Over the past several weeks, we at SRC have been discussing the possibility of beginning a third service. I say possibility because the staff know that we can’t make this service happen on our own. In fact, one of the core values of Great Commission Churches is Every member a minister.
Did you catch that?
Every. Member. A Minister.
I know what some of you may be thinking. “Wait a minute! I’m not a ‘minister’!” Oh yes. Yes you are.
2 Peter 2:9 says, “But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession.”
It’s right there. Right there in the Bible. You are a chosen people. You are royal priests. Every member is a minister, indeed.
The question is, are you using the gifts God has given you to serve and minister to others?
I ask this question, because I’ve been challenged with this question myself recently. Only I’ve been challenged with it in the form of leadership — how are you influencing others?
This is a challenging question for a pastor. I’ve thought about it for days. And I’ve now come to realize that the question isn’t nearly as complex as I’ve made it to be. The best way for me to influence others is simply to use the gifts God has given me. That’s it. It’s not hard. It’s not complicated. I simply have to understand how God has gifted me and put those gifts into action. I simply need to recognize my role in the body of Christ and serve accordingly. Here’s what the Apostle Paul writes about this:
Ephesians 4:11-13 – Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ. This will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God’s Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ.
1 Corinthians 12:14-22 – So the body is not one part but many. If the foot should say, “Because I’m not a hand, I don’t belong to the body,” in spite of this it still belongs to the body. And if the ear should say, “Because I’m not an eye, I don’t belong to the body,” in spite of this it still belongs to the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? But now God has placed each one of the parts in one body just as He wanted. And if they were all the same part, where would the body be? Now there are many parts, yet one body.
So the eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you!” Or again, the head can’t say to the feet, “I don’t need you!” But even more, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are necessary.
I love that last verse. “Those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are necessary.”
You may feel you have little to nothing to provide. You may feel that others can do what you’re good at even better. But your service is essential. You are a royal priesthood. Every member is a minister. And God has called you to minister to others, and has gifted you to do so.
There’s more I could write on this subject. Much more. But for now, simply consider the following questions:
- Have you come to recognize how God has gifted you to serve?
- If not, what steps will you take to begin to recognize the gifts God has provided you?
- “You are a royal priest.” In what ways does this change how you think about serving others?
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Questions or comments? Feel free to let me know in the comment section below.
south ridge blog 