Doing your part

Choose the correct answers: 

The job of the pastor is to:

a)      Be responsible for every function of the church

b)      Be present at every single event connected to the church

c)       Provide for the specific, individual growth of each person in the congregation

d)      Equip the people of the church for service to the world

The role of the church is to:

a)      Somehow provide for each specific need of each person at the exact time they need the teaching or input

b)      Have everything for everybody at anytime all the time

c)       Magically provide teaching and information for non believers, new believers, struggling believers, growing believers and multiplying believers in various stages of life in a way that all needs are met when the needs need to be met

d)      Be a place where you can bring a seeker so that they can “poof” become a mature, multiplying Christian without much effort on other believers’ part…

e)      Be a very important tool in your personal ministry in the lives of others

The role of each believer in the church is to:

a)      Attend church regularly and take good notes of each sermon

b)      Depend on the pastor for his spiritual growth

c)       Take in all the spiritual teaching he or she can

d)      Be equipped so that he or she can minister to those God leads them to in order to extend the ministry that Jesus calls each believer to do

e)      Grow to maturity through giving out as much as he or she takes in

Read further to discover what God has to say about the role of the pastor, church and each individual believer.  Perhaps you will need to make some adjustments to your thinking and understanding of what God has called you to do.  

 

Eph. 4:13-16 helps to enlighten us as to the job of the pastor and the role of the church:

·         The role of the pastor according to vv.11-12 is to prepare God’s people to serve and build up believers.

·         The place of the church is to provide an environment for believers to be trained and equipped to serve.

·         The role of God’s people (you and I), which is found in vv13-15, is to serve by:

o   Be unified in faith,

o   Help nonbelievers know about Jesus, as well as

o   Help believers to grow to maturity in Christ.

·         Finally Eph.4:16 tells us our job as laypeople is simply to do our job – and not expect someone else to do it for us.

So, how can you do your job, even right now?

·         “Unity of the faith” – are you part of a team which is working together in one spirit to reach your campus?  What is helping or harming your unity?  If you don’t have a team, pray that the Lord will raise up other believers to join you. 

·         “knowledge of God” – how can you specifically be involved in telling non believers about Jesus?  What is your plan of action for this coming semester?  Who specifically are you praying for and taking the initiate to tell about Christ?  What are you going to do that is more faith stretching than simply inviting others to church with the attitude that the church will help others to grow?

·         “grow to maturity of faith” – initiate with other believers in helping them to grow in their faith and understanding of God.  Ask Him to show you how you can be personally involved in helping others to grow in maturity in Christ and to grow as a fellow minister of God’s mission.

God has called each believer to be a part of His mission to help others to come into a relationship with Him and to help them grow deeper in their understanding of Him and their faith in Him.  He has also called us to train and equip others as we have been trained and equipped to be active servants of His to make sure that His message is being taken to the world.  Faithfully and actively doing your part will bring all the more glory to Him everywhere you take the knowledge of Him!