… If you’re not a pastor or church leader

In the ideology of many church folks, as soon as the word ministry comes up, minds are set to classify church leaders (appropriately titled men) to one side of a divide – for those on whose shoulders solely lay the responsibility of Christian ministry, and common believers like me who have no official, church-appointed jurisdiction of leadership to the other side.

Some are gone as far as thinking that the sonship of the Christian of ministry-material is superior to others and that they receive a special grace from God that gives them extra-ordinary character, power, personality, as well as, answers to prayer which is what validates them for ministry. If we add up all the bible has to say about ministry, leadership and ministers, would we exclusively arrive at the spiritual ranking ideology briefly marked out above? Certainly not, it is a man-made idea, entirely out of line with sound doctrine.

The questions would now be: Is Christian ministry restricted within leadership? Do I as an untitled believer and you, if you are not a pastor or church leader, have any mandates of ministry; any responsibilities to and in the church, other than to believe, be saved then to sit back and be happy enjoying the show? The key to our answers lies in the question: What is ministry?

What Is Ministry?

From all scriptural suggestions ministry is more of a position of service than a title of privilege. On the other hand, it is also clear that God purposefully ordained some individuals and commissioned them with specific tasks or responsibility of ministry, including leadership within the church in the first church age. These apparently were a class of ministry gifts:

8 Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men…
11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: 13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ…
- Eph 4:8, 11-13(KJV)

Does this exempt all other believers (non-ministers) from all responsibilities of ministry? We should see verse 12 again in the ESV (English Standard Version):

And He Himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ…
- Eph 4:11-12(ESV – English Standard Version)

Verse 12 now reads less like a list of three individual items but more like: God gave the apostles, prophets and teachers to equip the saints for the work of ministry and thereby the church of Christ would be built up. Clearly all saints(believers) have a part in ministry.

Now, let’s find our how ministry responsibilities affect or involve all Christians by observing a few points:

Ministry is leadership; leadership is exemplary

For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you.
- John 13:15(KJV)

In all things showing yourself to be a pattern of good works; in doctrine showing integrity, reverence, incorruptibility
- Titus 2:7(NKJV)

… Neither as being lords over God’s heritage, but being ensamples to the flock.
- 1 Pet 5:3(NKJV)

Not because we do not have authority, but to make ourselves an example of how you should follow us.
- 2 Thes 3:9(NKJV)

Brethren, join in following my example, and note those who so walk, as you have us for a pattern.
- Phil 3:17(NKJV)

Here Apostle Paul encourages believers not just to follow his example, but to also take note of (and imitate) any other believer whose lifestyle is follows this pattern. In other words, by being exemplary in our Christian faith and character we are in a sense, naturally, leaders in the church regardless of whether we hold an office or not; we edify others.

Ministry is yielding to the Spirit

Apparently the list of ministry gifts in Ephesians 4 wasn’t exhaustive, Asides apostles, prophets and pastors, 1 Corr 12:28 gives a few more: some spiritual gifts or manifestations of the spirits and then helps, governments…

27Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually.
28 And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, varieties of tongues.
- 1 Corr 12:27-28(NKJV)

3 For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith.
4 For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function,
5 so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another.
6 Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith;
7 or ministry, let us use it in our ministering; he who teaches, in teaching;
8 he who exhorts, in exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.
- Romans 12:3-8(NKJV)

But why does Paul add manifestations of the Spirit to this list of ministry gifts? It is as if he is directing us to the idea that, in a sense, the ministry gifts were basically an office where a spiritual gift was operated. Yet all believers are encouraged by Paul to desire the spiritual gifts that edify, in other words, all believers are encouraged to edify(minister in) the church by spiritual gifts, as the Spirit wills, especially in Christian gatherings.

Therefore, brethren, desire earnestly to prophesy, and do not forbid to speak with tongues.
- 1 Corr 14:39(NKJV)

… Let all things be done for edification.
- 1 Corr 14:26b(NKJV)

And there’s more: helps, administration, service, giving etc. Some of these can hardly be regarded as supernatural abilities, yet Paul regards them all as workings of the spirit – all in all. You don’t have to be a pastor or church leader to cater for the needs of others, or to help organise or help in administration. God has positioned every single believer to be functional in a way.

Ministry is responsibility over and to other believers

Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind;
- 1 Pet 5:2(NKJV)

Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God which He obtained with His own blood.
- Acts 20:28(ESV)

It is an obvious responsibility of leadership to watch over the flock, isn’t it? Yet in several places believers are admonished to watch out for one another, confess faullts to each other, to teach one another etc.

Now I myself am confident concerning you, my brethren, that you also are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, able also to admonish one another.
- Rom 15:14(NKJV)

Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.
- 1 Thes 5:11(ESV)

But exhort one another daily, while it is called “Today,” lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.
- Heb 3:13(NKJV)

Every believers ministry

I think we have more than established already that all of us have individual and collective responsibilities to fulfil in ministry. Another very important area of our personal ministry is in prayer. The bible teaches us to pray for one another: we even pray for our pastors and church leaders, not just ourselves; and to pray always – without ceasing. Today’s traditions of prayer departments or select groups is secondary. Really, Prayer is every Christian’s perpetual ministry.

The Great Commission

And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.
- Mark 16:15(NKJV)

I would have thought this commission went strictly to the apostles except that, for one, they didn’t actually accomplish going into all the world, and, not every human being heard the gospel in their age before they all passed away. Rather it was a mandate given to the church, which was constituted then by Jesus’ disciples. Today, that mandate still remains the mandate of the entire church.

Question: what is the responsibility of you and I in this mandate? We are the church: we are either the ones on the field or the ones sending and supporting them. In essence, true Christians can’t be insensitive towards the work of evangelism. The instruction is for the church to go, We must put in our selves, supply our prayers and material support, to see that the gospel is taking to places where it has not been preached. Every church, or Christian organisation must be involved in a way in outreach ministry and have a programme that allows the participation of believers; It is our commission.

This shouldn’t take the place of us being beacons, ambassadors of Christ and His gospel in our everyday environment; we should readily show the unsaved around us the person and reason behind our hope. An act as simple as inviting someone to a church service is by itself an act of service (ministry) to the church that day.

In conclusion, ministry is edifying other believers; ministry is building the body of Christ; Ministry is preaching the gospel; this responsibility doesn’t lie solely on a select few, but all believers as members of the body have something to contribute. You don’t need a title or followership, you don’t need an experience other than to have the grace of God in your heart; you don’t need charisma – you have the gift of the spirit; You have a ministry.

Share this post on: