It's not the person on the stage, leading the church gatherings that does the ministry of the church.
You read that right.
Don't believe me? Let's see what the Apostle Paul said,
11 Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. 12 Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ. Ephesians 4:11-12, New Living Translation
There are leaders that God gives to the church, a gift Paul calls it, and their jobs are to equip the people of God to do His work, or the ministry!
To be sure, the leaders God gave to the church, Apostles, Prophets, Evangelists, Pastors and Teachers - they are legit and needed and do ministry! Many people who are frustrated at church and are bitter (or on the road to bitter) are in that condition because they didn't want to follow these leaders God gave to the church. Or when there was a difference of opinion, something other than love and unity came from their heart toward the leaders. So, I'm totally affirming the roles of leadership in the Church!
Here's the deal: if you follow Jesus, then the movement Jesus left in our hands belongs to YOU! It's not just "up there at the church." It's not just "pastor will take care of that." It's You, and Me, and the Pastor. We all have a part. We all have times we are leading, and time we are willing followers!
You, Jesus-follower...You are the Movement!
At our church, we are having all the people who have been following Jesus for a little while and who are willing stand in front and share their story and teach from the Bible to our church. We can do this more easily than some churches because we don't have a huge group. But the point is the same either way.
Today, Diana Castelberry is leading us through James 4 - and I'm so pumped.
And Tara Coleman will share on what it means to be a willing follower of Jesus! And how much more energizing it is to lead when you have a willing follower.
If you have transferred your trust to Jesus, then you are a part of His Church...You are the Movement!
paul
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