as people discover, develop, and deploy their spiritual gifts, talents, and abilities to advance the Great Commission (Eph 4:11-12; Matt 28:18-20).
Equipping BELIEVERS for ministry is essential TO a local church BECOMING everything God intends.
More than merely joining an organization, church membership means committing to being an active, functioning part of the church as an organism. The apostle Paul used the word picture “body of Christ” to describe how all Christians are joined together “in Christ.”
(There is a “universal” sense in which the body of Christ comprises all believers from all time. The vast majority of New Testament references, however, apply that metaphor to specific local congregations. Each local church is an expression of Christ’s “body” on earth today.)
Just as a human body has many parts that play many different roles, so it is with the body of Christ (1 Cor 12:12-27). In Christ, we are one body, and each of us has a God-given role to play. At the moment of salvation, every believer is given at least one spiritual gift to be used for serving in and through a local church (Rom 12:3-8; 1 Cor 12:1-11.)
Furthermore, Ephesians 4:14 says a result of serving in the local church is increased spiritual stability. It appears there are vital aspects of spiritual growth believers cannot and will not experience until they find their place of ministry in a local church and begin serving.
Serving is an essential part of spirituAL growTH!
The Bible is clear that we are saved by the gift of God’s grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone—not by any good works we do (Eph 2:8-9). While our good works do not save us, however, we are most definitely saved to do the good works God has planned for us to do (Eph 2:8-10; James 2:14-26).
A church staff most biblically functions as a catalytic servant-hearted team of congregational equippers (Eph 4:11-13).
When every church member ministers, the members mature, disciples are multiplied, and the church’s overall ministry effectiveness multiplies, as well (Eph 4:14-16).
FROM GOD’S WORD
11 And he himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, 12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, to build up the body of Christ, 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of God’s Son, growing into maturity with a stature measured by Christ’s fullness. 14 Then we will no longer be little children, tossed by the waves and blown around by every wind of teaching, by human cunning with cleverness in the techniques of deceit. 15 But speaking the truth in love, let us grow in every way into him who is the head—Christ. 16 From him the whole body, fitted and knit together by every supporting ligament, promotes the growth of the body for building itself up in love by the proper working of each individual part.
Ephesians 4:11-16 CSB
FBCBA NEXT STEPS
If you’re reading this and a regular attender of First Baptist Church Broken Arrow, OK, email place@fbcba.org for more info about taking the PLACE Assessment and finding your place to serve!
Cover photo by Dylan Gillis on Unsplash