I happen to think that the modern church has a lot of things backwards. We get obsessed with people’s gifts, we think “ministry” is done by people who work for churches, and we talk about the church like it’s an event that happens on Sundays.
We need to turn the church inside out.
Eph4:11-12 talks about the gifts like pastors and evangelists but explains so clearly why those gifts exist. It’s simple: “for the equipping of the saints for the work of the ministry”.
We’ve got it backwards. We make it all about the gifts themselves. We say, “I’m going this Sunday because I like his preaching”, or “She’s an anointed worship leader”. But why did God give those gifts? Not to do the ministry, but to equip the saints to do the ministry.
1. Firstly we need to redefine “ministry”. In essence to minister is simply to serve or meet a need. That’s not just the mandate of a handful of people who work for churches - it’s the mission of every single believer. Do you know what that means? You’re in full-time ministry!
Regardless of what you do for a living or where you study right now, you are there to minister (Col3:23). To be salt in the earth, light in the darkness. You don’t need a title. You don’t need anyone to call you “Pastor”.
2. The few exist for the many. If I ever think that as a preacher and leader it’s all about me, I’ve utterly missed point. We need to turn church upside down.
As well as leading the church with Andi, I work in the corporate world as a professional speaker & leadership trainer. But the corporate model is not how the church was designed- the church is not a pyramid or hierarchy with “clergy” instead of “CEOs” at the top and “laity” like “interns” at the bottom. Actually Jesus taught that the greatest would be the servant of all, and the first would be last.
3. We need to be the church, not just go to church. And we’re in real danger if we water church down to become an event that we attend. We when live as the church rather than attend the church we quickly find that opportunity to be used by God is all around us, every day.
You have a part to play. In fact, Eph4 goes on to say in v16 that the church as a body grows simply when “every part does it’s share”.
* So… what’s your ministry?
* How is your Sunday equipping you for your Monday?
* If like most people you live and work in the marketplace, what could you do to BE the church there?
It’s time to turn the church inside out.
I’d love to hear your comments…
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